iTunes 12.1 update introduces a widget for Notification Center

iTunes Notification Center widget

Apple this evening posted the first notable update for iTunes 12 since the music management app was refreshed for OS X Yosemite back in October of last year. The release comes labeled as iTunes 12.1, and it includes a new media control widget for Notification Center.

The widget includes back, forward and pause buttons, much like the buttons on the Lock screen and in Control Center of iOS, as well as track information. And, when playing iTunes Radio, the widget allows you to favorite songs and purchase the currently playing song.

The 12.1 update is for both Windows and Mac, and Apple says that in addition to the new widget, it also improves performances when syncing with iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can find it either in the Updates tab of the Mac App Store or in the Menu Bar > iTunes >Check for Updates.

Today’s release comes just a day after Apple pushed out OS X Yosemite 10.10.2. The long-awaited maintenance update brought about a number of improvements, including major fixes for a well-known Spotlight security issue, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Bluetooth headphone syncing.