Itunes 5.0 a brief test on OS X x86

It's out and looks awesome No universal binary though Works fine on my SSE3 machine. ( had a crash on first run but not anymore, hopefully)But there is no universal binary availableI don't understand why they don't produce a universal binary

Well did a previous version run on your machine? I don't have a x86, I have PPC but it is kind of weird that they haven't released a universal binary yet... I mean after all half of the WWDC was on "How easy it is to make it a Universal Binary...", so Apple should have some binary out there! Anyway, I think iTunes 5 is much better, the new layout is awesome, I hope all Apple Apps adopt that layout style!

Universal binaries are designed so that 3rd party software companies can easily make one piece of software (and sell it) so that both x86 machines and PPC machines can run it. Apple doesn't have to worry about the whole selling and distributing part, so they can make a faster/smaller package that runs on just one platform without complicating things too much for users. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple never releases universal binaries for software it doesn't directly sell.

iTunes 5 for X86 is not a port from the PPC version but rather from the existing x86 version for some other unmentioned OS. Hence why there isn't a universal binary, they already had a binary for the x86 platform. And have had one for quite a long time from my understanding. For iLife and other more specific applications, they may release two versions, one for x86 and another for PPC optimized for before mentioned platform. Other Apple, mainly the Pro Apps series, Apps will have universial binaries. That is because FCP et. al will have to support both PPC and x86 for a few years (and releases) to come and that is their bread and butter software business. It is cheaper in that case to release universials because then you can package one $1500 set of tools for both platforms. Although, Lightwave comes with both Mac and PC versions on the installation DVD, you just have to have the correct dongle to install the full software for either platform. The reason is that both versions are packaged are: A more than enough space on a DVD and B if your production studio is mixed, you can install ScreamerNet II on upto 999 Macs or Pc's from one disc. Kinda cool eh?