Apple has introduced iTunes 5 earlier than what people expected, introducing streamlined design and new features. Highlight of the new features:

• Search bar - find stuff fast and refine your search
• Parental controls - limit kid’s access
• Playlist folders - organize your playlists into folders
• Smart shuffle - Adjust random playback
• Sync from Outlook - Sync Outlook and Outlook Express contacts and calendars to iPod

Well, ample of new features. Current iTunes users should have little reason not to upgrade. This new software helps users find what they are looking for easily from their catalog of 2 million songs, more than 10,000 of audiobooks and 15,000 podcasts.

Unfortunately iTunes tends to be sluggish on slower machine. Playing MP3 introduces glitches which seem to be a problem interfacing with the sound card driver. A major disturbance for my old Fujitsu P2110 laptop.

For now, I’ll stick with Windows Media Player 9 and WinAmp to play media files.

Download iTunes 5.

See also: podcast software.

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