As I wrote yesterday, Apple was planning to launch iTunes 11 very soon, and today they did. The new software brings a number of enhancements including a redesigned store, simplified player, and new iCloud features. » Apple Releases iTunes 11: Up Next, New Miniplayer, Redesigned Store, Playback Syncing And More

The Wall Street Journal has published a profile of Eddy Cue “Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services”, which includes hints about the release date of iTunes 11. iTunes was expected to be released at the end of October but was delayed with a new release date pegged at the end of November. According to the report it will come out as soon as today. » iTunes 11 To Launch As Soon As Today?

Facebook announced that today with Facebook Gifts, you can instantly gift your friends iTunes digital gifts and recommend albums, movies, games, apps, and more available on the iTunes Store. You can search for a specific song or album to recommend, or let your friend decide. iTunes digital gifts are available for $10, $15, $25, or $50. » iTunes Digital Gift Cards Now Available On Facebook

According to a post on the macrumors forum, Apple is asking record labels to submit pictures and galleries of their artists to iTunes for use in iTunes 11′s new Music Store layout. The email above was sent to artists by German music distribution service Feiyr. iTunes 11 was supposed to be released last month, but was delayed and is supposed to ship by the end of November.

Last week we wrote that WindSolutions announced the launch of CopyTrans Contacts for easily managing your iPhone, iPod and iPad contacts without iTunes. Since yesterday I started using it and I have to say i am very pleased. It is plain, fast and easy to use. All you have to do is connect your iDevice to your PC and CopyTrans Contacts will quickly take charge of your iOS address book, enabling users to import or export, organize, and edit their contacts. Take a look after the break where I will show you how to use CopyTrans Contacts and why this easy to use tool should be added to your favorite apps. » CopyTrans Contacts: Easily Manage Your iDevice Contacts Without iTunes

Besides the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 Apple also introduced new iPod nano’s and iPod touches and a new version of iTunes for Mac at the September 12th keynote. The new iPod nano’s are larger and thinner. They come in several different colors and the new Lightning connector.

» September 12th Keynote: iTunes 11, iPod nano and iPod touch

Apple did not broadcast the iPhone 5 keynote live so for all the people that did not see the Media Event, Apple posted a video of the event on its website. In the video you can see an introduction of the iPhone 5, the new iPod Touch, the new iPod Nano, iOS 6 and the new iTunes. The video also should be available soon on Apple’s YouTube channel and in the iTunes Store. [Podcast links: Keynotes, Keynotes in HD, Keynotes in 1080p HD]