iTunes 12.4 Update to Feature Minor Redesign With New Sidebar, Improved Navigation

[wozmatic]

I don't understand why people hate so much on iTunes so much, it does the job.

I'd guess 90% of people use it JUST to sync their devices, the rest actually use it to play content (which is pretty funny)

Anyway, as far as playing music goes it works fine. For a party or something, set your playlist and that's pretty much it. The GUI doesn't need to be fancy.

(but everyone at parties just wants to hijack the stereo and play their stupid music)

However, 2 things I personally don't like:

1) The hijacking of the colors based on the cover art - yeah we get it, it's neat but we should have an option to opt-out. (See fig.1)

2) The list view where it stacks an album song list horizontal. That's not very intuitive for searching longer lists alphabetically. To fix this I have to stretch out the album column to keep the song list in a single column (See fig.1 and the fix in fig.2)


fig.1

fig.2

 

[wlossw]

Lipstick on a pig.

 

[tkermit]

all those hotkey assignments are absolute garbage. how can anyone remember them?

They're pretty consistent across apps. For example:

⌘J
⌘/
⌥⌘S
⌃⌘F

all work in the Finder as well and have the the exact same effect there as they have in iTunes.

 

[tentales]

I don't understand why people hate so much on iTunes so much, it does the job.

It does TOO MANY jobs.

 

[b.inazawa-fan]

Suuuure hope they're not getting rid of the Column Browser. It's the only way I browse my library.

 

[Avenged110]

Lol, so their solution to the never-ending list of problems with iTunes is to bring back the sidebar from iTunes 10, the section menu from iTunes 11, and keep the failures of iTunes 12? Genius.

 

[now i see it]

iTunes is intentionally made to resemble hell.

 

[tentales]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/itunes-through-the-ages/

A look back through older designs.
IMHO, I liked the brushed aluminium look of the earlier versions.
It reminds me of the classy hi-fi component brushed metal fronts.
Though, I was ok with the design until iTunes 10.
Its not just iTunes but all of OS X used to look elegant, now it's just utilitarian.

Times they are a changin'

 

[Col4bin]

Is it me or does the UI look pretty much exactly the same as it did before??? Never really had a problem navigating iTunes so whatever.
[doublepost=1462587592][/doublepost]

Well, for those that wanted the sidebar to come back, you're getting your wish (if this rumour is true).

I thought the sidebar was always there, just hidden by default?

 

[Jakexb]

Here's hoping this is the small update before a bigger reorganization is the next Mac OS.

 

[brianvictor7]

Am I dreaming? Has Jony been sent to retirment? iTunes finally getting back the persistent sidebar? So maybe only some more waiting (2 or 3 version) and I can finally switch from iTunes 10.7…

Sidebars are more of an Eddy Cue thing (Think Pages and Keynote). Maybe Eddy covered for Jonny while the guy was out on vacation or something.

 

[bladerunner2000]

I'll stick to Vox

 

[wozmatic]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/itunes-through-the-ages/

A look back through older designs.
IMHO, I liked the brushed aluminium look of the earlier versions.
It reminds me of the classy hi-fi component brushed metal fronts.
Though, I was ok with the design until iTunes 10.
Its not just iTunes but all of OS X used to look elegant, now it's just utilitarian.

Times they are a changin'

nice link!

Yeah I think I first had iTunes for version 7 and it felt like that had a great framework. If they kept that but updated the graphics to be modern it would be pretty slick!

I miss that carousel type of album scroll, it was really nice in landscape mode on iOS 5 or 6 I think it was.

 

[tkermit]

Hopefully this will make iTunes be able to maintain its scroll position once again. Currently it has the annoying habit of scrolling back to the top every damn time you edit metadata or modify a playlist in edit mode. Speaking of which – how about letting us open playlists in a separate window again? That was kind of useful. And already implemented.

I can't believe this works in iTunes 1 but not in iTunes 12:

 

[Machete9236]

I don't understand why people hate so much on iTunes so much, it does the job.

