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Apple Quietly Releases iTunes 12.6.3 With Built-In App Store
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iTunes is terrible and is the epitome of Apple’s not so sunny design.
iTunes could have all of the features they want it to have, if they created a cohesive interface designed from the ground up.
Adding features to iTunes, an app designed for music consumption, is the downfall of its design. Apple Music is turning into the new iTunes. History has a way of repeating itself.
iTunes could have all of the features they want it to have, if they created a cohesive interface designed from the ground up.
Adding features to iTunes, an app designed for music consumption, is the downfall of its design. Apple Music is turning into the new iTunes. History has a way of repeating itself.
The whole iTunes is "bloated" meme is stupid nonsense propagaded by a bunch of vocal WHINERS who think that if they have to see anything they don't like or use needs to go. These are probably the same people who whine about Cable TV having a bunch of channels they don't watch. You don't have to use all of the features in iTunes. Is it THAT difficult?.
All splitting iTunes up does is make it more difficult for everyone else and LESS useful, not more. Just like they did when they created a separate Podcast App and split stuff up on IOS. So now on my phone I have the Podcast, Books, Music, TV, and movie apps. How is this BETTER than the old days of just clicking iTunes and going to the tab I want? It's a crappy way to do things. I hope to god Apple stops listening to the complainers when it comes to splitting up iTunes.
Only a "tiny fraction of iOS users manager their apps via iTunes"? Do you have any evidence for THAT fact?
I don't think we'll find evidence one way or the other, but do you not think it's logical to assume that a very small percentage of iOS users manage apps via iTunes? I'd guess that most users don't even know that you could do such a thing with iTunes.
I am in the same boat. Wondering if I could download and update to 12.6.3 from 12.6.2 and would not have to rebuild my library. Or if you have to go through those steps even if you haven't moved on to 12.7. Anyone test it out yet?
They could roll it into the Mac App Store. It would be kind of annoying but when you plug your iPhone into your computer iTunes and photos open up separately so what's one more app opening up. Plus it might actually help increase sales on Mac App Store since most people I know hardly use it.
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No, it's only "logical" to ASSUME that something you want to be true is indeed a fact. Let's take your assumption to the extreme. People are already managing all their iTunes crap on their phones, don't need a Mac for that. Everyone is watching video on their Phones. Don't need a Mac (or TV) for that. Everyone is using Pages and Editing video on their phones. Don't need a Pages app or iMovie on the Mac for that. So in your world who needs a Mac at all? See how ridiculous your assumption is?
Ok, so you don't have any evidence, it's just your opinion. Fair enough. But you stated your opinion as if it were fact. That is not helpful.
Agreed. I also miss being able to easily browse and discover apps on the big monitor.
Once the app from another app store is installed you don't need to change the store anymore to update it. But re-downloading doesn't seem to work right now. I have a few apps from the German app store I recently wanted to install on a new iPhone but they didn't show as "purchased" when I switched stores. Fortunately I still had the IPA files on another computer.
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Be very careful with this. You'll lose all metadata that isn't stored in the files themselves. That includes play counts, star ratings, and in many cases cover art since iTunes doesn't always embed cover art in the music files when you change it. You may also see duplicates and other problems if you subscribe to Apple Music and have iCloud Music Library enabled.
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The fact that Apple released 12.6.3 proves to me a large number of people/companies were probably furious at Apple for the changes in 12.7. After Apple's "big release" and all their public relations "spin", there must have been a lot of complaints and pressure placed on them to "back peddle" ... so now we have this so called "quiet" release of 12.6.3.
I just tried it. I went from 12.6.2 to 12.6.3... it was just like every other update to iTunes. No need to go through the steps outlined for those who upgraded to 12.7.
I don't really think they completely listened, otherwise this release would have been 12.7.1 and not 12.6.3.
Anyway, is there another way to accomplish what was lost?
Is there a way to install our archived Apps from a computer without using iTunes?
You can turn AirDrop on and off in the Control Centre. Press and hold on the Airplane Mode/WiFi/Bluetooth/Mobile Data box on an iPhone (it’s in the Mobile Data spot on a WiFi iPad) and Airdrop appears as an option. Receiving can be turned off there. Is that what you meant?
This is silly and I feel like I'm doing a bunch of hoop jumping and I have no time for it!
I ended up downloading a small free app called "iMazing" last week that solved the app problem. (some limitations on the free version - but you have total control over the apps you saved on your computer - easily can install them to your iPhone, iPad, etc)
I ended up downloading a small free app called "iMazing" last week that solved the app problem. (some limitations on the free version - but you have total control over the apps you saved on your computer - easily can install them to your iPhone, iPad, etc)
Uh... the name of the app should be a dead give away. It’s not just about app bloat, but overall iTunes mission creep, which has severely cluttered the main feature of the app ‘tunes’.
Apple needs to rethink music organization and how their music services work, and dragging around the movies, podcasts, audiobooks, contact, photos, and app sync feature boat anchors has not been helping iOS or macOS.
Hint: iOS 5 separated these features... its coming to the Mac. iTunes 12.6.3 is your band aid for difficulty to accept the future (circa 2011), not a cure for it.
OK, so I installed 12.6.3 and rebuilt my library with a folder called iTunes1. I am redownloading all my music and apps and other media which is a lot of GB's. Can I then delete the media from my original iTunes folder? Otherwise I will have 2 iTunes folders with identical content.
PS, I used the App Store daily and I am so glad they brought it back. Managing apps on my iPhone was a nightmare!
PS, I used the App Store daily and I am so glad they brought it back. Managing apps on my iPhone was a nightmare!
To me, removing the Apps only part from iTunes seemed silly. You still use it to sync and backup your iOS device. So, whatever app used to backup and sync your iOS devices should funnel music, apps, podcasts, books, and all the other cloud concepts into that one place. OR... if you want to keep them all separate, fine. But I need a place to download the apps just once and then push them out to the various iOS devices.
Yes, the method is called: “If you want legacy features, don’t upgrade and continue to use your legacy software.”
