News
Apple: iTunes Glitches Remain on Vista
An update still hasn't resolved some of the compatibility problems with Microsoft Corp.'s new operating system.
(San Jose, Calif.) An update to Apple Inc.'s iTunes music software still
hasn't resolved some of the compatibility problems with Microsoft Corp.'s
new operating system.
The iTunes program is key to synching music on computers with iPod portable
players, and the latest version, iTunes 7.1, comes a month after the iPod
and Macintosh computer maker warned PC users against installing Windows
Vista until Apple could fix the problems.
Apple removed that outright warning from its Web site on Monday and stated
instead that the updated iTunes is recommended for use with most editions
of Windows Vista. But Apple also conceded that some glitches, including
possible corruption of a user's iPod player upon ejection from a PC, remain.
"Apple is actively working with Microsoft to resolve a few remaining
known issues," the posting stated.
Apple representatives declined further comment and would not say how
much longer users would have to wait for iTunes to be completely Vista-friendly.
According to the notice posted on Apple's Web site, the previous glitch
that prevented Vista users from playing music or video purchased from
the online iTunes Store is no longer an issue.
But in addition to the iPod-ejection problem, Apple warned that iTunes
7.1 may still exhibit difficulties synchronizing Windows contacts with
an iPod. The text and graphics of iTunes running on a Vista machine also
may not be correctly displayed, though resizing the iTunes screen should
correct the issue.
Apple also reminded users that iTunes remains unsupported on 64-bit editions
of either Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Microsoft has said it is working with a long list of partners, including
Apple, to make sure their software is compatible with Vista. The new operating
system launched Jan. 30.
Though Microsoft and Apple are partners in some cases -- iTunes works
with Windows PCs and Microsoft Office has a version for Macs -- the two
are also longtime rivals. They compete in computer systems, which Microsoft
dominates, and in the digital music arena, which Apple dominates.