6 ms·

It must be really hard to maintain and add features to such a huge old application. Platforms have changed underneath it, the devices and services it connects t

It must be really hard to maintain and add features to such a huge old application. Platforms have changed underneath it, the devices and services it connects to have come and gone, Objective C has changed a lot as well. And then there's the Windows version... Still, iTunes is crap. I hated it so much that I wrote my own music player for iOS, just to avoid using iTunes for putting music on my phone [1]. My guess is that sooner or later, iTunes will be dismantled and the features will be split into multiple smaller apps. There will be a music app that JUST plays music from the Apple Music account, a podcast app that JUST plays podcasts, a sync app that JUST helps you manage stuff on your phone etc. Some features will be removed (Internet radio, ripping & burning CDs). And of those that remain, only a few will need to keep a Windows counterpart. That way, things will be easier to maintain. [1] Tiny Player: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1140849233 https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1140849233

massysett 10y ago
I think Apple would have split up iTunes long ago if it were only a Mac application, but they don't want to distribute a bunch of smaller Windows apps.
- tomasandrle 10y ago
  Sure. Hopefuly "a bunch" could be reduced to just two: Apple Music client and iPhone sync app. The rest would be removed without a replacement (on Windows). The headphone jack removal shows that Apple is willing to make people angry about some things for a long term benefit and iTunes is imho a good candidate for the next "act of courage", heh.
  - TorKlingberg 10y ago
    Could they drop the iPhone sync app completely? These days the iPhone should be able to do all the syncing it needs directly against the internet.
    - Klathmon 10y ago
      isn't itunes still needed in some "recovery" situations? Like fixing a bad update, backing up/restoring a phone, and (not quite along the same lines, but important to me) allowing install of in-dev applications. I guess some of those could be handled by going into an apple store, but I'd still be a bit peeved if they removed the lifeline to my phone as a cost cutting measure.
      - mgkimsal 10y ago
        a dedicated "update/restore" client makes more sense, in that case. Not saying it can't also be bundled in itunes, but something with, say, a bit more diagnostic view when run separately would be nice/useful, and not stop the general purpose use cases in iTunes.
      - TorKlingberg 10y ago
        I have been using TestFairy to try in-dev applications. It has been fine without iTunes, but I don't develop on iOS myself.
    - puddintane 10y ago
      You still have speed issues with certain areas. I'm no expert of course but areas like the south in the United States are still stuck on DSL lines and even older technology. I would think that this would be reasoning for not doing that yet.
    - csydas 10y ago
      Maybe, but I think there's still some value to a controlled management application for either a large volume or to at least ensure that it's not a faulty wireless connection. It's a lot easier to move a few hundred gig over lightning than it is over wifi, and that first impression is probably going to be the biggest. Then again, if they do go towards a totally wireless phone, I guess it would only be sensible to just ditch the lightning port entirely. and have a fully sealed case. Still, I'd be pretty happy to have a stand-alone sync/management app; right now I use iTunes as an staging ground just to make sure that whatever goes on the phone looks right in iTunes first (correct tagging, correct album artwork). I don't mind it in this function, but if I could I would do away with it.
- Marazan 10y ago
  I really don't think they would. iTunes has been awful for pretty much the entirety of it's existence. It's not Windows stopping it being magically wonderful.
- asveikau 10y ago
  Is that so? Some years ago I remember some rando's blog post that seemed to completely invent this narrative from thin air, and it got repeated a lot by Apple fans who have never built Windows applications and probably grossly overestimate its cost. This seems like a pretty lame excuse for one of the world's most powerful companies to not do something it would otherwise want to do.
  - massysett 10y ago
    I don't guess it's a cost issue. iTunes is the Apple trojan horse into the Windows platform. They know that they can get anything onto a Windows desktop by crammng it into this one application. My guess is that strategically they don't want to give this up.
    - asveikau 10y ago
      So you don't think apple can break up the app into various components and provide a single installer and call the whole bundle "iTunes". And failing that, you don't think users are capable of installing multiple things or coping with a re-brand. But if they did this only on the Mac all these things would work. Windows is the key. Sorry, I do not think this is the reason. More likely they just don't want to put resources into a ground up overhaul of iTunes.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
kalleboo 10y ago
> My guess is that sooner or later, iTunes will be dismantled and the features will be split into multiple smaller apps I've been hoping for this for ages, but looking at the new Music app on iOS I guess I should be careful what I wish for. At least iTunes isn't that bad.
- Ntrails 10y ago
  I've been listening to music by artists, playing albums in whatever random order iTunes/music deigned to give them in. It's not perfect as I'd like them to be in release order, but never mind. Updated to ios 10, that feature no longer exists. I can "shuffle" an artists songs, or listen to them in alphabetical order. That seems to be it. Thanks so much.
ForFreedom 10y ago
@tomasandrle How do I add music? When I toggle "ENABLE UPLOADS", "no network available" error pops out
- tomasandrle 10y ago
  You need to be on WiFi. Open a desktop browser and point it to the URL that the app gives you in the Upload tab or get the Tiny Loader Mac app (http://www.catnapgames.com/tiny-loader/ http://www.catnapgames.com/tiny-loader/) to just drag & drop files and folders - it finds your phone automatically using Bonjour. If you still have problems please msg me directly or tweet @catnapgames, thanks.
  - ForFreedom 10y ago
    Just realized that... thanks also if you could get the app to move all music from iTunes on the iPhone to TinyPlayer it would be great. Can I create play lists?
    - tomasandrle 10y ago
      Ah, no real playlists, it's really just folders. You can swipe left on library items to "enqueue", that's about it. As for loading music you could try dragging the contents of ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music onto the Loader.. I've tested with quite large folders. Moving from the iPhone Music app is not supported, I might look into that later.
Marazan 10y ago
People have been saying that for years (the dismantling of iTunes is near) yet Apple keep on shoving more shit into it.
novaleaf 10y ago
(My Opinion): This is a business decision. The user is a captive audience (no alternatives available), so Apple has a disincentive to optimize anything other than profit generators. And it's not just Apple. In Google Play, try housekeeping your app collection, or re-install a specific app on a new device. It's technically possible, but the more apps you have installed in the past, the harder it gets.
- baldfat 10y ago
  (My Opinion) All of Apple's 40,000 foot view is walled garden. iTunes, DRM Wireless Headphones etc..
  - neotek 10y ago
    What DRM wireless headphones?
    - jjawssd 10y ago
      No more analog-only headphones on the new iPhone. DRM capable digital to analog adapters coming in 3...2...1...
      - Tinyyy 10y ago
        It's kinda disingenuous to make wild speculations like that.
        baldfat 10y ago
        That isn't wild speculations. All Non-Apple Lighting Cables require a official chip from Apple. So Tim Cook might say that DRM is wild speculation it is actually happening now with all their cables. So in order to buy a adapter I MUST buy a cable with a chip from Apple that makes it authorized. EDIT : I guess EFF are wild speculators? "To its credit, Apple has been adamant it won’t use the new design to restrict your listening experience. But therein lies the problem: you shouldn’t have to depend on a manufacturer’s permission to use its hardware however you like (or, for that matter, to build your own peripherals and accessories for it)." Currently "it’s impossible to connect a speaker or other audio device to an iPhone without Apple software governing it" https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/09/analog-last-defense-against-drm https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/09/analog-last-defense-ag...

