Is this how itunes is supposed to work? Seems like a ripoff

[HannibalX]

If by work you mean not work then yes they just work.

 

[mugs]

I'm not trying to transfer over existing apps, I'm trying to download/buy new apps to add to the ipod. I don't have any existing apps.

This really makes no sense. If I have 2 computers, I'd want to add applications to it from either one.

Do this:

It can only be synced to one computer at a time.

You can download apps using the App Store app ON the iPod Touch. They will be put onto her computer when she syncs it later.

 

[nickbits]

If you "Buy" an app she already paid for using the same account, it will say something like "You have already paid for this app so it is a free download." You never lose your paid apps.

 

[Crono]

iThought Apple products just iWorked? Doesn't the lower case I (and double pricetag) make it perfect?

They do "just work".

So long as you stay in the small sandbox within Apple's kingdom of safety.
That's why their products tend to have less reliability issues than other companies, simply because they limit their products rather than have them completely open and universally compatible.

I like the iPhone and all their iPods, but iTunes has always been bloated and annoying software for me. I'm not a fan of most media sync software, though, except maybe Zune (and even that I'm not in love with).

I've always used 3rd party software (winamp, rockbox) with the iPods I've owned.

 

[BurnItDwn]

That sucks. I never used itunes, and that makes me glad.

I don't understand why anybody would buy any mp3 player that required them to use proprietary software on their PC to transfer things to ....

If I can't just plug it in and have it recognized as an NTFS, Fat, or EXT filesystem ... then I don't want it at all...

 

[Crono]

That sucks. I never used itunes, and that makes me glad.

I don't understand why anybody would buy any mp3 player that required them to use proprietary software on their PC to transfer things to ....

If I can't just plug it in and have it recognized as an NTFS, Fat, or EXT filesystem ... then I don't want it at all...

Most of these devices are designed for people that don't know how to convert and transfer media files.

They are also designed to be as locked down as possible, so that purchased files aren't easily shared/transferred between devices.

I prefer open, drag-and-drop support, but that's really only supported out of-the-box by companies like Sansa.

 

[Epic Fail]

Are you trying to sync apps from your account to her iPod touch, if so WTF would Apple let you do that????

 

[mugs]

That sucks. I never used itunes, and that makes me glad.

I don't understand why anybody would buy any mp3 player that required them to use proprietary software on their PC to transfer things to ....

If I can't just plug it in and have it recognized as an NTFS, Fat, or EXT filesystem ... then I don't want it at all...

The reason Apple wants you to use iTunes to sync your iPod with iTunes is because iTunes maintains a database of information about your music that goes beyond the ID3 tags (some of it is pulled from ID3 tags), and that information is used by the iPod to organize your music on the iPod independent of the filesystem. It allows you to create "smart playlists" that let you filter your music based on criteria you specify, then you can sync that playlist to your iPod. If you add more music to your library that matches the criteria in one of your smart playlists, it'll be put on the iPod the next time you sync it.

I never owned an iPod or had any desire to own one until my employer bought me an iPhone. When I started using iTunes I tried to wrestle with it to get it to do things my way. Then I realized that the way I wanted to do things didn't really have any benefit for me, it was just the way I had always done things and I didn't want to change.

It's not that Apple wants you to force you to do things their way for the sake of doing it. They've come up with a new way of doing things that they think is better and it's just not entirely compatible with the old way of doing things. If you don't want to change the way you do things, that's fine - don't buy Apple's products, or use some third party software that'll let you do what you want to do. But surely you can see that there is a method to their madness.

 

[0roo0roo]

The reason Apple wants you to use iTunes to sync your iPod with iTunes is because iTunes maintains a database of information about your music that goes beyond the ID3 tags (some of it is pulled from ID3 tags), and that information is used by the iPod to organize your music on the iPod independent of the filesystem. It allows you to create "smart playlists" that let you filter your music based on criteria you specify, then you can sync that playlist to your iPod. If you add more music to your library that matches the criteria in one of your smart playlists, it'll be put on the iPod the next time you sync it.

I never owned an iPod or had any desire to own one until my employer bought me an iPhone. When I started using iTunes I tried to wrestle with it to get it to do things my way. Then I realized that the way I wanted to do things didn't really have any benefit for me, it was just the way I had always done things and I didn't want to change.

