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iTunes for Windows Soon?

Re: Windows users' habits

Originally posted by rogueimage
One thing that strikes me as a stumbling block to Windows users using iTunes is that it isn't skinnable. When I was first introduced to mp3s way back in high school, everyone downloaded tons of skins for WinAmp. You were almost scoffed at if you used the original interface. I don't know how true that still is, but it must be to a certain extent, as even WMP comes with different skins.

iTunes, as elegant and functional as it is, is locked into the brushed metal look. I can certainly see some of my power-user friends snubbing it simply because they can't customize it. Even worse, the brushed metal look is not an established look on the PC. I suppose it's possible winTunes will have an interface that blends more with XP, but I think it's unlikely.
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I know it's not a help for the windows version of iTunes but on the Mac it's basically skinnable if you connect to it from other programs that are skinnable (like Konfabulator) using Applescript.
 
Re: Re: It could be ready

Originally posted by greenstork
It also goes without saying that the biggest competitive advantage Apple has with ITMS is the seamless integration from store to software to hardware (iPod).
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This is exactly why Apple doesn't have competition right now or in the near future. Do you really think MTV, Yahoo, Amazon or AOL can pull that off? Heck, two of them don't even make software and the other two haven't made any good software so far anyway.

Some of you guys are worried about compeition way too much. The competition isn't these other companies, its Microsoft and Microsoft only.

Even if itunes for windows doesn't come till the end of the year, Apple will do well. The only time they will do bad is if all the other portable mp3 players and software support Microsoft's DRM and not AAC. Thats the real battle.

Once people on PC's try itunes (hopefully Apple will advertise the heck out of itunes for windows so people download it) then Apple will win the game because of ease of use. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
 
Interesting...Didn't Steve say that there would be an iPod software update at the end of June to allow USB2?

Perhaps he was having a personal joke there.

Originally posted by tliptak
A friends has 18 hours of music without any playlists or a search function. If apple released itunes for windows even without the music store I would beat all other players.
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Even more interesting, as an MP3 player/organiser perhaps people will download it because they hear/read it's good, then click on Music Store, impulse buy and tell all their friends. That would be nice.

AppleMatt
 
i hope this is true

the financial shot in the arm this could provide apple with could go towards quicker implementation of 970's in the lineup.
 
I think this is a misprint

I'm inclined to think this is a misprint for a couple reasons:

* They say "end of this month" matter-of-factly, as opposed to saying something about Apple moving up the timetable. If Apple was moving up the timetable, I think they would have emphasized that point and used it to drive their point about segment competitiveness home.

* There's a typo on the page, which shows some editorial sloppiness within the same story.

I don't know much about the status of the project -- my feedback is based entirely on the nature of this particular story combined with the fact that the end of this month is a lot sooner than the end of this year.
 
https://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/04/20030429203935.shtml

Here's the job posted less than a month and a half ago:

Apple Computer is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to design and build one of our newest Consumer Applications, iTunes for Windows. Must be possess strong skills in the areas of application design, solid API design principles, user interface engineering, and have a strong understanding of customer and workflow issues. Experience with Windows logo certification preferred. Candidate should have a history of successful large volume consumer product shipment.

Sounds like the project can't be far along. (And others have posted here that there are TWO iTunes for Windows jobs posted at jobs.apple.com, both listed as not yet filled. That does sound unlikely. Way to waste people's time sending in resumes!)

I always go with the simplest explanation: article error, or massive Apple subterfuge? Article error is the simplest explanation. So no iTunes for Windows yet I don't think.

The licensing alone sounds unlikely to be resolved yet.
 
Ugh, just pull EVERYONE off of EVERYTHING to get this Windows version done! It is ESSENTIAL to be first to the market with this, or else, differences/inferiorities notwithstanding, the MS imitation will dominate. The only point of learning history is to LEARN from history.

I still say the 970 and Panther can bloody WAIT. G4's and 10.2.6 are PERFECTLY fantastic as they are. They are oldies but goodies 🙂 I just don't get why the 970 is such a big deal for consumers since nothing is 64-bit optimized, and the big advantage seems to be potential for using lots of memory. I think that can wait a month or two longer so that

iTunes for Windows can get released!
 
Originally posted by snahabed

I still say the 970 and Panther can bloody WAIT. G4's and 10.2.6 are PERFECTLY fantastic as they are. They are oldies but goodies 🙂 I just don't get why the 970 is such a big deal for consumers since nothing is 64-bit optimized, and the big advantage seems to be potential for using lots of memory. I think that can wait a month or two longer so that.
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The 970 is a big deal because it suppose to much much faster than the G4. Apple needs a serious speed bump to compete against the wintel world.

itunes is not as important as these speed increases. Without machines that bet or even come close to the intel speed, Apple will croak.
 
Win Cocoa?

I always thought that if the iApps were written in Cocoa, it would be extremely easy to port to Windows. At the same time, they could release Cocoa for Windows (like the old NeXT objects for Win and Solaris) so people could write cross-platform Apps!

That would be a HUGE announcement at WWDC -- allow developers to write for OS X and Win at the same time, using Cocoa. iTunes could be the flagship proof-of-concept app for it.
 
So is it a foregone conclusion that iPods will now only with iTunes on the PC? No more musicmatch or whatever they used? That would rock, get them used to using only mac stuff. Apple iPod only works with Apple iTunes. That would really get us in their market even if it's just a free app, it's an 'Apple' app.
 
