What do think about iTunes 7?

[GodBless]

Now that we've been using it for a while -- it's time for each of us make a researched conclusion.

Try to be specific about what you like and/or what you don't like.

(Note: I put this poll in a different part of the forum but I want to see if I get different results here.)

 

[Graeme A]

Audiobooks...

nice idea, bleeding awful implementation...

Files need to be named .m4b to get in there (what about just using the Audiobook genre?), and then if your 'book has heaps of chapters, it makes a damned mess on your ipod.

Otherwise, its not too bad. Not buying any movies from there though..

 

[beatsme]

Now that we've been using it for a while -- it's time for each of us make a researched conclusion.

Try to be specific about what you like and/or what you don't like.

(Note: I put this poll in a different part of the forum but I want to see if I get different results here.)

hadn't noticed much difference, to be quite honest. Then again, I don't use it for much more than as the interface for my iPod.

 

[GodBless]

I think iTunes 7 is much worse than iTunes 6 for various reasons -- which can be proved by the following:
- Buggy Features
- Various Delays After Selecting Certain Options
- Ugly Interface
- Inconsistent Interface
- Poor Version of CoverFlow (I still use the original Application which is better)
- No More Search Bar
- A Store That is Harder to Navigate Through
- No More Keyboard Shortcut for the Equalizer (although it is listed in the keyboard shortcuts it doesn't work)
- Ugly Icon

Sad to say there are many, many other poorly modified features and problems.

 

[w_parietti22]

I like it but I like the white "buttons" from iTunes 6 and the icon is ugly.

 

[Benjamin]

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=237291

 

[GodBless]

I like it but I like the white "buttons" from iTunes 6 and the icon is ugly.

Be specific -- what good is there to like that outweighs what I mentioned as obvious problematic features?

Specifically what feature (or features) make you like iTunes 7 better than iTunes 6?

 

[GodBless]

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=237291

Apparently you missed my note on the first post which is as follows:

(Note: I put this poll in a different part of the forum but I want to see if I get different results here.)

 

[hayduke]

I think iTunes 7 is much worse than iTunes 6 for various reasons -- which can be proved by the following:
- Buggy Features

Can you be more specific? It's been flawless for me so far.

- Various Delays After Selecting Certain Options

Haven't noticed any.

- Ugly Interface

I rather like it.

- Inconsistent Interface

Care to be more specific?

- Poor Version of CoverFlow (I still use the original Application which is better)

What would you like to see work differently?

- No More Search Bar

Hmmm. This is what prompted my post. What are you talking about? I have a search bar. Works fine. Just like always. It is available in all view modes. I'm a misunderstanding you?

- A Store That is Harder to Navigate Through

Haven't tried this yet.

- No More Keyboard Shortcut for the Equalizer (although it is listed in the keyboard shortcuts it doesn't work)

I hadn't notived this. That is kind of a dumb feature to drop. Not sure what that is all about. You can, of course, reassign it under System Preferences. That should work easily enough.

- Ugly Icon

Yeah, well I guess not everyone likes blue.

Sad to say there are many, many other poorly modified features and problems.

I'm all ears. I really like the new iPod interface for selecting songs, photos, contact info, and iCal events. It works well for me.

Mayeb I'm just jaded by my new 8Gb Nano! Fun toy!!

 

[Fearless Leader]

3 reasons, i love it.

even better ipod intergration, new cool interface, and new download manager.

 

[Xeem]

The album art downloader doesn't quite work right (I had to add a lot manually, even for ripped CDs available for download on the ITMS), but I love the interface and download manager. It's noticeably slower, too.

 

[GodBless]

3 reasons, i love it.

even better ipod intergration, new cool interface, and new download manager.

You just made my day -- I'm glad at least one person likes it for good reasons that they aren't afraid to talk about.

 

[KingYaba]

For those who only keep their music on the iPod (including me) do not have the option to use the other two new browsing features to go through music.

I do not like how music and podcasts are seperated. Especially when the downloaded podcasts are listed under the podcast scroll down menu. Secondly when I go to delete a podcast, I don't truly know if it has been deleted. I have noticed in my iTunes folders the old podcasts are still there. Even though I deleted them in iTunes.

