Can iTunes suck anymore than it already does?

[26139]

Dunno, man

You have a point.

Let me ask another way: what's missing? What could/should it do that it doesn't?

ETA: I suppose it's just OP's hyperbole that's sticking in my craw. An "unmitigated disaster?" I mean, I know using iTunes is much worse than being told you have inoperable eyeball cancer, but c'mon...

I have absolutely no idea. I would like better reliability with Airplay, but that's likely a network, not an iTunes, issue.

And I have NO idea why OP is so upset about not being able to find a file in iTunes that he used another program to create. Try spotlight, dude.

 

[JAT]

I admit to being a noob, but I'm not a troll. What is the reason for everyone's hatred of iTunes? I use it to sync my iPhone and have ripped all of my physical media to it, and so far I don't have any problems. Is it something a more sophisticated user would notice, but a novice simply wouldn't encounter?

I'm a novice user and just don't understand, and I'm seeking some enlightenment.

This weekend I used iTunes at two different version levels. It was hardly my first day in front of a computer.

The latest and greatest is on my Mavericks computer, apparently it no longer plays music down the music list, it was automatically creating its own playlists of only music I had listened to in the last 5 minutes. (did my play counts reset?) Switched modes, trying to play a particular album, it reverted to playing only one song, then stopping. I looked for a setting that might switch between Play One, Play All, etc., couldn't find anything. That used to be in there, and I'm sure it is still, but where? The interface is horrible, truly, despicably horrible. It seems to be made to play only for people that have random, single songs (ie: iTunes purchases) and no more than a few hundred, or perhaps exclusively use Playlists. My collection is far smaller than some, but it does number near 10000, many of those parts of full albums.

Next, I was trying to work with an older version, probably on Snow Leopard, whatever is on my uncle's computer. I was copying specific songs to an external drive. I felt like I was on Windows, I was doing the same commands over and over, but iTunes would randomly react differently. I had to give up completely on drag-and-drop as it was not functional. At least on this old version I could find things and easily sort through his collection.

That was just this last weekend. But it will have a positive effect for me. I'm probably just going to go back to spinning discs. It's more interesting that way, anyway.

 

[blueroom]

I've adapted to every release of iTunes. It works fine for me.

 

[26139]

Huh?

This weekend I used iTunes at two different version levels. It was hardly my first day in front of a computer.

The latest and greatest is on my Mavericks computer, apparently it no longer plays music down the music list, it was automatically creating its own playlists of only music I had listened to in the last 5 minutes. (did my play counts reset?) Switched modes, trying to play a particular album, it reverted to playing only one song, then stopping. I looked for a setting that might switch between Play One, Play All, etc., couldn't find anything. That used to be in there, and I'm sure it is still, but where? The interface is horrible, truly, despicably horrible. It seems to be made to play only for people that have random, single songs (ie: iTunes purchases) and no more than a few hundred, or perhaps exclusively use Playlists. My collection is far smaller than some, but it does number near 10000, many of those parts of full albums.

Next, I was trying to work with an older version, probably on Snow Leopard, whatever is on my uncle's computer. I was copying specific songs to an external drive. I felt like I was on Windows, I was doing the same commands over and over, but iTunes would randomly react differently. I had to give up completely on drag-and-drop as it was not functional. At least on this old version I could find things and easily sort through his collection.

That was just this last weekend. But it will have a positive effect for me. I'm probably just going to go back to spinning discs. It's more interesting that way, anyway.

Please provide a video of this happening.

None of this makes any sense to me.

 

[From A Buick 8]

I admit to being a noob, but I'm not a troll. What is the reason for everyone's hatred of iTunes? I use it to sync my iPhone and have ripped all of my physical media to it, and so far I don't have any problems. Is it something a more sophisticated user would notice, but a novice simply wouldn't encounter?

I'm a novice user and just don't understand, and I'm seeking some enlightenment.

I'm with you, have been using iTunes for all of my media since about 2008. The software has changed and there have been changes that were not what I would have done but I have adapted.

I have ripped hundreds of DVD Movies using Handbrake and then I use Identify to tag and add to iTunes and it has been mostly flawless. I have decided to upgrade my movie collection to 1080 so I have been slowly purchasing them through iTunes (when I catch a sale).

