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Is Apple moving away from ITunes?
- Thread starter jwolf6589
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Yes, Apple is moving at a glacier's pace toward eliminating the need for iTunes (for anything other than music) on macOS devices. It started with eliminating the need to connect an iOS device to update it. They removed the need to back up an iOS device to a macOS device. They've removed the ability to download apps (though I'm still using the last version of iTunes to support app download/sync).
Wait a minute one can backup their iPad or whatever to their Mac and restore. This is very helpful in cases of a slow internet connection or problematic iCloud server issues. I have done this several times and it’s always faster than iCloud which requires a fast connection.
Also removing the ability to download and backup apps was a mistake in cases were the developer has removed their app or decided to charge a fee. I have one such app that is no longer in the store and the new versions has a cost to it. When I move from the iPhone 8 which hopefully will not happen for a long time I will lose the app.
Sorry. I don't think I was clear. They removed the NEED to use iTunes to backup a device... not the ABILITY. If one wants to backup using iTunes (I currently do) one can still do that.
Slow internet connections or problematic iCloud server issues make a need to use this essential in some cases.
For example my folks live in a remote area of Alaska. If my mom upgrades to the Mini 5 she will need to backup and restore using iTunes.
Yes, they are.
If I'm not mistaken I think you can stream your purchased content from the iTunes servers instead of downloading it, just like an Apple Music subscription would allow you to do.
Same for Movies & TV Shows.
Obviously, this wouldn't help those who like to keep a copy of their content on their HDD for save keeping.
If I'm not mistaken I think you can stream your purchased content from the iTunes servers instead of downloading it, just like an Apple Music subscription would allow you to do.
Same for Movies & TV Shows.
Obviously, this wouldn't help those who like to keep a copy of their content on their HDD for save keeping.
True. However I keep about 10-15 movies on my HDD in cases of a internet connection failure. Perhaps they won’t remove iTunes just not develop anymore for it.
The new TV.app on macOS, will most likely have the ability to store movies on the HDD drive.
I would imagine that when it comes out, they're will be some sort of migrating option to move your stored iTunes content to the new TV.app, as well as the possible new standalone macOS Music.app.
there is the option of using iMazing to back up - iPhones, iPads and transfer music and files
So what of podcasts and all my music? What of audio books? What of playing CDs? What of burning CDs?
Podcasts will have their own app on macOS, Music will have its own app on macOS, audiobooks will be put in the currently available Books.app on macOS.
In regards of CD burning, I think Apple will drop that functionally when they disband iTunes (see above).
This is what happened to iOS. Everything used to be an iPod.app circa 2007-2012. But they moved to standalone apps Music, TV, Podcasts. Expect the same thing with iTunes on the Mac.
That could be dropped, but you never know.
I do not burn often but I do on occasion have a need to play a CD especially since it’s a sermon or something that only comes in CD format.
Apple is most likely going to do everything possible to get people to move away from CD's and Blurays and to subscribe to content services (Apple Music).
If they do drop CD support, you always can listen to CD's in Finder, or download a third party app.
* This is all speculation on my part*