Posted on 07/15/2009 4:48:23 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi
Oh dear. We can't say this was a complete surprise, but it looks like Apple made good on its earlier warning and put an end to the Palm Pre-iTunes synchronization with the release of iTunes 8.2.1.
In the release notes, Apple states that "iTunes 8.2.1 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices." Not wanting to believe the news, we bit the bullet and downloaded the latest version of Apple's music software to our PC and sure enough, the romance is dead.
Just as before, we connected the smartphone to our laptop and selected the Media Sync option on our Pre, but this time, it didn't automatically launch iTunes. Instead, it was only recognized as a mass storage device, and manually launching iTunes did not surface the Pre either (*tears*).
When asked for comment, Palm replied with the same response it had when Apple first issued its warning:
Palm's media sync works with iTunes 8.2. If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience. However, people will have options. They can stay with the iTunes version that works to sync their music on their Pre, they can transfer the music via USB, and there are other third-party applications we can consider.
Obviously, this isn't the best news for Pre users, but there are alternative ways to keep the iTunes-Pre synchronization alive. For one, you could just not update to iTunes 8.2.1, or as PreCentral.net points out, there are other third-party solutions, such as doubleTwist and The Missing Sync for Pre, that will allow to sync the smartphone with iTunes.
It won’t be in a proprietary format, but you could very well have two copies of every song on your HD now. Check where your music was before you installed iTunes and then look in the iTunes library file and see if you are doubled up now.
You said — Every time I search for anything in iTunes (music, album art, music licenses, whatever) the program sends me to the iTunes store and tries to sell me something I’m not interested in. Every time.
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Ummm..., I’m not sure if you realize what you’re saying. Or perhaps I’m not understanding you completely...
Now, there is an “iTunes Store” and then there is an “iTunes program” that you use to play music and keep your music organized and so on.
I’ve never had the iTunes program” take me to web pages and/or other sites and/or try to “sell me anything”... It just does not happen.
HOWEVER, when I “walk into a store” — I do see “for sale” signs on the shelves, and I do see items that say “buy me now” as I walk down the aisles of the store.
I doubt if I went up to the manager and complained to the store manager that every time I “walked into his store” that he always had “for sale signs” staring me in the face — that he would think I was a “sane person”... LOL...
When you walk into a “store” you’re going to get “for sale signs”. If you don’t want them, simply don’t walk into a store. It’s that simple.
You can use your iTunes program everyday and never see a for sale sign or be asked to buy anything, as long as you don’t “walk into a store”. You use it just like any other music catalog and organization program that plays your music and you’re just fine.
BUT, to hear someone complain that they have “for sale signs” staring them in the face, when they “walk into a store” is sorta funny... if not “certifiable”.... LOL...
Unless it's summer in Houston. Everything here is pretty much permanently warm and damp.
Well, it does it to me. iTunes links to the Web based iTunes store.
Ummm...because somebody posted a story about it? Just a guess.
It's a UNIX (or at least UNIX-like) core OS. There's no reason User 1's jobs can't continue while User 2 is controlling the UI. As to resource contention, it can simply come down to first-come-first-served.
Now I'll agree that I'm uncertain as to whether it's a good idea -- the fact that I can cite a specific example of why it can be seen as a "problem" doesn't mean that "fixing" it wouldn't introduce a bigger issue -- but the technical aspects behind it aren't a real problem, given the multitasking nature of the underlying OS core.
You said — Well, it does it to me. iTunes links to the Web based iTunes store.
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It sounds like you’ve got a preference tagged on and you need to uncheck it. I say that, because I’ve simply unchecked some preferences that have links to the store, as Apple allows that — out of consideration for those who don’t want that. It’s not forced and there is provision to not do that (i.e., not be taken to the store).
BUT, as I said, if one “goes into the store” — they are going to get “sale signs”.... LOL...
Just don’t go into a store and no one will sell you anything... :-)
The problem is, from what I’ve seen and heard, is that people want to “look around” in the store and see what’s there and what’s for sale. And that is where you get the connection for doing that (along with some people not knowing what to do with their software, that is, not knowing how it operates...).
Of late, I’ve found the anti-Apple crowd on FR goes well beyond polite participation in posted conversation, and belies Apple Derangement Syndrome (actively seeking out Apple threads specifically to demonize the products, and spend an inordinate amount of time doing so). There’s conversation, there’s participation, and then there’s obsessive hatred.
Well, all software is a set of choices and also you’ll find security as a consideration in that, especially when it comes to different user spaces. And yes, I’m sure that software can be made to do just about anything you can conceivably imagine.
But, not everything that can be conceivably imagined and not everything that can be conceivably accomplished is going to be done. That’s a judgment call on behalf of the people who make the software.
