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How iTunes Is Changing on PC

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Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#171

Post by plorg »

Macha wrote: post #150
jimmaswell wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who generally hates Apple, I actually enjoyed iTunes on Windows in the ~2007-2012 era when I had to use it to manage my iPod Touch (and second one a friend gave me, since I ran out of space on the first, spreading the MLPMusicArchive across both). Performed fine on my somewhat-potato laptops, had a nice interface and search function, got the job done syncing the iPods. I never got the big deal about iTunes…

Huh, that's exactly when I had to interface with iTunes and remember disliking it. It was horribly non native to the point that both it and Safari (which had a windows port in those days) ported the Apple font rendering which stuck out like a sore thumb. Performance was also bad compared to Windows Media Player, never mind Foobar2000 etc. And for syncing, the non apple devices just let you copy the files onto them as…

I remember at the time having MTP- only PMPs and every piece of software (WMP included but also Foobar2000 and Winamp) was miserable.

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#172

Post by dddddaviddddd »

at_a_remove wrote: post #109

Someone local has some kind of i-device (iPod? iTouch? He doesn't remember) from which he would like to extract copies of the music on it. I'm not even sure what to do. I have heard so many horror stories of iTunes just trashing libraries ... I'm not even sure what I would search for in terms of Windows software or what kind of cable I would need. And Apple's branding is so ... operationally overloaded, overlapping,…

Apple's software won't let you do that, you'll need something third-party. If you're lucky, the device will be old enough to jailbreak to get full access to the file system.

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#173

Post by sgu999 »

crazygringo wrote: post #165
incanus77 wrote: post #138

The phrase “everything you needed to be entertained” is indicative of the biggest problem that I see with Apple today: a focus on consumerism and passive consumption. Twenty years ago, iTunes’ emphasis was on collecting, experiencing, and enjoying an art form. It’s a very subtle difference, but it speaks to the attitude that Apple projects today. When was the last time the intersection with the humanities was mention…

> iTunes’ emphasis was on collecting, experiencing, and enjoying an art form. I get much more enjoyment out of experiencing new music through radio functionality in Apple Music or Spotify than wasting time "collecting". It expands my horizons rather than limiting myself to what I already know I like. There's nothing passive about recommendations. I hear a new song I like, I go to research the artist, I start a new ra…

That's a widely different experience I'm getting from it, discovery is really bad in my opinion. "hearing a new song I like" is usually in a completely different place than Apple Music... I don't know if I'm an outlier, but recommendations are absolute rubbish on the home page. Same goes for Netflix actually.

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#174

Post by robertoandred »

Macha wrote: post #152
bni wrote: post #78

It's strange that Apple keep this Windows software around. Is there really a lot of people on Windows that actually use this?

I think the Windows client will live as long as the iTunes Store. Which I was sort of more confident about when it seemed to just be in a forgotten corner of Apple somewhere just ticking along. Now it's clear someone has come up with a strategy™, I think there's more risk they might screw with both to push people into subscription services, and I can't help but see an iTunes Store shutdown as being the beginning of t…

You can still buy movies and tv shows from Apple through the TV app, even though AppleTV+ exists. My guess is the iTunes Store simply becomes the Apple Music Store.

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#175

Post by MichaelZuo »

sgu999 wrote: post #169
incanus77 wrote: post #138

The phrase “everything you needed to be entertained” is indicative of the biggest problem that I see with Apple today: a focus on consumerism and passive consumption. Twenty years ago, iTunes’ emphasis was on collecting, experiencing, and enjoying an art form. It’s a very subtle difference, but it speaks to the attitude that Apple projects today. When was the last time the intersection with the humanities was mention…

> When was the last time the intersection with the humanities was mentioned, versus how sleek and desirable the technology is? Probably around a decade ago, at least. The low hanging fruits of digitalisation have been gone for a while now. I can't really think of anything they've released since for which it was immediately obvious what "problem" was solved. So it requires different arguments to convince us to buy the…

