14 DAY TRIAL // After numerous internal beta releases, Apple has finally rolled out iTunes 10.5. It’s available for both Mac and Windows with an array of new features, such as iTunes in the Cloud and Automatic Downloads but, equally important for Windows PC users, the update brings a ton of security fixes.
Mac and Windows users launching Software Update today will see the dialog displayed to the left with a notification from Apple that iTunes 10.5 is available to the public.
The first and most important new addition is, of course, iTunes in the Cloud. The new version of iTunes “now stores your music and TV purchases in iCloud and makes them available on your devices anywhere, any time, at no additional cost,” according to Apple.
Next up, Automatic Downloads. This feature lets you buy music anywhere you are and a copy of that song or album will be downloaded automatically to your other Apple devices.
iTunes 10.5 allows customers to download previous purchases at no additional cost, though Apple warns that some titles may not be subsequently available for another download if they’re no longer on the iTunes Store. Re-downloadable content ranges from music, and TV titles to apps and books.
The new iTunes is a system requirement for iOS 5. It lets you sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch after you have installed the new mobile OS on your iDevice.
But probably one of the coolest features iTunes 10.5 brings is Wi-Fi Syncing. As its name implies, the feature allows users to do away with cables and automatically sync their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes any time they're both on the same Wi-Fi network.
Finally, Apple documents the security content of iTunes 10.5 on its Support site. We’ll be taking a closer look at these patches shortly.