Genius Feature for TV and Movies Pulled From iTunes 8.1

MacRumors · Mar 12, 2009, 11:35 AM

Several MacRumors readers have pointed out that the extension of the iTunes "Genius" feature to include movies and TV shows does not appear to be present in iTunes 8.1. The feature was advertised on Apple's site prior to the release of iTunes 8.1 and is still mentioned in the release notes that accompany the download.

References to the updated Genius feature have been removed from the "iTunes A to Z" features page, and Apple has revised their "What's New" page, replacing the Genius section with details on the extension of Autofill to all iPods.

The reason for the removal of the feature remains unknown, although it certainly appears that it was a last-minute decision.

Article Link: Genius Feature for TV and Movies Pulled From iTunes 8.1

GeekLawyer · Mar 12, 2009, 11:37 AM

I demand a refund!

Oh, wait...

BTW · Mar 12, 2009, 11:38 AM

Genius!

I wasn't going to use that feature anyway since I don't buy any videos through iTunes. It isn't for me.

If Apple would add a Netflix section that would be great.

Sky Blue · Mar 12, 2009, 11:46 AM

boo! Was looking forward to that... oh, well.

Data · Mar 12, 2009, 11:48 AM

The reason probably is that it did not work ;-).

Sky Blue · Mar 12, 2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Data

The reason probably is that it did not work ;-).

That never stopped them before!

Sijmen · Mar 12, 2009, 11:52 AM

Apple did something unusual by pre-announcing iTunes 8.1. And now they show why it's better not to.

TheSpaz · Mar 12, 2009, 11:53 AM

I wasn't planning on using that feature.

longofest · Mar 12, 2009, 11:55 AM

last minute pull, or more likely a miscommunication between PR and development groups. PR probably got an old copy of the feature list and published that on the website, but during testing (maybe as long as a week or two ago), the feature got pulled and the change was just never pushed up to PR.

I doubt the pull was made between yesterday morning and last night. No way the software could have been regression tested to ensure that pulling the feature didn't introduce any other issues.

bdkennedy1 · Mar 12, 2009, 11:56 AM

I also have not seen the feature that was listed where version 8.1 will allow autofill on any iPod just like it does for the Shuffle.

mogzieee · Mar 12, 2009, 11:59 AM

Oh dear... what am I going to do without a genius TV shows and Movies sidebar...

I might just have to downgrade.

DivineEvil · Mar 12, 2009, 12:02 PM

Sorry for the offtopic, but is it me or the Windows version of iTunes 8.1 is way better in video playback than 8.0.x? The sluggishness is significantly less and it's seems to perform like a real media player... (only the various video file types support is missing

)?

khannemann · Mar 12, 2009, 12:03 PM

One more reason why they need Steve or his clone at the helm . . .

SFStateStudent · Mar 12, 2009, 12:06 PM

Yeah, if it doesn't work = pull it....

baslotto · Mar 12, 2009, 12:08 PM

NO WAY! I was gonna start using the Genius feature from tomorrow... oh well..

Xtremespirit319 · Mar 12, 2009, 12:10 PM

Well that explains yesterdays delay....

TuffLuffJimmy · Mar 12, 2009, 12:12 PM

has anyone tried setting their clocks forward a few weeks to see if the new features are something that is supposed to be unlocked like with other updates?

Tilpots · Mar 12, 2009, 12:16 PM

They pulled it cause the new Genius feature was supposed to happen only with the AppleTV update.

badcrumble · Mar 12, 2009, 12:17 PM

My guess is that the Genius stuff is in the code but the iPod/iPhone firmwares for those models that can create Genius playlists wasn't ready yet, and it'd look stupid to leave that so asymmetrical.

ux4all · Mar 12, 2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xtremespirit319

Well that explains yesterdays delay....

And based on what we have read of Apple's development culture they probably did pull it one day before launch. This required a monster regression and UAT exercise (all hands on deck).

Someone rumored that 'stops like this are typically legal in nature'. I wonder if there is a patent specifically on what Genius does already in existence, so they pulled it to avoid legalities?