Apple watch with ECG? released 2018

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#177

Post by refulgentis »

crazygringo wrote: post #161
Liquix wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

? no it wasn't. it was taking a beautiful, timeless, intrinsically valuable thing (music) and building a business around it. the idea was that if iTunes is the best way to tag, collect, burn, and listen to music, people would naturally adopt it and then go spend money in the store. this lies in contrast to modern apps' desire to provide an endless library of content within the app or paid service. drives up engagemen…

I don't know what you mean. Content in Apple Music is still best in class. And music lovers spend less money with a monthly streaming subscription, than they used to spend purchasing tracks or albums. I don't know about you, but I certainly spent more than $10.99 a month back when I was buying CD's. And it's even cheaper now in relative terms if you factor in inflation.

They mean that 20 years ago I was really into music blogs and videos and tagging and getting videos onto my iPod to the point it's literally what got me into programming: step by step, shitty AppleScript to set up auto convert + add to iTunes flows, compiling C to get the latest HandBrake that could do non-DVDs...

Now it's too easy: I have the absolutely fantastic experience of having infinite music in my hand on demand without any of the work. I've completely lost touch with music over the last decade. I am always vaguely frustrated because it's not _that_ good, it panders to my taste too much, and there's no value to any of it.

The foraging made it a hobby and intellectually stimulating, the "please tap this! or this! or this! or this!" makes it boring and all the same.

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#178

Post by refulgentis »

incanus77 wrote: post #170
recursive wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And a presumption that if I want anything other than what they're giving me, it's me that's wrong. Just like they did with the headphone jacks.

I’m not sure I’ve ever understood this take. I think Apple has always been like this (one-button mouse, B&W display, proprietary keyboard plug, dropping the floppy, adopting USB, adopting FireWire, making the original iPod only function as a FireWire hard drive on Windows, etc.) But, like any product maker, the choice of whether you buy it or not is up to you. If you don’t like the whole package, find another option?…

I've never 100% understood it either, the only steelman I've been able to come up with over years is most people are like me and lose or damage the wireless earbuds every 6-12 months. I'm lucky enough to be a yuppie tech nerd with disposable income to treat it as a fact of life. Whereas for them it feels like a forced march to spend $150 every year.

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#179

Post by trashface »

bni wrote: post #78

It's strange that Apple keep this Windows software around. Is there really a lot of people on Windows that actually use this?

I do, although I use an older version. I used it to play the local music files I've accumulated over the years (I don't always sub for spotify and it doesn't actually have a lot of that stuff anyway).

Even on win10, windows media player is still garbage. iTunes has the column browser which, although disabled by default, is superior for navigation. Its also better for editing file metadata and managing playlists. You can automate iTunes via COM and I have my own command line music player program that uses this, to get playlists and similar metadata.

Re: How iTunes Is Changing on PC

#180

Post by crazygringo »

refulgentis wrote: post #177
crazygringo wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what you mean. Content in Apple Music is still best in class. And music lovers spend less money with a monthly streaming subscription, than they used to spend purchasing tracks or albums. I don't know about you, but I certainly spent more than $10.99 a month back when I was buying CD's. And it's even cheaper now in relative terms if you factor in inflation.

They mean that 20 years ago I was really into music blogs and videos and tagging and getting videos onto my iPod to the point it's literally what got me into programming: step by step, shitty AppleScript to set up auto convert + add to iTunes flows, compiling C to get the latest HandBrake that could do non-DVDs... Now it's too easy: I have the absolutely fantastic experience of having infinite music in my hand on dem…

> The foraging made it a hobby and intellectually stimulating

Funny, I get a far superior foraging experience exploring radio stations based on obscure artists and other people's playlists.

I don't understand how the friction of having to build programming tools made your music experience better.

And I truly don't understand how making things easier leads to you losing touch with music. Maybe it's more just a function of getting older and having other, new priorities enter your life?

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