Apple releases updates for iTunes, Logic suites

[AppleInsider]

Apple Tuesday afternoon released updates for iTunes, Logic Pro, Logic Express, and Main Stage, bringing bug fixes, enhancements and stability improvements to the range of software.

iTunes 9.0.1 brings a number of fixes for the media player, including an issue with verification of Apple devices, the company said. It is available for download via Software Update or direct from Apple for Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later, Windows XP SP2, and Windows Vista (82.95MB). A separate version is also available for Windows Vista 64-bit (88.8MB). Fixes in the latest update to iTunes include:

Resolves issues browsing the iTunes Store.
Addresses a performance issue where iTunes may become unresponsive.
Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit.
Fixes a problem syncing Podcasts in playlists to iPod or iPhone.
Fixes a problem sorting albums with multiple discs.
Addresses an issue with the Zoom button not switching to Mini Player.
Improves application syncing for iPod touch and iPhone.
Genius is now automatically updated to show Genius Mixes.
Logic Pro 9.0.1 (183MB) and Logic Express 9.0.1 are available for Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later. According to Apple, fixes in the updates include:

Flex Markers can align & snap to MIDI notes
Performing a punch-in recording with Replace Mode now behaves correctly
The I/O plug-in adds an option for latency compensation
Finally, Main Stage 2.0.1 (206.75MB) is also available for Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later. Apple said the update includes fixes and enhancements for the Loopback and Playback plugins. Specifically noted fixes are:

The Reverse option for Loopback now behaves consistently
Pitchbend data is transmitted properly to external instruments
A recording in Loopback can be used to define the tempo for MainStage
The I/O plug-in is now available in MainStage

[iphonedeveloperthailand]

Boy that was quick. Fixed my iPhone sycning problem. Thought it was a 3.1 issue.

[Numbuh One]

Smart Playlist ordering is still messed up. The playlist syncs, but the ordering of the podcasts on my iPhone is not the same as the order in iTunes. Of course, this used to work in the good ol' days of iPhone 3.0/iTunes 8.

[Galley]

Fixes a problem sorting albums with multiple discs.

Thank you, Jebus!

And why in the heck would they break the function of the green zoom button after they just fixed it in version 9.0?

[martinmoorejr]

They fixed the "green +" so it takes you to the mini player like the older itunes. that was my biggest problem! yay

[danbirchall]

That's the main thing that's been broken for me (although I will welcome the return of the green button going to mini-player mode!)

I don't have an Airport Express here at the office... guess I'll just have to leave work early and go home to test it.

[yensid98]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Fixes a problem sorting albums with multiple discs.

Of course you could just sort by album before this fix. But good to see you don't need to anymore.

[slapppy]

Originally Posted by martinmoorejr

They fixed the "green +" so it takes you to the mini player like the older itunes. that was my biggest problem! yay

Thank goodness. That little bug was annoying.

[jimhill]

Originally Posted by Galley

Thank you, Jebus!

And why in the heck would they break the function of the green zoom button after they just fixed it in version 9.0?

They didn't break it. The interface guidelines are guidelines, not commandments. In the case of iTunes, toggling between the full viewer and the mini-player makes more sense than toggling between the full viewer and a somewhat-resized full viewer.

In my opinion, shared by a lot based on feedback at various websites, the "break" was in 9.0. This is a fix.

[Zandros]

Originally Posted by jimhill

They didn't break it. The interface guidelines are guidelines, not commandments. In the case of iTunes, toggling between the full viewer and the mini-player makes more sense than toggling between the full viewer and a somewhat-resized full viewer.

No it doesn't.* But whatever, the plus button didn't resize properly anyway.

I'm hoping they fixed the bug where quitting a search always takes you back to the top.

*Actually, the mini player doesn't make sense at all. Keep iTunes in a separate Space and use dock menus to control it.

[danbirchall]

...is working again for me, at the moment.

[anantksundaram]

What the HECK is the in-your-face 3.5MB "Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0" that showed up along with the iTunes update? It gives you a Microsoft-like cryptic message that says "get it or die," and then something along the lines of "while getting it, your computer may die."

They might as well have said, "Message No. $#@^&*&%$".

I simply quit it without installing.