massysett 10y ago

I think Apple would have split up iTunes long ago if it were only a Mac application, but they don't want to distribute a bunch of smaller Windows apps.

tomasandrle 10y ago
Sure. Hopefuly "a bunch" could be reduced to just two: Apple Music client and iPhone sync app. The rest would be removed without a replacement (on Windows). The headphone jack removal shows that Apple is willing to make people angry about some things for a long term benefit and iTunes is imho a good candidate for the next "act of courage", heh.
- TorKlingberg 10y ago
  Could they drop the iPhone sync app completely? These days the iPhone should be able to do all the syncing it needs directly against the internet.
  - Klathmon 10y ago
    isn't itunes still needed in some "recovery" situations? Like fixing a bad update, backing up/restoring a phone, and (not quite along the same lines, but important to me) allowing install of in-dev applications. I guess some of those could be handled by going into an apple store, but I'd still be a bit peeved if they removed the lifeline to my phone as a cost cutting measure.
    - mgkimsal 10y ago
      a dedicated "update/restore" client makes more sense, in that case. Not saying it can't also be bundled in itunes, but something with, say, a bit more diagnostic view when run separately would be nice/useful, and not stop the general purpose use cases in iTunes.
    - TorKlingberg 10y ago
      I have been using TestFairy to try in-dev applications. It has been fine without iTunes, but I don't develop on iOS myself.
  - puddintane 10y ago
    You still have speed issues with certain areas. I'm no expert of course but areas like the south in the United States are still stuck on DSL lines and even older technology. I would think that this would be reasoning for not doing that yet.
  - csydas 10y ago
    Maybe, but I think there's still some value to a controlled management application for either a large volume or to at least ensure that it's not a faulty wireless connection. It's a lot easier to move a few hundred gig over lightning than it is over wifi, and that first impression is probably going to be the biggest. Then again, if they do go towards a totally wireless phone, I guess it would only be sensible to just ditch the lightning port entirely. and have a fully sealed case. Still, I'd be pretty happy to have a stand-alone sync/management app; right now I use iTunes as an staging ground just to make sure that whatever goes on the phone looks right in iTunes first (correct tagging, correct album artwork). I don't mind it in this function, but if I could I would do away with it.
Marazan 10y ago
I really don't think they would. iTunes has been awful for pretty much the entirety of it's existence. It's not Windows stopping it being magically wonderful.
asveikau 10y ago
Is that so? Some years ago I remember some rando's blog post that seemed to completely invent this narrative from thin air, and it got repeated a lot by Apple fans who have never built Windows applications and probably grossly overestimate its cost. This seems like a pretty lame excuse for one of the world's most powerful companies to not do something it would otherwise want to do.
- massysett 10y ago
  I don't guess it's a cost issue. iTunes is the Apple trojan horse into the Windows platform. They know that they can get anything onto a Windows desktop by crammng it into this one application. My guess is that strategically they don't want to give this up.
  - asveikau 10y ago
    So you don't think apple can break up the app into various components and provide a single installer and call the whole bundle "iTunes". And failing that, you don't think users are capable of installing multiple things or coping with a re-brand. But if they did this only on the Mac all these things would work. Windows is the key. Sorry, I do not think this is the reason. More likely they just don't want to put resources into a ground up overhaul of iTunes.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

