Apple Releases iTunes SDK for Windows

Apple have released the iTunes software development kit (SDK) for Windows, opening up iTunes functionality to Windows programmers though the Windows Component Object Model (COM) interface.

The SDK includes header files, documentation and sample Jscripts on how to use the iTunes interface.

The release of the SDK means that programmers will now be able to integrate iTunes features into third party programs, including of course, Windows Media Player. This means that it is theoretically possible to build iTunes Music Store support into Window Media Player – but it’s unlikely that Microsoft will be sending users over to Apple’s online shop any time soon.

One thing is almost certain – the SDK mean that Fairplay AAC (Advanced Audio enCoding) support will become much more prevalent as people use the interface in their programs. AAC has received a lot of praise since it has become more popular though the iPod and iTunes store, as it demonstrates great compression ratios and audio quality.

We look forward to seeing what widespread adoption of AAC as a DRM and encoding solution will mean for Windows Media.

Get the iTunes SDK here

All about AAC

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Fraser Lovatt

Fraser Lovatt has spent the last fifteen years working in publishing, TV and the Internet in various capacities, and believes that they will be seperate platforms for at least a while yet. His main interests at the moment are exploring where Linux is taking home entertainment and how technology is conferring technical skills on more and more people.Fraser Lovatt was born in the same year that 2001: A Space Odyssey was delighting and confusing people in the cinemas, and developed a lifelong love of technology as soon as he realised that things could be taken apart, sometimes put back together again, but mostly left in bits or made into something the original designer hadn't quite planned upon.At school he was definitely in the ZX Spectrum/Magpie/BMX camp, rather than the BBC Micro/Blue Peter/well-behaved group. This is all deeply ironic as he later went on to spend nine years working at the BBC.After a few years of working as a bookseller in Scotland, ("Back when it was actually a skilled profession" he'll tell anyone still listening), he moved to England for reasons he can't quite explain adequately to himself. After a couple of publishing jobs punctuated by sporadic bursts of travelling and photography came the aforementioned nine years at the BBC where he specialised in internet technologies and video.These days his primary interests are Java, Linux, videogames and pies - and if they're not candidates for convergence, then what is?