Speaking of updates, iTunes 4.2 is one whose significance bears special examination, because it marks a major turning point in the software's evolution: version 4.2 represents the AOLification of the iTunes Music Store. (Hold me, Mommy!) That's right, people; according to Apple's press release, as of right now, AOL's eleven gazillion subscribers can find iTMS links for "featured tracks" appearing in AOL Music. Clicking a link launches iTunes and sends them straight to the track at the iTMS for preview and/or purchase, and apparently they won't even need to create an Apple ID because they can sign in with their AOL screen names and pay for tunes via their AOL Wallet (whatever that is) or their on-file credit card. We sense an impending onslaught of iTMS business.

Sounds a little scary, doesn't it? But fear not, folks; sure, if the iTMS were your favorite funky local record store where you enjoy spending lazy Sundays picking through the vinyl bins in hopes of finding lost treasure, then this AOL tie-in would suddenly send thousands of mouth-breathing troglodytes descending upon your hangout like locusts in search of CDs by American Idol stars. Good thing the iTMS is entirely virtual, right? You can do your own thing and never even realize that there are thousands and thousands of AOL subscribers buying way too much Aaron Carter music one virtual aisle over.

In fact, AOL sending business-- potentially a ridiculously huge amount of business-- to the iTMS is a darn good thing. We're actually very anxious to see how this deal affects Apple's song sales rate, which is already the best in the industry and now stands to get a serious boost into the stratosphere. A successful iTMS means more new features and more new songs, which equals happy times for the rest of us. And believe it or not, that's not the only benefit we get out of this deal: the rest of us non-AOL-using iTMS customers now get access to a bit of exclusive AOL content in the form of Sessions@AOL songs showing up in the iTMS catalog. We never thought we'd actually be happy about being allowed to purchase AOL-originated music, but we gotta say-- this live track we just bought of Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is rocking our world. It's actually making us feel awake at five in the morning.

So, welcome to the store, AOL; just wipe your feet before you come in. And fer cryin' out loud, finish your Big Gulp first.