On a side note yes Identify lets you edit all of the available meta data.

 

[JAT]

Please provide a video of this happening.

Sorry, don't have time for that.

None of this makes any sense to me.

That's the point, isn't it?

 

[amro]

MetaX is another good movie tagger. It lets me control how much I want to tag, and also gives me movie poster art. There is a small fee, but it's been great for all my rips.

As for Handbrake, I'm always experimenting with different formats since I mostly use the movie rips for my iPad/iPhone. I haven't had any difficulty importing or playing back any of the formats in iTunes.

 

[jtrenthacker]

I've used iTunes from the beginning and I'm up to 2.5TB in bluray rips and lossless music. I've never had problems with it in my pc/mac household except for the homeshare. It used to work perfectly on my ios devices, but starting about three years ago, I can't get my music or movie libraries to load on my iphone 6, ipad mini, ipad air. The only thing my libraries will load on is my 1st gen ipad. Makes sense right? Apple fixes this, iTunes is perfect for me.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

iTunes has been a disaster from the very beginning.

 

[Uofmtiger]

I have absolutely no idea. I would like better reliability with Airplay, but that's likely a network, not an iTunes, issue.

And I have NO idea why OP is so upset about not being able to find a file in iTunes that he used another program to create. Try spotlight, dude.

Sounds like a network problem. My Airplay devices work without issues. You can test it by sending audio from a different music software via Airplay to see if it is related to iTunes, but I would be surprised if it had anything to do with it.

The thing I like about iTunes is that Audiotap works with it. It enables the music library to be accessed from anywhere in high quality formats (lossless if you are on wifi). I also like the way it interfaces with the AppleTV and HomeSharing on the iPhone.

 

[Darryl.Jenks]

iTunes has been a disaster from the very beginning.

Not really.

 

[UKgaryb]

iTunes has always always always (since doing video) imported handbrake rips into home movies for me, I don't see how this is news if the OP has been using it for years, I honestly don't see the hate for iTunes i use it on a 8tb media library and sure, they are making it harder to actually edit meta data in bulk in the latest version but it handles imports exactly as it always has,

Handbrake has the option to pass your oUtput file to metax automatically, or you know use a AppleScript / Automator flow to enhance your conversion process.

 

[AFEPPL]

Yep, as long as you set your metadata right.
I use free program Subler to do the metadata on my movies. Set the content rating of your movie and iTunes/TV will do the rest, once parental controls are enabled.

Thats works fine, thanks.

 

[jlehman]

Dunno, man. I've been an iTunes user since they first released it. My Mini stores all my shows/movies, my MBP has my music.

Sure, each new version has introduced a UI quirk or two, but it stores, organizes, and plays my media. Seldom crashes. Is free.

Also, not sure why the OP is blaming iTunes because the Handbrake file he ripped isn't there. Was it supposed to be added to iTunes?

My semi-expert analysis is: PEBKAC.

Agreed. I would consider myself a n00b with ripping because i either buy my music / movies through iTunes or buy a Blu-Ray for the PS4. But i had to rip some DVDs and I do have an Apple TV to stream to. The issue i had was it was putting the rip in the "Home Movies" category. I simply did a Get Info and changed it to Movie. I've been using iTunes since 2008 and really have never had an issue other than Snow Leopard giving me a firewall error with every launch. Copy and pasted a terminal command fixed that as well. I don't see what is any better out there for free. I would love an alternative but since i buy most of my stuff instead of stealing it and the convenience factor i guess i'm a iTunes fanboy

Recently i bought Guardians of the Galaxy from Amazon thinking i could download it later, wrong. Only downloadable to certain registered devices. Stream only to PC and PS4. Which is a bummer because the stream quality of Amazon sucks compared to Netflix / Apple. Basically, ill just keep using iTunes since it works with my media collection.

/end rant.

 

[Oudinot]

Sure itunes can get worse than it already is, just wait for their next version! Their wheels left the pavement a couple years ago.

 

[tdale]

Dunno, man. I've been an iTunes user since they first released it. My Mini stores all my shows/movies, my MBP has my music.

