iTunes 11, the newest version of Apple’s media player, launched late last week to a widespread positive reaction. What’s so special about it? It runs much quicker and smoother than ever before. If you’ve used iTunes in the past, you know how much of a processor hog it was. iTunes 11 speeds things up dramatically. The update also looks much sleeker and more streamlined, as well. Gone are rarely used features like Ping and Cover Flow, and hidden out of the way are your iDevices, easily accessible but neatly tucked away. Less clutter means more space for the features you actually use. The MiniPlayer also got a major overhaul, too. Apple got rid of the MiniPlayer’s progress bar and one-click volume control, but gave it more useful new features, like providing a search and displaying album art. If you haven’t already been prompted to download it, iTunes 11 is available as a free download from Apple’s site today.