Apple Releases iTunes 10.0.1 With Ping Sidebar and Bug Fixes

[nelmat]

I am sick and tired of all the social networking crap: MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I am just waiting for a message in iTunes to show up like: Alice Cooper just pinched you - or Axel Rose just threw a Cake at you

SO don't activate ping then, or turn it off. Don't visit sites that you don't like. It's really very simple...

 

[nelmat]

Perspective? Are you serious? Ping is everywhere on iTunes now. Click a song and its there. What other additional features are you offered when you click any song? Why are you seeing the Ping crap if you haven't enabled it... Do I really need to say more...

Yes, I am serious. Disable the drop down using the terminal line provided in this thread if it really bothers you that much. YOu used to be offered "genius" you're now offered "ping" - i didn't click on genius, i won't click on ping. It's not causing stress in my life, it's a computer application which provides some functionality that I won't use. Perspective.

Found it for you:

Quit iTunes and open Terminal. Paste the following line and hit Enter:
defaults write com.apple.iTunes hide-ping-dropdown 1

 

[nelmat]

+1 on the Burn CD button - the future is not quite here yet, Steve - some people still use the shiny discs...

But how many people burn CDs any more? I can't remember the last time I used a CD player to listen to music. The functionality is still there but as less people use it than say five years ago, it's moved to a menu option. No biggie.

 

[nelmat]

For those who hate change:

A gift for you all...

http://gidden.net/tom/2010/09/25/removing-ping-from-itunes-10-0-1/

 

[stridemat]

Well good news, I found out how to disable the buttons. Source article is here.


How to disable Ping drop-down menu next to songs

1. Open Terminal (search in Spotlight or go to your Applications folder)

2. Copy and paste the following, and press enter:
defaults write com.apple.iTunes hide-ping-dropdown -bool TRUE

3. Restart iTunes, and the Ping drop-down in your library will be gone!

The Ping button is entirely gone. I am so happy right now. Alternatively, to undo this, just reenter the code above in terminal, and change TRUE to FALSE.

Thanks for that! It was already annoying me!

This works also

defaults write com.apple.iTunes hide-ping-dropdown 1

 

[fabianjj]

Apple really needs to do an iTunes revamp, the whole application is so frustrating and complicated. Even the Zune software is way ahead of iTunes, it's way faster and way easier to use. The only thing that iTunes is good at is really changing the id3 tags of songs, everything else is a pain in the ass

 

[manu chao]

Disable the drop down using the terminal line provided in this thread if it really bothers you that much. YOu used to be offered "genius" you're now offered "ping" - i didn't click on genius, i won't click on ping.

What percentage of users are geeky enough to use the Terminal to get rid of the 'Ping' buttons? Certainly not the core Apple users who wanted a simple to use computer.
And there is a big difference between an arrow (pre-10.0.1) and a labelled button. This is either done on the assumption that the majority of users actually want to use Ping regularly (remember, Apple designs always for the majority) or a semi-desperate attempt to actually get Ping started.

 

[nelmat]

What percentage of users are geeky enough to use the Terminal to get rid of the 'Ping' buttons? Certainly not the core Apple users who wanted a simple to use computer.
And there is a big difference between an arrow (pre-10.0.1) and a labelled button. This is either done on the assumption that the majority of users actually want to use Ping regularly (remember, Apple designs always for the majority) or a semi-desperate attempt to actually get Ping started.

Well, the majority that you seem elected to speak on behalf of, probably don't care a out the little ping button appearing. I'm sorry if a change from an arrow to the store has changed to the word "PING", which also links to the store. Must keep you awake at night. LOL.

iTunes is free, if you don't like it, use an alternative piece of software for your music. Or turn off the store and watch PING disappear.

 

[nelmat]

Apple really needs to do an iTunes revamp, the whole application is so frustrating and complicated. Even the Zune software is way ahead of iTunes, it's way faster and way easier to use. The only thing that iTunes is good at is really changing the id3 tags of songs, everything else is a pain in the ass

The zune software has less than a quarter of the functionality of iTunes. Nothing about iTunes is complicated. At all.

I keep hearing people moaning about iTunes, but no one suggesting anything concrete to improve it's functionality?

 

[roadbloc]

The zune software has less than a quarter of the functionality of iTunes. Nothing about iTunes is complicated. At all.

I keep hearing people moaning about iTunes, but no one suggesting anything concrete to improve it's functionality?

Get rid of ping.

 

[nelmat]

Get rid of ping.

lol, but some people like PING. I remember this same rejection when facebook launched internationally. THings take time. As with all things, it's an option.

Maybe a suggestion to send to Apple (already done) is the option to have all PING links and icons removed if your PING account is not activated.

I'm talking more about the day to day functionality - I see no problems with making playlists, buying content from the store, importing media, converting media within the app (a great feature that many don't know about), creating smart playlists and synching to my phone, pad and pod. I don't understand what people hate iTunes so much - is it only the grey icons and ping? (Big fan of the mono look tbh, lets the coverflow artwork really stand out).

