The latest iTunes update, iTunes 8.1 brought with it iTunes DJ. The new feature gives iPod touch and iPhone users with the Remote app installed on their device the ability to select and vote on the iTunes Dj playlist on a computer on a local network.

Here's a quick how-to for the party people out there.

What you need:
> Computer with iTunes 8.1
> iPhone or iPod touch with Remote 1.2
> Wi-Fi network

1. Update iTunes and the Remote App.

2. Choose iTunes DJ—formerly Party Shuffle— in iTunes then choose Settings in the lower right hand corner.

3. Check Allow Guests to request songs with Remote for iPhone or iPod touch. then check Enable voting. You can add a welcome message if you so desire. Click OK.

4. Launch Remote on your iPhone or iPod touch. In the settings menu you should see the iTunes DJ option and the name and description of playlist. Choose the playlist.

5. You'll be presented with the currently playing song. You can click the Request a Song button at the bottom to find a song you would like to hear. If you're more interested in voting click on the top left arrow to see the current playlist lineup.

6. To vote for a song tap the heart next to the song. You'll see the amount of votes a song has received. Songs with more votes will rise to the top of the playlist.

7. You can check out the votes from within iTunes. Songs with more votes will float to the top of the queue. If you disable voting in iTunes, incoming requests will simply get added to the queue in order.

That's pretty much it. Right now the Mac|Life staff is playing a new game we like to call, Battle of the DJ Playlists. We're all voting on each others playlists while we work with headphones on. Playlist owners are not allowed to vote on their own playlists. At this point, I've listened to Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now), by C&C Music Factory about 30 times.

We're hoping to get the entire company in on the game.