I have a message for Apple: Tell me what it does or does not do. Or, $#@^&*&%$ you too.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

What the HECK is the in-your-face 3.5MB "Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0" that showed up along with the iTunes update? It gives you a Microsoft-like cryptic message that says "get it or die," and then something along the lines of "while getting it, your computer may die."

They might as well have said, "Message No. $#@^&*&%$".

I simply quit it without installing.

I have a message for Apple: Tell me what it does or does not do. Or, $#@^&*&%$ you too.

Replying to my own post is not in good form, I know.... It is apparently the fix for "...certain infrequent noises made by 7200-rpm drives that shipped with the June 2009 MacBook Pro." Easy to miss that when you click 'check' on multiple software download offers.

Apple should have given you a heads-up that a back-up of your HD would be highly recommended (basically, upon the pain of death).

[Rapa Whelk]

i am still not able to sync my contacts and calendars on my ipod classic 160 and 4th gen nano.

[JupiterOne]

Has anyone noticed that when you open Software Update it will immediately ask you for the administrator's name and password. What's up with that change? In Leopard it used to wait until there was something and you chose to download it before it would ask you for that.

And incidentally, now when it does ask you for the name and password, you can just keep hitting Cancel and it will continue checking.

[garyindenver]

Originally Posted by jimhill

They didn't break it. The interface guidelines are guidelines, not commandments. In the case of iTunes, toggling between the full viewer and the mini-player makes more sense than toggling between the full viewer and a somewhat-resized full viewer.

In my opinion, shared by a lot based on feedback at various websites, the "break" was in 9.0. This is a fix.

I think this is BS. It's non standard behavior compared to EVERY other single program and OS window. In iTunes 9.0 all you had to do was hold option down to get the old behavior. Now it's broken again. Sux.

[DanaCameron]

Originally Posted by JupiterOne

Has anyone noticed that when you open Software Update it will immediately ask you for the administrator's name and password. What's up with that change? In Leopard it used to wait until there was something and you chose to download it before it would ask you for that.

And incidentally, now when it does ask you for the name and password, you can just keep hitting Cancel and it will continue checking.

I'm not having any of the issues you describe. If anything, Software Update is more stable under Snow Leopard for me. You might want to check your security settings for the first issue, not sure about the second.

[Poppleganger]

Originally Posted by slapppy

Thank goodness. That little bug was annoying.

Holding down the option key in 9.0 makes it a mini player.
I like it that way.

Does holding down option with the update make it resize?

[technohermit]

Originally Posted by garyindenver

I think this is BS. It's non standard behavior compared to EVERY other single program and OS window. In iTunes 9.0 all you had to do was hold option down to get the old behavior. Now it's broken again. Sux.

While I agree with you, I can see both sides. It's like when MS decided on the "ribbon" interface for Office. People were very used to the menus of "their" office software, they couldn't see a reason to change it.
So many people had gotten used to the broken version of the green button they were pissed when it had gotten fixed. So  broke it again, because that's what people were used to. MS of course, just says deal with it you'll like it.

[michaelb]

Any sign of iPhone firmware 3.1.1?

Pretty sure I'm not the only one afraid to update from 3.0 because of the widespread reports of problems.

[elroth]

I'm still on iTunes 8.2 and I'm staying with it (I upgraded to 9, then went back). I get to keep my Shopping Cart, I don't have to let iTunes set cookies in Safari to buy something in the store, my grid view still has a black background, I still get the old interface in the iTunes store (more track listings on a page, a lot easier to search and view the results, no wishlist frustration), etc.

I only use iTunes for music (one computer), so I don't need all the new features. I like the new Smart Folders, though - being able to nest conditions. You can do some fun stuff with that.

[elroth]

Redundant.

[aresee]

Originally Posted by JupiterOne

Has anyone noticed that when you open Software Update it will immediately ask you for the administrator's name and password. What's up with that change? In Leopard it used to wait until there was something and you chose to download it before it would ask you for that.

And incidentally, now when it does ask you for the name and password, you can just keep hitting Cancel and it will continue checking.

I got that to. On my standard accounts on both my iMac and my MacBook Air. It did not ask for a password when I did it from my administrator account.

I also do not like the new dialog box at the end of the check. No list of updates. You have to click the details button to find out what you're about to update. Its as if Apple wants you to just install without having any idea on what your installing. No good. No good at all.

[tawilson]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Addresses an issue with the Zoom button not switching to Mini Player.

