Apple expected to call time on iTunes at WWDC 2019

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference kicks off in the US today, and according to Bloomberg, one of the key announcements will be the shuttering of iTunes after 18 years.

The report says that Apple is planning a trio of new apps for the Mac – Music, TV, and Podcasts – to replace iTunes and bring Macs in line with how media is managed on iPhones and iPads. iTunes was a radical development when it launched in 2001, but the digital music landscape has changed a lot since then, and is now dominated by streaming services like Spotify, Tidal and Apple’s own Apple Music service.

Other predicted announcements include more independence for the Apple Watch. Support for cellular connectivity was added to Watch two years ago, but Bloomberg expects Apple to use its next software update, watchOS 6, to further break the Watch free from the iPhone by adding an on-board App Store, new apps like a calculator and voice recorder, and new messaging features.

The report also says that Apple will be announcing updated versions of its Reminders and Health apps as well as tweaks for Maps, Messages, Apple Books, Home, and Mail. The company is also expected to merge Find my iPhone and Find my Friends into a single app.

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