It's official — Apple is getting rid of iTunes.
Yes, the rumours were true, and today Apple confirmed it's indeed phasing out iTunes after first launching the program nearly two decades ago.
The reveal was made today at Apple's 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, with senior vice-president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi announcing the iTunes app will be discontinued.
As previously reported, in place of iTunes, three new media streaming apps will be introduced — Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV. The change will coincide with the introduction of OS X 10.15, otherwise known as Catalina. This new version of iOS is set to be released in September.
The new apps will feature new sidebars and clearer menus that aim to be easier to navigate compared to iTunes. Users who use still used iTunes for syncing will no longer see an app pop up, with phones and iPods now syncing through the sidebar in Finder.
Apple also clarified that through the Music app users will still "have access to their entire music library, whether they downloaded the songs, purchased them or ripped them from a CD."
In addition, the iTunes Music store will still be available.
Yes, the rumours were true, and today Apple confirmed it's indeed phasing out iTunes after first launching the program nearly two decades ago.
The reveal was made today at Apple's 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, with senior vice-president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi announcing the iTunes app will be discontinued.
As previously reported, in place of iTunes, three new media streaming apps will be introduced — Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV. The change will coincide with the introduction of OS X 10.15, otherwise known as Catalina. This new version of iOS is set to be released in September.
The new apps will feature new sidebars and clearer menus that aim to be easier to navigate compared to iTunes. Users who use still used iTunes for syncing will no longer see an app pop up, with phones and iPods now syncing through the sidebar in Finder.
Apple also clarified that through the Music app users will still "have access to their entire music library, whether they downloaded the songs, purchased them or ripped them from a CD."
In addition, the iTunes Music store will still be available.
