It was a matter of time before we saw this. It seems anytime there is an iPhone, iPod, QuickTime or AppleTV update there a matching iTunes update to go along with it. The basics behind this latest release is the standard 'several bugs' line but also addresses compatibility with AppleTV software version 2.0.

Along with the software update, iTunes is also introducing the movie of the week. The 99¢ movie is a promotion sent to iTunes Movie Rental customer.

The update is waiting in Software Update and weighs around 44mb.

HandBrake everyones favorite DVD ripping utility has introduced version 0.9.2. The most important upgrade to this version is the full support of AppleTV Take Two, and iPhone/iPodTouch upgrades. Handbrake is as always free and available for download.

Here's a round up of features:

• Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC3) sound in MP4 files, for a true DVD experience on the AppleTV and in Perian.
  
• Multi-track audio support for Apple devices
  
• iPhone-compatible anamorphic video at its full size
  
• Variable frame rate encoding with detelecine filtering
  
• More flexible, "loose" anamorphic video
  
• MP4 optimization for progressive web downloads
  
• Dynamic range compression for encoding from AC3 audio
  
• Robust program and transport stream support
  
• A fresher, faster version of x264
  
• Tuning of FIFO sizes by processor count
  
• Better handling of audio discontinuities
  
• Better handling of DVD read errors
  
• Work-arounds for missing end-of-cell markers
  
• Recovery when streams have signal loss
  
• Better synced chapter markers
  
• Better handling of B-Frames
  
• No more cutting off the very ends of films
  
• No more lost subtitles or chapter markers
  
• No more crashes in 2-pass encoding

The complete list of change are available through HandBrake's Trac.

As always, the complete list of changes is available on the Trac, as well as a complete timeline of 0.9.2's development.

BBC content has finally appeared in the iTunes UK Store overnight. Rumors have been circling about the publicly funded network bringing shows to iTunes to supplement their 'iplayer'. There were even rumors about using AppleTV's new rental program to allow for free viewing of these shows, but it looks like they are going with the standard purchase format.

Currently available are shows such as Torchwood, Spooks, The Mighty Boosh, Life on Mars, The Catherine Tate Show, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and finally Little Britain. These are all selling at £1.89

If your on the left side of the pond, your stuck looking for torrents of these shows. Currently BBC shows only appear in the UK version of the iTunes Store.

Fox and Apple will be making the performances from American Idol Semifinalists available on iTunes on March 11th. In addition the videos which will sell for $1.99, the store will feature music track sfrom the top-24 semi-finalists for 99¢. Similar to TV-Show season passes Idol fans can pre-order performances which will automatically be downloaded when available.

iTunes will also be sponsoring streaming videos on American Idol's website, and the iPod has become their official MP3 player, and iPhone Handset. These items will show up in cheesy commercials filmed by the contestants, similar to other sponsors such as Coke, AT&T and Ford. Might be cool to see them pay homage to the silhouette ads.

To hold you all over iTunes currently has 'Exclusive Video Memorable Season 7 Audition' for free right now.

Apple TV, Take 2 is now available for existing AppleTV owners. Originally introduced during the MacWorld Keynote in January, then delayed, this version of AppleTV's software will now feature:

• HD and Standard Movie Rentals
  
• Purchase Music, Movies, TV Show and more without iTunes
  
• Browse Flickr and .Mac galleries
  
• Navigate iTune's Podcast Directories and subscribe

This version also features the new user interface, which we are not so found of. It still seems like a step backwards from the smooth FrontRow style. This also sends developers back to the drawing board to deal with plug ins.

The update is free and is currently available through AppleTV's Update Software menu item.

Apple has updated QuickTime to 7.4.1, once again addressing security issues and compatibility. Here's the details.

QuickTime 7.4.1
QuickTime

CVE-ID: CVE-2008-0234

Available for: Mac OS X v10.3.9, Mac OS X v10.4.9 or later, Mac OS X v10.5 or later, Windows Vista, XP SP2

Impact: Visiting a malicious website may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution

Description: A heap buffer overflow exists in QuickTime's handling of HTTP responses when RTSP tunneling is enabled. By enticing a user to visit a maliciously crafted webpage, an attacker may cause an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved bounds checking.

The update is recommeneded for all users and is available via Software Update and download via Apple's website. For detailed information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307407

Perian, The Swiss Army Knife of Quicktime Components (just look at the logo) has release version 1.1. The popular QuickTime component allows you to play most popular video formats in the QuickTime player and FrontRow. Specifically Perian adds support for: AVI, FLV, MKV, MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivX, H.264, FLV1, FSV1, VP6, H263I, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), and MPEG Layer II Audio.

Additional improvements include:

• Major performance improvements
  
• TrueAudio, MP1, and DTS audio support
  
• Slice-based multithreaded decoding for MPEG-1/2/H.264
  
• Apple H.264 now handles AVCHD/interlaced video
  
• Compatibility fixes for QuickTime 7.4 and Leopard
  
• Objective-C GC compatibility
  
• Fixed a crash in Toast
  
• Better subtitle rendering
  
• Subtitles play during MKV loading
  
• Snow support
  
• Miscellaneous bug fixes

Version 1.1 requirements: Mac OS X 10.4.7, and you may download it for free from their website.

Amazon has announced it has purchased Audible, for a cool $300m. For those unfamilair with Audible, it is the largest audio book provider on the internet. This move makes good sense for Amazon, and will allow them to offer downloadable audiobooks along the side of the standard print version.


Another way to look at this is Amazon potentially trying to compete against another piece of Apple's iTunes content. From the Audiobooks introduction in iTunes, Audible been providing the content. Amazon has already started selling its DRM-Free music under the Amazon MP3 service, why not sell audio versions of their bread and butter, books. Audible and iTunes have a contract in place, but who's to say Amazon won't make it more difficult or costly for them to renew that contract when it becomes time. With a single denial, Amazon could significantly damage iTunes' Audio Book Library.

None of this will happen until the second quarter of the year anyhow. Lets hope Amazon and Apple player nicer then Apple and NBC.