Porting to Windows and such...

Originally posted by iJon
Any programmers out there care to comment on how easy or hard the process of getting iTunes to windows?
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Well, that depends...

Apple knew about the demand for a Windows version of iTunes ever since the second gen iPods were released (they had to punt and use MusicMatch instead). So, Apple could have been working on it since then (and probably has).

Porting time really depends on how much of the code is based on the QuickTime Media Layer. The more the better since it is high portable code.

My guess, Apple will have Win iTunes soon (in about a month or two) just to get a foot in the door. It won't be feature complete in it's first version. But you will be able to use the iTunes Music Store right away! 🙂
 
Re: I think this is a misprint

Originally posted by ScottCFrancis
I'm inclined to think this is a misprint for a couple reasons:

* They say "end of this month" matter-of-factly, as opposed to saying something about Apple moving up the timetable. If Apple was moving up the timetable, I think they would have emphasized that point and used it to drive their point about segment competitiveness home.

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Well, WWDC is at the 'end of the month'.
 
re: ny post and tech facts/accuracy:
they had a big article a few weeks after the new iPod release about how NYC is so into them--"you either have one or you are dying to have one". the photos were all of the scroll-wheel models as were the prices and Gb sizes they quoted. All this after the huge how-can-you-miss-it new iPod release. Guess they were too busy with sports...
 
As has been said by others in the past: Apple is a hardware company.

That means that they thrive when people buy their hardware, so it's in their best interests to make the hardware as juicy as possible, as soon as possible. I'm sure that Apple would like to milk the Mac exclusivity of the iTMS a little more by having a much more desirable computer to run it on. Once that's done, they can release the Windows version of iTunes and start drawing in the people that are left.
 
iPods will always work with other music software I'm sure. And i bet iTunes will work with other players--after all, many people already have MP3 players. But protected AAC-playback may have to be iPod-only, as it is for Mac. Unless the record companies agree to open that up, and Apple decides it is worth sharing that ability with others.
 
Originally posted by Sedulous
How did Apple throw this together so fast? I thought they just posted for the iTMS developer position!
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Apple did recently post an iTMS for Windows developer position, BUT that doesn't mean the project had just been started. Your assumption suggests they only have one person working on project, and that is so not the case. Common sense?
 
will microsoft be able to make it as good?

that is the real question. In the windows world, if the Apple mechanism is better, then most will gravitate towards that. My money is on Apple here. Look what they did for iTMS! Nearly perfect right form the start! Amazing, really. So Microsoft is doing what they always do, but this time they aren't gonna be able to touch Apples service. I don't care if Apple comes out next month or the one after, they have to make it as good for windows as it is for the Mac, and they will have the majority n that arena.

*as far as the skinnable mp3 player it's a good point, BUT even though I just absolutely LOVE Audion, I still use itunes because it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO functional. Once you use it, you're hooked, trapped, by it's logical ease of use.
 
Originally posted by P-Worm
Ok, the header is now saying that this is a misprint. How do we know?
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Perhaps Arn emailed them, or maybe RHutch got a response to his email. I would like to know for sure, though. It's still possible that it could be out that soon. I do expect it will be significantly before the end of the year. Surely Apple has learned that they must beat M$ to market if they want people to even notice their product.

OTOH, if the record labels are all that's holding it up, then no one else will be able to get anything similar out, either.
 
one app to rule the world

first, iTMS has to beat the MS store. otherwise, everyone in Windows will use the MS version and when iTMS starts up, no one will use it. that's for the VAST majority of consumers.

some WILL try it, though--i'm not saying it won't be successful. it will be way MORE successful if it's first, though. it will be successful if it can solve the following problem (I use a PC at home and a Mac at work--but the PC for only a little longer...):

on the Windows machine, I use one program to play songs, one to burn CDs, one to rip CDs into MP3s, etc etc. Yes, there are programs that do all these. No, none do them all well. iTunes does them all well (except the ripping part 🙁, and has a store to boot.

i think many windows users would use iTunes if they gave it a chance. but if MS beats Apple to the store, most Win users won't ever try iTMS.
 
Originally posted by rogueimage
Perhaps Arn emailed them, or maybe RHutch got a response to his email. I would like to know for sure, though. It's still possible that it could be out that soon. I do expect it will be significantly before the end of the year. Surely Apple has learned that they must beat M$ to market if they want people to even notice their product.

OTOH, if the record labels are all that's holding it up, then no one else will be able to get anything similar out, either.
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I emailed the author of the article. She emailed me back and said it was a "major" typo.
 
i can't say i'm surprised about the mistake...

i wouldn't wrap fish in the new york post.


what was the headlline: "apple peeling off"? sheesh...

sorry for the negative post (no pun intended). i'm afraid i'm a bit of a newspaper snob and i sound off here because i am TOO polite to the poor souls who call me at least twice a month to try to get me to subscribe.
 
That sucks. I wish it were due at the end of the month..... 🙁

Shame on you NY Post for getting the hopes of us crazed Apple addicts up. 🙄
 
1. When it comes to technology, the NY Post is not a good source at all.

2. I still wouldn't be surprised if we saw an iTunes for Windows at WWDC. Perhaps not yet released, or without the iTMS (I tend to think the issue is the record labels), but some version nonetheless.

3. iTunes and iMovie are still Carbon, not Cocoa.
 
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