I thought we were able to undelete (or restore) contacts deleted from iCloud. I swore that was a major point of contention, when Apple dropped iSync.
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Apple Planning Major Overhaul of iTunes to Emphasize iCloud and Sharing
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I thought we were able to undelete (or restore) contacts deleted from iCloud. I swore that was a major point of contention, when Apple dropped iSync.
Split
From several years I've been wishing that the app just becomes splitted, it's too bloated, I freaking hate the store being built-in, plus using it to sync (wtf? really), music, videos, geez it does everything, and on iOS all these functions are separate apps... can't be done the same for the Mac?
Just my ¢2
From several years I've been wishing that the app just becomes splitted, it's too bloated, I freaking hate the store being built-in, plus using it to sync (wtf? really), music, videos, geez it does everything, and on iOS all these functions are separate apps... can't be done the same for the Mac?
Just my ¢2
Dunno about you, but I can stream my iTunes Match music from the cloud without downloading (on my mac).
I think the exact opposite. I think it would be an absolute pain having to launch separate programs to do all those obviously related functions. I don't see the advantage at all save for it being more difficult for me, and I dislike that they're separate programs (or at least front ends) on iOS in some cases. And why wouldn't syncing be built in?
If iTunes were to be split into various app's, how would syncing devices work? As it stands, iTunes is acting as a conduit, a media hub, for devices. If it were to be broken down into separate music, video, applications (an iPhoto revamp would be nice), etc how would syncing all the media work? A revamped "iSync"?
That would suck.
Who wants to use different apps for music and videos. Ewwww.
Also, the iTunes store being built in is convenient because when you buy a song it goes straight into your library, without you having to add it yourself. If you just want a music or video player I'm sure there are loads on the internet.
Long Overdue
However I'm going to disagree with a number of posters here.
I WANT them to chop iTunes into several Apps. It's become bloatware that takes too long to start and consumes too many resources. I want one app for music (iTunes) and separate apps for movies and video, and another one for games etc that synch with my iPad and iPod Touch, and how about a separate one for streaming sources like internet radio. Seems silly to me to load several massive libraries when I just want to do one thing.
It's time to do a Lizzie Bordon on iTunes
However I'm going to disagree with a number of posters here.
I WANT them to chop iTunes into several Apps. It's become bloatware that takes too long to start and consumes too many resources. I want one app for music (iTunes) and separate apps for movies and video, and another one for games etc that synch with my iPad and iPod Touch, and how about a separate one for streaming sources like internet radio. Seems silly to me to load several massive libraries when I just want to do one thing.
It's time to do a Lizzie Bordon on iTunes
With WebKit 2 Codebase I expected Apple to separate the two lines mainly by their interfaces and only the necessary OS specific API calls while leveraging WebKit 2 and thus extend more on OS X than they already do while maintaining accessibility for all iOS based hardware for Windows users.
I think splitting it into several apps would be great.
If iTunes can already sync your photos to your iDevice, there's no reason a standalone sync application wouldn't be able to sync your photos from iPhoto, your apps from the app store (now combined with the Mac app store), your music from iTunes, your videos from whatever that would be called, Podcasts from, well, Podcasts app, etc. This keeps everything pared down and focused on the media you want to consume.
Do people really switch seemlessly from music, to videos, to movies, to audiobooks regularly in iTunes? If I want to listen to music, I don't need to see my movies/videos. I just want music. Same with podcasts. It's not like quitting iTunes and launching Podcasts is a hassle - it will also likely put less of a strain on your system.
I would like to see the "i" prefix drop from a lot of these things, too, like it is on iDevices (how backwards is it that iDevices, running iOS, are no longer calling everying "i"whatever, but OSX is?) We just need Music, Podcasts, Videos, Photos, and Apps.
If iTunes can already sync your photos to your iDevice, there's no reason a standalone sync application wouldn't be able to sync your photos from iPhoto, your apps from the app store (now combined with the Mac app store), your music from iTunes, your videos from whatever that would be called, Podcasts from, well, Podcasts app, etc. This keeps everything pared down and focused on the media you want to consume.
Do people really switch seemlessly from music, to videos, to movies, to audiobooks regularly in iTunes? If I want to listen to music, I don't need to see my movies/videos. I just want music. Same with podcasts. It's not like quitting iTunes and launching Podcasts is a hassle - it will also likely put less of a strain on your system.