TheSpaz · Mar 12, 2009, 12:21 PM

Remember when they pulled push? Sounds like the same thing. Broken promises. Over-announce, under-deliver.... seems to be their method lately.

nagromme · Mar 12, 2009, 12:23 PM

I don't think I'll miss it.

Maybe it was pulled because too few users have enough videos/movies in their library to base good recommendations on anyway? Movie recommendations might be a nice "one more way" to browse the rentals, but I've got so few movies in my library anyway (I rent, not buy). I don't think I'd get good recommendations.

voodoofish · Mar 12, 2009, 12:23 PM

after install itunes 8.1 i noticed on the itunes store under TV Programmes (what TV Shows are called on the UK store) you could rate different TV seasons out of 5 stars - seemingly regardless of whether you have bought them or not. maybe this is part of the genius feature? i know music genius is based on how often people play different songs, but people tend to repeat listen to music far more than watch tv shows so maybe that is why the TV genius feature is different? or maybe the rating of tv programmes is completely unrelated?

EDIT: oh i see they let you do this for albums as well so it's probably a completely unrelated feature, sorry!

tiguk · Mar 12, 2009, 12:28 PM

I do love

products, but this sort of farce really annoys me. It's not so much the pulling of a promised feature (again), but the complete lack of honesty and explanation to their customer base.

What's the harm in letting everyone know what's going on, and when it'll be rectified? They would have a lot fewer complaints if they let everyone know the score.

joseph2166 · Mar 12, 2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badcrumble

My guess is that the Genius stuff is in the code but the iPod/iPhone firmwares for those models that can create Genius playlists wasn't ready yet, and it'd look stupid to leave that so asymmetrical.

Why does everyone seem to think 'Genius for TV shows' means Genius PLAYLISTS - surely it means genius sidebar for the store? If that's the case, they'd not put it on the iPhone unless they were introducing tv purchases on the device.

Mar 12, 2009, 11:35 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Genius Feature for TV and Movies Pulled From iTunes 8.1 Several MacRumors readers have pointed out that the extension of the iTunes "Genius" feature to include movies and TV shows does not appear to be present in iTunes 8.1. The feature was advertised on Apple's site prior to the release of iTunes 8.1 and is still mentioned in the release notes that accompany the download. References to the updated Genius feature have been removed from the "iTunes A to Z" features page, and Apple has revised their "What's New" page, replacing the Genius section with details on the extension of Autofill to all iPods. The reason for the removal of the feature remains unknown, although it certainly appears that it was a last-minute decision. Article Link: Genius Feature for TV and Movies Pulled From iTunes 8.1

Mar 12, 2009, 11:38 AM	#3
BTW macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2007	Genius! I wasn't going to use that feature anyway since I don't buy any videos through iTunes. It isn't for me. If Apple would add a Netflix section that would be great. __________________ Tory Hagen Break the Wedge!

Mar 12, 2009, 11:46 AM	#4
Sky Blue macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jan 2005	boo! Was looking forward to that... oh, well. __________________ "The case is so square that it easily stands at attention as if begging for treats."

Mar 12, 2009, 11:48 AM	#5
Data macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2006	The reason probably is that it did not work ;-). __________________ Once you go Mac , you never go back ;-).

Mar 12, 2009, 11:59 AM	#11
mogzieee macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oxford, UK.	Oh dear... what am I going to do without a genius TV shows and Movies sidebar... I might just have to downgrade. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz, 8GB iPod touch, 1GB iPod shuffle, MobileMe. website. blog. twitter.

Mar 12, 2009, 11:37 AM	#2
GeekLawyer macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Florida	I demand a refund! Oh, wait...

Mar 12, 2009, 11:52 AM	#7
Sijmen macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2005	Apple did something unusual by pre-announcing iTunes 8.1. And now they show why it's better not to.

Mar 12, 2009, 11:53 AM	#8
TheSpaz macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2005	I wasn't planning on using that feature.

