Apple has released iTunes 2, an update to their popular jukebox player for Mac OS X. Besides its many other features, iTunes 2 features support for Apple’s recently released digital device, the iPod.
iTunes 2 is by no means limited to supporting iPod — like the original, it’ll still work with third-party MP3 players. But iPod users will get a boost because of the new device’s support for “Auto-Sync,” which automatically synchronizes the MP3 library and playlists maintained by iTunes.
The new version of iTunes will run natively both on Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X, and features the three most-requested features from current iTunes users: MP3 CD burning, an equalizer and the ability to cross-fade music tracks. iTunes 2 also sports the ability to burn audio CDs up to twice as fast as the previous version.
iTunes 2 features a 10-band equalizer activated by a button near the burn and eject buttons. The built-in equalizer features more than 20 presets for different styles of music. And when you’re creating playlists of your own music, sometimes it’s preferable to gracefully transition from one song to another — that’s what the new crossfader is there for.
Apple noted that iTunes 2 would be included on every new Mac system beginning in November, once the product ships. It requires Mac OS 9.2.1 or Mac OS X 10.1 or later. It is available now for free download.
Update: Apple has pulled the OS X download from their servers. We have no official word as to why the file has been removed.