It's not that Apple wants you to force you to do things their way for the sake of doing it. They've come up with a new way of doing things that they think is better and it's just not entirely compatible with the old way of doing things. If you don't want to change the way you do things, that's fine - don't buy Apple's products, or use some third party software that'll let you do what you want to do. But surely you can see that there is a method to their madness.

yea some people are so hooked on vcrs they buy dvd recorders.
others just get a tivo.

 

[TwiceOver]

Fucking iTunes. When it isn't crashing it is deleting the information from my iPod. I mainly use my iPod as a PDA and not an MP3 player. Can only sync apps from one computer otherwise it will wipe the apps off my device. Hope my laptop never dies otherwise I'll lose all of my settings and info.

 

[QueBert]

Exactly. Take away the apps and the Zune HD is a much better mp3 player.

Uhhh, no it's not

Coverflow > *

2/3g iPod Touches have good SQ, Coverflow & a song rating system which isn't retarded as hell. A heart or a broken heart? Really Microsoft? LOL. For the song rating crap alone I'd never deal with a Zune. I have thousands of songs and something that actually makes sense like 1-5 stars is important.

 

[jpeyton]

iTunes is for iDiots.

I <3 my Zune HD.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Coverflow? What an overrated POS. Complete gimmick.

And yes, it seems as though Apple has exactly one intended use for each and every one of their products. As long as you do everything exactly as Apple says you should, you'll have a great user experience. Try to stray from that, and they will F you in the A.

 

[QueBert]

iTunes is for iDiots.

I <3 my Zune HD.

Am I an iDiot for choosing a player where I'm not locked into ONE program to sync it? I can sync my iPod with a dozen plus different programs. And I can even play my OGG files. Have fun trying to do either of those with your Zune HD.

Coverflow? What an overrated POS. Complete gimmick.

And yes, it seems as though Apple has exactly one intended use for each and every one of their products. As long as you do everything exactly as Apple says you should, you'll have a great user experience. Try to stray from that, and they will F you in the A.

yeah it's a gimmick, and forget the fact you don't have to use it if you don't like it. It's a pretty damn nice Gimmick, being able to see my cover art in high resolution and all. And I'm not sure about the "exactly one intended use" comment. I can do about 5,000 things with my iPod. And I don't even have to use iTunes to Sync it. To me it sounds like you're describing MS's Zunes? Oh wait, my bad, MS does let you change the back ground color.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The only iTunes you need to use is for syncing. People blast it, but it's like... ok just use any other media player. Think of it as a drag and drop utility when you want to drag shit onto it. Yes it's a PITA to sync with multiple computers, but I just stick to my laptop to sync with my iPod. Simple. Does the software suck? Yes, but do I interface with it so much that I have to deal with suckiness 24/7? No.

 

[rockyct]

Am I an iDiot for choosing a player where I'm not locked into ONE program to sync it? I can sync my iPod with a dozen plus different programs. And I can even play my OGG files. Have fun trying to do either of those with your Zune HD.




yeah it's a gimmick, and forget the fact you don't have to use it if you don't like it. It's a pretty damn nice Gimmick, being able to see my cover art in high resolution and all. And I'm not sure about the "exactly one intended use" comment. I can do about 5,000 things with my iPod. And I don't even have to use iTunes to Sync it. To me it sounds like you're describing MS's Zunes? Oh wait, my bad, MS does let you change the back ground color.

Your argument is based on 3rd party software that Apple doesn't want you to use? Apple lead the market by locking the iPod to iTunes, but now that's a deal breaker to iPod users? Besides, the Zune software is actually very nice and I was using it before I got a Zune even.

The Zune UI is quite a bit nicer than the iPod. I can scroll through music with the cover art much faster. You can "pin" shortcuts to a bar on the left that also includes a history of the last few items played and new content that has been recently added to the Zune (something I've always wanted on an mp3 player so you can quickly play the last few albums you synced last). I can sync the zune to my computer over wifi. Plus, in a major update coming within the next few weeks, I can play divx files and use the Smart DJ to add music on the Zune over wifi which includes music from the marketplace. Plus, there's HD radio built into the player.

