*iTunes* is one of the most popular media players and managers, and with good
reason. Seamless integration with *iPods, iPhones and iPads*, one-click
purchasing in the iTunes Store and an excellent library make this a
formidable app. With iTunes 10, the *library* has been improved with an extra
view that adds album artwork where there's room, instead of the traditional
album title next to each song. This smartens up library viewing a lot, and
generally underlines the new, clean look of the interface. It's no
revolution, but looks neater. *Playlists *and *iTunes DJ* are untouched, and
managing your library is as easy as ever. Creating playlists is one of
iTunes' strengths, and it's still simpler and more user-friendly than the
competition. *Syncing* iTunes with iPods and other Apple devices is really
easy, and there are no longer problems using Mac-formatted devices in iTunes
for Windows, or vice versa. *Home Sharing *is a great way to keep your
library across multiple computers at home; it is really easy to set up and
means all your computers will automatically have up-to-date libraries. The
biggest change with version 10 is to the iTunes Store. *Ping*, which is
linked to your iTunes account, allows you to create a personal profile and
share your purchases and reviews with friends, and artists you like. It looks
very much like a basic Facebook News Feed or Twitter, but just about music.
At the moment Ping feels underdeveloped. You can't share your listening
habits, like Last.fm, and manual sharing is limited to the iTunes Store, not
your own library. There's no option to share what you're listening to right
now, which is pretty terrible! Ping will surely develop and improve very
soon. *The basic library function of iTunes is unparalleled, and syncing with
iPods, iPhones and iPads is excellent. iTunes 10's new social features are
interesting, but limited at the moment.*Download *iTunes 10.5* in Softonic
