Why do people complain about iTunes? - Printable Version
-Shoutbox (https://shoutbox.menthix.net)
+-- Forum: MsgHelp Archive (/forumdisplay.php?fid=58)
+--- Forum: Skype & Technology (/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+---- Forum: Tech Talk (/forumdisplay.php?fid=17)
+----- Thread: Why do people complain about iTunes? (/showthread.php?tid=73406)
Why do people complain about iTunes? by alegator on 04-08-2007 at 12:23 AM
I find it the best media player, in terms of GUI simplicity, fast search, etc. Nevertheless I heard many people complain about it being "proprietary". What is it exactly, in simple words, that iTunes can't do due to it being proprietary?
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by tony on 04-08-2007 at 12:39 AM
erm... who's complaining?
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by Rolando on 04-08-2007 at 01:50 AM
because if we don't, who will?
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by Voldemort on 04-08-2007 at 01:51 AM
cause it's a whore. a bad one.
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by Kenji on 04-08-2007 at 01:57 AM
iTunes sucks basically.
Uses lots of memory, installs that crappy quicktime crap. etc.
Winamp > * > iTunes
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by alegator on 04-08-2007 at 03:37 AM
But themain complaint I read about is that iTunes doesn't allow copying MP3 files form the Ipod into the PC...is that so?
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by vaccination on 04-08-2007 at 07:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Dazmo
Winamp > * > iTunes
It's true, I recently made the switch and hell am I going back!
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by markee on 04-08-2007 at 08:31 AM
I quite like iTunes personally. I have never used winamp but compared to media player I far prefer it to take care of my music library. I still use WMP for once off listening to songs or watching movies but for my main music I like iTunes for the reasons above and the podcasts even if the memory use is high I don't really mind it. Plus I have an iPod so its just easier this way.
(Why) ITunes is Bad. by rav0 on 04-08-2007 at 08:47 AM
quote:Yes, exactly right.
Originally posted by alegator
But themain complaint I read about is that iTunes doesn't allow copying MP3 files form the Ipod into the PC...is that so?
Also, it's proprietory in that it's closed source (only Apple has the source code, and only they update it. MPlayer, for example, is open source, and there are different GUIs available for it (there actually is no official GUI for Windows), custom builds of it with different features.
Another effect of it being proprietory is that it will only connect with your portable media player if you use an IPod. By design, Apple prefer's it to be the only software that will connect with IPods, but others have made software that connects with IPods as well.
ITunes is also proprietory in that it refuses to play lots of formats, notably Windows Media. It can open Windows Media, but will only open it to convert it to a different format before adding it to your library.
I'm Mac style, ITunes only lets you have one music library, other software lets you keep multiple libraries (keep one for your own music, one for your parents music etc). Each library has it's own tracks, ratings, play counters. Songs can be in multiple libraries at once.
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by CookieRevised on 04-08-2007 at 08:59 AM
Related note: EMI, one of the biggest record companies is going to remove the DRM protection on all their songs so people can use the MP3 songs they bought on other devices as well.
The biggest complaint about the iTunes and iPod is that bought MP3s (thus with DRMprotection) can only be played on those devices.
But EMI has announced that it will offer its song library without the digital rights management (DRM) restrictions that have proved to be unpopular. This will allow these songs to be played on a wide variety of devices, not just specific ones controlled by the DRM setup.
In addition, the DRM-free songs from EMI will available at a much higher bit-rate than the current versions. Though, they will costs a little bit more.
"By providing DRM-free downloads, we aim to address the lack of interoperability which is frustrating for many music fans. We believe that offering consumers the opportunity to buy higher quality tracks and listen to them on the device or platform of their choice will boost sales of digital music," said Eric Nicoli, CEO of EMI Group.
Apple's iTunes Store is the first to offer EMI's songs without DRM. iTunes will sell individual AAC formated tracks at twice the sound quality of existing downloads, with their DRM removed, at a price of $1.29/€1.29/£0.99.
iTunes will continue to offer consumers the ability to pay $0.99/€0.99/£0.79 for standard sound quality tracks with DRM still applied.
Complete albums from EMI Music artists purchased on the iTunes Store will automatically be sold at the higher sound quality and DRM-free, with no change in the price.
Consumers who have already purchased standard tracks or albums with DRM will be able to upgrade their digital music for $0.30/€0.30/£0.20 per track. All EMI music videos will also be available on the iTunes Store DRM-free with no change in price.
http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2007/press18.htm
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by absorbation on 04-08-2007 at 11:27 AM
It's not Apple's fault with the restrictions, Steve Jobs hates them, hence the deal he made with EMI as Cookie mentioned.
iTunes is now a great media player. It is so user friendly, it takes so many things into account when using features which makes the player so much easier to use than others It also has a very modern approach, other media players are becoming bloated, Apple has tided up the program for 1.7 and I can see why it works. It's now my favourite media player 
.