I'd guess 90% of people use it JUST to sync their devices, the rest actually use it to play content (which is pretty funny)

Anyway, as far as playing music goes it works fine. For a party or something, set your playlist and that's pretty much it. The GUI doesn't need to be fancy.

(but everyone at parties just wants to hijack the stereo and play their stupid music)

However, 2 things I personally don't like:

1) The hijacking of the colors based on the cover art - yeah we get it, it's neat but we should have an option to opt-out. (See fig.1)

2) The list view where it stacks an album song list horizontal. That's not very intuitive for searching longer lists alphabetically. To fix this I have to stretch out the album column to keep the song list in a single column (See fig.1 and the fix in fig.2)


fig.1

fig.2

I don't like the color hijacking, either, and fortunately, there is a way to opt out: iTunes Menu > Preferences > General: Uncheck "Use custom colors for open albums, movies, etc." in the Views section.

 

[triptolemus]

They're pretty consistent across apps. For example:

⌘J
⌘/
⌥⌘S
⌃⌘F

all work in the Finder as well and have the the exact same effect there as they have in iTunes.

He was talking about this:

 

[Dr.Chroma]

Refinement ?
It was refined prior to iTunes 10, then bloatware & blandness (flat design) took over.
Now it needs separation between Store, Streaming & CMS. A bit like on iOS, where you have a separate iTunes store & music app, but more decluttering is needed on the OS X iTunes.

Exactly. You quoted yourself. Bloated and Blandness. More so bloated. Agreed on decluttering though.

 

[xmichaelp]

Neat.

So when's the colour and contrast going to return? This isn't the 1980s, we have wonderful things like bitmapped displays and RGB pixels now. It'd be nice if Apple realized this and started designing their GUIs with a bit of depth again.

-SC

No thanks. Depth is UIs belongs in the early 2000's. Can't believe it took so long to die off in the first place.
[doublepost=1462589367][/doublepost]I guess this basically confirms iTunes won't be split up. What a bummer.

iBooks is such a great app, why can't they do that with Music, Videos, and Podcasts?

 

[jagooch]

Neat.

So when's the colour and contrast going to return? This isn't the 1980s, we have wonderful things like bitmapped displays and RGB pixels now. It'd be nice if Apple realized this and started designing their GUIs with a bit of depth again.

-SC

I agree. I miss having skinnable apps that you could heavily customize to fit whatever theme you wanted for your display. my experience is primarily with old Windows with Windows Blinds, Windows Themes, WinAmp skins, and more. The options for customizing the look of your OS/application are very limited these days.

 

[bladerunner2000]

They're pretty consistent across apps. For example:

⌘J
⌘/
⌥⌘S
⌃⌘F

all work in the Finder as well and have the the exact same effect there as they have in iTunes.

At least Apple got cut/paste right in the finder.

Oh wait a minute..

 

[SeaFox]

...A persistent sidebar located on the left side of the app is being added, which will make it easier to access different portions of an iTunes Library like specific songs or albums.

Wow, thanks Apple for adding this "new" feature.
I'd better upgrade from iTunes 10.7 now...

Phil Schiller: "Can't innovate anymore, my ass!"

 

[Brookzy]

It's just a massive piece of crap.

It's 2016 and the only officially-supported way I can make a local backup of an iOS device is via an app called "iTunes" that insists on, and is wholly based around, having a local music library when no-one born after 1990 no-one I know maintains local music any more!

And don't get me started on trying to use it with multiple Macs...

It's just garbage. Please Apple, burn it and start again.

Oh wait, they're making billions from the iTunes Store so are terrified to change it meaningfully!

 

[satchmo]

The bloat is because Apple has been throwing everything but the kitchen sink in there.
At some point, they need to limit functionality to just music.

 

[triptolemus]

Oh wait, they're making billions from the iTunes Store so are terrified to change it meaningfully!

Yup! I don't always make billions, but when I do, I throw the idea right into a fire.

Yup.

 

[SusanK]

iTunes is intentionally made to resemble hell.

Remember Steve's description of iTunes for Windows? Amazing how quickly things change.