Damn! I saw that as an improvement. The mini-player is useless anyway.

[razorpit]

Originally Posted by Rapa Whelk

i am still not able to sync my contacts and calendars on my ipod classic 160 and 4th gen nano.

My Nano never did sync contacts and calendars, even though it worked fined in my older 3rd gen iPod. I think there was a bug in the firmware that was never addressed.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by garyindenver

I think this is BS. It's non standard behavior compared to EVERY other single program and OS window. In iTunes 9.0 all you had to do was hold option down to get the old behavior. Now it's broken again. Sux.

It is BS, and it was broken all these years. But people just got used to the broken version and enough whined about it (and of course insisted that "everyone"wanted it that way) that they put it back. But what's worse is that in all versions, it doesn't even resize properly, it makes the window some funky size instead of full screen. You can still option click the green button for "zoom" (and you always could, that's part of the problem, that breaking the UI guidelines means people never find features that are actually there), but it's useless anyway since it doesn't maximize the window.

If you liked it the other way, send feedback:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

[minderbinder]

Not a single Logic comment, no surprise there.

In short, a few welcome bug fixes, but unfortunately the update does nothing to improve the horrible memory handling. Logic is one of the apps most desperately in need of a 64 bit version and other 10.6 enhancements, but for now it gives errors that it's maxed out when there's still plenty of memory and cpu not being used.

Sad. And pathetic compared to all the 64 bit music apps on windows that can load vastly bigger projects.

[Sevenfeet]

Originally Posted by danbirchall

...is working again for me, at the moment.

Yes, whatever performance enhancements happened in this release, Airtunes seems to have been one of the beneficiaries. It used to hiccup all the time going to either of my Airport Expresses (and they are hooked up with WIRED ethernet). Now everything is smooth. This also was happening every now and then with music streaming computer to computer. That seems to be fixed as well.

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by iphonedeveloperthailand

Boy that was quick. Fixed my iPhone sycning problem. Thought it was a 3.1 issue.

It wouldn't surprise me. They should have called it 3.blue : (

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by DanaCameron

I'm not having any of the issues you describe. If anything, Software Update is more stable under Snow Leopard for me. You might want to check your security settings for the first issue, not sure about the second.

I'm not saying it is unstable, just different behavior. This is what I saw between Leopard and SL: (keep in mind, this is using a non-administrator account)

Leopard - you initiate Software Update. It checks and presents you with a list of updates. If you choose to download them, it asks for the administrator's name and password.

Snow Leopard - you initiate Software Update. It immediately asks for the administrator's name and password. Once you enter the name/password, it checks and presents you with a list of updates.

See the difference? Is no one else seeing this difference?

I also said that with the SL behavior, you can click Cancel to get Software Update to check for updates without putting in the name/password. I don't know if that is a bug or not, just something I observed.

[macbookuser]

9.0.1 update broke my wireless connectivity (cleaned out the shared key needing me to enter it again) and set the date to some time in 2000. Anyone else saw this problem?

[Magic_Al]

"Verification of Apple devices" is code for breaking Pre sync again. Surprised AppleInsider let that pass without comment.

[c4rlob]

These were "necessary" and late fixes. Fixes that they knew were necessary before they released it - there's no way QA didn't fully know about the mini-player/zoom-button issue before releasing. And there are plenty more snags remaining. They apparently finally got around to adding back the information/details icon to description fields in the iTunes store. But the font formatting and spacing in those fields still behaves sloppy. Not to mention it is horrible and inexcusable UI practice to not offer alternate text pop-ups for text that is too long for a column. Not to mention not being able to highlight/select ANY of the text paragraphs or fields in the iTunes Store. Also, none of the hyperlinks have a highlight state (change of color or underline or anything?). And the list goes on

iTunes 9 was obviously rushed out - and it is sad how supposedly reputable reviewers like Pogue and Mossberg gushed about how it was the best upgrade ever.

[KingOfSomewhereHot]

Originally Posted by JupiterOne

I'm not saying it is unstable, just different behavior. This is what I saw between Leopard and SL: (keep in mind, this is using a non-administrator account)

Leopard - you initiate Software Update. It checks and presents you with a list of updates. If you choose to download them, it asks for the administrator's name and password.

