iTunes has been available as a media player on Windows for years. Granted, it was never the best available, but it was a crucial element for iPhone owners – especially in the early days when you had to use a PC or Mac to set up the phone, install updates and more. But as times change, so does software: while iTunes was once invaluable, the introduction of OTA updates and iCloud backups mean iTunes is essentially only being used by Windows-based Apple Music subscribers.
In fact, it’s not even available on Mac anymore. With the release of macOS Catalina back in 2019, Apple officially shuttered iTunes on Mac, releasing standalone Music, Podcast and TV apps to replace the streaming functionality, and the company built iTunes sync functionality directly into the Finder app. Nothing changed on the Windows front, but it was only a matter of time before iTunes for PC got the same treatment.
That seems to be happening sooner rather than later, according to a tweet from Italian site Aggiornamenti Lumia that claims Apple is gearing up to launch a new Windows-based app on the Microsoft Store. The site admittedly doesn’t detail what the app will offer, but considering Apple’s moves on macOS, it’s not hard to envision a new Apple app that’ll offer Apple’s core services, including Apple Music, Apple TV+ and iPhone sync functionality.
A new @Apple app coming soon to the Microsoft Store? 👀
— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) July 11, 2020
It comes a year after Apple hired engineers to “build the next generation of media apps for Windows” and specifically required experience with Universal Windows Platform – a platform currently unsupported by iTunes. Crucially, UWP apps can run on both Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One, and Microsoft’s console could play a crucial role in the expansion of the Apple TV+ video streaming service.
Expansion of services aside, the replacement of iTunes on Windows 10 would once again realign Apple’s software offerings across Mac and PC, making it easier for platform-hopping subscribers to access the music, podcasts and movies they want to watch without using entirely different apps. It’s all about the synergy, people.
For more Apple rumours, take a look at the latest iPhone 12 news and all we know about the AirPods 3 too.
Author: Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer
Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You'll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.