why is iTunes so unbelievably un user friendly?

jackdaw

I have copied stuff from my iPod to my PC using iDump ...
im trying to put it on a friends iPod .. I dont wanna sync his iPod cos it will f**k it up ... how can i just selecetively drag and drop some tracks from the PC to his iPod ? i can do it to mine ?

Passenger

The selected songs you want to put on your friends iPod have got to be in his/her own iTunes. You cannot sync their iPod to your iTunes cos as you said, all of your music will sync onto their iPod.

How do you do it on yours? Are you using iTunes as well?

fcleere

god itunes is a pain! exactly why i got a zune.
the first time you connect an ipod does itunes not let you uncheck the auto sync function??

jackdaw

I just drag and drop using iTunes ... I managed to do it yesterdfay .. but the songs arent in order and i cant import the playlists ...


also .. do iPods use a different memeory setup ? I can't see any of the songs -- or even files taking up space for that matter - when i view my iPod as an external HDD..

Jip

Nothing to do with iTunes, it's a user problem. You just set the iPod not to synch auto and you can drag whatever you want on it then via iTunes, extremely simple in fact.

IronMan

Itunes is a monumentally unfriendly piece of software. I'd recommend MediaMonkey for transfers, tag management etc. It comes in free and paid form, and is a breathe of fresh air.

BostonB

iTunes is not that bad. But I prefer MediaMonkey aswell.

nulabert

Yes, it can be difficult, but its fairly cool interface. Patients lads, when you know what to do, then it isn't difficult. Thats why you should ask questions of peoples who know stuff!!!:) Knowledge is power you know!!

ec18

just select certain playlists to sync?

humbert

It really is a remarkably **** piece of software. It was one of the biggest deterrents when I was buying my iPod touch.

Jip

Seriously, I fail to see why so many people have problems using iTunes, it couldn't be simpler (bar of course dragging and dropping via windows explorer but it's hardly an issue in opening iTunes to do it rather than explorer.
Is it just 'cool' to hate iTunes ?

art

Jip wrote: »

Seriously, I fail to see why so many people have problems using iTunes, it couldn't be simpler (bar of course dragging and dropping via windows explorer but it's hardly an issue in opening iTunes to do it rather than explorer.
Is it just 'cool' to hate iTunes ?

It probably is the software with the most nonsense spouted about it. Why people might think it is cool to spout nonsense I'm not so sure but I do struggle to explain how anyone could make a claim along the lines of "it is remarkably **** piece of software" or similar.

Now that drm in music is seriously on the demise, its method of interfacing with iPods is becoming very dated, but it is otherwise fine, functional and easy to use.

pleasant Co.

I think it is a functional piece of software, but I see no reason to love it or hate it. It's not particularly user friendly (read as intuitive), nor is it difficult to navigate. I did not appreciate the times itunes would hold me to ransom by locking me into the "register your ipod" section (has happened more than once to me on different computers so i'm quite confident that I am not alone in this) causing me to force quit itunes.

I imagine the problem many people would have with itunes is that it only allows for one way transfers, to the ipod. I know why Apple/record labels wouldn't want people to be able to get their tracks back off their ipod, and it's not very user friendly. Other than that it does work quite well if you have everything in the right formats.

humbert

Mactard wrote: »

I think it is a functional piece of software, but I see no reason to love it or hate it. It's not particularly user friendly (read as intuitive), nor is it difficult to navigate. I did not appreciate the times itunes would hold me to ransom by locking me into the "register your ipod" section (has happened more than once to me on different computers so i'm quite confident that I am not alone in this) causing me to force quit itunes.

I imagine the problem many people would have with itunes is that it only allows for one way transfers, to the ipod. I know why Apple/record labels wouldn't want people to be able to get their tracks back off their ipod, and it's not very user friendly. Other than that it does work quite well if you have everything in the right formats.

Given that this is the software Apple uses to interface with all it's media players. A company that produces a full operating system and generally has a reputation for really good interfaces. To have this many problems with iTunes I think deserves harsh criticism.

Jip

humbert wrote: »

A company that produces a full operating system and generally has a reputation for really good interfaces.

I think this may be one of the reasons why people have issues with it, that it's an Apple product. By this I mean the vast majority of regular users have only ever used a windows based machine and windows explorer to copy stuff and expect everything to be similar. Stick them using an Apple machine running a different OS and they'll be lost completely, hence the reason why some have issues using iTunes.

humbert

Jip wrote: »

I think this may be one of the reasons why people have issues with it, that it's an Apple product. By this I mean the vast majority of regular users have only ever used a windows based machine and windows explorer to copy stuff and expect everything to be similar. Stick them using an Apple machine running a different OS and they'll be lost completely, hence the reason why some have issues using iTunes.

No, it's not. We transfer files using a multitude of different applications over a multitude of different protocols. If anything Windows users are just used to more versatility and configurability.

For what it's worth, I'm not saying iTunes is the worst software produced by a company for interfacing with its media player. It's just not very good.

art

humbert wrote: »

No, it's not. We transfer files using a multitude of different applications over a multitude of different protocols. If anything Windows users are just used to more versatility and configurability.

For what it's worth, I'm not saying iTunes is the worst software produced by a company for interfacing with its media player. It's just not very good.

What's wrong with it exactly? Plays songs, transfers songs (both manually and automatically), has equaliser settings, individually assign equaliser settings per song, easy navigation/browsing, tagging, art-work, internet radio, podcasting, easy playlist creation, auto-playlist creation, has clever "genius" feature, allows direct downloads from iTunes store, handles multiple iPods, allows scripting, uses relatively low cpu resources, is regularly updated, imports CDs, CD lookup, burns CDs, backup feature.

Just off the top of my head. Doesn't allow skinning, I'll give you that one, but otherwise I can see very little to complain about from a completely free product.

pleasant Co.

art wrote: »

I can see very little to complain about from a completely free product.

I would have to say that it only working with an ipod is a major complaint to be made against this completely free product, unlike similar free programs that not only offer similar features but also go beyond that.

As my earlier post indicates, i'm neither a lover nor a hater - itunes does the job of both managing your music and your ipod but not much more than that.

art

Mactard wrote: »

I would have to say that it only working with an ipod is a major complaint to be made against this completely free product, unlike similar free programs that not only offer similar features but also go beyond that.

As my earlier post indicates, i'm neither a lover nor a hater - itunes does the job of both managing your music and your ipod but not much more than that.

Works well with my Sony too, including transferring playlists: it's not just iPod specific software. Though I don't think it's a fair criticism anyhow - it does much more than just manage music, as I've already alluded to in my last post.

pleasant Co.

art wrote: »

Works well with my Sony too, including transferring playlists: it's not just iPod specific software. Though I don't think it's a fair criticism anyhow - it does much more than just manage music, as I've already alluded to in my last post.

That's right, I had forgotten that sony's more recent players currently do work with itunes, can itunes transfer videos to the sony too? because as far as I remember Sony players and ipods support similar codecs, so as long as the videos are up to itunes spec I would just assume that it does?