It’s also like I said earlier about software improvements and users desires..., in that if enough users really want something, Apple will incorporate that into the software, unless there is a problem (i.e., requiring a lot more resources and work to get it accomplished and they’ve got a lot of other things “on the table” to get done first).
If there is not widespread demand for such things — I would not hold out any hope for it to get done, even if it is technically feasible. That’s because it can be confusing and/or disconcerting to people to find that something from one user space is continuing to operate while they are on another user space. You have to also consider that Apple is about the “User Interface” and I’m not sure if that is something good for the User Interface, anyway...
You and I may understand technically what is going on. Perhaps a majority of users would be totally confused as to what is going on and not understand that even though they are in one User space, that an operation is going on in another User space and they don’t know how to stop it. I can see that generating many complaints, actually... LOL...
I should add something here...
You said — It’s a UNIX (or at least UNIX-like) core OS. There’s no reason User 1’s jobs can’t continue while User 2 is controlling the UI. As to resource contention, it can simply come down to first-come-first-served.
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In case you don’t know and/or others don’t know this — other jobs *do continue* in the other User space. It’s just that iTunes doesn’t keep playing music while one is in a different User space than the one in which iTunes is playing.
I think it comes down to a couple of things, perhaps security and perhaps the User Interface guidelines that Apple has.
I lived in Houston for 10 years and New Orleans for 1. Very similar, like living under water.
As a user of Microsoft products, I find your post humorous.
No, I use Windows Mobile on an HTC Touch Pro...it works seamlessly with my windows business software provided by my company. The iPhone or Pre is not up to that challenge yet.
My Touch Pro is my phone, e-mail (direct push from our Exchange Server), calendar (direct sync with Outlook Exchange), music player (8gb mico SD card), GPS navigator (TomTom 7 using built-in GPS chip), browser (Opera Mobie and IE Mobile), photo and video, PowerPoint Presentations, etc.
I posted this article because Microsoft usually gets slammed for its brutal competitive tactics, however, this time it is Apple doing it. I don't think they did anything wrong, but Apple is acting very aggressively.
If I wanted or had gone to the iTunes store intentionally, you would be correct. The iTunes search engine couldn't find what I requested, and took me there by default. Looked for it last night, and I still can't find a checkbox to disable that.
I’ve tried and I can’t make my search go to the iTunes Store, unless I’m in the iTunes Store, in the first place.
My search box is keyed into what “place” I’m in, when I do the search. If I’m in my music library, it will search there.
In my iTunes program, I’ve got this list on the top left...
Library
— Music
— Movies
— TV Shows
— Podcasts
— Applications
— Radio
— Ringtones
STORE
— iTunes Store
— Purchased
— Purchased on iPhone
Search is on the top right, an oblong box with round corners and you type in it. To the left of Search is the View function. Just put it on “List view” to see what happens (more easily, anyway...) in “Search”.
And so, if when you click on a choice on the top left (any one of the “Library” choices or the “Store” choices) that is where your search is going to be. So, I’m guessing that when you say “Search” for something, that you *are* searching your own library and you’re not searching the “iTunes Store”... :-)
You choose where you search by which item on the top left you choose. So, choose “Music” and you should have a long list there (again, choose “List view” just so you can see what happens in list form). If you’re in “Music” (library), then when you type just one letter in the “Search” box, it will change the list immediately. And when you type the second letter, it will again, change and reduce the list immediately. As you type, just one letter at a time, you can see the “Music” list change and reduce in size. And if you type enough letters so that there are no matching letters in your “Music” list, you will have a blank list there. There will be nothing showing at all. You don’t get anything from the iTunes Music Store, unless you go to the iTunes Music Store (i.e., “choose” iTunes Store on the top left).
However, the search function does not work the same way as I just described, in the iTunes Store “pane” (the choice on the top left). In that search function, as you type the letters, nothing happens to your view. The view stays the same. And you may type all the letters (characters) of your search parameters and then you hit “Return” (at least on mine, that’s what I do...). BUT, while you are typing each individual letter on the search box in the iTunes Store “pane” — you do get a different kind of “feedback” as you’re typing each letter. There will be a drop-down box which has a list of possible choices in the iTunes Store from your current “letters” entered so far in the search box. Sometimes you don’t have to type all the letters and you’ll see the “result” you want in the drop-down box, which indicates a “hit” in the iTunes Store. If so, then all you have to do is slide your mouse down that drop-down list and choose the one that represents the “hit” you want and click. And you’ll go there (inside the iTunes Store).
So, you should be able to “see” which place you’re at, when doing searches by the way it works in the search functionality. The Search functionality works one way inside the iTunes Store, and it works a completely different way inside the other “panes” listed up above in your “Library”...
