Apple sounds Vista iPod corruption warning

Windows-using iPod owners have been advised to wait for the next release of iTunes jukebox software before upgrading to Windows Vista if they want to avoid "compatibility issues" between their favoured player and the new operating system.

According to Apple, these issues include an inability to play songs bought from the iTunes online store, an inability to update or restore iPod software, calendar and contacts synchronisation problems, and, worse of all, the corruption of data on the iPod.

Folk who can't wait for the next version of iTunes - due "in the next few weeks", according to Apple - should deauthorise any iTunes Store accounts held on the PC, enable disk use on the iPod, uninstall iTunes, perform a clean Vista install, re-install iTunes then re-authorise the iTunes Store accounts. Phew. We think we'd rather wait for iTunes 7.0.3...

Apple has also posted a Vista iTunes Repair Tool to fix "permissions for important files required by iTunes to play your iTunes Store purchases". The download is available here.