Apple Releases iPhone OS 3.1, iTunes 9.0 at Media Event

An Apple media event is nothing without significant software releases and to this end, iTunes 9 and the long-awaited iPhone OS 3.1 update should suffice.

iTunes 9, which is available as an 82.8 megabyte download, features the following changes and fixes:
– An improved look and feel, including a new Column Browser for easily browsing your artists or albums, movies, TV shows, and more.
– iTunes Store has a brand new look, with improved navigation for quick and easy exploration.
– iTunes LP and iTunes Extras create unique experiences that feature exclusive interviews, videos, photos, and more – available with select album and movie purchases on the iTunes Store.
– Home Sharing helps you manage your family’s iTunes collection between computers in your home. iTunes can automatically transfer new purchases, or you can choose just the items you want.
– Genius Mixes are created for you by iTunes and play songs from your library that go great together.
– iPod and iPhone syncing now allows you to organize your iPhone and iPod touch home screens directly in iTunes. Syncing is now also more flexible, allowing you to sync individual artists, genres, or TV show and Podcast episodes.
– iTunes U items are now organized into their own section in your iTunes library.
– Sync with iPod nano (5th generation), iPod classic (Fall 2009), and iPod touch (Fall 2009)..
– iTunes 9 also includes many other improvements, such as HE-AAC encoding and playback, more flexibility with Smart Playlists rules, simpler organization of your media files inside an iTunes Media folder, and more.

iTunes 9 is also available for free via Mac OS X’s Software Update feature and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later to install and run.

For iPhone and iPod touch users, iPhone OS 3.1 offers the following features and changes:
– Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos.
– iTunes U content organization.
– Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store.
– Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store.
– Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll.
– Option to “Save as new clip” when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS.
– Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on.
– Remotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMe.
– Use Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets.
– Paste phone numbers into the keypad.
– Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS.
– Warn when visiting fraudulent websites in Safari (anti-phishing).
– Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling.
– Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly.

Like previous iPhone OS updates, simply attach your iPhone or iPod touch to your computer, go into iTunes, select the device and click the “Check for Update” button. iTunes will then download and install the update, which requires a Mac running Mac OS X 10.4 and iTunes 8.0 or later to run.

As always, let us know if good things happen (your terrier begins teach physics at the local high school), bad things happen (the living room is now on fire) or if things remain relatively hunky-dory per your Mac, your iTunes and your iPhone or iPod touch.