iTunes Match is awful in iOS6

[zhenya]

And what, in iOS 5 was a clear, obvious, intuitive way to (1) see what tracks are stored locally on the device, and which tracks aren't, (2) to remove tracks from local storage, and (3) to download individual tracks for local storage has been rewritten in iOS 6 in a way in which all three of these things are still technically possible, sure, but are anything but intuitive or elegant.

I'm sorry, but any instruction that begins with "first, disable iTunes Match" is a step back in UI design from iOS 5.

If Apple was concerned about some users not understanding the paradigm of locally stored vs streamed music and hence not understanding why their storage capacity was depleting over time, they could still have modified iOS to stream/cache (instead of auto-download) non-local tracks as they are played, AND left in the "cloud download" button (so that there is a visual indication to users who want it as to what tracks are not local) AND left in the ability to swipe/delete a locally-stored track.

Each track could have three possible states:

(1) Non-local
(2) Local (cached)
(3) Local (downloaded)

In state 1 and 2, the "cloud download button" would be shown. If pressed, the track would be downloaded and now be state 3. If the track was simply played (without pressing the "cloud download button") then it would become cached (or remain cached).

In state 3, the "cloud download button" would not be shown. A swipe/delete on this track would remove it from the device, and it would now be state 1.

The current behavior of iOS 5 would be preserved, with the ostensible concerns being addressed in iOS 6 covered as well.

I actually completely agree with you and would prefer that it was designed in just that way. My goal in this thread has not been to debate how Match could have been made better in iOS 6, but to counter the claims that music can no longer be deleted from the device piecemeal.

The system does work if we follow the instructions. Whether we think the process is well designed or not is a topic for another thread.

I have stated many times that it is my opinion that Apple chose this method because of the possibility of confusion, I have never said that I agreed with or liked that method. In the meantime, I just need to understand how the current system works so I can make it work for my needs.

I still don't see what this has to do with data usage though.

 

[imacken]

My goal in this thread has not been to debate how Match could have been made better in iOS 6, but to counter the claims that music can no longer be deleted from the device piecemeal.

Why do you keep saying this?
It's all or nothing, there is no 'piecemeal' delete ability. You cannot delete songs with Match on. Switch Match off, and you lose everything in the cache.

 

[zhenya]

Why do you keep saying this?
It's all or nothing, there is no 'piecemeal' delete ability. You cannot delete songs with Match on. Switch Match off, and you lose everything in the cache.

What have I been saying about confusion between downloaded and cached music?

Yes, if you switch Match off you lose your cache. You do not however lose your downloaded music. With Match off you can manage the music that has been downloaded to your device, deleting whatever you want. When you turn Match back on you will retain that downloaded music on the device, and regain access to everything else in your library (to stream/cache or download).

Turning Match off and on has no practical effect other than allowing you to manually manage your music or not.

 

[bogatyr]

It would be cool if you could set a limit on how much it caches before deleting.

Also, can you download ONE song permanently from the cloud? or only full albums?

Full albums, but you can work around download a single song. Download the full album and click stop on the songs you don't want. Huge hassle but an option until they offer more.

 

[thomamon]

I can't stand iTunes match on either iOS. It is nice to have on my machine tho to backup my music, but I don't know if that is worth the $25.00 to renew the service.

 

[tmanto02]

Aight I tried iTunes match again. It Blows. Now i'm using iTunes Wi-Fi sync for my smart playlists and use the PLEX app to access my entire music library. It is more seamless than iTunes Match.

 

[MonkeySee....]

I honestly don't understand how data plans have any relevance here? The cache system is specifically designed to try and minimize data usage by caching frequently listened to music. If you want to download music, do it over wifi. This is no different than it was previously.

I don't think you really understand my point.

In iOS5 everything that wasn't downloaded had a cloud icon next to it. I then knew not to click on that if I didn't want to use data etc to play the track. (or as others have said, if you're on a plane etc)

In iOS6 it is not clear what has been downloaded etc. This is massively impractical and a step back to what it was like.

I know there are ways around deleting music but why are there "extra" steps to do this when is was perfectly simple before hand.

 

[dcorban]

I am under the impression that iOS will automatically delete the cached songs as the system needs space. Is this not correct? If it is correct, why is there a need to manually manage the music?

 

[zhenya]

I am under the impression that iOS will automatically delete the cached songs as the system needs space. Is this not correct? If it is correct, why is there a need to manually manage the music?

You are exactly correct - as long as you do not click on the 'download' icon for any albums or playlists. Removing the responsibility to manage their usage is exactly the reason Apple made the changes they did to Match in iOS6.

The discussion in this thread has largely revolved around users who want to both download and stream, which will still require some management.

 

[MonkeySee....]

I am under the impression that iOS will automatically delete the cached songs as the system needs space. Is this not correct? If it is correct, why is there a need to manually manage the music?

If I take my boy out and we listen to some Nursery Rhyme bollocks in my car i'd like to swipe and delete that off my phone so its not taking up useless space.

You are exactly correct - as long as you do not click on the 'download' icon for any albums or playlists. Removing the responsibility to manage their usage is exactly the reason Apple made the changes they did to Match in iOS6.

The discussion in this thread has largely revolved around users who want to both download and stream, which will still require some management.

And have the ability to delete each song and album as before...which was 100% better than the way you delete music now.

