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Apple Releases iTunes SDK for Windows

Posted by pudge on from the just-another-drm-system-in-the-os dept.

amichalo writes "Apple's recent release of an iTunes SDK for Windows provides the ability for third party programs, such as WinAmp and Windows Media Player, to support the AAC file format. Ars Technica has additional commentary. The SDK uses the COM interface and supports iTunes 4.5 only."

6 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. minor nag by LordSah · · Score: 5, Informative
    This SDK provides header files, documentation, and sample JScript files demonstrating how to use the iTunes for Windows COM interface. COM is the Microsoft technology, similar to AppleScript on Mac OS, that allows programmatic control of iTunes from languages like JScript, Visual Basic, C#, and C++. This SDK requires iTunes for Windows version 4.5 or later.
    Because it bugs me, I'm going to clarify this. COM is mainly a binary specification on how function tables should be laid out in objects. If various languages comply to that specification, then magically language A can create and call into objects programmed in language B. Apple could've provided a URL to an article talking about COM (a non-Microsoft article even), rather than define it as "similar to AppleScript on Mac OS, that allows programmatic control of iTunes". If this SDK is intended for real developers, they probably don't want such a dumbed-down description (assuming they've never heard of COM).
  2. Re:Finally by Adian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think this is just another sign that Apple actually benefits from cross-platform applications. The roll-out of the IPod, then ITunes, it's all ultimately to make Apple products easier to use on Windows, since unfortunately it is running on a large share of home users desktops.

    --
    Adian
  3. misleading quote by G�tz · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Apple's recent release of an iTunes SDK for Windows provides the ability for third party programs, such as WinAmp and Windows Media Player, to support the AAC file format.
    They mean the DRMed AAC format by apple, there have been winamp plugins for the AAC format of the MPEG standards for a long time, even open source (but patented).
  4. Hilarious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Has anyone downloaded the SDK?

    It consists of just two files, plus documentation and samples.

    The two files are a 4KB .C file, and a 406KB .H file.

    Yes, 406KB. Good lord, that's one big header! :-) Is anything in iTunes not scriptable?

  5. Re:So when are we going to see some new formats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, iTunes for Windows actually uses Quicktime for playback.
    Theres this nice project over at SourceForge http://sourceforge.net/projects/qtcomponents/ with Ogg Vorbis components for Quicktime (and thus iTunes). It's still beta, and there is a pause when iTunes switch between formats, but it plays Ogg Vorbis.

    The crossfading can be found under Edit->Prefrerences->Effects.

  6. WinAmp already supports AAC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Winamp 5.x already supports AAC out of the "box"; it will rip to AAC quite transparently.

    Check it out... www.winamp.com; its worth it for the shoutcast capabilities alone.