Apple today released iTunes 10.3, bringing the first wave of iCloud beta support to OS X. Following yesterday’s keynote event, Apple pushed the first minor “over the air” update to iOS 4.3.3 users bringing a new “Purchased” tab to the iTunes and App Stores. From this tab, iOS users can download previous purchases to their devices for no additional fee.
Today, iTunes has been updated to better compliment Apple’s newly announced cloud services. According to the support document accompanying the update’s release, iTunes 10.3 includes the following:
- Introducing iTunes in the Cloud beta. The music you purchase in iTunes appears automatically on all your devices. You can also download your past iTunes purchases. Where you want, when you want.
- Automatic Downloads. Purchase music from any device or computer and automatically download a copy to your Mac and iOS devices.
- Download Previous Purchases. Download your past music purchases again at no additional cost. Your purchases are available in the iTunes Store on your Mac or in the iTunes app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer on the iTunes Store.
- iTunes 10.3 also adds Books to the iTunes Store, where you can discover and buy your favorite books on your computer and automatically download them to iBooks on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
- This version also allows you to use Automatic Downloads with apps and books or download previously purchased apps and books from your computer or iOS device.
iTunes 10.3 is available now via Software Update or by direct download here. iTunes 10.5—which will establish full iCloud support—is slated for release this fall.