DoubleTwist Launches iTunes-Like Desktop Application for Amazon MP3 Store

[healeydave]

Time to wake up. It does

No it doesn't!

I find it quite amusing that DVD Jon likes going head to head with Apple, always criticizing them and yet he has chosen to build a company based on providing software to do the same functionality, simply for other devices.

Why, because those device manufacturers cannot provide any decent software for their own devices, so they have left DVD Jon with an ideal opportunity.

If Apple chose to support other devices in iTunes, he wouldn't have a business.

I don't have a problem with DoubleTwist, I think its a good product, but I know for a fact DT has a business model that is actually providing a great service for a community of smart phones and devices other than Apples products. It started out trying to provide an alternative to Apple but with its continued lack of support for Apple's devices, and the emergence of so many smart phones recently, it now has a significant base of users without needing to tread on Apples toe's any more!

I have been monitoring DoubleTwist since the very first version. I still don't use it because I don't have any of the devices supported. I have an iPhone and iPod. Its a nice alternative if I had a supported device.

Historically DoubleTwist has never supported Apple's own products long enough to invest the time & trouble in accumulating a library that would then be useless when you can't sync it to your iPhone. This doesn't look like changing any time soon either!

DVD Jon has a great community of other smart phones he can support. The latest DT release is highly similar to iTunes itself which is himself acknowledging Apple has a good product and the iPod/iPhone all sewn up, so why try and compete in that arena when Blackberry, Android etc and crying out for something like DoubleTwist.

As this is the case, DVD Jon would be better off not wasting time continually berating Apple and spending it with more development of DoubleTwist for the family of manufacturers that don't have the luxury of iTunes.

Of-course that really is his plan, if your intelligent enough to work this out, the reason DoubleTwist keeps with the Apple bashing is because it generates a huge amount of interest by the Media which results in massive influxes of downloads every time they do another crazy stunt.

In fact DoubleTwist really has had no beef with Apple for some time since Blackberry, Android, Palm etc left their users high & dry with capability but no decent software!

 

[Parky]

Am I the only one who thinks that itunes is pain in the butt?

I don't have any DRM music, I never supported music with DRM but yet I still have go through the activation / de-activation process with Apple. They claim I have 4 machines activated but actually I only have two. Two of the machines that they claim are still activated died before I could de-activate them.

I hate how every time I do a clean install of the OS, I have problems trying to figure out how to trick itunes to use my old itunes library when moved to a different disk.

itunes is one of the slowest starting apps I have.

itunes lacks any integration with automator.

itunes always wants to default to syncing automatically when I attach a new device. I never want the sync to take place as my itunes library is huge and usually I want to only move a subset of songs to my new device. I change the sync setting to manage data manually. But the problem is to access those settings you first have to attach the device and the default setting is to sync automatically. It's a pain in the butt.

The itunes GUI also seems to be different than most other mac apps. Some of it is the same but some of it is confusing and conflicts with normal practices for Apple.

I for one, welcome some competition and I wish Apple would rewrite itunes to take better advantage of non-DRM music manipulation. I mean, why not allow me to move music from the iphone to my itunes library.

The machines that died are still authorised, not sure how Apple are supposed to know they have died. Simple solution, use the deauthorise all machines options that Apple offer, which will remove the 2 problem machines.

 

[Povilas]

Managing music has never been easier? She/they are drunk or what?


P.S Some parts of the UI, it's very strange, but look like iTunes to me

 

[Kelmon]

I can see the appeal of the application if you are using a non iPod/iPhone device but beyond that it just looks like iTunes-lite. The idea that it has "never been easier" to manage content on your device is probably only true if your device isn't an iPod/iPhone since I hardly call manually drag-n-drop making my life easier. Equally, purchasing content via iTunes has hardly been difficult.

While I like competition, and definitely believe that iTunes needs a kick in the pants, this isn't doing much for me. However, I suppose that it would at least open doors to non-Apple products in the future, if I decided to move away from the iPod/iPhone lines.

Needless to say that if you are an iTunes user with a Pre then this solution is no doubt better than Palm's current one. It should at least work reliably.

