Apple iTunes 12.1 Adds Notification Center Widget

Apple has rolled out an update for iTunes, which brings a Notifications Center widget in OS X Yosemite and some other improvements for the music software.

The widget lets you see whatever is currently playing on iTunes or iTunes Radio, as well as skip ahead, and star specific tracks to mark them as favorites. In addition, when you're listening to iTunes Radio, you'll have the option to purchase the song that's being played right from the widget, which should save you a few clicks if you really like a tune.

But as Tidbits points out, "clicking the displayed price button in the Notification Center widget automatically buys the song and downloads it to your library — you aren't brought to an iTunes Store page to ponder your purchase." So be sure you actually want the song before you click to buy it.

Meanwhile, the update also includes some bug fixes and performance improvements when syncing an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iTunes, though Apple did not go into detail about what is better. This is the first major update to iTunes 12, which was released alongside OS X Yosemite this past fall.

Apple has been on a bit of an update spree this week, releasing OS X Yosemite 10.10.2, which fixes Wi-Fi and Web browser issues, and iOS 8.1.3 to squash a number of bugs. The iOS update also offers some stability and performance improvements, but reportedly does not fix the slow Wi-Fi and battery-drain issues that have been plaguing older iPhone and iPads since the release of iOS 8 back in September.

For more, see PCMag's full review of iTunes 12, and our roundup of iTunes tips in the slideshow above.