iTunes 9.1 Coming with eBook Support, Automatic Bitrate Conversion - Report

A source claiming to have knowledge of an upcoming iTunes 9.1 is telling rumor-site MacRumors that Apple is planning to roll out the new version in tandem with the iPad’s official US launch, on April 3rd. The software is said to pack enhancements to Genius Mixes, as well as eBook support for the iPad, and automatic bitrate conversion features that supposedly work in real time as the user syncs a device to their computer, via iTunes.

Citing the aforementioned source, MacRumors claims to have received information about an “iTunes 9.1 update that will presumably be released around the same time as the iPad's U.S. launch this Saturday.” It goes to enumerate the purported new features in iTunes 9.1, which include “changes to organization of book content in iTunes in order to support expected growth in eBook content driven by the iPad.” A complete list of enhancements has been compiled by 9to5mac, based on MacRumors’ report. The list goes as follows:

- 'Audiobooks' section will now be 'Books' and contain all Book content: audio, eBook, etc. compatible with the given device (iPod, iPhone, iPad).
- Genius Mixes will include songs that go great together, “users will have more control over Genius Mixes, including the ability to rename mixes and rearrange them by dragging. Users will also be able to delete Genius Mixes by right clicking on them. Genius Mixes will also reportedly be available as sources for the iTunes DJ shuffle feature.”
- Support to automattically [sic] update songs to 128-bit AAC – like the Shuffle currently does – to save space.
- It will have tweaked summary panes (including a move of the “Check for Update” and “Restore” buttons to the left side of the pane).

Although MacRumors’ source may or may not be reliable, Softpedia is inclined to believe that Apple will release a new version of iTunes alongside the iPad. It makes perfect sense to tweak up the software, and especially in the areas mentioned above, in order to fully support the iPad, and the activities involved by using the device with a computer. If proven true, iTunes 9.1 should appear in our software updaters no later than April 3rd, perhaps even the 2nd.