ItunesProducer
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Apple adds support options for iBookstore publishers
In very welcome news to iBookstore publishers, Apple has recently added some support options to make it easier to get answers about pesky issues that might be delaying the sale of the next Great American Novel. In a letter to iBookstore publishers last week, Apple outlined four different support options. First, the Book Forum is part of the Apple Support Communities and a great way to search for answers to questions that others may have already asked. There's also an FAQ for iTunes Connect (requires iTunes Connect account to log in), the tool that's used to submit books to the store. For additional assistance with iTunes Connect issues, an existing Contact Us module leads publishers through a guided set of questions to provide an FAQ answer. Should that not provide an answer, there's now a toll-free (U.S. and Canada) number available to speak directly to an iBookstore Publisher Support advisor. Apple recommends that publishers have information on hand before requesting support by email or phone, including the Apple ID, ISBN, or vendor ID and title, the transfer log for iTunes Producer delivery failures, and the device, browser, version number, and operating system for technical issues in the iBookstore or on iTunes Connect.
iTunes updated to 10.6.1, with bug fixes aplenty -- iTunes Producer bumped to version 2.6
iTunes 10.6.1 is now available in Software Update -- it fixes a few glitches in Apple's ubiquitous music and library app, including several crashing issues, some VoiceOver problems, and an issue where iTunes would freeze up while syncing with the smaller iPod shuffle or nano. There's also a bugfix for an issue when browsing TV episodes on the Apple TV. Previously, there was a chance they would show up unordered, but this update should make sure that they're much more easy to browse. The update is rather sizable, 130.7 MB, and can be found in Software Update right now. If you're a developer who uses iTunes Producer to send your content to the iTunes Stores, that app has also been updated. iTunes Producer 2.6 adds some new features. Metadata can be searched and viewed for multiple vendor IDs simultaneously, Send to Apple now lets issues with delivery be annotated with notes and more. For music, alert tones, customizable territory groupings, and improved user interface for adding and editing translations have been included. For books, publishers can now add the target audience, pre-order start date, and a series display number from "New from file," and more languages are supported.
iTunes Producer updated to 1.5.1
In the "software updates of the maybe-rich and someday-famous" department, iTunes Producer 1.5.1 should be showing up in Software Update for the select few that have it installed: music producers and record labels who are registered uploaders to the iTunes Store. (If you just have to get your hands on a copy of the tool, Scott pointed out a way; it won't do you any good without a Label Connect login.)Changes in this version: upload in Apple Lossless format upload progress display encrypted content support (!) the usual reparación de insectos. Requires Mac OS X 10.4.5 or better. Are you a user of this rare and precious utility? Tell us about it.
Lossless downloads coming to iTunes?
A recent upgrade to the iTunes Producer software used by studios to encode tracks for iTMS distribution may be a good sign for the discriminating audiophile community, as Apple has included the necessary tools to create lossless AAC content that could presumably be uploaded to the online store. While the simple availability of this option certainly doesn't mean that higher-quality downloads are on the way -- for one thing, the so-called Apple Lossless Encoder still lacks the required FairPlay support -- Ars Technica points out that Cupertino and Hollywood could both potentially benefit from a less lossy option. Since tracks encoded in this format can be almost ten times as big as equivalent MP3s, widespread availability of lossless music may convince consumers to step up to higher capacity iPods, which would seem to be in Apple's best interest. As for the music studios, these high-fidelity tracks could presumably fetch more than the 99 cents that 128Kbps files go for, opening a door for the tiered pricing structures that content providers so desire. For now, though, these crystal-clear downloads are still merely speculation, so hardcore audio snobs enthusiasts will have to continue buying and ripping their own CDs for the foreseeable future.[Via Ars Technica]
Acquire a copy of iTunes Producer
iTunes Producer is the program that Apple created that allows music makers to upload their songs to the iTunes Music Store. Usually you need an iTunes Label Connect Login to get the program (i.e. Apple needs to approve you), but Macgeekery has found a way around that.If you're running OS X server you can download the application (via the built in Software Update functionality), but of course you can't use it without an iTunes Label Connect login.Pointless? Perhaps, but it is still pretty neat.
