Apple Details iTunes Changes Coming in macOS Catalina

[dannys1]

And the iOS TV app is horrible for accessing my shared library on my iPad. I have to quit/restart the TV app for it to even find the shared library. And it's a joke trying to find the movie I want from slowly updated alphabetical list of 600 titles in my library.

May I suggest Plex? Trust me, it's much much better and if you have a 24/7 server on, the way to go.
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From that answer I can see that you never tried to add any media like movies or audiobooks from other sources than Apple's stores to your iTunes media library.

Guess what happens when you do that. They all get mixed together in one big pile, which is in this case is the music list. So what iTunes does here is essentially running back confusedly to momma.

Manually added media get only sorted into the corresponding categories after you manually edit the metadata, even when the type of media should be clear from the file format.

Movies never got added to the music list - only audiobooks did this - and yes they should have read the file extension as an audiobook, however many ripped audiobooks are mp3s so that wouldn't always be reliable anyway and a proper ripped audiobook with the file extension would have had it's metadata correctly set anyway - you can't really blame itunes for incorrectly made metadata.

 

[Donnation]

From that answer I can see that you never tried to add any media like movies or audiobooks from other sources than Apple's stores to your iTunes media library.

Guess what happens when you do that. They all get mixed together in one big pile, which is in this case is the music list. So what iTunes does here is essentially running back confusedly to momma.

Manually added media get only sorted into the corresponding categories after you manually edit the metadata, even when the type of media should be clear from the file format.

Uh no I do that all the time. Mainly movies, and they go directly into Movies on iTunes. I guess it depends on what program you are using, but when I convert a movie it automatically puts the movie artwork and sorts it in movies.

 

[Boyd01]

May I suggest Plex? Trust me, it's much much better and if you have a 24/7 server on, the way to go.

Yeah, I have considered that. But (AFAIK), it won't work with my iTunes purchases. And I still have two AppleTV 3's that don't natively support Plex (although there's apparently a hack that uses trailers or something).

 

[axcess99]

Adding syncing to the finder... should we be scared? Finder isn't exactly a svelte bastion of stability

 

[jagolden]

From that answer I can see that you never tried to add any media like movies or audiobooks from other sources than Apple's stores to your iTunes media library.

Guess what happens when you do that. They all get mixed together in one big pile, which is in this case is the music list. So what iTunes does here is essentially running back confusedly to momma.

Manually added media get only sorted into the corresponding categories after you manually edit the metadata, even when the type of media should be clear from the file format.

And it’s so much trouble to edit that information. s/

Never had a problem, very easy and fast to do.

 

[adrianlondon]

This was my concern as well... they haven't said anything about imported video, just audio.

I never used iTunes for films/TV but I've just dragged an mp4 film I'd ripped into the Apple TV app and it's added it to my library no problem. Tried the same with an mkv file which was ignored.

Someone else asked about the column browser for ripped music - I can't find it

 

[Stephen.R]

Music doesn't have anything to do with movies, which is why they are separated within iTunes. Its not like movies, music, etc are all mixed together in one big pile that you have to sort through. They are each in their own category inside the app.

Great so we’ve established they’re different things, so it makes sense to handle them separately, no?

iTunes backed up the phone and because everything was done in one place.

Arguably the only reason it ever made sense to cram all this stuff into iTunes was because iTunes was apples “beach head” into windows - one app, does all that stuff and helps you manage your iPhone.

It never made any sense on macOS, and they took a backwards step when they dropped iSync (and 3rd party phone sync support) in favour of syncing your phone via your music player.

 

[Porco]

So do playlists appear across the new apps (or in the Finder?) or are you out of luck if you want a mixed content playlist now?

e.g. If I want to make a playlist with some music in it, then a podcast and/or audiobook is that still possible?

 

[Donnation]

Great so we’ve established they’re different things, so it makes sense to handle them separately, no?



Arguably the only reason it ever made sense to cram all this stuff into iTunes was because iTunes was apples “beach head” into windows - one app, does all that stuff and helps you manage your iPhone.

It never made any sense on macOS, and they took a backwards step when they dropped iSync (and 3rd party phone sync support) in favour of syncing your phone via your music player.

Just because they are different doesn’t mean that it makes sense to handle them separately if the way they are handled works well.

Listen we can go back and forth but I’m not going to agree with you. As I said, The oldest Mac we have is a 2011 iMac and iTunes works perfectly on it. It is a great one stop shop for managing all of your media. You are acting like it’s some crazy chore to find media on iTunes. How is it complicated? I have over 15,000 songs and hundreds of ripped Movies and I can find anything I want instantaneously. I have multiple
Seasons of TV shows ripped from multiple sources and they are all perfectly organized.

 

[Donnation]

From that answer I can see that you never tried to add any media like movies or audiobooks from other sources than Apple's stores to your iTunes media library.

Guess what happens when you do that. They all get mixed together in one big pile, which is in this case is the music list. So what iTunes does here is essentially running back confusedly to momma.

Manually added media get only sorted into the corresponding categories after you manually edit the metadata, even when the type of media should be clear from the file format.

So you think movies get added to music when you add them from other sources? That’s absolute false. Yes It can do that with audiobooks but as someone else mentioned that’s the metadata of the files fault and not iTunes. It’s not like it’s difficult to go in and change it anyways. It’s three clicks and it’s fixed.

 

[Websnapx2]

Here's what it says about movies and tv shows:
Movies and TV shows that you purchased or rented from iTunes will be in the new Apple TV app.
Use the Apple TV app for Mac for future movie and TV purchases or rentals.