 

[Cydonia]

Rtfm

The machines that died are still authorised, not sure how Apple are supposed to know they have died. Simple solution, use the deauthorise all machines options that Apple offer, which will remove the 2 problem machines.

Cheers for that, i just couldn't be bothered explaining something so simple to such a simple person. RTFM!

 

[Bonte]

Would be nice if he stripped the Zune subscription DRM to use on a Mac, iTunes doesn't need to be hacked anymore.

 

[ditzy]

The machines that died are still authorised, not sure how Apple are supposed to know they have died. Simple solution, use the deauthorise all machines options that Apple offer, which will remove the 2 problem machines.

I believe that this only works once you have authorised 5 computers. Which is a pain.

 

[SG1-1]

I guess its pretty weak that iTunes is the same design as soundjam. I mean apple bought it but lets give credit where credit is due. Apple did not come up with this UI.

Also why fix what isn't broken. I don't get the negative comments toward double twist. Not everyone wants, needs, or can afford an iphone or ipod. Some people just don't want those devices. I may not agree with that but having an app that supports it makes sense. So I really don't get the negative comments toward this app. At the end of the day competition is important and this will help apple keep itunes innovative and competitive.

And Frankly if this will let me sync my iphone with more than one computer which i think it does... than i'm all for it. Also it looks like it will let me play songs off my iphone when i'm not connected to my main computer. Which is really frustrating that I can't do that to begin with.

Yea SoundJam looks just like iTunes... NOT



cal6n Had beat me to it, Thanks my Friend, This thread is going fast

 

[rdlink]

The Borg are Everywhere!!

It's comments like: "Why would you use an inferior device?" that make me a little ashamed that I own a Macbook, and an iPod Touch, and an iPod Shuffle.

Guys, get over yourselves. I run iTunes, and use it to sync my Apple devices. It works acceptably for that, though it's not perfect (Blasphemy!).

However, calling my MyTouch an inferior device steps over the line. Sorry to tell you, but the MyTouch is a SUPERIOR device, simply because it does not run on the AT&T network. Beyond that it's open source, which makes it far more customizable than my iPod devices. It also allows me to run multiple apps at one time.

Simple fact is this: This software does something I was looking for. It makes synching my iTunes library with my device of choice easy. BTW: You can put playlists on the Android.

BTW: This is no threat whatsoever to Apple. Between those users who like the simplicity (and lack of personalization and control) of the iTunes interface with their Apple devices, and the fanbois who will defend beyond all reason, iTunes/iPod/iPhone will have more than enough users to keep its dominance.

 

[goosnarrggh]

There is no more DRM so I don't get why the guy is making this app while being so against the iPod. This app can sync with other devices. Great. I don't get the point?

That is exactly the point. A one-stop application that is as centralized and easy to use as iTunes, but natively and deliberately compatible with other hardware. Offering a simple, consistent content acquisition and device synchronization experience for all hardware no matter what manufacturer. Great idea, if you ask me.

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

I'm going to try this baby out. I don't care where I get my music, but it has to be easy to sync with iPod/iPhone. Right now, I hate that Amazon downloader. I have to download the software everytime I buy a song on Amazon. And last time it didn't work properly (but still charged me; but I did get a credit). Plus I buy enough on Amazon that I also have $5 of MP3 credits racked up that I don't always use.

I don't like iTunes, but it works as far as syncing and the purchase process is simple.

OK, time to try out this double twist thing.

 

[fifthworld]

Nice. It partially shows what Apple could have done with iTunes if not so much concerned in overprotecting their business model and serve consumers instead. I will definitely try doubletwist out, iTunes is really slow in managing my music library of about 20,000 songs in ALAC format. Competition is good. Listening to consumers needs even better. Bring it on.

 

[cal6n]

I believe that this only works once you have authorised 5 computers. Which is a pain.

Err... no!

 

[TC316]

Very Lame......

Wow, how lame. It always interesting to me how this company is allowed to steal the look of a software package and call it their own. How about developing your own software? It's obvious they don't have any talent or skill... How sad.........

