ID3 tags added on a non-Mac machine are likely to be either CP-1251 (Windows) or CP-866 (DOS) coded. When iTunes imports such tags into the library, it has no knowledge what code page was used and by default assumes it is all MacRoman.

I’ll explain how to fix cyrillic in two steps

Installation

1. Copy Russian Conver script file to ~/Library/Scripts/Applications/iTunes.  (Note: You can change the name of a script to ensure proper sorting in the Script Menu.)
   
   

    (*
   Script:
    Russian Convert
   Version:
    0.1
   Author:
    Chirill Trescencov (chirill@chirill.com)
   *)
   
   tell application "iTunes"
    if selection is not {} then -- there ARE tracks selected...
    set sel to a reference to selection
    repeat with aTrack in sel
    set f to (get name of aTrack)
    set p to (get location of aTrack)
    do shell script "java -jar /Applications/Utilities/id3iconv-0.2.1.jar -e cp1251 " & quoted form of POSIX path of (p as string)
    end repeat
    end if
   end tell
    

2. Download id3iconv-0.2.1.jar utility and copy to /Applications/Utilities/ (The Russian Convert script is need it to fix mp3 files). Make sure the JAVA Machine is installed in your Snow Leopard.
3. That it. Now you will see the script in iTunes top menu. Just select weired songs and click on script.

iTunes Encode Russian songs – cyrillic problem is a post from: My MacOS X

• Addresses several stability issues with VoiceOver
• Addresses a usability issue with VoiceOver and Genius Mixes
• Addresses issues with converting songs to 128 kbps AAC while syncing
• Addresses other issues that improve stability and performance
iTunes 9.1 comes with several new features and improvements, including:

• Sync with iPad to enjoy your favorite music, movies, TV shows, books and more on the go

• Organize and sync books you’ve downloaded from iBooks on iPad or added to your iTunes library

• Rename, rearrange, or remove Genius Mixes

For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

iTunes update 9.1.1 – important bug fixes is a post from: My MacOS X

Apple today released iTunes 9.1 via Software Update and the company’s iTunes download page. The update brings several enhancements such as support for iPad syncing including eBook content and greater customizability of Genius Mixes.

iTunes 9.1 comes with several new features and improvements, including:

- Sync with iPad to enjoy your favorite music, movies, TV shows, books and more on the go

- Organize and sync books you’ve downloaded from iBooks on iPad or added to your iTunes library

- Rename, rearrange, or remove Genius Mixes

Apple’s iPad is scheduled to launch in the U.S. this Saturday, with the iBooks application and iBookstore expected to go live there at approximately the same time.

iPhoto 8.1.2 update

This update addresses minor issues in the area of import and syncing to iPhone, iPod or Apple TV.

The update is recommended for all users of iPhoto ’09.

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4052

Apple Releases iTunes 9.1 to Support iPad and iPhoto 8.1.2 update is a post from: My MacOS X

iTunes

In iTunes, a very useful feature is the File » Show Duplicates menu item. As expected by its name, you can use this feature to help weed out duplicates from your iTunes library. However, many people  have different versions of songs, remixes and such, which will show up as duplicates when using this feature.

The solution is to hold down the option key prior to selecting this menu item. When you do, Show Duplicates changes to Show Exact Duplicates. In this mode, iTunes shows only true duplicates, and not remixes or alternate versions.

NOTE: Show Exact Duplicates via the option key has been available at least since iTunes v8.0 from Fall ’08.

Of course for more power, flexibility and panache you should check out Dupin software.

Show only exact duplicate tracks in iTunes is a post from: My MacOS X

Safe Mode prevents third party visualizers and device plug-ins from loading. Also prevent an iPod/iPhone from auto-syncing.

Howto to start iTunes in Safe Mode is a post from: My MacOS X

In iTunes 9, if you wanted the miniature iTunes player window, you had to hold the Option key while clicking the green button. As of iTunes 9.0.1, the pre-iTunes 9 behavior has returned—clicking the green button switches to the miniature player mode. (Option-clicking the green button now maximizes the window.)

iTunes 9.01

iTunes 9 comes with many new features and improvements, including:

• Resolves issues browsing the iTunes Store.
• Addresses a performance issue where iTunes may become unresponsive.
• Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit.
• Fixes a problem syncing Podcasts in playlists to iPod or iPhone.
• Fixes a problem sorting albums with multiple discs.
• Addresses an issue with the Zoom button not switching to Mini Player.
• Improves application syncing for iPod touch and iPhone.
• Genius is now automatically updated to show Genius Mixes.
• An improved look and feel, including a new Column Browser for easily browsing your artists or albums, movies, TV shows, and more.
• iTunes Store has a brand new look, with improved navigation for quick and easy exploration.
• iTunes LP and iTunes Extras create unique experiences that feature exclusive interviews, videos, photos, and more — available with select album and movie purchases on the iTunes Store.
• Home Sharing helps you manage your family’s iTunes collection between computers in your home. iTunes can automatically transfer new purchases, or you can choose just the items you want.
• Genius Mixes are created for you by iTunes and play songs from your library that go great together.
• iPod and iPhone syncing now allows you to organize your iPhone and iPod touch home screens directly in iTunes. Syncing is now also more flexible, allowing you to sync individual artists, genres, or TV show and Podcast episodes.
• iTunes U items are now organized into their own section in your iTunes library.
• Sync with iPod nano (5th generation), iPod classic (Fall 2009), and iPod touch (Fall 2009).
• iTunes 9 also includes many other improvements, such as HE-AAC encoding and playback, more flexibility with Smart Playlists rules, simpler organization of your media files inside an iTunes Media folder, and more.

The 82.95MB iTunes 9.0.1 update is available through Software Update, or via Apple’s download page.

iTunes 9.0.1 released. Restores ‘maximize’ button behavior is a post from: My MacOS X

In iTunes 9, you can now do this. First add rule A and set the top “Match” criteria to All. After you have rule A done, click on the three-dot button to get a lower level rule, add rule B and set its applicability pop-up to Any. Finally, click the plus sign and add rule C. This will create the logical structure of A and (B or C). You can get even more fancy and click the three-dot button again, and add a D or E conditional, giving you a final rule structure of A and (B or C and (D or E)).

Smart Playlists in iTunes 9 is a post from: My MacOS X

1. Option-clicking the zoom button now creates the mini player window. (A standard click on the zoom button will return it to normal size.)
2. Also In iTunes 9, there’s a new menu item for the mini player, View » Switch to Mini Player (Shift-Command-M), which is a much better solution.
3. As before, you can also drag the lower right corner of the mini player’s window to remove the song display area, making for a very small controller-only window.

How to get the miniature player window in iTunes 9 is a post from: My MacOS X