By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 02:00 PM EST (11:00 AM PST)

Apple today introduced iTunes 5, bringing new features and a refined look to its industry leading digital music jukebox and online music store.

iTunes 5 includes a new Search Bar to make it easier for users to find what they’re searching for; the ability to organize playlists into folders; Smart Shuffle, which lets the user change the “randomness” of shuffled songs; and the ability for Windows users to automatically sync contacts and calendars from Outlook onto their iPods.

The iTunes Music Store has also added parental controls and album reviews, and now features a catalog of over two million songs, making it the largest online music catalog in the world.

“iTunes is widely regarded as the best jukebox, with the world’s most popular online music store built right in,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We are constantly improving iTunes with new features like Podcasting and better searching because we love music ourselves and want to surprise and delight music fans around the world.”

iTunes 5’s new Search Bar was designed to let users find exactly what they are looking for within the catalog of two million songs, 15,000 Podcasts and 10,000 audiobooks on the iTunes Music Store, in addition to everything in their own iTunes music library. 

iTunes and the iTunes Music Store have a new refined look, as well as parental controls allowing parents to determine which music and Podcasts their children can access on the iTunes Music Store.

iTunes 5.0 also introduces the ability to organize playlists into folders and have greater control over random playback with the new Smart Shuffle feature. Windows iPod users can now use iTunes to automatically sync calendars with Outlook or contacts with Outlook or Outlook Express.

Pricing & Availability

iTunes 5 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Music Store and is available as a free download immediately from www.apple.com/itunes.