iTunes scuppers iPods

Apple said on Thursday that it is investigating reports that some iPod owners have had trouble updating their devices to take advantage of the company's latest version of its iTunes jukebox software.

The Mac maker on Wednesday released an iPod software update in conjunction with its enhancement of iTunes. The iPod software is required for iPods to take advantage of the new features of iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store. However, a number of iPod owners say that when they run the software that is supposed to upgrade their devices, the software cannot detect their iPod.

"Apple is aware of a few isolated reports and is looking into it," the company said in a statement. Apple encouraged those who encounter a problem to contact AppleCare.

The iPod update was released Wednesday in conjunction with an update to Apple's iTunes jukebox. The new version of iTunes adds a number of features including the ability to print jewel case inserts and create "iMix" playlists that can be shared with users of Apple's music store. With the new version, Apple also changed the way iTunes enables music sharing in an effort to block various add-on programs that allowed file swapping or contravened the Digital Rights Management technology Apple uses to protect songs sold through iTunes.

Christopher Hiller, a software developer in Portland, Oregon, said he encountered the problem after downloading the iPod updater and new version of iTunes on Wednesday. Hiller posted his experiences on his web log.

"iTunes sees it fine, my Mac sees it fine," Hiller said on his site. "The update, apparently, disagrees."

Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com