Tech Shout!

Apple has released the 5th version of its popular music software iTunes. iTunes 5 has several new features and a refined look to the company’s digital music jukebox and online music store. iTunes 5 includes a new Search Bar, the ability to organize playlists into folders, Smart Shuffle that lets the user change the “randomness” of shuffled songs and the ability for Windows users to automatically sync contacts and calendars from Outlook onto their iPods.

The iTunes Online Music Store has also added parental controls and album reviews, and now features a catalog of over two million songs.

“iTunes is widely regarded as the best jukebox, with the world’s most popular online music store built right in,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We are constantly improving iTunes with new features like Podcasting and better searching because we love music ourselves and want to surprise and delight music fans around the world.”

iTunes 5’s new Search Bar helps users find the music they are looking for within the catalog of two million songs, 15,000 Podcasts and 10,000 audiobooks on the iTunes Music Store, plus everything in their own iTunes music library. The parental controls allow parents to determine which music and Podcasts their children can access on the iTunes Music Store.

iTune users can also now organize their playlists into folders and with Smart Shuffle feature have much more control over random playback. Windows iPod users will be able to use iTunes to automatically sync calendars with Outlook or contacts with Outlook or Outlook Express.

Apple also said the iTunes Music Store now features over 1,000 album reviews from its team of music experts. The reviews cover some of the best albums over the past 50 years, including current hits from Coldplay, Kanye West and Yo-Yo Ma, as well as classic artists such as Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra.

The iTunes Music Store features more than two million songs from the major music companies and over 1,000 independent record labels, 10,000 audiobooks, gift certificates and exclusive music.