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by saralk on 04-08-2007 at 12:20 PM
Microsoft has followed suit with DRM free music.
I think most of the complaints are actually moot points...
quote:
Originally posted by rav0
Another effect of it being proprietory is that it will only connect with your portable media player if you use an IPod. By design, Apple prefer's it to be the only software that will connect with IPods, but others have made software that connects with IPods as well.
That isn't quite true, you can drag and drop files like you can in Windows Explorer, so although its not as swish as you might like it to be, you can drag music files onto a standard flash based dime a dozen mp3 player.
quote:
Originally posted by rav0
I'm Mac style, ITunes only lets you have one music library, other software lets you keep multiple libraries (keep one for your own music, one for your parents music etc). Each library has it's own tracks, ratings, play counters. Songs can be in multiple libraries at once.
to be honest, that is a very specialised feature, and one which most people wouldn't really benefit from.
The only complaints I have is the memory it uses, with a large library, it can sometimes feel a bit sluggish and sometimes after a song plays, my computer grinds to a halt for a few seconds before the next song plays.
RE: (Why) ITunes is Bad. by alexp2_ad on 04-08-2007 at 04:44 PM
quote:http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
Originally posted by rav0
I'm Mac style, ITunes only lets you have one music library, other software lets you keep multiple libraries (keep one for your own music, one for your parents music etc). Each library has it's own tracks, ratings, play counters. Songs can be in multiple libraries at once.
(Hold down shift (windows) / option (mac) when starting iTunes to change library)
Going back to the main point of the thread... At the end of the day, use the software you want. If it works for you, it works for you. You don't have to let other peoples gripes get in the way of how you want to use your computer.
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by Voldemort on 04-08-2007 at 04:46 PM
that's why media monkey >*
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by joemailey on 04-10-2007 at 12:57 PM
I don't complain about Itunes althou i do do complain about ipods.
I like my mp3 player to work like a memory stick/usb pen/pen drive. Plug it in use like external harddrive copy stuff on copy stuff of. can't do that with ipods. only allow to use itunes to sync ur library very annoying.
lol
archos MP3 players i love.
RE: RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by rav0 on 04-11-2007 at 12:49 AM
quote:You could drag and drop files onto a UMS without ITunes anyway. ITunes won't connect to the player, you have to move the files yourself.
Originally posted by saralk
Microsoft has followed suit with DRM free music.
I think most of the complaints are actually moot points...
quote:
Originally posted by rav0
Another effect of it being proprietory is that it will only connect with your portable media player if you use an IPod. By design, Apple prefer's it to be the only software that will connect with IPods, but others have made software that connects with IPods as well.
That isn't quite true, you can drag and drop files like you can in Windows Explorer, so although its not as swish as you might like it to be, you can drag music files onto a standard flash based dime a dozen mp3 player.
quote:Now that I know that, ITunes only lets you use one library simultaneously, and switching libraries is difficult.
Originally posted by alexp2_ad
quote:http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
Originally posted by rav0
I'm Mac style, ITunes only lets you have one music library, other software lets you keep multiple libraries (keep one for your own music, one for your parents music etc). Each library has it's own tracks, ratings, play counters. Songs can be in multiple libraries at once.
(Hold down shift (windows) / option (mac) when starting iTunes to change library)
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by Supersonicdarky on 04-11-2007 at 12:52 AM
made by apple. i wont say anything else.
(btw winamp > *)
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by Kenji on 04-11-2007 at 12:58 AM
quote:Yes you can, well at least I can with my iPod mini. I don't even use it as an mp3 player now. Thats what my SE w810i is for.
Originally posted by joemailey
I like my mp3 player to work like a memory stick/usb pen/pen drive. Plug it in use like external harddrive copy stuff on copy stuff of. can't do that with ipods.
RE: RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by rav0 on 04-11-2007 at 01:10 AM
quote:You can copy stuff to an IPod connected to a PC as a UMS device, but the IPod won't play it (unlike the Sony Ericsson, which will play regardless of Disc2Phone being used or not). The IPod will only play if the music has been added to an ITunes library and then synced to the IPod.
Originally posted by Dazzy
quote:Yes you can, well at least I can with my iPod mini. I don't even use it as an mp3 player now. Thats what my SE w810i is for.
Originally posted by joemailey
I like my mp3 player to work like a memory stick/usb pen/pen drive. Plug it in use like external harddrive copy stuff on copy stuff of. can't do that with ipods.
RE: Why do people complain about iTunes? by lizard.boy on 04-11-2007 at 03:32 AM
I love iTunes, and use it every day. I was also one of the first of my friends to own an iPod, (g3) so that may tell you something.
The biggest complaints I see are about the quality of the built in mp3 ripping engine, and the audio playback engine. I'd say the interface is beautiful, and drag and drop makes it easy to add music to my w810i.