930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on October 16, 2003, 03:45:00 pm
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Does anybody use iTunes?
What's your opinion?
They launched the Windows version today:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/ (http://www.apple.com/itunes/)
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I use iTunes and I love it. Never had a problem, it's easy drag and drop, you can reorganize in a bajillion different ways, and the iTunes database (CDDB) for automatically filling in CD information boggles the mind -- they even have CMJ monthly samplers and obscure indie albums that have been out of print for 10 years.
That being said, I have no idea how it's different from musicmatch or ephpod, I don't know if there will bugs with the windows version (that seems to happen a lot when they first try a version in the different operating enviromment), etc. And I'm sure some real techie audiophiles have other issues I don't even know (or care) about.
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I use it on the mac. I downloaded the PC version and it is exactly the same. I think iTunes is great. A long time ago I messed around with some other music software but it just wasn't as good. I don't care what you think of apple, if you have digital music, give iTunes a try. Its free, so why not.
Also even if you don't buy anything, check out the store, you can see what they have to offer and preview songs with out signing up for an account.
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I connect my laptop up to my my hifi with a long cable and spend most of my time listening to Cds I have ripped or the radio (the radio normally works very well in itunes, woxy right now infact)..... Jadetree taught me this.
iTunes is great for creating playlists and ripping CDs, that way it serves as a great jukebox.
It really wouldnt be worth it without an ipod though. Otherwise I would have probably stayed in the dark ages with my 3 disc CD player. I was originally very sceptical about the ipod. I thought it was a gimmick. But now I cannot imagine life without the ipod . Being able to play 1000 or more songs at random is like having your own personal radio. Plus what surprised me is that it also sounds better than my old personal CD player.
I really cannot fault itunes in any way. It is a great way of doing things. Its so easy and intuitive.
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i like iTunes for it's ability to share libraries between machines... Once it gets built in LAME mp3 encoding it will better.
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itunes is great. i actually bought my first computer 2 years ago (g3 ibook), so for digital music i began on itunes. i tried to use winamp or something, and confused the heck out of me. i have had problems getting it to communicate with the firewire cd burner, but i am sure that's more of a settings issue.
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I'm with you 100%. The only frustration with the iPod is how quickly they come out with new and improved versions. My 30 GB is just a year old, and there's already been TWO upgrades, including the latest 40 GB which is selling for the same amount I paid for my 30.
It's amazing how you can learn to complain that you only get 4400 songs... ;)
Originally posted by The Pariah:
iTunes is great for creating playlists and ripping CDs, that way it serves as a great jukebox.
It really wouldnt be worth it without an ipod though. Otherwise I would have probably stayed in the dark ages with my 3 disc CD player. I was originally very sceptical about the ipod. I thought it was a gimmick. But now I cannot imagine life without the ipod .
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Originally posted by The Pariah:
I connect my laptop up to my my hifi with a long cable and spend most of my time listening to Cds I have ripped or the radio (the radio normally works very well in itunes, woxy right now infact)..... Jadetree taught me this.\
This is such 90's technology. It's all about Wifi (wireless fidelity) not hifi. And I would expect nothing less from an Apple guy. Tivo has been sharing music files on a network for 8 months now.
I have the Wifi setup so the Tivo plays the music off of every machine on the network through the stereo without hooking up a long cable to the stereo. If you have satellite TV, the Tivo with a Wifi hookup is a must for recording multiple TV shows and using your stereo to listen to music (including internet feeds) off of your laptop that wifey is using to study or harrass board members all at the same time.
At 99 cents a song and $10 an album, used CD stores are still a better alternative to iTunes. And I get to choose the encoding I want for my music when I rip it, rather than letting iTunes choose for me.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I have the Wifi setup so the Tivo plays the music off of every machine on the network through the stereo without hooking up a long cable to the stereo.[/QB]
Tivo is good for playlists. I find it a bit cumbersome for browsing through artists or cd's though. I guess it depends on how much music you have. If I want to find an artist in the T's it takes a very long time to get there.
But I do have to say it is nice to be able to stream the music via wifi, however you loose the control factor you have with iTunes.
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there are gadgets available for personal computers that allow you to stream via wifi or blutooth music to other devices including T.V.s and stereos around your house.
With some there is a loss in quality.
But personally, the long cable is fine. If I had aiport and a wireless network thenhaving the laptop completely free of cables would be cool, but not $400 cool.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
Tivo is good for playlists. I find it a bit cumbersome for browsing through artists or cd's though. I guess it depends on how much music you have. If I want to find an artist in the T's it takes a very long time to get there.
But I do have to say it is nice to be able to stream the music via wifi, however you loose the control factor you have with iTunes.
Tivo hears you and didn't realize what it had until it came out. There is talk of a remote with a small keyboard for working the Home MEdia Option available soon.
A far as playing individual CD's create a playlist when you rip the CD, Artist name first, then the album. Problem solved for Smackette (who had the same complaint).
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Originally posted by The Pariah:
there are gadgets available for personal computers that allow you to stream via wifi or blutooth music to other devices including T.V.s and stereos around your house.
With some there is a loss in quality.
But personally, the long cable is fine. If I had aiport and a wireless network thenhaving the laptop completely free of cables would be cool, but not $400 cool.
