Is iTunes still crap?

[Azureth]

I installed it way back when I built my current computer back in '09 and installed it since I did have some music/movies I bought off it. After discovering Amazon I never looked back.

My main issues were that it was slow (even on my at the time great comp), didn't like the layout, and it was a pain getting it all setup again.

Granted that was a LONG time ago but not sure if much has changed.

 

[PTNL]

I'm generally not a fan of the iTunes software. The bulk of the UI is like "mystery meat" navigation.

The purchase process is decent, as is their product search.

 

[Baker_God]

I don't purchase off of itunes but I use the software with my ipod and to manage my music. The current version is a pleasure to use if not a bit ambiguous as PTNL stated. I have no problems with it.

 

[Zepher]

It still runs slow on my main rig in my sig. Makes no sense at all.

 

[Shambler]

I don't purchase off of itunes but I use the software with my ipod and to manage my music. The current version is a pleasure to use if not a bit ambiguous as PTNL stated. I have no problems with it.

CopyTrans


Thank me later

 

[Monkey God]

Its one of the worst mainstream pieces of software, ever. If I have firefox running at the same time, it crashes the entire network stack. The new UI is stupid and difficult to navigate. There are issues with it consuming high CPU, and as mentioned, the performance sucks. I honestly think Apple fucks it up on purpose so people blame the PC and want to get a Mac.

 

[PornoSatan]

iTunes is as terrible as ever. Never understood why someone would buy an Apple mp3 player, its annoying to work with Apples DRM software. I got an offbrand mp3 player and all I do is plug it in, it pops up a directory, and I copy paste mp3s directly to it.

 

[Skripka]

Get Foobar2k, and don't bother.

 

[dr.stevil]

Not really much has changed. If I didn't need it for my phone, I wouldn't install it.

With that said, the performance and crap has gotten better over the years but it still likes to hang occasionally and the interface still sucks. If you've moved on from it... I don't know why you'd want it back unless you needed it (own an iOS device). Even with an iOS device, I would never use itunes as my PC music player.


The ONLY redeeming quality of iTunes on the PC, IMO, is that it supports airplay. But if you don't have an AppleTV, that's sort of moot.

 

[bigdogchris]

They redesigned the UI with version 11.

Are you sure that the slowness of it is not being caused by the conversions? You don't have to convert file types or allow itunes to organize to use it. Otherwise, it runs and loads fine.

 

[Really]

It's not crap, if your intention is to make a donation to musicians for their work.
That's the whole purpose of iTunes: An audio player that lets you pay money too.

If you don't pay for music, there is no reason to use it.

 

[PTNL]

It's not crap, if your intention is to make a donation to musicians for their work.

I have no problems supporting artists by purchasing music through iTunes, and think that their UI is an abysmal mess.

 

[Baker_God]

CopyTrans


Thank me later

itunes does everything I need it too, I don't really need to use anything else. Good to know though if I ever need to put music on and I'm away from my pc.

 

[peppergomez]

I like MediaMonkey, though I have no empirical proof to offer as to why it might be good.

 

[dr.stevil]

It's not crap, if your intention is to make a donation to musicians for their work.
That's the whole purpose of iTunes: An audio player that lets you pay money too.

If you don't pay for music, there is no reason to use it.

At one point in time, I would agree... but iTunes has become a lot more than that since iOS was introduced. Not only can you get movies and music, but books, podcasts and apps. It's also a central hub for doing backups, restores and syncing (as well as using it as a hub to stream MP4's and music to Apple TV)

On the PC, it does leave quite a bit to be desired. On a mac it's great though

 

[Zepher]

They changed the way you put music onto your iDevices with the new version.
Took me a few minutes to figure out how to put new songs onto my iPod.
Instead of showing the devices on the left pane, you right click on the file or files and then use the pop up window to add it to your device.
I prefer the old drag it to the left pane style.

 

[Godmachine]

Got rid of them years ago. I want nothing to do with that over priced service. It was great in the beginning and all but there are so MANY other choices that you really shouldn't feel forced to use it. The only benefit of ITunes is the lazy who don't want to switch to a new ecosystem.

 

[onlnhvk]

Itunes is def crap. They have changed it too. So, if you were used to the way it was, it isn't that way again.

The only bonus I hear, is that you can hack iphones etc, and download movies for free.
This has been around for some time though.

 

[Ur_Mom]

iTunes is as terrible as ever. Never understood why someone would buy an Apple mp3 player, its annoying to work with Apples DRM software. I got an offbrand mp3 player and all I do is plug it in, it pops up a directory, and I copy paste mp3s directly to it.

My wife was super surprised when she bought a Sansa MP3 player (it was cheap... and purple). Plug it in, drag and drop tracks, unplug, listen. Super simple, even for her (not a techie).

I hate iTunes. Still, using the newest release, it's gotten better than it once was, but I'd still not call it good. Not even mediocre...

 

[drdeutsch]

Never liked iTunes. I used Mediamonkey for a long time, but it's also become rather buggy and slow (this may just be my computer).

Recently I switched over to MusicBee (Free, offers a portable edition) and haven't looked back. It's fast, free, does everything I need, and has great support.

 

[402blownstroker]

The various minor versions of release 7 where quite usable. Since then it has been all fluff and zero value. Just like most Apple products lately.

