[JulesLt]

This thread seems to be moving off iTunes, which could honestly do with many of the changes listed, and heading into general Apple bashing. Not really suprising.

On the OS X experience - I run a 2D dock under Leopard and I've experimented with having my menu bar back as opaque - both of which are merely O/S settings with no GUI. I've played around with going dockless and using Quicksilver and Butler. I used Virtue for virtual desktops before Leopard implemented them.

If you are the kind of person who has a desire to tweak your experience it is easily doable, so it surprises me when people bitch about it, simply because the System Preferences don't offer a vast number of advanced settings for every change you might want to make.

I just don't get it - the people who say it's 'computing with stabilisers' or 'simplified for idiots' should surely be smart enough to be able to use Google to do a search to find out how to change the things they don't like? Is the CLI really scarier than the registry? Is it really a problem that (if you don't want to use the CLI) you have to download a freeware utility to tweak settings?

The 'proprietary' BIOS is otherwise known as EFI - an Intel standard designed as a replacement for BIOS. I remember the same bitching about Firewire and even USB (and I was a PC user at the time). "Why don't they use industry standard PS/2 connectors for mice?". BIOS is the new PS/2.

On the iPod - what 'industry standards'?? Aside from MPEG container and codec standards, there weren't any. There is no standards body backed DRM or sync. There were some that I believe were proposed to CE manufacturers by a company dominant in desktop computing, but they never really took off, which makes them about as useful as the DRM system proposed by Sun.

On size - I suspect a lot of the bloat comes from some kind of cross-platform framework, given the similarity of the two apps. But I would agree - Apple should be delivering the best native apps possible on each platform (first lesson of UI design is that consistency between applications is good) - provided they are data compatible and offer broadly the same functionality, who really cares about skin and development technology?

On security - it's pretty much impossible to tell how seriously they take it, because of their secrecy and bad PR in the area. In practical terms, it seems a secure platform - as does Vista for that matter. I'll take practical over theoretical on most days. (I wonder how many people posting here have ever actually had their code subjected to audit by a security consultant??).

[mphenterprises]

Hi All. Let's please keep the posts in line with the news article regarding iTunes. Thanks.

[jimcray123]

OMG - I sincerely hope they NEVER go to a subscription model. Once I pay for a song, which I'm ok with doing, I don't ever want to pay again. I know it's a good way for a company to make money every month but it's a horrible option for users!

[MusicDoc]

You know, it would be nice if a supposed tech journalist would actually do some research before posting uninformed drivel.

1) DRM is NOT an Apple/iTunes-based problem. The recording companies cartel, with the exception of EMI (mainly because they're upset at having been show how to actually give people what they want) refuses to allow Apple to sell DRM-free music, though they provide it to other online services. If you want to lay blame, lay it at the source where it belongs, not on Apple.

2) Oooooh, a subscription service is what you want? You mean, like all those others that have already failed and shuttered their doors? get real.

3) As in #1, the blame for there being no NBC shows on iTunes lies squarely on NBC for demanding more money than any other network was receiving....for shows that, if anything, deserve LESS recompense. "Must See TV?" I don't think so. NBC needs iTunes a whole lot more than iTunes needs NBC. "Swallow your pride and get NBC back on board in time for September?" I think you should definitely send that one to NBC/Universal with a query about why they felt the need to be so greedy in the first place. Perhaps NBC just lives by the toddler mentality.

Again, please spend a little time doing OBJECTIVE research before penning half/non-truths.

[flynnstudio]

1) Not on a Mac they aren’t
2) Not Apple’s fault - try asking the Music cartels why they don’t allow it
3) Smart Playlists work pretty nicely for me - automatically updating content as it’s added
4) Fair enough but still it’s not exactly crapware is it ?
5) Good
6) Ok
7) It’s called ‘De-clutter’ unlike Vista which is delivers a veritable eye-storm of irrelevant screen fluff. I prefer Classic Mac minimalism.
8) Tell NBC that
9) Try a third-party widget or cheap app like Tune-bar
10) Are you seriously printing this ? Were you expecting an 'Export to Zune' Wizard
11) Ebooks - App store got plenty...more to come I’m sure...I guess it's meant to support Ipod/iPhone's and not act as a ebook archiver.

[OldOnliner]

Why is iTunes backup limited to using CD/DVD discs, with no option to choose backup to an external hard drive?



This makes no sense...



Oh... wait... if the HD is an iPod, then you can. Ahhh... marketing... the root of all things Apple.

