iTunes Turns 7.7
News Analysis. Overnight, Apple released iTunes 7.7 in preparation for MobileMe. The iPhone App Store is live, too. |
I downloaded iTunes 7.7 this morning. Interesting, there is an Applications section in the Library, but no option for sync Applications. I assume that would appear on a device with iPhone 2.0 software.
There's little else to say about the software until MobileMe launches or iPhone 2.0 software releases. It was reasonable to expect Apple to deliver both before the first iPhone 3Gs went on sale in New Zealand, about an hour to go. So where are they?
Apple's newest software is an important component in Apple's strategy of syncing data to the server cloud and among PCs or Macs and iPhone or iPod Touch. While Apple promises over-the-air sync for contacts, calendars and e-mail, tethered iTunes will still be necessary for device setup and, presumably, transferring back any music or application purchases made on the phone.
Synchronization is the killer application for the connected world. People use multiple devices, software products and IP/Web services. Information spreads out across these devices, requiring unnecessary rekeying and duplication. Synchronization can solve these problems and make content more useful across devices or services.
Apple delivers better sync than any other major high-tech company; iTunes, which now has multiple sync capabilities—to Apple TV, iPhone, iPod Touch, Macs and Windows PCs—is the best example. Apple's sync success is a marvel, considering how poorly others have executed, including Microsoft.
The iPod/iTunes model succeeded for many reasons, but synchronization is fundamental. Sync is the killer user interface for iPod/iTunes, and it will be even more important for iPhone with MobileMe.
But the music player is the wrong place for long-term success. The questions: How will Apple successfully mesh together iTunes and MobileMe synchronization, and will the cloud (or even the operating system) become the core sync engine?
Apple started the .Mac to MobileMe transition around 11 p.m. EDT Wednesday, a two-hour delay, with expected completion by 5 a.m. EDT on Thursday. I could still log into .Mac at 11 p.m. EDT. By 12:11 a.m., the service was down for maintenance. When I went to bed at 3:30 a.m. EDT, MobileMe wasn't available—no surprise there. But it wasn't available at 9:05 a.m., either, which was the next time I checked.
I'll be closely watching Apple product releases all day. Please check back for more on iPhone 2.0, iTunes 7.7. and MobileMe.
Comments (2)
The synch is still pretty terrible on Windows. iTunes won't allow an iPhone to sync to anything but Outlook, not even Vista Calendar or .ics links.
The range of video formats supported is so limited as to be useless compared to other portable media players.
Plus, when I connected my iPhone last week, I was told I now needed to go to iTunes 7.7. The Apple updater popped up then and said that I had to update the updater first. I did this, and then it looked for more updates - all it suggested was that I install Safari. I only wanted the iTunes update! Instead Apple just wastes my time with attempted stealth installs of other software.
Posted by Mike | July 14, 2008 1:38 AM
As much as I agree with Mike on the topic of terrible synchronization on Windows, I disagree with his issue of the update. During the install, there's an option whether to install it or not, along with any other free application released by Apple. It's really no different from program installs asking if you'd want to install a Google/Yahoo!/whatever searchbar to Internet Explorer or Firefox.
Posted by Brian | July 14, 2008 10:52 PM