I'd agree that the iPod is a better portable content device, but the Zune is a far superior music player.

 

[QueBert]

Your argument is based on 3rd party software that Apple doesn't want you to use? Apple lead the market by locking the iPod to iTunes, but now that's a deal breaker to iPod users? Besides, the Zune software is actually very nice and I was using it before I got a Zune even.

The Zune UI is quite a bit nicer than the iPod. I can scroll through music with the cover art much faster. You can "pin" shortcuts to a bar on the left that also includes a history of the last few items played and new content that has been recently added to the Zune (something I've always wanted on an mp3 player so you can quickly play the last few albums you synced last). I can sync the zune to my computer over wifi. Plus, in a major update coming within the next few weeks, I can play divx files and use the Smart DJ to add music on the Zune over wifi which includes music from the marketplace. Plus, there's HD radio built into the player.

I'd agree that the iPod is a better portable content device, but the Zune is a far superior music player.

Can you rate your music with an actual rating system and not 2 different hearts? No you cannot. That alone makes it a much worse music player. Try rating 5,000 songs with the option of a heart or a broken heart. It's the biggest joke ever.

 

[TheStu]

Your argument is based on 3rd party software that Apple doesn't want you to use? Apple lead the market by locking the iPod to iTunes, but now that's a deal breaker to iPod users? Besides, the Zune software is actually very nice and I was using it before I got a Zune even.

The Zune UI is quite a bit nicer than the iPod. I can scroll through music with the cover art much faster. You can "pin" shortcuts to a bar on the left that also includes a history of the last few items played and new content that has been recently added to the Zune (something I've always wanted on an mp3 player so you can quickly play the last few albums you synced last). I can sync the zune to my computer over wifi. Plus, in a major update coming within the next few weeks, I can play divx files and use the Smart DJ to add music on the Zune over wifi which includes music from the marketplace. Plus, there's HD radio built into the player.

I'd agree that the iPod is a better portable content device, but the Zune is a far superior music player.

When I am in Windows, I use the Zune software since I wanted to try it out and prefer the now playing screen, very cool.

Scrolling through the collection list is slow and painful, and I am not positive it is a Windows thing, or a Zune thing, but scrolling through the (mostly) same 2500 songs on OS X is quick and easy, the list and screen keep up with the mouse wheel no problem. And that is just one of my complaints with it.

If I had a Zune and a Zune account, then I think I would be ok, because I wouldn't have any reason to know how iTunes works. But honestly, for me, iTunes on OS X > Zune on Windows. I realize that the way the iPod Touch/iPhone/iTunes works is not always how some (namely geeks) expect it to. But, my mother can use iPod+iTunes, my grandmother can use iPhone+iTunes, and I think that the number of people that want sync their iPhone with more than one system is greatly outnumbered by the number of people that just straight up don't care.

 

[rockyct]

Can you rate your music with an actual rating system and not 2 different hearts? No you cannot. That alone makes it a much worse music player. Try rating 5,000 songs with the option of a heart or a broken heart. It's the biggest joke ever.

I actually prefer the heart, broken heart system since I don't listen to random tracks, but if you really wanted to set them to different stars, you can in WMP, Media Monkey, etc. In fact, the iTunes can't even read the ratings made by other programs.

I really just think it's funny that you consider slight negatives against the Zune are deal breakers when the iPod is missing some huge features that the Zune HD has:
OLED screen, better UI, HD radio, wifi sync, Smart DJ uploads over wifi (think Pandora but the songs are downloaded to the Zune, divx playback, smaller size.

but none of that matters because you don't like hearts and you want to change the background color...

Anyway, I've been a Creative fan for years but the Zune won me over when Creative basically dropped out. I'm not a Zune fanboy, but I really like what Microsoft has done with the Zune HD. I admit it's not a perfect player and I understand why apps are important to many people, but it's a better music device than the iPod. Obviously you have drunk a little too much of the Apple Kool-Aid and we've hi-jacked this thread bad enough, so I'll stop trying to actually have a real conversation about portable music players with you.

 

[gorcorps]

Can you rate your music with an actual rating system and not 2 different hearts? No you cannot. That alone makes it a much worse music player. Try rating 5,000 songs with the option of a heart or a broken heart. It's the biggest joke ever.