 

[ericmooreart]

not upgrading

 

[tillathenun]

'Genius', Apple.

I've added my name to the chorus of people that have given iTunes Team some feedback. I want my Genius sidebar back! It was useful and it actually made me buy music. Ping just makes me hate Apple (and I never thought that possible).

This has to be the worst software update (iTunes 10 in general) known to man, but at least the 'features' match the new icon.

 

[Porco]

iTunes preferences in my dreams...

#To dream the impossible dream...

 

[tpg]

I've added my name to the chorus of people that have given iTunes Team some feedback. I want my Genius sidebar back! It was useful and it actually made me buy music. Ping just makes me hate Apple (and I never thought that possible).

This has to be the worst software update (iTunes 10 in general) known to man, but at least the 'features' match the new icon.

...and me too. Of course, I'm sure they have their own ideas of how they want iTunes to look, and will completely ignore us.

 

[manu chao]

Well, the majority that you seem elected to speak on behalf of, probably don't care a out the little ping button appearing. I'm sorry if a change from an arrow to the store has changed to the word "PING", which also links to the store.

Can you show me any other app which shows labelled buttons in a list of items? Does every highlighted e-mail in Mail.app has a button labelled 'MobileMe' next to it? Or does Address Book have a button labelled 'Facebook' next to any highlighted name? Do Finder windows (in list mode) have buttons labelled 'iDisk' next to every selected file or folder?

I stick to my statement, either Apple assumes the 'Ping' buttons are useful to the majority of users or it is a somewhat desperate attempt to push Ping.

 

[MacKeeperFanMod]

You know usually I criticize MDN for being to far up apple's butt. But I have to say way to go MDN for not letting apple get away with this poor excuse of a social network. If they improve it I will be among the first to say bravo Apple

 

[nelmat]

Can you show me any other app which shows labelled buttons in a list of items? Does every highlighted e-mail in Mail.app has a button labelled 'MobileMe' next to it? Or does Address Book have a button labelled 'Facebook' next to any highlighted name? Do Finder windows (in list mode) have buttons labelled 'iDisk' next to every selected file or folder?

I stick to my statement, either Apple assumes the 'Ping' buttons are useful to the majority of users or it is a somewhat desperate attempt to push Ping.

I really don't understand your question. You object to having icons next to items in columns because no other software does it? Is there any point to that observation?

iTunes is free. Apple uses it to make money. Apple will use PING to make money. No one forces you to use PING, no one forces you to use iTunes. I really don't understand the mentality of people who feel they are somehow "forced" to use certain software. If you want a sync alternative, take a look at the markspace site with the missing sync solutions... If you want a music player alternative, well there are loads out there, so use one of them. If you don't want to purchase music from the iTunes Store, buy it elsewhere.

It's some icons and a fledgling social facility. What on earth is everyone so angry about, there are people dying of cancer and wars being fought. Perspective.

EDIT: Quick link for leaving iTunes as your phone syncing app:
http://www.markspace.com/products/iphone/missing-sync-iphone-mac.html and it's $39.95, as opposed to iTunes which is free...

 

[manu chao]

I really don't understand your question. You object to having icons next to items in columns because no other software does it? Is there any point to that observation?

iTunes is free. Apple uses it to make money.

iTunes is as free as Mail.app, Finder.app, and Address book.app, it comes with the machine (be it a Mac or iPhone or iPod). We rightfully complain when Android phones have adware on their home screens or when Windows PC have adware on their desktops. Steve Jobs even went on record saying they don't put stickers on their computers (eg, Intel Inside) because they like their computers better without the stickers. Apparently they like their software better with 'adware' buttons now.

The same reason why you don't want any text buttons in Finder, Address Book, or Mail applies to iTunes as well.

 

[Penguissimo]

I have just under 500 gigs of music - 27" iMac, i7 - iTunes absolutely flies. Incredible fast load and responsive. Maybe check for some corrupt tracks kicking around causing issue?

I'll have to give that a go, thanks! I've also been kicking around the idea of just scrapping my Library file and rebuilding it...do you know of any application that will check it for integrity and fix any issues?

 

[DakotaGuy]

iTunes is as free as Mail.app, Finder.app, and Address book.app, it comes with the machine (be it a Mac or iPhone or iPod). We rightfully complain when Android phones have adware on their home screens or when Windows PC have adware on their desktops. Steve Jobs even went on record saying they don't put stickers on their computers (eg, Intel Inside) because they like their computers better without the stickers. Apparently they like their software better with 'adware' buttons now.

The same reason why you don't want any text buttons in Finder, Address Book, or Mail applies to iTunes as well.

I would expect adware only to get worse in iTunes especially if Ping doesn't take off. I think they will do whatever it takes to try and make Ping successful. There is a lot of Ping in iTunes now and I expect to see more of it in following revisions.

