Mac’s new Music app won’t be ported from iOS

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iTunes on Mac
iTunes ain’t dead yet.
Photo: Apple

The Mac’s next-generation Music app will be based on iTunes, not ported over from iOS.

Some sources previously stated that the app would be made using Marzipan, which lets developers easily port iPad apps to the desktop. But new information reveals that won’t be the case.

Apple fans have been waiting for the day Apple splits up iTunes. The current version of the app is bloated and slow, and no one really wants all their media in one place anymore. But Apple’s plans for standalone apps aren’t quite what many were expecting.

The new Music app, expected to debut in this fall’s macOS 10.15 update, won’t be ported from the iPad.

New Music app for macOS will be based on iTunes

The Music app is expected to be a big selling point of Apple’s next big macOS update. A recent report suggested it would be accompanied by Podcasts and TV apps, a redesigned Reminders app, and features like Screen Time and Siri Shortcuts.

Back in April, 9to5Mac reported the new Music app would be ported from iPad using Apple’s new Marzipan framework. Bloomberg later disputed this and said the app would be based on iTunes. Now 9to5 has corrected its claims.

“The new standalone Music app on macOS will actually be an AppKit application, based off of iTunes,” it reports, citing sources familiar with the development of the next Mac update.

The app is expected to include a number of features iTunes users are familiar with, such as smart playlists, advanced library management, and support for syncing with iPods and iOS devices. It may even retain the ability to read and burn CDs and DVDs.

Apple’s plans for iTunes

The new app is expected to be renamed Music, and it’s thought there will still be standalone apps for Podcasts, video, and more. “It’s possible that an older version of iTunes will be kept available for users who need extra features,” the sources add.

Given that many users require iTunes to do more than just play Music, it is perhaps not too surprising that its replacement will be more than just a Music port from iPad. We just hope it’ll be smoother and snappier than its predecessor.

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