iTunes 4.9 on the way tomorrow?

We knew it was coming soon, but now it's looking like the next iteration of iTunes may in fact be unveiled tomorrow instead of July 7. This according to Dave Winer, harbinger of all things podcasting, who says not only will Apple be announcing the release of iTunes 4.9 but also an unnamed "big corporate content partnership." What do you think — is it Sirius? The iTunes client app will be supporting RSS 2.0 enclosures which of course includes video as well as audio — will they drop a bomb and unveil the iTunes Movie Store with Sony? Give us your predictions.

[Via TUAW]

[jim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

apple and mtv? please god, no.

http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/antimusicindustry/MTVSucks.html

[Katrina @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

And yet, I see you people talking, but would it be MUSIC videos or movies? Since you all have been saying different things and all.

[Steven @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Maybe I'm being a little optimistic, but its not impossible that Apple could announce some sort of firmware upgrade for the iPod Photo that would turn it into a video player.

An iMovie Video Store could be very straight forward for them (assuming they can get the content providers on board - which they've got a decent track record of) and with an iPod firmware upgrade they could have the market sown up before anyone even realised it!

[max skibinski @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

the obvious choice would be cingular. they've got to show the itunes phones asap. waiting this long has almost made me lose interest. if cingular is gonna grab it, they've gotta show it. apple's future depends on this device. ipods r gonna go out of style within the next 2 years. people don't like carrying too much junk.

[Velvet Nightmare @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Either way, we will have to keep waiting until tomorrow. I'm not going to wait for any huge news though.

[w ajackson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Apple Comp buys the Beatles' library from Micheal Jackson: therefore, owns Apple Corp and settles the Apple v Apple lawsuit and can offer the Beatles via iTunes.

[Jack Adams @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Maybe Sundance? http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/results?title=Sundance%20Channel

[Erock @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Its not going to be anything video related. Why would they come out with this awesome new feature (podcasting) only to have it totally dwarfed by the release of video? Does that make any sense to anyone here? Obviously they are going to be announcing a deal with, guess what, someone that is going to provide major podcasting content. Holy crap thats a coincidence if ive ever seen one (sarcasm). My guess, NPR or Sirius. Maybe another major radio producer (Clear Channel)

[mveloso @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Sony licenses FairPlay.
Apple licenses Sony's video library.

//just guessing

[muleking @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

New iBook? revised iBook? iBook is in need of some upgrades before i buy one.

[Flipper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

It's depressing seeing all these US centric suggestions. I hope if there is an announcement it's an international partner.

[muleking @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

.34 Yea... those US centric suggestions. That Sony is a real all american company. When I think America I think Apple Pie, Sony, and Baseball.

[steve @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I think the partner will be NPR ... a variety of rumors.

[Jason Reich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I was personally hoping for the BBC. They've got a few good podcasts going.

[bounicles @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

It won't be a portable video player. Even with firmware upgrades, the iPod drives cannot handle the persistent strain of video playback. If the movie thing happens at all, it will go through Airport Express, which already supports Airtunes. Video playback would be an extension of this, although it is still a ways off.

The correct corporate partnerships have already been mentioned in earlier comments.

[Oli Young @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

For the love of all that is holy -- iTMS AUSTRALIA .. please ? i've been a good boy this year ..

[Nate MC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I just wanna know how I can make a podcast show different album art in relation to the time code like Stevie showed at WWDC. Plus I hope they roll out both the mac version and windows one, I installed PearPC and X.3 just in case it's mac only first.

I'm stoked on this podcasting feature because I hate running multiple apps when one could do the job.

[The Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

A Sony PSP firmware update that makes it compatible with iTunes + AAC/Fairplay would be awesome. I'm not going to hold my breath but it would be welcomed. It would be a great way to show the rest of Sony that it should embrace iTunes and ditch Sony Connect.

[Seth @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

In regards to coment 26, it will probably be called iFlicks to match iTunes (tunes are to music as flicks are to movies) and though one device that plays music, movies and photos would be awsome, that screen is just to small for movies so Apple would probably release a new device that is to iFlicks as iPod is to iTunes. I don't know what they would call it though because iPod is the perfect name for a device that plays different types of media ("pod" has nothing to do with music, only the look of the device. Perhaps they could call it the iDock? I don't know...

[Space_Balls @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

now a really near feature would be an ability to download RSS news Feeds to an iPod, which you could then view. Since it already has the ability to store contacts and appointments, this would probably be very easy to integrate

[flipper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

US centric - sony no but it ain't gonna be them. Come on, they are still marketing mp3 players in competition!

[MrFloppy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I�d like to see not a iTunes Movie Store (I prefer to go to the cinema) but a iTunes Tv Store, with all the Tv series :D

[Kaleberg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

This sure sounds like the big Google Apple video scam. Google has been collecting content and looking to sell. Apple has a sales conduit and is looking for video, but it needs content beyond music videos and movie trailers. This may be the match.

[Anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

SIRIUS has a deal with NPR so I think it would be huge if they could make SIRIUS exclusive content available on iTunes. I just got a Benz and it came with SIRIUS and believe me you'll never go back to regular radio ever again.

[Bruce McFadden @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I think Apple cut an exclusive deal with the Bush White House. We get to hear Cheney-casts on how we've "turned the corner" in Iraq, Bush-casts on the rampant spread of Democracy in the Middle East and Condelliza-casts on what a big surprise 9/11 was.

[Tim Bauer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Actually the partnership is with the Supreme Court. Their first joint action was going to be the banning of P2P programs, but those sneaky little Justices jumped the gun on Stevie pooh today.

Effective immediately, all legal terms will begin with a lowercase "i" and Justices will wear white robes instead of black. All Justices will change their names to Steve (even Justice O'Connor) and they will only accept cases electronically - in .aac format.

[wass @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

looks like it's Cingular...

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I just got SIRIUS and believe me you'll never go back to regular radio ever again.

----------

Uhm, yeah.. Apple's been hammering away at radio stations with iPod.. it's called Smart Playlists. Why in gods name listen to radio when you have Smart Playlists...?

Talk radio. That's about it. When you can subscribe to the best in Talk Radio with Podcasting.. where does that leave SIRIUS?

[Jim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Big announcement: Apple partners with Sony for using iTunes to download movies to the PSP.

[TC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Fearless Prediction: MySpace.com

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

It will not be a US centric announcement such as cingular, as the press in Australia have been briefed to be prepared for a 'revolutionary announcement' on July 7 also.

[Frank Z @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Howard Stern Podcast. You heard it here first!

[Gonzote the Great @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Going back to the MTV thing (Sorry, had to say it) - when was the last time MTV actually *played* music videos? Hmmm...

Gotta agree that it won't be a US-centric announcement.

Maybe it'll be a partnership with Nintendo - get it? "Revolutionary" ? Eh? Eh??

Shoot me now. (Sorry, excess caffeine + long day...)

[Thad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

The big news is that iTunes 4.9 will now have a Linux/BSD version (I can dream, can't I?)

[Binary Wrangler @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

i had words with Adam Curry about this, and he mentioned iTunes, June 28th and Clear Channel in some sort of relation to eachother...you put the rest together...

Binary

[Sauce1985 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Quit looking at this and go to apple.com. It's already there fools!!

[Jeffery @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I just installed 4.9 (it's Tuesday, June 28th at 16:25 in China). And Podcasts are the only hot new item I can see. So far nothing new and cool for Podcasts at the store yet either.

[Leo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

My iTunes cannot perform automatic update though. It is still showing 4.8 as the current latest version. And i am too lazy to manually download 4.9
But yes, it is there in the download section. I wonder how come this release is so quiet... no announcement or whatsoever.

[Tim Bauer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

20 GB Color iPod and 4.9 are OUT!

[txwoof @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I suspect it's sirius. Was searching for music yesterday and came across remix named Sirius

[ron carson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Hi I am having trouble downloading itunes 5.0 I was useing 4.7 or 4.9 and now it will not work every time i try to download it kicks me out . Can you help me i hope i did not lose any of the 3339 songs. Is it something simple, Thank you Ron Carson. Sept- 9th 2005

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Microsoft?

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Microsoft?

[Tracye @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I'm sure the corporate partnership will be with either Sirius, XM, Audible or ClearChannel. Most likely Sirius.

[Amac_of_the_Clones @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I predict no matter what they announce, it will be praised as revolutionary by the apple zealots

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

It's nice to see so much attention being paid to podcasting, not just from apple but from some other big names as well. I never really paid attention to podcasting before but if it becomes more mainstream I hope to see some high quality podcasts coming out.

[Jorge Morales @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Motorola!

[Leo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

An iTunes movie store would really work if the iPod could play video but since it is so not the Apple way(taking their time), they could probably star providing rss 2.0 feeds with video and audio for a new iPod they might come out with during the year. In the meantime you'll have to use the app to get the feeds. And Sirius is really, really not the best option because they could up the cost of paying for the app. But is this even possible with Apple's history.

[Reality Check Dennis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

re #1

Seriously, can we kill "most sexy eletronic device", "apple zealot", "halo effect", and "fanboy" from the modern vocabulary. Christ people jump on another bandwagon...

As far as 4.9 is concerned it'll be revolutionary!

Seriously, I'm naming my first-born iDouche.

[Jody @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Uh... duh, we already know about Motorola... it'd make since for it to be I don't know, Cingular actually adopting the Motorola iTunes phone. That'd be major.

-Jody-