As far as people liking Ping? Where are all these people? I have heard very little positive feedback on it and it seems like many who have signed up don't really use it.

 

[nelmat]

iTunes is as free as Mail.app, Finder.app, and Address book.app, it comes with the machine (be it a Mac or iPhone or iPod). We rightfully complain when Android phones have adware on their home screens or when Windows PC have adware on their desktops. Steve Jobs even went on record saying they don't put stickers on their computers (eg, Intel Inside) because they like their computers better without the stickers. Apparently they like their software better with 'adware' buttons now.

Many users criticised ping (there were hundreds of similar complaints on sites such as this one) because there was no way to like anything other than music purchased from iTunes, others complained that it was impossible to quickly view ping updates without going to the store. This is now done - within a couple of weeks.

How are the ping links any different to the store links which went before?

How is allowing interaction with a FREE service "adware", PING is a free function of itunes, this is a way of interacting with it.

Comparing mail.app with iTunes is like comparing a vacation in switzerland with a plate of fries. There is no comparison as the functionality is utterly different.

Removing the genius sidebar, i personally feel was a mistake, but the genius functionality is still there. I've sent feedback to Apple stating this. It's not the end of my world, nor does it upset me or make me angry.

The same reason why you don't want any text buttons in Finder, Address Book, or Mail applies to iTunes as well.

Nonsense.

I would expect adware only to get worse in iTunes especially if Ping doesn't take off. I think they will do whatever it takes to try and make Ping successful. There is a lot of Ping in iTunes now and I expect to see more of it in following revisions.

As far as people liking Ping? Where are all these people? I have heard very little positive feedback on it and it seems like many who have signed up don't really use it.

My kids and my two brothers kids love it, seems to be all the range among the average user of facebook who likes music and has an iDevice. I don't mind it, but although more and more artists are added daily, there's still not enough jazz artists for me to follow... I can see it will grow into something useful and add another dimension to my enjoyment of music.

 

[DakotaGuy]

How is allowing interaction with a FREE service "adware", PING is a free function of itunes, this is a way of interacting with it.

Comparing mail.app with iTunes is like comparing a vacation in switzerland with a plate of fries. There is no comparison as the functionality is utterly different.

Removing the genius sidebar, i personally feel was a mistake, but the genius functionality is still there. I've sent feedback to Apple stating this. It's not the end of my world, nor does it upset me or make me angry.

First of all if they want to add anything to iTunes they need to add more preferences so we can customize. You should have the choice of either a Genius sidebar, a Ping sidebar, or no sidebar.

When you show a Ping link on every song and offer no way to hide it... It is adware. It is no different then product placement on a movie or TV show. If you like using Ping then great, but since a lot of people could care less you should be able to hide the Ping link on every song if you want. Since it always says "Ping" next to all your songs whether you use it or not it is adware. It might not cost any money to sign up for the service, but the service is designed to help sell more music. Plastering it all over iTunes to try and encourage more people to use it is adware.

 

[nelmat]

First of all if they want to add anything to iTunes they need to add more preferences so we can customize. You should have the choice of either a Genius sidebar, a Ping sidebar, or no sidebar.

When you show a Ping link on every song and offer no way to hide it... It is adware. It is no different then product placement on a movie or TV show. If you like using Ping then great, but since a lot of people could care less you should be able to hide the Ping link on every song if you want. Since it always says "Ping" next to all your songs whether you use it or not it is adware. It might not cost any money to sign up for the service, but the service is designed to help sell more music. Plastering it all over iTunes to try and encourage more people to use it is adware.

They don't "need" to do anything.


A button is not "adware" it's not advertising anything. Are you saying that if it reverted to the grey circle with white arrow that went before, it would no longer be "adware".

It is adware. It is no different then product placement on a movie or TV show.

Yes it is, when a product is placed in a show/film it's there to make you go and spend money on that product, a contract is in place between the producer of the show and the product manufacturer, it is advertising for a third party paid-for product or service. PING is part of iTunes, it's free and there is no requirement for you to spend any money in the use of it.

Apple provide the software free of charge. There are alternatives. If a company add a new functionality to their software, they have a right to add the necessary ways to interact with that functionality, be it an icon or a button. Apple can do what they want.

And before you say the predictable - apple DO listen to customer feedback which is why this sidebar and the link button has appeared in the first place. It's in direct response to "there's no way to 'like' music that isn't purchased from iTunes" and "there's no way to view updates without going through the store" which were two very loud complaints on sites such as this on the launch of PING.

 

[manu chao]

How are the ping links any different to the store links which went before?

There is the fine difference between an arrow and a word. An arrow can be ignored as ornamental, a word much less so.

How is allowing interaction with a FREE service "adware", PING is a free function of itunes, this is a way of interacting with it.

So, how would you feel about a non-removable Facebook button next to each highlighted name in Address Book? Both Address Book and iTunes are at their base database apps and Facebook is as free as Ping.