Playlists refined, redefined in iTunes 3.0


Apple has announced the next iteration of iTunes -- v3.0. With this update, which is available for download now, users can interactively generate play lists by setting rules that include parameters like rating, numbers of times played, size, etc.

"I think this will change the way we listen to music," said Steve Jobs during his introduction of the revised app.

Of the new features, my personal favorite is "sound check," which causes all songs to be played back at the same volume. So, regardless of the encoding rate or volume settings embedded when a song is ripped, it will play back at the volume level you specify.

These new features aren't show stoppers taken on an individual basis, but taken together move iTunes to the next level with extensive and extensible user control.

As of this writing, Apple had yet to update the iTunes' homepage.