14 DAY TRIAL // Rumors of Apple’s iTunes Festival app requiring iOS 7.1 have been shot down, as Apple has deployed the updated app requiring the current firmware (iOS 7.0). The company is still on track to deploy iOS 7.1 with CarPlay and other enhancements this month.
According to the Cupertino giant, “The iTunes Festival has made a tradition of hosting some of the biggest names in music for free, intimate performances. This app is an interactive multimedia accompaniment to the event with features that are available for a limited time, including streaming and on-demand video, photos and more.”
Version 5.0 comes with a refreshed user interface and updates to reflect the new artist lineup of the iTunes Festival at SXSW.
Under compatibility, Apple lists “iOS 7.0 or later” and all the iDevices that can take the firmware. The iTunes Festival app is also optimized for all screen sizes and resolutions, making it a native app for both iPhone and iPad devices.
Earlier this week, Apple pundit John Gruber wrote on his blog (emphasis ours), “Apple's first iTunes Festival in the U.S. starts a week from today at SXSW in Austin. Apple is going to stream the performances to iOS devices using an app, but I've heard from a little birdie that the app requires iOS 7.1 (which explains why the app isn't out yet). That means iOS 7.1 should ship any day now.”
We’re not accustomed to Gruber being wrong, but apparently his sources misled him. People who downloaded the iTunes Festival app can confirm that it works on all iOS 7.0.x installations and does not require the unreleased software update.
However, iOS 7.1 is still on track to roll out soon. Apple is making CarPlay a part of the update, going by the company’s March 3 press release announcing the new infotainment system for 2014 car models and beyond.
“Apple CarPlay is available as an update to iOS 7 and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. CarPlay will be available in select cars shipping in 2014,” Apple said.
iOS 7.1 further includes aesthetic tweaks, such as a redesigned power-off screen, new options in the Settings panel, “natural sounding” voices in Australian, British English, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese, a slightly modified virtual keyboard in apps that offer text input options, and a redesigned Phone application.
As usual, the software will most likely be provided as a free download over-the-air and through iTunes.