Apple iTunes 11 Release Date: Major Overhaul Coming To Music Store, App ... (not surprising at all)

Apple iTunes 11 Release Date: Major Overhaul Coming To Music Store, App ...

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iTunes and App Store Redesign: In February, Apple bought an app search and discovery platform called Chomp for about $50 million. Expect Chomp's technology to make its big debut on iTunes 11.

"We buy smaller technology companies from time to time and generally don't comment on our purposes or plans," an Apple spokeswoman told Bloomberg at the time of the acquisition.

Apple wouldn't say how it plans to use the technology and 20-person team behind Chomp, but the purchase alone solidified beliefs that Apple would overhaul its iTunes and App Store platforms for the first time in about three years.

"The new design is said to be even simpler and more user-friendly than the current design," said Mark Gurman, who originally reported the story on 9 to 5 Mac. "Apple is working on ways to enhance the speed and efficiency of finding new content, such as songs, videos, and applications. The cornerstone element of Apple's new iTunes Store is interactivity. As Apple vaguely explained to a number of music labels and entertainment partners, Apple is looking to make the iTunes Store a much more engaging experience."

The old Web-based version of Chomp offered a variety of ways to discover great apps for the iPhone and iPad (and Android devices), featuring pages for new apps, trending apps, apps on sale, and free apps of the day. Chomp also provided pages for the apps considered "All-Time Greats," as well as those apps trending heavily on Twitter. At the bottom of the page, Chomp also suggested popular app searches for categories users may not know about, such as voice recording apps, or guitar apps, or system utilities apps.

Apple users should expect all of these subcategories and features to be included in iTunes 11. Many hoped the new iTunes and App Store revamps would make it in time for the new iPad's release, but Apple fans won't have to wait much longer before they experience iTunes in a brand-new way.

But most importantly, when will iTunes 11 be released? If Apple releases it at the same time it debuts the new MacBook Pro line-up, fans can expect iTunes 11 to hit by late May or early June. However, there's a great chance Apple could wait until it releases Mac OS 10.8, dubbed "Mountain Lion," which will be released this summer, in either June or July.

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