That's not how it works at all. When an app has gotten too long in the tooth, and you set out to redesign it, you always prioritize the core functionality of the app that matters the most. Then you branch out from there into other features. In the process, legacy features get dropped. Some will make a reappearance in the new app, but only after the priorities have been addressed.
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iTunes Expected to Be Retired After Over 18 Years
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From this comment in the 9to5 article, it sounds like you would still be able to backup your iOS devices locally using the Music app.
Maybe the same thing that happened with my iPods that are now “obsolete”: they’re junk now.
Device syncing, encrypted backup, iCloud Music library...if those aren’t core priorities that need to be in whatever replaces iTunes on day 1 than Apple has lost it.
Exactly my concern as well. We don't pay anything for iCloud currently, and instead back up our devices to itunes on our Macs. Typically we back up once to iCloud just before trading in the phone as well, just in case.
Either a local dedicated backup app OR a free LESS CONFUSING iCloud app is needed. One that takes care not only of data backups but Photo backups as well.
About six years ago I had to completely delete my entire iTunes library because every time I got in my car it would just start playing the first alphabetical thing in my library. Which happened to be some Halloween sound effects I downloaded for ambiance on the big night. Even if I deleted all the music from my phone and completely disabled every auto download option it would still download one song and start to play it. It happened to be an enya song, which was ridiculous. The only solution I ever found was to delete everything from iTunes and iCloud and never listen to music on apple software. Of course now it randomly plays a podcast...
I miss the old Steve’s direction of making complicated simple not dumbed down.
I miss iTunes before the cloud features rolled out. With a large library dependent on smart playlists, playcounts and ratings, iTunes Match decimated my library at one point, and the cloud features cause duplicate playlists in iTunes after editing them on iOS devices, sometimes an artist will be missing in list view, etc.
If I didn't care about an organized library, I'd use the cloud features, but I would be much happier if you could turn off all cloud features on iOS and simply use your locally-synced items. Just give me an Apple Music tab for streaming and that's all I need. I don't need the stuff integrated into my library.
If I didn't care about an organized library, I'd use the cloud features, but I would be much happier if you could turn off all cloud features on iOS and simply use your locally-synced items. Just give me an Apple Music tab for streaming and that's all I need. I don't need the stuff integrated into my library.
this is actually stupid. itunes has gained cross platform acceptance. remove some of the bloat like maybe some of their own ads, but it's absolutely dumb to kill the app altogether
Not surprised since reading the leak about the Music and TV apps last week.
That said, if they dumb the apps down the way they did with iBooks, that'll be just one more reason to ditch the Mac ecosystem. Sad, but true.
That said, if they dumb the apps down the way they did with iBooks, that'll be just one more reason to ditch the Mac ecosystem. Sad, but true.
Except if you do not have reliable network access.
I remember ripping my very first album on iTunes back on my iMac G3 :,)
I think this is a mostly a good idea, although I liked having the convenience of Podcasts with the music. Let’s hope they release a Windows version because that is horrible to use.
I think this is a mostly a good idea, although I liked having the convenience of Podcasts with the music. Let’s hope they release a Windows version because that is horrible to use.
Uh, iCloud Music Library is part of the Music app, just like it is on iOS. This isn't surprising anyone, or even up for debate.
Devices also still appear in the sidebar of the Music app. For what purpose remains to be seen. Local backups will still be a thing, but syncing is definitely on the chopping block. Local syncing of media from desktop to mobile is about as archaic as any feature still in use across the platform. If local syncing still exists, it will likely be greatly simplified and a lot of logical/automatic syncing features that existed from day one of iPod will be gone.
An important point. The answer had better be you can keep using that content without paying a subscription fee, which I will never do.
I'm surprised at all the hate for iTunes. It's still pretty much the best music playing and organization app around.
I have an iTunes music library that dates back to 2005. It contains music I've been collecting since 1996. I really hope I don't have to give that up in order to stay current with MacOS.
So far everything Apple has redesigned has been inferior to what came before. Airport Utility, Apertures -> Photos, iMovie, the old Music app in iOS to the new one, etc... They had a design sense last decade which is gone, and when apps get replaced the result is inferior. I don't want this to happen to iTunes!!
I have an iTunes music library that dates back to 2005. It contains music I've been collecting since 1996. I really hope I don't have to give that up in order to stay current with MacOS.
So far everything Apple has redesigned has been inferior to what came before. Airport Utility, Apertures -> Photos, iMovie, the old Music app in iOS to the new one, etc... They had a design sense last decade which is gone, and when apps get replaced the result is inferior. I don't want this to happen to iTunes!!
Cabled synch is the only way to encrypt backups that Apple can’t read (they can read backups in iCloud).
Quite right! If you don't own 6000+ songs like I do then you can use apple music but I for one
still use iTunes to manage my music.
How exactly is it a mess? I can think of no app which makes it faster or easier to find and organize my music.
iTunes is like a Swiss army knife of music organization. I've never seen anything more perfect for that job.