Mar 12, 2009, 11:55 AM	#9
longofest Demi-God (Editor) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Falls Church, VA	last minute pull, or more likely a miscommunication between PR and development groups. PR probably got an old copy of the feature list and published that on the website, but during testing (maybe as long as a week or two ago), the feature got pulled and the change was just never pushed up to PR. I doubt the pull was made between yesterday morning and last night. No way the software could have been regression tested to ensure that pulling the feature didn't introduce any other issues.

Mar 12, 2009, 11:56 AM	#10
bdkennedy1 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2003	I also have not seen the feature that was listed where version 8.1 will allow autofill on any iPod just like it does for the Shuffle.

Mar 12, 2009, 12:02 PM	#12
DivineEvil macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2009	Sorry for the offtopic, but is it me or the Windows version of iTunes 8.1 is way better in video playback than 8.0.x? The sluggishness is significantly less and it's seems to perform like a real media player... (only the various video file types support is missing )?

Mar 12, 2009, 12:03 PM	#13
khannemann macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2009	Genius Feature? One more reason why they need Steve or his clone at the helm . . .

Mar 12, 2009, 12:06 PM	#14
SFStateStudent macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Francisco California, USA	Yeah, if it doesn't work = pull it.... __________________ MBP 2.5GHz 250GB Mac Pro 3G S⃣ iPhone 32GB Black

Mar 12, 2009, 12:08 PM	#15
baslotto macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2007	NO WAY! I was gonna start using the Genius feature from tomorrow... oh well..

Mar 12, 2009, 12:10 PM	#16
Xtremespirit319 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York	Well that explains yesterdays delay.... __________________ "It is only Human to Err..." http://www.thegeeksview.com

Mar 12, 2009, 12:12 PM	#17
TuffLuffJimmy macrumors 601 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR	has anyone tried setting their clocks forward a few weeks to see if the new features are something that is supposed to be unlocked like with other updates? __________________ "Next PM I get from you about this, and it gets posted as my signature." --LTD

Mar 12, 2009, 12:16 PM	#18
Tilpots macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wilmington, NC	They pulled it cause the new Genius feature was supposed to happen only with the AppleTV update. __________________ If you have a difficult task, give it to a lazy man, he will find an easier way to do it.

Mar 12, 2009, 12:17 PM	#19
badcrumble macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2007	My guess is that the Genius stuff is in the code but the iPod/iPhone firmwares for those models that can create Genius playlists wasn't ready yet, and it'd look stupid to leave that so asymmetrical.

Mar 12, 2009, 12:21 PM	#21
TheSpaz macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2005	Remember when they pulled push? Sounds like the same thing. Broken promises. Over-announce, under-deliver.... seems to be their method lately.

Mar 12, 2009, 12:23 PM	#22
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	I don't think I'll miss it. Maybe it was pulled because too few users have enough videos/movies in their library to base good recommendations on anyway? Movie recommendations might be a nice "one more way" to browse the rentals, but I've got so few movies in my library anyway (I rent, not buy). I don't think I'd get good recommendations. __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

Mar 12, 2009, 12:23 PM	#23
voodoofish macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2004	after install itunes 8.1 i noticed on the itunes store under TV Programmes (what TV Shows are called on the UK store) you could rate different TV seasons out of 5 stars - seemingly regardless of whether you have bought them or not. maybe this is part of the genius feature? i know music genius is based on how often people play different songs, but people tend to repeat listen to music far more than watch tv shows so maybe that is why the TV genius feature is different? or maybe the rating of tv programmes is completely unrelated? EDIT: oh i see they let you do this for albums as well so it's probably a completely unrelated feature, sorry!

Mar 12, 2009, 12:28 PM	#24
tiguk macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: T.Wells, UK	I do love products, but this sort of farce really annoys me. It's not so much the pulling of a promised feature (again), but the complete lack of honesty and explanation to their customer base. What's the harm in letting everyone know what's going on, and when it'll be rectified? They would have a lot fewer complaints if they let everyone know the score.

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