Apple releases iTunes 4.9 featuring podcast downloads

As announced back in May here Apple announced that iTunes 4.9 will allow users to subscribe to over 3,000 free Podcasts and have each new episode automatically delivered via the Internet to their computer and iPod.

Podcasts, or sound files and audio content such as radio shows, have surged in popularity since late in 2004 and will work on any digital MP3 player. Podcasting allows users to create and upload their own audio programs on the Web which then can be downloaded to multimedia players at a later date.

The new Podcast Directory in iTunes 4.9 features over 3,000 free audio programs, making it one of the largest podcast directories in the world, the company claims.

Apple also said it would combine its iPod and iPod Photo lines, creating a single line of high-capacity music players that all feature color displays, with the ability to view photos on the screen. Apple will now sell a 20 gigabyte model for $299 and a 60 gigabyte model for $399.

iTunes 4.9 is available for download at http://www.apple.com/itunes/

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