Currently, I have my movies ripped to a hard drive on my Mac. The movie files are added to my iTunes library. I like to play them on my networked Apple TV. It works very well as it currently is. I hope they are not removing from the new Apple TV app for Mac the ability to add one's own home movies or movie rips. If so, then I will have to use Plex or Infuse on the Apple TV. However, I like how well the "Computer" app works on the Apple TV for playing my video files.

This is exactly what I did. As much as I like the "Computer" app, using Plex seemed to load the actual media faster than iTunes while dynamically getting the metadata if you just threw up a file to watch but not keep/archive. A bit more versatile than what's possible now and what will most likely be coming.

 

[logicstudiouser]

What about iTunes Match? To me, it seems like they might be keeping it for now, does anyone know?

According to Billboard:

"For users concerned about iTunes Match, Apple says that feature will continue to exist and will not be changed."

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

iTunes was 'elegance'. One app to handle all 'content'. It was ground breaking because it recognized that the computer was a 'content delivery machine'. Tablets, phones, and music players, were, and are, all 'content delivery devices'.

Now they are complicating the system but it's their system to complicate. Is iTunes a 'dumming down' of the 'Computer for the rest of us'? I had my issues with iTunes, believe me, but killing it is admitting defeat. Sad... But again it's their system to do as they please. I just hope the separate apps measure up to the expectations. The POSITIVE expectations...
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Here's what it says about movies and tv shows:
Movies and TV shows that you purchased or rented from iTunes will be in the new Apple TV app.
Use the Apple TV app for Mac for future movie and TV purchases or rentals.

Currently, I have my movies ripped to a hard drive on my Mac. The movie files are added to my iTunes library. I like to play them on my networked Apple TV. It works very well as it currently is. I hope they are not removing from the new Apple TV app for Mac the ability to add one's own home movies or movie rips. If so, then I will have to use Plex or Infuse on the Apple TV. However, I like how well the "Computer" app works on the Apple TV for playing my video files.

I don't know how I did it, but I reclassified a few 'home videos' (ripped movies) as 'Movies', and they show up in the 'Movies' section, and have all the protections, and whatever of real 'movies' in iTunes. *shrug*

 

[AZMecha]

It should be noted that (at least as of now) the iTunes Store is hidden by default in the Music app. You have to select View > Show iTunes Store to see it in the sidebar. (This could also be because I'm an Apple Music subscriber.)

Update: It is indeed because I'm an Apple Music subscriber, apparently.

Hey Thanks for that update for iTunes.

Can you confirm since finder is where we do encrypted backups now, Is there an option to still upload custom ringtone??

Please...

 

[JohnSFO]

What have they taken away from the Music app in Catalina? I've only seen images and one short video on YouTube, but it appears that the large banner above song view (in a playlist) is gone? I used it for a graphic or artist photo and liked how it showed song count and time length (see images below). Also, are star ratings still an option under preferences? Thanks.

 

[norbinhouston]

Music doesn't have anything to do with movies, which is why they are separated within iTunes. Its not like movies, music, etc are all mixed together in one big pile that you have to sort through. They are each in their own category inside the app.

Music has nothing to do with backing up your phone. iTunes backed up the phone and because everything was done in one place.

Won't you have to have the movies app running in order to stream content to AppleTV? How is that any different?

Finding something quickly is incredibly easy. You type it in the search box. You make it seem like all of these items are just in one massive list that you have to sort through. They are separated within the app and organized separately. Now they are going to be in separate locations and I fail to see how that is any better.

iTunes is really Apple's media organizer. That's how it should be viewed. I think people are hung up on the name. Hey its called iTunes why does it play movies?!!!!!! See its bloated!

 

[Donnation]

iTunes is really Apple's media organizer. That's how it should be viewed. I think people are hung up on the name. Hey its called iTunes why does it play movies?!!!!!! See its bloated!

Hahaha, great post.

 

[Lnds500]

Given how convoluted iTunes has become with menu upon menu upon tab, I’m not sure that’s even possible.

It's not any less convoluted now than it was in, say, iTunes 11.

You still have a sidebar with all your Library shortcuts (now they even have Song/Albums/Artists there) and the same buttons, give or take. So it's not like the app is something different that what we had before in terms of being more intuitive.

A big UX downgrade from what I've seen is how they handle opening an album, which they are doing the same way they are doing it on the iPad, by opening it up in a new screen and having to go back to find the rest of your albums. Idiotic UX decision.

 

[Stephen.R]

iTunes is really Apple's media organizer

And backup tool. And sync tool. And Mobile phone setup tool. and photo sync tool....

I think people are hung up on the name.

I think people are hung up on the idea that music and movies have to be 'organised' together.
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It's not any less convoluted now than it was in, say, iTunes 11.

Hey you should file a patent for your method for capturing user experience and interactions through a single window screenshot.

 

[mgworek]

Does anyone know if songs play count is still there?

Thanks.

 

[Lnds500]

Hey you should file a patent for your method for capturing user experience and interactions through a single window screenshot.

Do you want me to draw pictures so you can understand?

 

[adrianlondon]

Does anyone know if songs play count is still there?

Thanks.

Yes.

(Yes I know and yes they are )

 

[mgworek]

Yes.

(Yes I know and yes they are )

Thanks!!!!!

 

[EdT]

Yeah, I have considered that. But (AFAIK), it won't work with my iTunes purchases. And I still have two AppleTV 3's that don't natively support Plex (although there's apparently a hack that uses trailers or something).

I have Plex on my ATV 4 and it works fine. It is an App Store install and not a hack. I have an ATV 3 but I have never tried installing very many apps on it, even why new so I don’t know if Plex works with it. I’m assuming that if Plex works with 4 it will work with ATV5.

 

[humble turnip]

Anyone know if the new set up will work with older iOS devices (running iOS4)?
Also, can you use the Finder to install/restore Apps on a iOS device (like you used to be able to in Itunes)?