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

I just used it and it works like a charm. I love it. And not because of the interface which is as crappy as iTunes. I love it because it allows me to access Amazon music store (and my mp3 credits). I downloaded the MP3, right clicked for show in Finder and dragged into my iTunes music library for syncing.

I am not sure why everyone is so angry about the way the software looks. I don't think Xerox PARC got all riled up 30 years ago when Jobs "visited" with his notepad in tow.

 

[Compile 'em all]

On the surface, it looks like a really nice app.

But honestly, why use it instead of iTunes?

Geez, did you even bother reading the OP or checking what doubletwist actually is?

Man, sometimes reading the posts in here makes me want to kill myself.

Doubletwist is a great piece of software and is very polished.

 

[fifthworld]

Nice. It partially shows what Apple could have done with iTunes if not so much concerned in overprotecting their business model and serve consumers instead. I will definitely try doubletwist out, iTunes is really slow in managing my music library of about 20,000 songs in ALAC format. Competition is good. Listening to consumers needs even better. Bring it on.

Installed and find out that is too limited and totally useless for me.

 

[kurosov]

It's nice to see more options out there for people to choose from but personally, I'm happy with iTunes.

At least it doesn't look liek that godawful WMP.

 

[disagree]

Does it let me put in a DVD and import it to my library?

Come on!

 

[blizaine]

What do you mean stolen? Apple bought the rights to SoundJam.

http://www.maclife.com/article/feature/the_complete_itunes_history

not only that but apple actually created the nice user interface. Sound Jam looked nothing like it.

 

[jointsmoking]

Whmmm, I downloaded it. First it calls home, they wants you to join something, agreeing to a EULA under Cayman Island laws. I deleted it.

 

[LagunaSol]

Wow, the "Anything But Apple" fanboys are thick as flies in here.

A few facts for the factually challenged:

1) iTunes is SoundJam - Apple bought SoundJam and the result was iTunes. It was not a rip off but an acquisition.

2) Xerox received Apple stock and former members of the Xerox PARC team worked on the Lisa/Mac GUI. It was hardly Steve Jobs covertly sneaking around their labs with "notebook in hand." When will this ridiculous chestnut die? I know the Winbots love to scream that Microsoft may have copied Apple but Apple copied Xerox first don't know the actual history of the thing.

3) DoubleTwist is not an iTunes "competitor," it's an iTunes carbon copy. The colors, the layout, the icons - DVD Jon couldn't be bothered with creating his own app, he simply took Apple's work and repurposed it. That the horde here seems to think that's just fine and dandy is bewildering to say the least - though bashing Apple despite the absence of any rational thought seems to be the trend here on MacRumors these days, as the Psystar and DoubleTwist fanboys (i.e. the "We'll hitch our wagon to anyone who will spit in Apple's face" crowd) will attest.

An iTunes competitor? Great idea! But make your own.

 

[bretm]

It's pretty weak that they couldn't come up with their own design.

They're actually just designing to the specs Apple wants them to. Looks like the finder, safari, itunes, preview, iphoto, iDVD, iWeb, etc. Not exactly earth shattering. Just a design that has evolved. Sources/directories on the left, content/activity on the right. Just like a file browser on windows 95 for that matter. Oh, am I dating myself?

 

[baryon]

Uhm does she actually say "Leave your iPod at home and use your phone's media player"?

That's like saying leave your coat at home and dress up in toilet paper instead!

Who would want to listen to music on a phone if they own an iPod? There's nothing worse than having to go to "Menu>Applications>Media Services>MP3 Player>Browse song" to play a damn song, especially with 10MB of memory where you might be able to fit 2 songs and a battery life of like 45 minutes!

It doesn't make sense! If you already have an iPod, why would you bother using this software anyway? If you don't have an iPod but some other device, then you can just drag and drop files from the finder, why bother doing drag and drop from this app?

 

[Rot'nApple]

Why?

Why a lawsuit... Can that program look any more "Apple-esque"?

For Heaven's sake, use a different color, place your nav menu on the top tier... do something, other than to take a page from the Chinese and "Pirate" the "look" and possibly "feel" of Apple's iTunes... as opposed to being outright blatant in your lack of originality!

On a lighter note, Hey Palm, that Pre battle your having, well here you go!