Apple ships iTunes 8.1 update along with new features

Apple has updated its popular iTunes music jukebox software to version 8.1 today which, besides introducing support for the new and ridiculously small iPod shuffle, should add a few other cool features. Among them is an update to the Genius feature that now should make recommendations for movies and television shows in addition to the previously available song listings – though some have reported this to be outright missing.


Among other things, the new version also renames the old Party Shuffle feature to iTunes DJ and actually makes it useful and fun. With it, iPhone or iPod touch users that have Apple’s Remote application installed can request songs to be played and vote to control when they are played. There are also improved parental controls and this latest version should feel faster and more responsive on the whole. As usual, you can download it here or using the update feature in iTunes.