 

[miketheskater2]

Itunes is not that great, i mainly use it for the iphone (duh).
I use VLC to listen to my music on the pc

 

[platero]

I'm not a fan of the latest release, having a separate tab for playlists is a complete change from how it worked back in 2004. It has always been clunky, but at least it was consistently clunky.

 

[pbassjunk]

Pretty happy with http://getmusicbee.com/

 

[jameslr]

+1 for foobar 2000. iTunes (for Windows) is the worst. For video it will either be XBMC/Plex or VLC.

 

[Chandler]

I have itunes - I have over 4K songs. I also have an iPod Classic.

I see no need to use another media player since I have to manage my music in iTunes as it is (because of my ipod).

It is a RAM eater though, which I do not like. I actualyl liked version 9~ better then the newer one out. I don't like big gui changes that do not coem with new features. If it would work with XBMC then I would be all over it. Currently I just use XBMC pointing to a mapped drive of my music folder - It works, but it won't shuffle properly, and multiple entries are found for the same file.

If you do not need iTunes, don't get it.

 

[cyberjihad]

Re-installed itunes today in order to burn an mp3 CD... winamp was a piece of garbage and wouldnt let me

not to mention the << > >> keyboard controls dont work with it. so itunes for now.

is there a program that anyone can recommend me since i decided that along with itunes i now hate winamp too

 

[sharknice]

Re-installed itunes today in order to burn an mp3 CD... winamp was a piece of garbage and wouldnt let me

not to mention the << > >> keyboard controls dont work with it. so itunes for now.

is there a program that anyone can recommend me since i decided that along with itunes i now hate winamp too

Just go to preferences -> global hotkeys -> check the box that says enable default multimedia key support

It is 2013. Why are you trying to burn a CD?

 

[cyberjihad]

for the car of course... i have a 6 disc changer. and im burning 320k discs with 130ish tracks a piece so why not?

 

[sharknice]

for the car of course... i have a 6 disc changer. and im burning 320k discs with 130ish tracks a piece so why not?

Do you mean mp3 cds? I made a program for that if you want playlists. http://eliteownage.com/m3uconverter.html

 

[blazend]

Itunes = Music Manager / Ipod / Iphone

Movies = vlc media player

Mp3 Burning = Nero Burning Rom.

 

[SirMaster]

I think iTunes 11 was a nice improvement and I really do enjoy it as a media player on Windows even.

 

[CannibalTrout]

IMHO iTunes is still just crappy. When my wife and I had iPhones it was a constant battle to not get our libraries co-mingled. Unless something has changed recently your iTunes library is tied to your windows profile. so if you have 2 iphones you need to make sure to sign into your own windows profile before you sync. I don't see why it would be so hard to apple to program itunes to treat separate devices with separate libraries without having to change your windows profile.

 

[SirMaster]

IMHO iTunes is still just crappy. When my wife and I had iPhones it was a constant battle to not get our libraries co-mingled. Unless something has changed recently your iTunes library is tied to your windows profile. so if you have 2 iphones you need to make sure to sign into your own windows profile before you sync. I don't see why it would be so hard to apple to program itunes to treat separate devices with separate libraries without having to change your windows profile.

Easy way around that. Hold shift when you open iTunes and it lets you select which .itl file to open and sync with.

Though I do own an iPhone and iPad i do not use iTunes for media management. There are other good and free third party apps for that that work very well and you can just use drag+drop instead of syncing and maintaining separate libraries for each device.

 

[Deleted member 267955]

Easy way around that. Hold shift when you open iTunes and it lets you select which .itl file to open and sync with.

Though I do own an iPhone and iPad i do not use iTunes for media management. There are other good and free third party apps for that that work very well and you can just use drag+drop instead of syncing and maintaining separate libraries for each device.

Can you share the names of those third party apps? I am exploring iTunes replacements right now.

 

[SirMaster]

Can you share the names of those third party apps? I am exploring iTunes replacements right now.

The one I use:
http://download.cnet.com/CopyTrans-Manager/3000-18546_4-10842241.html?part=dl-&subj=dl&tag=button

 

[Deleted member 267955]

Thanks. I will give it a try.

 

[cortexodus]

No love for Winamp in here? As long as you never touch the EQ it works fine. Maybe I'm still just trapped in 1998 but foobar, iTunes, and Windows Media Player have never been good enough. It's a little clunky but I still like it better than anything else.

 

[PTNL]

No love for Winamp in here? As long as you never touch the EQ it works fine. Maybe I'm still just trapped in 1998 but foobar, iTunes, and Windows Media Player have never been good enough. It's a little clunky but I still like it better than anything else.

I still use Winamp for music, mostly for the broader support of audio codecs -- with exception of ModPlug Player for the old Unreal and Tracker file types.

Video files are normally put through Windows Media Player and VLC. (I never really liked Winamp's video window and some of its quirks.)

 

[cortexodus]

with exception of ModPlug Player for the old Unreal and Tracker file types.

Video files are normally put through Windows Media Player and VLC. (I never really liked Winamp's video window and some of its quirks.)

I'm pretty sure Winamp supports things like .MOD and .S3M files. I don't think it'll do Impulse Tracker files (.IT) though.

I definitely don't use Winamp for video. VLC is superior in every way in that regard.