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Now, there is a “User Help Board” that Apple puts up for all Apple Users to share information with one another. You can ask questions there. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll get the right answer, as it is “user-to-user” help, not “Apple Help”. Apple just put that up there because a good resource is the information from other users and their experience and knowledge. It’s broken down into categories and devices and software and platforms, so you’ll be able to “zero in” in the information that you’re looking for.
You have to have an “Apple ID” already set up to set up your account (which is free there). But, if you’re buying iTunes songs, you’ve got an Apple ID. That would be your e-mail account that you’ve used and chosen for your Apple iTunes account (the original one you used to set up the iTunes Store account). You use that one (or you can actually make up another Apple ID if you want, for the Apple user-to-user help, but then things can start to get confusing with people... :-) ...).
Apple Discussion Forum
http://discussions.apple.com/
As I said, with the Apple Discussion Forum, you need to set up an account to be able to post there and ask questions. It is user-to-user and *not* Apple Tech Help to user. But, many times other users have good information and answers. The Apple community is a helpful community to one another. You’ll find many people willing to help out, if it’s something that they know about. But, you don’t always get answers, because some problems may be beyond the scope of many users. Common problems will be easily answered there, of course.
NOW..., what I would like to know, as you look at your search function on the iTunes program — is *how* that “search functionality” works — more specifically, in the way I outlined for either the “iTunes Store” — or — as I pointed out for how it should be in the “Music” library. That will tell me “where” you are at, inside your iTunes program.
From what I’ve seen and heard from others, if you are “in the store” you’re going to get “sales” and “advertising” there. But if you are “in your library”, you’re not going to get “sales” or “advertising” there. So, the bottom line answer, as I said from the beginning — is simply — don’t go into a store if you don’t want advertising...
But, I do await your response...
You said — I posted this article because Microsoft usually gets slammed for its brutal competitive tactics, however, this time it is Apple doing it. I don’t think they did anything wrong, but Apple is acting very aggressively.
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I suppose you want Toyota to make Ford parts, too, and supply functionality for Ford parts on their cars... LOL...
I think a bit of common sense works here... :-)
You said — As a user of Microsoft products, I find your post humorous.
—
It doesn’t take very many “users of Microsoft products” to turn one Apple thread into a “hate-fest” from Microsoft posters... LOL...
And that’s true whether you are a user of Microsoft products or not... :-)
Mr. Blonde, you were saying to mysterio — It won’t be in a proprietary format, but you could very well have two copies of every song on your HD now. Check where your music was before you installed iTunes and then look in the iTunes library file and see if you are doubled up now.
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This can be a “big topic” in explaining it all, but the *bottom line* is that Apple *does not* put anything into a proprietary format when you install their program and build your music library for the iTunes program (from your existing library).
That’s *beyond ridiculous* and if this is being spoken about, it’s totally insane and shows the “flat out ignorance” of way too many Windows people...
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There are two formats that are primarily used by the iTunes program (for your music). That would be MP3 and AAC.
MP3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
AAC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Audio_Coding
These are two *open* formats for music. The Apple iTunes program uses either one, and even both at the same time, for any music you have. These *are not* proprietary codecs from Apple. They are used by Apple and the iTunes Music Store exclusively uses the open format and codec of AAC for its music sales.
There is one additional item to consider, which has nothing to do with the music file format (or codec), which was something that was originally demanded by the music companies, but is no longer being demanded by them, as Apple convinced them to finally get rid of their *demands* upon Apple for “Digital Rights Management”.
Digital Rights Management (DRM)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Rights_Management
I will make note here that the movie studios have *not* given up *demanding* that their product sales be protected by DRM, while the music industry basically has given up demanding DRM. You should be aware of who is *demanding* DRM and who is not demanding it (versus being forced into it, or else a “store” cannot sell the product).
I will make note of *one more thing* here, in regards to a format that a music file uses in the iTunes program. This particular one *is* a proprietary format by Apple, but it’s hardly used, unless someone really wants to use it. In fact, I’m betting that most people don’t know about it and that most users never use it and the Apple iTunes program will never convert anything to that particular proprietary format, unless the user *specifically* sets up the program to do that in the first place when “converting” some music file. This is *never* done except by explicit user intervention and choice.
This other proprietary format is the “lossless” format from Apple, which provides for compression but is “lossless”. And some people want that, because if you “rip” your music (i.e., copy it to your computer) from a CD, you can choose a “lossy format” or a “lossless format”.
MP3 and AAC are “lossy formats” (codecs).
