Apple delays iTunes 11 by a month

iTunes 11 has been delayed a month as Apple puts the finishing touches to the new-look music software.

Apple told our sister site in the US that iTunes 11 is "taking longer than expected, and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right."

"We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface and seamless integration with iCloud, before the end of November."

Announced in September alongside the iPhone 5, the restyled iTunes was expected to launch by the end of October. 

iTunes 11 has a new look, influenced by the look of iOS software on the iPad and iPhone 5. The focus is on album covers that expand out to show you more songs, whether it's related tracks in your library or songs to buy from Apple's online iTunes music store.

There's a long overdue revamp of the mini-player. And the new software has ditched Ping, Apple's lame music-based social network. 

iTunes is also more integrated with Apple's online storage and syncing service iCloud -- which perhaps ironically decreases the prominence of iTunes. Thanks to iCloud, your iPad, iPhone or iPod can be backed up and updated without plugging into a computer, so you pretty much never need open iTunes again if you don't use it for buying music. Previously Apple mobile devices were tied to iTunes every time you wanted to sync, back-up or update.

The launch of the new iTunes comes at the same time as a reshuffle at Apple that sees revered designerJony Ive take a wider role at the company. Chingford-born Ive now oversees software as well as hardware. I wonder if we'll see any big Ive-shaped changes in iTunes 12?

Are you looking forward to iTunes, or do you go elsewhere for your music? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.