Snow Leopard - you initiate Software Update. It immediately asks for the administrator's name and password. Once you enter the name/password, it checks and presents you with a list of updates.

See the difference? Is no one else seeing this difference?

I also said that with the SL behavior, you can click Cancel to get Software Update to check for updates without putting in the name/password. I don't know if that is a bug or not, just something I observed.

I understand what you are saying... but MY SL experience is that Software Update behavior hasn't changed at all.
MINE still doesn't ask for a password until I actually tell it to install something. (10.6.1)

Couldn't say why yours is behaving that way... are you on an administrator account?

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot

I understand what you are saying... but MY SL experience is that Software Update behavior hasn't changed at all.
MINE still doesn't ask for a password until I actually tell it to install something. (10.6.1)

Couldn't say why yours is behaving that way... are you on an administrator account?

OK...hmm, interesting... No I am not on an administrator's account. However I did do an erase and clean install for SL. Other than that, my accounts were recreated exactly as they were in Leopard.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Numbuh One

Smart Playlist ordering is still messed up. The playlist syncs, but the ordering of the podcasts on my iPhone is not the same as the order in iTunes. Of course, this used to work in the good ol' days of iPhone 3.0/iTunes 8.

I've been having this problem too, and I personally know one other person that's had this issue. I've never seen this break like this before.

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

What the HECK is the in-your-face 3.5MB "Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0" that showed up along with the iTunes update? It gives you a Microsoft-like cryptic message that says "get it or die," and then something along the lines of "while getting it, your computer may die."

They might as well have said, "Message No. $#@^&*&%$".

I simply quit it without installing.

I have a message for Apple: Tell me what it does or does not do. Or, $#@^&*&%$ you too.

It's actually Apple-like in many ways, Apple is too often cryptic about what updates do. I've seen some that say something to the effect of "fixes stuff". I don't need technical details, a simple outline of what kind of problems are fixed would be nice.

[Zandros]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

But what's worse is that in all versions, it doesn't even resize properly, it makes the window some funky size instead of full screen.

Actually, resizing to fill the screen is not resizing properly either. What it should do is eliminate horizontal scroll bars, and only if that's impossible, fill the screen.

[KingOfSomewhereHot]

Originally Posted by JupiterOne

OK...hmm, interesting... No I am not on an administrator's account...

I'm gonna guess that's why you have to enter a password to even initiate Software Update. Just a guess though.

[aresee]

Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot

I'm gonna guess that's why you have to enter a password to even initiate Software Update. Just a guess though.

King and Jupiter, I can duplicate both of your responses.
1. In a standard account (non-administrator) I get what JupiterOne gets. System Update keeps asking for an administrators password. This is a new behavior and I prefer the old method. Do a software check and than ask for the administrators password if you decide to update. -- Oh, and the check will still go on. All you have to do is hit the CANCEL button. Repeatedly.

2. In my administrator account I get the old behavior. It does the software check and than asks for the password if you tell it to update. But instead of a list of applications that will changed and a check box to select which apps to update you get a dialog box with three buttons. DETAIL; CANCLE; INSTALL You have to select DETAIL to get the old list. If you selected INSTALL the apps are updated with you having no idea on what you may have screwed up.

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot

I'm gonna guess that's why you have to enter a password to even initiate Software Update. Just a guess though.

But in my Leopard non-administrator account it wouldn't ask me for my name/password until AFTER it checked for Software Updates. I'm not complaining about it asking for an admins name and password, I'm complaining about WHEN it asks for the name/password. It seems like they've changed where they ask for it.

Originally Posted by aresee

King and Jupiter, I can duplicate both of your responses.
1. In a standard account (non-administrator) I get what JupiterOne gets. System Update keeps asking for an administrators password. This is a new behavior and I prefer the old method. Do a software check and than ask for the administrators password if you decide to update. -- Oh, and the check will still go on. All you have to do is hit the CANCEL button. Repeatedly.

2. In my administrator account I get the old behavior. It does the software check and than asks for the password if you tell it to update. But instead of a list of applications that will changed and a check box to select which apps to update you get a dialog box with three buttons. DETAIL; CANCLE; INSTALL You have to select DETAIL to get the old list. If you selected INSTALL the apps are updated with you having no idea on what you may have screwed up.

Oh good. I'd rather know that it was a change, than it being just me experiencing it. But why such an obscure change?