I would like to see the "i" prefix drop from a lot of these things, too, like it is on iDevices (how backwards is it that iDevices, running iOS, are no longer calling everying "i"whatever, but OSX is?) We just need Music, Podcasts, Videos, Photos, and Apps.
Well, I know it's been said before, but iTunes really does need an overhaul. iCloud and sharing, sure, but many primary sections of iTunes are TERRIBLE. I don't have any problem with the media playback and organization features, and the store is ok, but the sections for syncing things to iOS devices is ridiculous! It's soooo poorly layed out... Especially since Apple is so focused on simplicity and intuitiveness, etc., and while they usually pull this off, iTunes has been a huge FAIL in this regard...
It really doesn't take that much RAM, and splitting programs up-or at least making a bunch of front ends-won't necessarily improve that situation at all.
So now I've got to load a bunch of separate programs to replace what I used to be able to do with one program? How is that good for *ME* as a user?
Yikes-then they've got to either duplicate a ton of code, actually making the whole mess MORE bloated, or you're just dealing with separate front ends. Either way makes it more difficult for the end user to deal with, and for no apparent benefit.
Yes. Of course.
Taking this one level up, this is like asking "do people really watch movies and edit documents and browse the web on one PC? I want separate PCs for each task!"
So? You don't have to see them. At worst you've got a single small icon on your screen telling you they're there. And you can hide that if you really hate it.
Of COURSE that's a hassle. I have to replace a single program with a slew of them that I have to switch between? That's a big hassle.
How? It still has to have all this stuff on there, only now it's either all duplicated, so takes up even more resources then before, or it's all just different front ends. Either way the end result is more work for the end user.
And why should those be separate programs? You're really that opposed to looking at a small icon in a list reminding you that iTunes can also do other functions you're not currently using?
I'm half way through reading the Walter Issacson's Steve Jobs Biography. With this fresh perspective in mind, I can honestly say that iTunes doesn't feel fundamentally Apple-ish any more.
In particular, it doesn't provide features that customers don't even know they want. If it ever did, it no longer feels like an artifact of pathological perfectionism. So what's missing?
I'm sure the Apple designers will provide some innovation with The Cloud and sharing, but what about the one feature that matters most: the human experience of listening to music. How does iTunes propose to enhance that?
One feature of iTunes which I've enjoyed from the start is the simple Play Count column. I was surprised one day to discover that I'd listened to a particular Pendulum track over 100 times while others only a couple. I wouldn't've realized that unless iTunes had been keeping count. This has profoundly affected the way I relate to my music. Features evidently doesn't have to be complicated to enhance the experience.
I've never used Spotify, but I can vouch that StumbleUpon has changed the way I experience the internet. Any move further in that direction is a step forward in my opinion.
The whole design philosophy of providing features that we customers don't even know we want necessarily precludes me from even imagining what any given visionary should be implementing - but I hope they will remember that Apple is more than an expensive consumer lifestyle commodity, it's The Most Valuable Company In The World.
In particular, it doesn't provide features that customers don't even know they want. If it ever did, it no longer feels like an artifact of pathological perfectionism. So what's missing?
I'm sure the Apple designers will provide some innovation with The Cloud and sharing, but what about the one feature that matters most: the human experience of listening to music. How does iTunes propose to enhance that?
One feature of iTunes which I've enjoyed from the start is the simple Play Count column. I was surprised one day to discover that I'd listened to a particular Pendulum track over 100 times while others only a couple. I wouldn't've realized that unless iTunes had been keeping count. This has profoundly affected the way I relate to my music. Features evidently doesn't have to be complicated to enhance the experience.
I've never used Spotify, but I can vouch that StumbleUpon has changed the way I experience the internet. Any move further in that direction is a step forward in my opinion.
The whole design philosophy of providing features that we customers don't even know we want necessarily precludes me from even imagining what any given visionary should be implementing - but I hope they will remember that Apple is more than an expensive consumer lifestyle commodity, it's The Most Valuable Company In The World.
Why even stop at Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, iTunes U content, Books, Apps, Ringtones, Radio content and a store all in one application? Let iTunes manage pictures as well. And put a full-fledged internet browser in there. And eMail functionality while we're at it. Plus, the address book and calendar should probably be added as well.
It already handles syncing for those things, and some of that may make sense. At any rate, having "media" together certainly makes sense, as does having the store there...which is mainly what it does.
iTunes Is Now Just False Advertising
The name iTunes was perfect when iTunes was JUST music.
But with the store, videos, photos, files for iDevices all bottle-necked thru "iTunes"...Apple needs a another name for all of the stuff currently crammed under the iTunes name. Leave iTunes for the music part, but come up with different names for the various pieces and a name for the aggregate functionality.