[AuroraDizon]

I just backed up my files onto an external hd the other day. I just moved the folders though... ?:|

[tbsteph1]

May I ask who first confronted the major studios on removing DRM? Steve Jobs in February 2007. The existence of any DRM on the iTunes store is not an Apple decision. If the author of the article has an issue with this, its with Sony etc, not Apple. Same goes with NBC. I suspect the author would be able to make another 11 things he hates about iTunes even if the existing 11 were eliminated.

Is iTunes perfect? No. But, it more than meets the needs of the vast majority of users.

[hhauffe]

It was my understanding that it was Apple who was pushing the labels to allow them to sell their music DRM free and the labels have continued to restrict how iTunes can offer their music - they've allowed other services to offer DRM free music not because they've changed their minds, but because they're acting in collusion against Apple in the hopes of again being able to offer their music in packages and at prices that they prefer, rather than what the user wants.
So Rick, just what is it that you've learned that says that DRM free music is now available to iTunes?? What is your source? I'm sure Apple would like to know.

[jothorp]

I'm on an IBM PC too and the scroll wheel on my microsoft mouse works with iTunes.

You must have something wrong in your setup.

[mhamilton]

I'm a huge iPod fan and
have used iTunes pretty extensively for managing my music library. But
I've been very frustrated with it because it is nearly worthless for
actually listening to music the way I want to (usually kicking back on
the couch.) It was so frustrating I wrote my own application to do it
(shameless plug: http://www.quuxplayer.com).
It seems to me that there's this huge tendency for apps to want to
do everything for everyone, but it really takes away from the
experience when you're not wanting to sort through features and wold
rather just sit back and relax.

[modima65]

Please, writer, do some research first!!!
Apple, first to ask for DRM free digital music.
Apple, first to offer free digital music.
Apple, first to invent a truely functional digital music ecosystem.
http://macdailynews....comments/18174/
Are you paid for this???

[mhamilton]

Here's one: http://www.quuxplayer.com.

[GCFreak]

iTunes is horrible, shitty bloatware which steals all your resources and installs software secretly behind your back. All I need is Winamp and FrostWire, my music fix, a great music player AND it can sync iPods =)

[Elbowmeat]

I can proudly announce that I have never used iTunes. I hate Apple, and I refuse to use their software or products.

[ChrisCA]

LDailey said:

howdy y'all,

my big bugaboo is the inability to export and then import SMART playlists. if i go to the trouble of making a nifty smart playlist definition, i would REALLY like to be able to ...
* back it up
* share it
* edit and re-import it

take care,
lee

Select the smart playlist.

File -> Export.

To reimport it, File -> Import.

[ChrisCA]

philipashlock said:

isn't party shuffle, by definition, randomized and not sequenced playpack?

I'm looking for control over the music that's playing. I don't want my music to stop playing just because I started playing it while browsing through albums in my library. An album should only stop playing if I hit stop or if I start playing something else, not just because I'm browsing the library. Furthermore, I should be able to transition the currently playing track to be active in any context, in any playlist.

If you do nothing, yes it is.

You want to be able to let it go without having to tend to it at a party but you can also add, delete and rearrange songs as you wish.

Select Party Shuffle and pick a playlist (or the entire library) and press Play. It will shuffle thru the selection.

Now browse thru the library or other playlists. Find a song (or songs, artist, albums) and right click on it. You can select Play next in Party shuffle. This adds it as the next song. If you select Add to Party shuffle, it puts it at the end of the currently displayed tracks (which is adjustable at the bottom of the Party Shuffle). You can select how many songs to display of the Recently played songs and the upcoming songs.

You can add, delete and drag the songs up or down in the Party Shuffle.

[ChrisCA]

> {quote:title=PCWorld wrote: #5 }{quote}For 15 bucks a month, a Zune Pass lets us buy unlimited (but not
unrestricted) downloads that we can pack into our high-capacity iPods.
[/quote]
You are “buying“ the right to listen to it for 30 days, then you have to pay another $15 if you want to continue to listen to it (for another 30 days).

[mconley]

I'm growing very tired of always having to download a new version of itunes or an ipod update, it seems like there is something new to download each week. With an internet speed like mine it can take hours for some updates to download slowing down my computer noticeably during that time. Apple doesn't need to send out an update for every little change it makes.

[Milkybuet]

1. Cna't it open in less time?

2. Can't iTumes be a stand alone software which doesn't rely on Quick Time?

3. Even in a fairly high configured PC its video playback is pocky. :(

4. There should be on the fly playlist. Currently you have to make and save one, then add music to it. But in WMP you add as you like to the right hand playlist and you can choose to save it or discard it at wish. X-(

5. At least add directory monitoring.