Lossy compression
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossy_data_compression
The one that is a “lossless format” (and for those who want it) is
Apple Lossless
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Lossless
Lossless data compression
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossless_data_compression
A music CD can be 700 or maybe 800 MB of information. You can “compress” that down into a “lossy format” (losing some data in the process and getting lower quality) by using MP3 and/or AAC and getting that down to maybe around 50 MB or less, depending on the “lossy-ness” that you choose to tolerate (i.e., how much quality you want to sacrifice on your music).
And, by the way, the reason why the Apple iTunes Stores chose the “open format” of AAC for their sales (and not MP3) is because of one thing. AAC compress music better than MP3 and provides better quality of sound in less space. It’s a more advanced Codec.
Codec
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec
There are those who don’t want to lose any quality on their music from that CD rip. Those people who don’t want to lose any quality and yet don’t want to use all the hard drive space that a CD would take up, can choose to use “Apple Lossless” for their “lossless compression”. But, that’s their choice. It will compress the music on the CD to about 40-60% of the original size. That way, there is *absolutely nothing* lost from that original CD and you have a perfect copy, using less space than the original CD.
The other codecs are “lossy” and they lose data that you can never recover again, and you’re not getting “original quality” from a CD. AAC does a better job of not losing as much data from the original, and using less space to do it than MP3. But, Apple iTunes uses either “open format” for its music library, plus the “lossless” codec that it has which is “Apple Lossless”. There are some other lossless formats out there, but Apple doesn’t use those other lossless codecs. If one wants to use those, they can do so, but as a separate format for “storage” (if they wish) and simply convert them over to MP3 or AAC, if they wish (for playing on music devices).
But, what we’re talking about here with any of the “lossless” formats is not really an important consideration for the “mass market” because none of the online music stores (anywhere) sell lossless formats for their music. The music companies would never allow that. However, you can make *your own* lossless formats from your own CDs if you wish.
Basically, we come down to MP3 and AAC as the two *open* and most popular formats (which are *not proprietary*).
Now on the Windows platform, there is a “proprietary format” (development by Microsoft) that is used (i.e, it is *not* an “open” format) — called Windows Media Audio (WMA).
Windows Media Audio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Audio
This can also contain Windows Media DRM...
Windows Media DRM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_DRM
Now, when someone on the Windows platform installs the iTunes Music program, it will allow the user to import the *non-DRM-ed* “Windows Media Audio” into the iTunes Music program space for organizing, detailing, playing and so on. The iTunes Music program will convert those over to a format that will be one of the “open formats” (and not the Microsoft proprietary format). Again, it *cannot* be the DRM-ed version of any of the music files. If they are “DRM-ed” in the Microsoft platform, that music is *stuck* with Microsoft. With Apple DRM-ed music (in the past the music companies demanded it), you can “break free” of the DRM and convert it to the non-DRM-ed format of AAC or MP3 (on iTunes) by going through the procedure that Apple has always allowed for *breaking* the DRM on their music.
So, if your Windows computer has non-DRM-ed WMA files and MP3 files (and also AAC files) on your computer, the iTunes music program will search the hard drive and bring them over into the iTunes program music space, if you respond to the program that you do want to do that. Otherwise, if you have MP3 and AAC elsewhere on your hard drive, it will also allow you to leave it there. But, if you do choose to import into the iTunes Music program space, there will also be a choice of leaving the music there (elsewhere on the hard drive) or to delete it elsewhere on the hard drive, when importing into iTunes.
For the WMA music files, it will have to import them into the iTunes Music program in order to convert them over into an “open format” for iTunes to play them.
All in all — depending on how you make your choices and depending on what is WMA and what is MP3 and what is AAC, on your Windows computer, you may have some files left alone on your hard drive, some duplicated into the iTunes Music program and/or any combination in between, again, depending on your own choices, according to what you’ve instructed the program to do.
The bottom line is that the program is designed to do what you’ve instructed it to do — and also — to protect your original files, if you want them protected and to not delete anything that you don’t want deleted.
That’s the “long version” of the whole thing (but it can even get longer than this if you want to get into some “exquisite detail” of operations...) LOL...
So, yes..., you could have “doubled up” on your hard drive for music, depending upon all the “relevant information” listed up above — BUT — this is in *no way* Apple iTunes putting *anything* into “proprietary format”...
Please don’t spread false information and false rumors around. Be educated about what is happening and you will be a whole lot smarter... :-)
I’ll just delete the program and be happy. My wife moved her iPod to her laptop, so I don’t have to deal with iTunes anyway.
You said — My wife moved her iPod to her laptop, so I don’t have to deal with iTunes anyway.
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Well, she’ll still have to deal with the same issue you were mentioning, if, as you say, it is an “issue” in the first place. So, I would get her in on this, so she can sort it out...
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