Calling something a 'worse mp3 player' because it lacks a feature that doesn't help you play your mp3s is completely fucking stupid. Quit being so damned

and come up with a decent reason. Yes the coverflow UI is quite good and that's a good reason... but a rating system? I've never, EVER used a rating system with my mp3 players and don't think I've been missing anything.

Fact of the matter is that while the touch may be an improvement in SQ over other Apple devices, it still isn't up to par for people who really want some decent SQ. I'm not saying the Zune is there either, but at least talk about something related to the music and not just some hokey GUI bullshit.

 

[TheStu]

Calling something a 'worse mp3 player' because it lacks a feature that doesn't help you play your mp3s is completely fucking stupid. Quit being so damned

and come up with a decent reason. Yes the coverflow UI is quite good and that's a good reason... but a rating system? I've never, EVER used a rating system with my mp3 players and don't think I've been missing anything.

Fact of the matter is that while the touch may be an improvement in SQ over other Apple devices, it still isn't up to par for people who really want some decent SQ. I'm not saying the Zune is there either, but at least talk about something related to the music and not just some hokey GUI bullshit.

Give me a Zune that works with OS X, and I will almost give it huge consideration when my 30GB iPod kicks. But until that happens, it is iPods for me, and frankly I am ok with that. Neither one is Audiophile quality anyway, not that I care that much about that, and i don't care about an FM tuner. The Zune interface I can navigate just as easily as the iPod one, though the click wheel for me is easier for long lists, but that is probably because I am used to it, it feels more precise than the click and hold of the first one, or the slide and hold of the second.

And for me, the ratings do help me play my songs, at least the ones I like. I don't rate all my songs 1-5 stars, I use 5 stars for songs I totally love, 4 for ones that I wouldn't mind most of the time, (so for that, the heart, half heart, no heart would be fine), 3 stars means there is a duplicate of this song in my library and I need to rat it out, 2 stars means the song is mis-tagged, and 1 star means delete, stat.

 

[QueBert]

I actually prefer the heart, broken heart system since I don't listen to random tracks, but if you really wanted to set them to different stars, you can in WMP, Media Monkey, etc. In fact, the iTunes can't even read the ratings made by other programs.

I really just think it's funny that you consider slight negatives against the Zune are deal breakers when the iPod is missing some huge features that the Zune HD has:
OLED screen, better UI, HD radio, wifi sync, Smart DJ uploads over wifi (think Pandora but the songs are downloaded to the Zune, divx playback, smaller size.

but none of that matters because you don't like hearts and you want to change the background color...

Actually the Zune HD has a screen that's basically unusable in the direct sun light but I guess that doesn't effect the music playing part. Now the fact it doesn't play OGG & FLAC are deal breakers. Even if I had to jailbreak mine to support them, I can play FLAC, I suppose I could encode all my FLAC to a Zune HD supported format but that's a lot of extra work just to end up with a worse sounding song *shrug* I'm not an Apple fanboy, I just like the fact my Touch plays every format I can think to throw at it, where the Zune plays next to none. How's it superior again?? Wifi Sync is cool but lack of FLAC makes it a joke IMHO.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Usually any time I come into a thread having to do with Apple I can make the assessment that someone arguing for/or against the Apple product also owns every other Apple product. Not sure why it works out that way but it's like that in 'real life' too.

I went down the iPod road before. Never again. OP, just cut your losses.

 

[mugs]

Calling something a 'worse mp3 player' because it lacks a feature that doesn't help you play your mp3s is completely fucking stupid. Quit being so damned

and come up with a decent reason. Yes the coverflow UI is quite good and that's a good reason... but a rating system? I've never, EVER used a rating system with my mp3 players and don't think I've been missing anything.

Fact of the matter is that while the touch may be an improvement in SQ over other Apple devices, it still isn't up to par for people who really want some decent SQ. I'm not saying the Zune is there either, but at least talk about something related to the music and not just some hokey GUI bullshit.

That's funny, I actually think the ratings are very useful while the coverflow does nothing for me. I have smart playlists based on ratings, so if I rate a song 4 or 5 stars on my computer it automatically gets put on my phone the next time I sync it. And if I want to listen to a playlist of just my favorite Metallica songs, it can do that for me automatically.