iTunes update v11.0.2 is now available from Apple with a slew of enhancements and bug fixes. The update makes improvements on how iTunes handles large music files, solving the issue of some users whose purchases weren’t showing up in their iTunes library. In addition, iTune v11.0.2 comes with a new Composer view for Music.

Familiar with the song “Monkey Drums” (Goksel Vancin Remix) by an artist named Chase Buch? Honestly, I don’t know this song, but that doesn’t mean it’s without significance. “Monkey Drums” just made history by becoming the 25 billionth song downloaded from the iTunes App Store, as announced by Apple.

In a move to encourage more independent writers to make their masterpieces available on the iBookstore, Apple has started devoting a section for these e-books via a new section called Breakout Books. According to Apple, Breakout Books is aimed at helping readers find the next reading sensation by way of these hand-picked collection books from emerging talented writers. All e-books on Breakout books are independently published and were rated and recommended by iBookstore customers.

Apple recently made a small but important, change to how screenshots are handled at the App Store to stop scammers. You used to be able to change the screenshots that show what your app looks like at any time. Duplicitous developers would submit their app with actual screenshots from their app, and then switch them with screenshots from other apps once they got onto the App Store.

Got yourself an iTunes gift card for Christmas? Sweet! Apple doesn’t do a great job of explaining how to redeem an iTunes gift card with the App Store app, but it’s very simple. Here’s how you do it. Remember, though, that gift cards have to be redeemed in the iTunes store of the country in which the card was purchased.

A lot of people like to complain about Christmas music, but I think that’s because they’re stuck listening to the junk they play at grocery stores and Starbucks. There’s actually some pretty fun, lesser known contemporary Christmas music available to you right on iTunes once you dig past their predictable and bland splash page recommendations.

As they do every year around the holidays, Apple has published the “App Store Best of 2012.” The annual list was previously known as “iTunes Rewind.” Apple’s staff has chosen their favorite list of winners and runners-up for this year in music, movies, TV shows, books, podcasts and apps.

Apple has updated iTunes v11 to fix a few bugs and bring back duplicate finder functionality. Apple has also made some stability enhancements to their iTunes Music Store. iTunes v11.0.1 will squash a bug that prevented users from seeing their purchased items in iTunes Match subscription service, along with an issue that kept the AirPlay icon from showing up.

Last Week, Apple’s iTunes 11 was finally released to the public, offering new features and a resigned interface. However, many Apple forum users have been voicing concerns about critical software bugs found in the new software. Now, AllThingsD’s Walt Mossberg has reported that Apple will soon be launching a software update for iTunes 11.

Traditionally, the only way to redeem iTunes Gift Card codes was by typing the unique 16-character code into your computer or iDevice. In iTunes 11, Apple has added the ability to snap a photo of the code using your computer’s camera. Once users have done that, iTunes will verify the code and automatically transfer the funds to the user’s iTunes account.

iTunes 11 brings a new user interface to Apple’s “viewing, listening, browsing, and shopping” software, along with deeper integration with their iCloud service, which allows users to sync and share media content with several Apple devices. The update also supports social media clients such as Facebook and Twitter. This also means users can finally say good-bye to Apple’s failed Ping music-oriented social networking service.

Facebook has added a new option for users to send Apple’s iTunes gift cards to any of your contacts or friends on the popular social media service. This new gift choice is available through Facebook’s Gifts online storefront, allowing users to pick their iTunes Gift card value ($10, $15, $25, or $50) and to recommend to the recipient any new movies, apps or music available through iTunes.