iTunes 10: The 8 features it needs

If you're an iTunes user you'll know it can feel like an overly-bloated piece of "tankware". It tries to do everything. And while it's feature-packed, it needs a complete overhaul in terms of performance.

In lieu of something like "iTunes Lite", or "iTunes Shit Off A Shovel Edition", the software needs to be taken from its all-steak diet, and rebuilt as iTunes 10 on a diet comprising only chickpeas and ice cubes. But there are some other features I'd love it to have, and I'm far too arrogant to believe I'm the only one who thinks so.

So I present to you, dearest friends, the eight features I'd most like to see in iTunes 10, of which seven are actually feasible.

1: Content streaming from iTunes over Wi-Fi

iTunes 9 introduced Home Sharing -- the ability to copy content between iTunes libraries within the home. But that was only half of what needed to be done. In iTunes 10 I'd like to see the ability to have iTunes integrate with Apple's MobileMe service. This would allow you to stream your entire iTunes library over Wi-Fi and 3G to your iPhone and/or iPod touch, from your home computer.

2: iTunes Cloud

This is an extension of the above. In my first example, you'd need to leave your Mac or PC grinding away and connected to the internet in order to stream content from it. But what about if your iTunes library was mirrored in the cloud? Essentially it would let you log in (I would imagine via MobileMe again) on your iPhone, to stream your iTunes library from an online server hosted by Apple.

3: Restore library from iPod

iPod touches come with up to 64GB of memory, iPod classics up to 160GB. For most people this is more space than their entire library consumes. iTunes 10 should let you restore your desktop library from the portable one on your iPod, in the event that your hard drive is touched by Roland Emmerich.

4: SpiTunesify

That monstrous excuse for a portmanteau above is the combination of "Spotify" and "iTunes". I think you know what I'm getting at here. Last year Apple purchased streaming music start-up Lala, and rumours that Apple would finally get into the subscription-based streaming music business intensified. Although major labels may bludgeon the companies offering ad-supported streaming, Apple is in the perfect position as the largest music retailer in the world to crush the likes of Spotify with a paid-for subscription streaming service.

And imagine if that extended to TV shows and movies. And on Apple TV...

5: Texting from iPhone, via iTunes

This is something that has always annoyed me. Years ago I used Nokia's PC Suite application to compose text messages on my PC, but have them sent via my Nokia phone which was connected via USB. This should be built into iTunes, and could be integrated so conveniently within the software's iPhone tab.

6: Backup library to hard disk

If you want to backup your iTunes library, you need to using iTunes to save it to a DVD. If it's a large library, that'll involve several DVDs. If it's a gargantuan half-terabyte library like mine is, it would require almost all the blank DVDs I've ever touched. Where's the option to just back it up to a hard disk, huh?

iTunes 10 really should include this feature, as it would also save your playlists, ratings and other meta data which is embedded in iTunes' XML database. It would also make the process of switching from PC to Mac less of a worry.

7: One-click DVD ripping

There's more chance of me going to an X Factor concert out of choice than this happening, but it would be great if iTunes allowed you to copy DVD's into its library. This would be simple for home DVDs, but copyright issues would probably prevent this from being feasible for store-bought movies. Also, Apple wants to sell you movies itself, so why would it bother? Being flexible isn't on its agenda, after all.

8: Seriously, move the iTunes Store out of iTunes

Would you use Amazon as much if it forced you to use a bloated application in order to do so?

Just saying. It wouldn't have to be instead of the version in iTunes, but a web interface for buying DRM-free music should be high on Apple's agenda if it wants to keep AmazonMP3 at bay.

But now, I pass the megaphone over to you. Let me know in the comments what features you'd like to see in iTunes 10, and why. Incidentally, it should be out later this year.