Apple removes iTunes from MacOS in latest update

It’s been described as bulky and over-complicated. Now, after 18 years, 12 versions and billions of sales, iconic music program iTunes is no more.

Apple has finally begun killing off iTunes — the iconic music program that debuted on Mac computers in 2001.

The latest macOS Catalina update now splits love-it-or-hate-it iTunes into three different apps.

iTunes launched way back in 2001 as a way for users to manage their media, like songs and videos.

It also allows users to back up and update their iPhone, buy music and movies and even listen to podcasts.

RELATED: Panic as Apple shuts down iTunes

But the program tried to do too much, becoming bulky and over-complicated.

Now Apple’s latest Mac update splits iTunes into three apps: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV.

The new Apple Music app will basically be iTunes but without all of the odd extra features — like movies and iPhone syncing.

Apple’s Podcasts app also brings improvements, including the ability to search podcast content.

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs with the original iPod. iTunes launched a few months ahead of the revolutionary device in 2001.

The new Apple TV app is where you’ll find your movies and TV shows and now supports 4K HDR playback.

If you’ve purchased music, you’ll find that in the Apple Music app.

And if you’ve bought any TV shows or movies, they’ll be found in the Apple TV app.

Apple teased the move earlier this year, killing off Instagram and Facebook accounts for iTunes.

RELATED: Read this before updating your Mac

Of course, iTunes is not completely dead.

The iTunes app is still available on Windows computers or anyone using older versions of Mac software.

Apple hasn’t revealed when iTunes might be abandoned on Windows, but it’s unlikely to survive forever.

ITUNES — THE KEY FACTS

• Apple launched iTunes on January 9, 2001 for Mac computers
• A Windows PC release came later in 2003
• The app was designed to play your music files but quickly expanded to serve many more jobs
• When the iPhone launched, you could use iTunes to sync and update your handset
• And now it’s possible to purchase songs and movies through iTunes as well as download podcasts
• However, iTunes has been widely criticised as being over-complicated and confusing
• Apple has turned iTunes from a music player to a huge multimedia platform, which has made it “bloated”
• It can also be slow, has an awkward layout (at least by Apple’s high standards) and has a confusing iPhone syncing process

Will you miss iTunes or are you glad it’s now gone? Let us know in the comments below.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission