Apple has released an update to its iTunes digital media player, adding improved compatibility with iPhone and iPod touch running iPhone OS 3.0, and addressing an issue with verification of Apple devices. The software is free and requires at least Mac OS X 10.4.10 (Tiger) on the Mac side, and Win XP SP2 or Vista, on the Windows front.

On the Support section of its website, Apple posts the following description for the latest version of its digital media player.

About iTunes 8.2.1

iTunes 8.2 now supports iPhone or iPod touch with the iPhone 3.0 Software Update. iTunes 8.2 also includes many accessibility improvements and bug fixes.

iTunes 8.2.1 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.

Posted on July 15, 2009, iTunes version 8.2.1 supports several languages, including Deutsch, English, Français, Español, Italiano, Nederlands, Dansk, Norsk Bokmål, Polski, Português, Português Brasileiro, Pусский, Suomi, Svensk, Chinese, Japanese and Koreean.

The last update to iTunes (version 8.2) saw Apple addressing an issue where visiting a maliciously crafted website might lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. The bug was present in both iTunes 8 for Mac OS X and iTunes 8 for Windows, according to the company behind the Mac operating system.

Originally seeded to select Apple developers in April, iTunes 8.2 was confirmed to check that the user was a registered developer before allowing him or her to update an iPhone to OS 3.0. Macrumors picked up the story, adding that iTunes 8.2 carried Blue-ray references to Gracenote suggesting upcoming Blu-ray support. So far, no such addition has been confirmed by Apple.

In somewhat related news, the iTunes App Store is now one year old, with users having downloaded some 1.5 billion apps to date. Those with iPhone OS 3.0 installed should download the latest version of iTunes to ensure good compatibility while syncing or updating / restoring their iPhone or iPod touch.

Download iTunes for Mac OS X (Free)

Download iTunes for Windows (Free)