Sure, each new version has introduced a UI quirk or two, but it stores, organizes, and plays my media. Seldom crashes. Is free.

Also, not sure why the OP is blaming iTunes because the Handbrake file he ripped isn't there. Was it supposed to be added to iTunes?

My semi-expert analysis is: PEBKAC.

Works for me too. Maybe it depends if:

1. They make changes and the user doesn't learn them.
2. They make changes but the user wants to do it the way he wants to

 

[priitv8]

Sure itunes can get worse than it already is, just wait for their next version! Their wheels left the pavement a couple years ago.

As if upon your wish, new version (12.1) just appeared! I'd say they reverted the metadata editing window back to more understandable input fields.
Not Center Widget is a reincarnation of the once popular Dashboard Widget.

 

[cynics]

Edit

 

[oneMadRssn]

Can iTunes suck anymore than it already does?

The answer of course is yes. I can suck more. It can always be worse. It can be exactly the same as it is today, except that it causes your computer to punch you in the stomach. That would be worse. At least currently iTunes doesn't actually physically punch me in the stomach every time I use it.

 

[tdale]

This weekend I used iTunes at two different version levels. It was hardly my first day in front of a computer.

The latest and greatest is on my Mavericks computer, apparently it no longer plays music down the music list, it was automatically creating its own playlists of only music I had listened to in the last 5 minutes. (did my play counts reset?) Switched modes, trying to play a particular album, it reverted to playing only one song, then stopping. I looked for a setting that might switch between Play One, Play All, etc., couldn't find anything. That used to be in there, and I'm sure it is still, but where? The interface is horrible, truly, despicably horrible. It seems to be made to play only for people that have random, single songs (ie: iTunes purchases) and no more than a few hundred, or perhaps exclusively use Playlists. My collection is far smaller than some, but it does number near 10000, many of those parts of full albums.

Next, I was trying to work with an older version, probably on Snow Leopard, whatever is on my uncle's computer. I was copying specific songs to an external drive. I felt like I was on Windows, I was doing the same commands over and over, but iTunes would randomly react differently. I had to give up completely on drag-and-drop as it was not functional. At least on this old version I could find things and easily sort through his collection.

That was just this last weekend. But it will have a positive effect for me. I'm probably just going to go back to spinning discs. It's more interesting that way, anyway.

My suggestion is to take a little time out and learn it.

 

[Antares]

Yeah, I wish iTunes would go back to being just a music app. Focus on that and have a separate app for app and movies. Too much bloat.

I have hundreds of custom playlists covering thousands of CD's. I can't even imagine trying to recreate the playlists in another program. That would probably take years since it all has to be done manually and iTunes screwed up the underlying file hierarchy at one point.

 

[JAT]

My suggestion is to take a little time out and learn it.

You realize that I've been using it for over a decade. And they trashed it so it's barely functioning. Look, if people don't want answers, why ask questions?

 

[RhythmAndBlues]

I have serious problems with iTunes. It's a pity, because there are moments when it looks like it's working for me - then it takes a massive dump in my lap, and I'm right back at Square 1, wondering whether to bother persevering with it. Beyond its file-handling (which is disgustingly stubborn and counter-intuitive... and I won't be told otherwise), I have seemingly-insoluble crises with playback.

I am cursed with a particularly acute sense for out-of-sync audio - in blind testing I've spotted lags of 20ms - and as I buy and rent more and more iTunes video content, I become increasingly disconsolate about the quality-control on this point. I bought The Muppet Christmas Carol and Alien over Christmas (both festive family favourites...), and they're both 'off' when played on my MBP and my iPad. When I strip the DRM and play the files back on a Popcorn Hour media streamer, the files run fine. So, what the Hell is up with the iTunes' playback software...?!


Seriously - answers on a postcard. Anybody who solves this problem for me will receive a gift, shipped internationally if necessary. It is wrecking my head...

 

[tdale]

You realize that I've been using it for over a decade. And they trashed it so it's barely functioning. Look, if people don't want answers, why ask questions?

Works fine for me buddy and I don't see the Internet clogged with iTunes issues. They change it, learn it

 

[Ulenspiegel]

...I don't see the Internet clogged with iTunes issues...

Google is your friend.