kalleboo 10y ago

> My guess is that sooner or later, iTunes will be dismantled and the features will be split into multiple smaller apps I've been hoping for this for ages, but looking at the new Music app on iOS I guess I should be careful what I wish for. At least iTunes isn't that bad.

Ntrails 10y ago
I've been listening to music by artists, playing albums in whatever random order iTunes/music deigned to give them in. It's not perfect as I'd like them to be in release order, but never mind. Updated to ios 10, that feature no longer exists. I can "shuffle" an artists songs, or listen to them in alphabetical order. That seems to be it. Thanks so much.

ForFreedom 10y ago

@tomasandrle How do I add music? When I toggle "ENABLE UPLOADS", "no network available" error pops out

tomasandrle 10y ago
You need to be on WiFi. Open a desktop browser and point it to the URL that the app gives you in the Upload tab or get the Tiny Loader Mac app (http://www.catnapgames.com/tiny-loader/ http://www.catnapgames.com/tiny-loader/) to just drag & drop files and folders - it finds your phone automatically using Bonjour. If you still have problems please msg me directly or tweet @catnapgames, thanks.
- ForFreedom 10y ago
  Just realized that... thanks also if you could get the app to move all music from iTunes on the iPhone to TinyPlayer it would be great. Can I create play lists?
  - tomasandrle 10y ago
    Ah, no real playlists, it's really just folders. You can swipe left on library items to "enqueue", that's about it. As for loading music you could try dragging the contents of ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music onto the Loader.. I've tested with quite large folders. Moving from the iPhone Music app is not supported, I might look into that later.

Marazan 10y ago

People have been saying that for years (the dismantling of iTunes is near) yet Apple keep on shoving more shit into it.

novaleaf 10y ago

(My Opinion): This is a business decision. The user is a captive audience (no alternatives available), so Apple has a disincentive to optimize anything other than profit generators. And it's not just Apple. In Google Play, try housekeeping your app collection, or re-install a specific app on a new device. It's technically possible, but the more apps you have installed in the past, the harder it gets.

baldfat 10y ago
(My Opinion) All of Apple's 40,000 foot view is walled garden. iTunes, DRM Wireless Headphones etc..
- neotek 10y ago
  What DRM wireless headphones?
  - jjawssd 10y ago
    No more analog-only headphones on the new iPhone. DRM capable digital to analog adapters coming in 3...2...1...
    - Tinyyy 10y ago
      It's kinda disingenuous to make wild speculations like that.
      - baldfat 10y ago
        That isn't wild speculations. All Non-Apple Lighting Cables require a official chip from Apple. So Tim Cook might say that DRM is wild speculation it is actually happening now with all their cables. So in order to buy a adapter I MUST buy a cable with a chip from Apple that makes it authorized. EDIT : I guess EFF are wild speculators? "To its credit, Apple has been adamant it won’t use the new design to restrict your listening experience. But therein lies the problem: you shouldn’t have to depend on a manufacturer’s permission to use its hardware however you like (or, for that matter, to build your own peripherals and accessories for it)." Currently "it’s impossible to connect a speaker or other audio device to an iPhone without Apple software governing it" https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/09/analog-last-defense-against-drm https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/09/analog-last-defense-ag...