For a company that prides itself on straight forward Zen-like simplicity....the mess that is today iTunes is just embarrassing.
Luckily Apple was not in charge of this country as it grew, because Delaware was the first state in the union and as new states were added, Apple would just keep calling the whole thing....Delaware.
The name iTunes was perfect when iTunes was JUST music.
But with the store, videos, photos, files for iDevices all bottle-necked thru "iTunes"...Apple needs a another name for all of the stuff currently crammed under the iTunes name. Leave iTunes for the music part, but come up with different names for the various pieces and a name for the aggregate functionality.
For a company that prides itself on straight forward Zen-like simplicity....the mess that is today iTunes is just embarrassing.
Luckily Apple was not in charge of this country as it grew, because Delaware was the first state in the union and as new states were added, Apple would just keep calling the whole thing....Delaware.
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You would not have to start up programs you did not use.
Each program could have access to one (or more) cpu cores.
You could actually do more than one thing at a time.
They could split itunes up, or, make it multithread capable,
that would be a benefit to some people
Thank god!
I have said this from nearly the beginning since I converted to a Mac user, iTunes is one of the worst applications to ever be on a computer, not just macs. The only thing it does right is play music, but every other thing about it is completely bloated. You need to be a brain surgeon to figure out how to sync your iphone with it. I dont know how many times it has erased my apps, or told me I have applied changes when I havent.
A new simpler, less bloated, icloud based itunes can not come sooner enough.
I have said this from nearly the beginning since I converted to a Mac user, iTunes is one of the worst applications to ever be on a computer, not just macs. The only thing it does right is play music, but every other thing about it is completely bloated. You need to be a brain surgeon to figure out how to sync your iphone with it. I dont know how many times it has erased my apps, or told me I have applied changes when I havent.
A new simpler, less bloated, icloud based itunes can not come sooner enough.
Yes, but they'd all have to be connected at the back end to one extent or another-and for that matter, even if they're part of the same program, that doesn't mean you need to load all of them, if that's your concern.
Besides which, iTunes uses < 100MB as it is, which is hardly a ton.
They can now.
You can now.
Splitting it up is what we're talking about, and presumably it already is multithreaded...regardless that's not related to splitting it up.
How so?
Umm...you plug it in.
I've never had it erase anything, and if it did, how would splitting the program up be related to fixing that? Wouldn't their coding time be better spent FIXING that then randomly splitting up a program?
How could it be simpler? How is it bloated?
You don't have to use a PC at all right NOW for iOS if you don't want to, so why demand that no one get to? I have zero interest syncing with someone else's computer. That's one of the huge ADVANTAGES iOS has over Windows Phone and Android, and you're saying Apple should dump it?
Compromise of splitting/combining
Seems to be a large debate over splitting into multiple apps or keeping it all together. Here's my compromise:
iTunes: explore/play/buy/share/(download from iCloud) music, videos, apps
iPhoto: explore/edit/view/share photos
iSync: new app dedicated to moving music, videos, apps, photos between devices, macs, pcs, and iCloud. Makes it simple to drag/drop or change sync settings between devices and iCloud. Also performs backups/software updates of devices.
Basically chops out the device management out of iTunes into a separate app. Everything else is basically the same.
Seems to be a large debate over splitting into multiple apps or keeping it all together. Here's my compromise:
iTunes: explore/play/buy/share/(download from iCloud) music, videos, apps
iPhoto: explore/edit/view/share photos
iSync: new app dedicated to moving music, videos, apps, photos between devices, macs, pcs, and iCloud. Makes it simple to drag/drop or change sync settings between devices and iCloud. Also performs backups/software updates of devices.
Basically chops out the device management out of iTunes into a separate app. Everything else is basically the same.
That would only potentially help people who use iTunes, but never with anything except their PC.
Otherwise, dealing with my iPod and iPad is something I'm almost always going to want to do when I'm dealing with my podcasts and the like.
I have not found anything that will allow this. All my devices use iCloud for contacts. If any contact gets deleted, it is gone for good. So to protect myself, I wrote a Automator script to export my contacts and save to a file each hour. Time Machine then backs the archive file up. That is not a very good solution though, imho.
iTunes really, really, really needs this. It's spot on. The overall purpose of this app has changed over the years. There's a lot of old thinking in the interface, especially when it comes to the iCloud syncing. It really doesn't make much sense to me in it's current form.