You can get it here:

Apple - iTunes - Download iTunes

Or by software update soon.

Here's what is new:

iTunes 8.1 is now faster and more responsive. You will enjoy noticeable improvements when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing.

In addition, iTunes 8.1 provides many other improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation)
• Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ
• Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows
• Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs
• Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods
• Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus
• Includes many accessibility improvements
• Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls


Happy downloading iPod and iPhone users!

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Sirius Subscriber since 12-25-04
MBP 13"(mid 2009), SL 2, VZW BB Storm
MM@digitalradiocentral.com
"They pulled up the welcome mat, so many times they hurt their back. As sure as clocks are bleeding time, we'll show up early just to wait in line." - Isaac Brock, Modest Mouse

Is that really a NEW feature? You used to be able to do that by changing the bitrate to 256...


Anyways, I'm pulling down the upgrade through mac software updater. I'm hoping it will resolve some of the general sluggishness I've had ever since they introduced the album art way of browsing music.

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Motorola Droid with Slacker, Pandora, Grooveshark, iheartradio, and DroidLive-For Everywhere (Chew on that XM)
Slacker G2 25 Station-For backup

I'm now officially XM free

I'm still using Itunes 7. Nobody has given me a worthwhile reason to change to 8 yet...

I'm not sure, I just posted what Apple said.

It's much snappier to use, go for it and update.

__________________
Sirius Subscriber since 12-25-04
MBP 13"(mid 2009), SL 2, VZW BB Storm
MM@digitalradiocentral.com
"They pulled up the welcome mat, so many times they hurt their back. As sure as clocks are bleeding time, we'll show up early just to wait in line." - Isaac Brock, Modest Mouse

DAB:

They've relabeled the "Higher Quality (256kbps)" dropdown option to "iTunes Plus", and switched on VBR by default. Basically the default was 128K, now it's 256K.

Here's the other changes.

Faster and more responsive, with noticeable improvements when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing.

Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation)

Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ

Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows

Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs

Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods

Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus

Includes many accessibility improvements

Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls.

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DoublEE (Eric)
DRC Charter Member & Slacker
Slacker...your radio everywhere.
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Apple iPod Classic (160GB)
Apple iPod Touch (32GB 2nd generation)

My itunes rant...

I really wish they would stop hiding other non-itunes stuff in the itunes install package. I do not need a new service to support mobile devices that I don't have, and I don't remember ever saying that it was OK to install Bonjour either. Not to mention that their "software updater" always wants me to install their Safari browser (how is that an "update"?). Feel free to offer these "extras", but don't just install that junk on my machine without asking.

Hopefully the new version will speed things up with my large music library.

Be careful if your running Windows 2003. It is no longer a supported OS.

Windows Server 2003?

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"The general rule is the tougher a poster is, the weirder they look"
"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. ---Eleanor Roosevelt"

This would likely include Windows Home Server, since it was built around Windows Server 2003. Apple wants to make sure that those with Microsoft's Windows Home Server using iTunes to serve music to their iPod would no longer work. The Apple bunch really are some scoundrels!

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iPhone 4 32GB, Black, iPad 32GB 3G/WiFi
MacBook Pro 2.27GHz, nVidia 256GB, 4GB Ram, 320 GB HD
Mac Mini (Home) 2.53GHz 4GB Ram, 500GB HD

I always have problems downloading and installing the latest versions of iTunes!...