I liked the aqua scroll bar, not this ugly grey thing. (Don't know the correct terminology)

I was dooped into updating on my G3 Powerbook. iTunes runs very slow on that machine. Takes way to much resources. Powerbook runs at 400mhz and iTunes "requires" 500mhz if I'm not mistaken. Such a shame.

 

[Fearless Leader]

they moved some buttons around and after i got used to it, its great. And im glad i made your day godbless.

 

[GodBless]

Can you be more specific? It's been flawless for me so far.

Here's one example (look in the lower righthand corner of this image):

Haven't noticed any.

Here's one example that you can test yourself: Just try changing your equalizer main volume slider up or down quickly and you'll notice a very obvious delay.

I rather like it.

Here is an excerpt that I posted in another thread regarding iTunes: "I personally conclude that it is ugly -- especially the grayish Windows looking oval buttons. Detailed imaging with texture and a natural look (such as reflective buttons) is beautiful (and makes a good looking interface) which is why the brushed metal looks so good. For another example try comparing the new iTunes icon to Safari's icon -- Safari's looks much better because of its high quality details that were thoughtfully put into it."

Care to be more specific?

Just click here. If you need more information on why each minor feature of an interface is so important just ask me and I will explain it to you in full detail.

What would you like to see work differently?

Full screen, tilting albums, glow, album covers that pop out, letters for scrolling and smooth scrolling -- all of this is part of the CoverFlow Application so why was it necessary for Apple to make their integration worse? Like I said before I still use the original CoverFlow Application instead of iTunes 7 inferior integration.

Hmmm. This is what prompted my post. What are you talking about? I have a search bar. Works fine. Just like always. It is available in all view modes. I'm a misunderstanding you?

Yes you are misunderstanding me. The search bar that was part of iTunes 6 and was removed in iTunes 7 offered a lot more than searching because is provided a superior way sorting that iTunes 7 unwelcomely doesn't offer.

Haven't tried this yet.

More steps is my main complaint but not my only one.

I hadn't notived this. That is kind of a dumb feature to drop. Not sure what that is all about. You can, of course, reassign it under System Preferences. That should work easily enough.

I know and I have done this but my point is that Apple certainly didn't do a good job finalizing and perfecting their modifications to iTunes 6 and the improper documentation of this removed feature is one example.

Yeah, well I guess not everyone likes blue.

Refer to my point about the Safari icon compared to the iTunes icon.

I'm all ears. I really like the new iPod interface for selecting songs, photos, contact info, and iCal events. It works well for me.

I think the interface is dully ugly by my artistic standards but it might be well featured -- I've only seen screenshots such as this one:

.

Mayeb I'm just jaded by my new 8Gb Nano! Fun toy!!

Maybe so. I've always wanted an iPod but have never gotten around to getting one.

Like I've said in another thread: "I am saddened by this release. This is the worst piece of Apple software since prior to Jaguar. (And I thought Pages was bad.)"

Here's hoping Apple has a comeback.

 

[Abstract]

(About poor searching) Yes you are misunderstanding me. The search bar that was part of iTunes 6 and was removed in iTunes 7 offered a lot more than searching because is provided a superior way sorting that iTunes 7 unwelcomely doesn't offer.

You're still not being very specific. "A superior way (of) sorting that iTunes 7 unwelcomely doesn't offer" isn't specific. You didn't even answer the question.


Personally, I don't like or dislike this version of iTunes anymore than the last version. It's different, but it's not going to annoy me much.

 

[Jimmieboy]

I love the new iTunes. I like how you can scroll through your must by artwork. Unless thats a feature I never figured out how to find in previous versions?

 

[pknz]

I think the interface is dully ugly by my artistic standards but it might be well featured -- I've only seen screenshots such as this one:

So modest you are.

 

[w_parietti22]

Be specific -- what good is there to like that outweighs what I mentioned as obvious problematic features?

Specifically what feature (or features) make you like iTunes 7 better than iTunes 6?

