It was expected that iTunes 11 would be released this month, but with November knocking at the door and no update to show for it, Apple is now saying its revamped music service won’t be available for another few weeks.
Announced in September alongside the iPhone 5 and the new range of iPods, iTunes 11 promises a simpler, cleaner interface provided by an edge-to-edge layout.
The redesign adopts an expandable album view, which lets users view track listings while continuing to browse the library. Browsing the iTunes store while listening to song previews will also be possible.
The iTunes Mini Player has also been redesigned to make it easier to use and allow users to skip and search for tracks without needing to open the full library.
New features, such as deeper integration with iCloud and ‘Up Next’, which shows the songs that are queued up and lets users make additions that jump straight to the top of the list, will also be appearing on iTunes 11, however, the update won’t be released for a while yet.
“The new iTunes is taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right,” said Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr, speaking to CNET.
While Neumayr assures that iTunes 11 will be with us before the end of November, I can’t help but wonder if this delay will result in users defecting to the powered-up and brand new Xbox Music.