 

[zhenya]

If I take my boy out and we listen to some Nursery Rhyme bollocks in my car i'd like to swipe and delete that off my phone so its not taking up useless space.



And have the ability to delete each song and album as before...which was 100% better than the way you delete music now.

You DO have the ability to delete stuff individually IF you downloaded it. NOT if it's in your TEMPORARY cache.

You can get blue in the face about this, but the average user doesn't want to have to constantly worry about managing what's in their temporary cache. Are you also miffed that you can't delete the individual cookies in Safari after he goes to sesamestreet.com?

 

[MonkeySee....]

You DO have the ability to delete stuff individually IF you downloaded it. NOT if it's in your TEMPORARY cache.

You can get blue in the face about this, but the average user doesn't want to have to constantly worry about managing what's in their temporary cache. Are you also miffed that you can't delete the individual cookies in Safari after he goes to sesamestreet.com?

ok ok. you're not getting it.

You're speaking as if you've never used it prior to iOS6. If you have then you would know how ridiculous it is that they have changed the way you interact with Match.

People are talking about not renewing their subscriptions. Thats how bad it is. Search these forums.

 

[zhenya]

ok ok. you're not getting it.

You're speaking as if you've never used it prior to iOS6. If you have then you would know how ridiculous it is that they have changed the way you interact with Match.

People are talking about not renewing their subscriptions. Thats how bad it is. Search these forums.

As I've said over and over, I have used it since literally day one. It was ridiculous that I had to worry about the space that was going to be used by every track I ever played, and since my phone was always nearly full, I had to constantly manage how much space the Music app was using.

Now it works largely as I'd wanted it to. I have a large amount of music stored permanently on the phone, and I can listen to everything else without having to manage space.

Honestly, I still don't think you understand the difference between what's in the cache and what's permanent.

 

[MonkeySee....]

As I've said over and over, I have used it since literally day one. It was ridiculous that I had to worry about the space that was going to be used by every track I ever played, and since my phone was always nearly full, I had to constantly manage how much space the Music app was using.

Now it works largely as I'd wanted it to. I have a large amount of music stored permanently on the phone, and I can listen to everything else without having to manage space.

Honestly, I still don't think you understand the difference between what's in the cache and what's permanent.

ok. Please tell me which of these albums have been downloaded?

 

[zhenya]

ok. Please tell me which of these albums have been downloaded?

That depends on which view that screenshot represents. If we are in the Show All Music view, then you can no longer tell until you click on the particular album. If the view is with Show All Music turned off, then all of those albums are downloaded and able to be deleted. I don't disagree that the cloud icon before made it easier to tell on the fly, but I'm not getting all worked up about the new method which still works fine as overall the system is better.

Perhaps in the future Apple will bring that view back, but I suspect not given the level of confusion even here, among educated users who have spent pages discussing this very issue.

 

[MonkeySee....]

That depends on which view that screenshot represents. If we are in the Show All Music view, then you can no longer tell until you click on the particular album. If the view is with Show All Music turned off, then all of those albums are downloaded and able to be deleted. I don't disagree that the cloud icon before made it easier to tell on the fly, but I'm not getting all worked up about the new method which still works fine as overall the system is better.

Perhaps in the future Apple will bring that view back, but I suspect not given the level of confusion even here, among educated users who have spent pages discussing this very issue.

I have, like most 500mb data. I also live in village that can just about get "edge" let alone "3G". I want to add albums prior to my trip. I didn't like syncing with itunes and since iOS5 I have never done since. iTunes Match "showed" me all my music in the cloud and let me download what I wanted without syncing. Fantastic! Now I can add music without syncing!

I only need a few albums on my phone as anymore than that would be a pointless waste of time so I used to SIMPLY delete albums and tracks as and when I liked.

They would then go back to the cloud and sit their all happy with a little cloud next to it telling waiting for me to download it again.

iOS5 didn't need you to go to settings to remove music.

Just to emphasize. I don't want my iPhone full of music. Its pointless.

I understand we use it very differently but the majority of users don not like the change. Hence the name of this thread.

This is what Apple sold me....

 

[melchior]

oh my god, someone is wrong on the internet.

what apple "sold you" is called streaming. i.e. no storage management necessary. this works when you have a constant internet connection and therefore does not require space on your phone.

when you don't have have constant internet connection, you can download during the opportunities you have to get online and then if you need more space you can delete and repeat. i.e. storage management

both functionalities exist. the system has changed to accommodate streaming and downloading.

if you want access to a huge library without an internet connection, wait ten years.

 

[MonkeySee....]

oh my god, someone is wrong on the internet.

what apple "sold you" is called streaming. i.e. no storage management necessary. this works when you have a constant internet connection and therefore does not require space on your phone. It is taking up space on my phone. I know it recycles space but I don't want zero space on my Phone.

when you don't have have constant internet connection, you can download during the opportunities you have to get online and then if you need more space you can delete and repeat. i.e. storage management This is not practical. I never had to go into settings prior to iOS6

both functionalities exist. the system has changed to accommodate streaming and downloading.but it does it badly as you can't tell what is downloaded without going into settings which is crap

if you want access to a huge library without an internet connection, wait ten years. Who wants that? I just want it the way is was. With swipe to delete and a little cloud back

On my last point thats all it needs. Swipe to delete and the cloud Icon back. Its not hard.