1- The views are nice and there the classic view is still availiable.
2- Its more organized.
3- Its easier to change iPod setting espically on the PC version (edit - preferecnces was not a likely place for people to look)
4- Your videos arent mixed in with all your music so a video wont start playing if you have it on random.
5- Its easier to defferiantiate the different ablums. (In view #2)
6- The store is better because it is based on Music and Movies now instead of having to navigate to the different pages. (You're just not used to the new store yet)

(About poor searching) Yes you are misunderstanding me. The search bar that was part of iTunes 6 and was removed in iTunes 7 offered a lot more than searching because is provided a superior way sorting that iTunes 7 unwelcomely doesn't offer.

Why do you need the search bar when everything is already sorted up into the items that the search bar had? You dont need it and iTunes is smart enough to search by the artist, song, album, etc at the same time so if you type it in properly it will be fine.

 

[w_parietti22]

Here's one example (look in the lower righthand corner of this image):

That happened to me in iTunes 6 too.

 

[Superdrive]

Looks good, works great (for the most part). The new features and the new look make this by far one of the best iTunes revisions yet. This is as big of a jump as iTunes 4 was. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more elements similar to the new iTunes finding their way into 10.5.

 

[GodBless]

1- The views are nice and there the classic view is still availiable.

Just tell me to uninstall iTunes 7 and reinstall iTunes 6.

2- Its more organized.

How? More features doesn't mean more organized. Usually less is more when it comes to organization. The fundamentals were there in iTunes 6, in iTunes 7 poor features were added.

3- Its easier to change iPod setting espically on the PC version (edit - preferecnces was not a likely place for people to look)

I don't have an iPod so I can't argue with you there since I haven't played around with this.

4- Your videos arent mixed in with all your music so a video wont start playing if you have it on random.

That's what the search bar was good for -- read the rest of my response below for more on the search bar.

5- Its easier to defferiantiate the different ablums. (In view #2)

Browsing does the same thing only faster and gives more efficiency and flexibility regarding how the albums are sorted and which ones are visible. View 2 is bloat-ware and is only there for those who don't know how to use iTunes awesome browsing feature. Trust me, ignorance isn't bliss. At least browsing wasn't removed from iTunes -- thank goodness!

6- The store is better because it is based on Music and Movies now instead of having to navigate to the different pages. (You're just not used to the new store yet)

I browse several parts of the store at least once a day on average and am familiar with the old layout and the new layout and what used to take one click to get to a specified music section now takes two clicks from the home page of the store -- this is not good.

Why do you need the search bar when everything is already sorted up into the items that the search bar had? You dont need it and iTunes is smart enough to search by the artist, song, album, etc at the same time so if you type it in properly it will be fine.

The main reason I used the search bar was not to search but to sort. Yes most people are unaware that in iTunes 6 you could have the search bar active at all times even when you didn't type anything in the search box. With that said now you can see why it would be good for sorting -- you can either see all of your content or just your music, just your podcasts, just your audiobooks or just your movies by selecting whatever you want in the search bar. I can't believe that instead of keeping this feature the left-hand column is now more clogged with the same options that once were included in the search bar.

All of this inefficient programming downgrades iTunes 6 to what Apple calls iTunes 7 (strange superior sounding name for a downgrade isn't it?).

 

[SkyBell]

and what is the deal with this "gapless playback"? is that where the next song begins 5 seconds before the current one ends? If so, I've had that feature since iTunes 4, and after 2 years of it, it's really starting to piss me off.

 

[hayduke]

and what is the deal with this "gapless playback"? is that where the next song begins 5 seconds before the current one ends? If so, I've had that feature since iTunes 4, and after 2 years of it, it's really starting to piss me off.

Gapless playback means that for albums during which consecutive tracks are intended to be seamlessly connected (no pause, no click, no time gap) the songs play *right* after eachother. Think of Pink Floyd or most classical music or a live performance.

What you are thinking of is Crossfade Playback which, indeed, has been around for a long time. You can also turn it off in the iTunes preferences and direct more of your angry energy towards moms (per you signature).

 

[pknz]

Here is a stuff-up I have seen n iTunes 7