[Life] iTunes 8

Well recently I upgraded my copmuter which I do as all Apple updates come along. When I went to launch iTunes I noticed something, it wasn't the same one I have been using all these years. It was a bit confusing to use as I couldn't figure out how to get to the music listing instead of the new browsing feature they have. Now I know that with every update there is a small little info-bit that does tell you what's going on with the update but the issue is that even with that info, it's not descriptive enough to make you really get it. Also it in no way will tell you if your app will change the moment you launch it, so no warning is given to you stating that you'll have to hit this or that button in order to change it to something your used to.


If you do have the Apple rss feed or visit the Apple homepage enough then chances are you'll get to see screenshots or more info about the new updates but for those that don't or for those that have PC's it's a little tougher. I kinda wish Apple would have sorta graphical popup when you started the app to show you all the changes. Like when you launch Opera for the first time, it brings you to a page listing all the changes and what's new. Same with Photoshop or any other app. But Apple app's tend to lack this, it's like they expect you to know everything before your updates.

Well anyway after using it a bit I figured out everything. Aside from the recently added "Coverflow" they have now added a new UI called "Grid", that sorts your music based on album, which to me was something great as for years I have had all my albums and such listed in folders on the side and after a while tend to get sick of having to search for all my music. Let's say I want something from Bleach OST 2, well now I have to go through all the Bleach music I have to find it. I know iTunes has a search feature but even that is a bit tedious as if you do not know the exact name of the song/album title then it just gives you everything related to what you typed.



Well even with this new sorting method there is a big problem. IMPORTING YOUR MUSIC! I didn't notice this until I went to get a song out of my "Soul Eater Original Soundtrack 1" album, when you import the music to the library sometimes it works and sometimes it goes all wrong. What I and I'm sure many know by now, it will import the music but label songs when it's the wrong songs, or put a different label on the same song, so now you have 3 or more copies of the same song with just different names. Sometimes it won't import the full songs. Also another issue I noticed was we now have lost the ability to convert music on iTunes to something else. before you could make MP3's and such now your limited to converting to AAC. To me it's no issue as I like AAC but I feel the option should be open to other formats if you want to.

On a final note I found this a bit odd, on my iMacDV running Mac OsX 10.4.11 with Quicktime Pro 7.1.5 I have always had the issue where the out-of-date QT was not accepted with iTunes editions below 8 but I have always had the option to just click OK anyway. Since I don't use that computer to do video I could care less about what QT is on it. I did pay for the PRO usage and didn't want to upgrade to loose it because the next update after 7.1.5 requires a new PRO payment otherwise you just get the player. Now I don't use the videos on that computer through iTunes as I don't buy them from the store and any podcasting is done through my Opera Browser or Mac Mail.


[Edit]
On the plus side I have recently downgraded back to iTunes 7.5 so until they update it and fix the problems I'll keep using it.