$400 for a wireless network? That's absurd. What do you have, an apple or something? Oh wait, you do.
If they would stop keeping their equipment proprietary they could sell licenses and create competition in the market then their equipment wouldn't be so expensive. We have a 802.11b/g network (54mbps) with three wireless network cards (the damn X-box can't use wireless otherwise it would be four) for under $120.
And that is why you think iTunes is so great. Because better, inexpensive alternatives are not so inexpensive for you.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Tivo hears you and didn't realize what it had until it came out. There is talk of a remote with a small keyboard for working the Home MEdia Option available soon.
A far as playing individual CD's create a playlist when you rip the CD, Artist name first, then the album. Problem solved for Smackette (who had the same complaint). [/QB]
I didn't know there was talk of a keyboard, that is very cool, and will help a lot.
Yeah I find that creating a playlist for the cd works, but its an extra step to have to take. I'm really not complaining, I like the feature a lot, its way better then running a cord.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
I didn't know there was talk of a keyboard, that is very cool, and will help a lot.
Yeah I find that creating a playlist for the cd works, but its an extra step to have to take. I'm really not complaining, I like the feature a lot, its way better then running a cord.
running a cord is so hard in a palace like yours
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Originally posted by vansmack:
If they would stop keeping their equipment proprietary they could sell licenses and create competition in the market then their equipment wouldn't be so expensive. We have a 802.11b/g network (54mbps) with three wireless network cards (the damn X-box can't use wireless otherwise it would be four) for under $120.
[/QB]
I believe that the only thing you have to buy specifically from Apple is the air port card. The card works on the 802.11b standard. (Extreme is different not sure about that.) Once you have that you should be able to use access points other than the Air Port.
I have heard of people using the air port card with a linksys access point. That dramatically reduces the price for wireless access.
I have yet to try this. But I am thinking about maybe trying it eventually.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
We have a 802.11b/g network (54mbps) with three wireless network cards (the damn X-box can't use wireless otherwise it would be four) for under $120.
Ok I am a bit out of date with my pricing......
But I am pretty sure as its a standard that my mac could connect to that type of network.... It even has a pcmca card slot so can probably use a cheap card..... Still the (old portable) Mac has to connected to a firewire hard drive and power some of the time. So Having another cord really does make no difference to me.
So what do you have connected to your stereo so that it can receive audio?
Ever get this? (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/15/technology/15GADG.html&OQ=pagewantedQ3D2)
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Originally posted by ratioci nation:
running a cord is so hard in a palace like yours
That's right it would have to stretch across the pool, tennis court, and library.
Actually even in a small space I have found that making things wireless just makes life easier.
Now if I could just figure out how to make the firewire drive for the iBook connect wirelessly I would be set.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
Originally posted by ratioci nation:
running a cord is so hard in a palace like yours
Now if I could just figure out how to make the firewire drive for the iBook connect wirelessly I would be set. [/b]
just buy a new ibook. I will look after your old one ;)
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Originally posted by The Pariah:
So what do you have connected to your stereo so that it can receive audio?
[/QB]
Tivo. It has a wireless usb adaptor so it can connect to the network. You install a piece of software on your computer, it acts as a server, and the two devices communicate. Tivo is then connected to the reciever. At least that is how I do it.
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Ok because the gadgets to stream audio to a hifi, the receiver things are still a bit uncommon as far as I can tell. Obviously that is the way to go though. Stream music around your mansion and its grounds that can be received vai any device.......
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Originally posted by The Pariah:
just buy a new ibook. I will look after your old one ;)
I think Jadetree might have something to say about that.
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Needing power for your devices is one thing. Being able to keep the device in another room is a whole different story.
We keep the laptops in the office with the USB harddrive plugged into it.
The TV and the Tivo are in the front room, the bedroom is between the two rooms.
The Tivo software installed on the machines talks to the Tivo over a wireless network and through a USB wireless card plugged into Tivo. The software tells Tivo what songs are available on the network and they come up on you Tivo Menu on the TV. The Tivo, DVD, VCR and X-box are plugged into the Stereo. Anyone of these devices play through the stereo without a cable or chord stretcing across the room.
I'm working on a few other things right now that are pretty cool too.
1) Moving the USB harddrive to the back of the Tivo instead of through the laptop so none of the laptops have to be powered on to stream the music. I'm having a few problems with moving songs from the laptop to the USB harddrive at the moment. I'm thinking of just switching to a SNAP type server drive instead and putting all of the music on there. That would fix the need for a wired hard drive connection.
2) Using a memory module and linux to Surf the net through the X-box hooked up to a network. This is too technically intense for this board, but it will be cool to surf the net through my TV.
3) DVD burning from the Tivo instead of having to use a VCR to share recorded shows. I haven't found an inexpensive way to do it. Yet.
4) Using VPN to be able to play songs off of machines not actually on my network but that are available to my network using VPN (for instance, having Markie VPN to my network and the Tivo software shares the songs on his computer for my enjoyment). This would have the RIAAA in nut crusher.
And this is why I should be forced to have a job in an office and not at home.
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Vansmack, thanks for the insight into your sad life..... Please clear this up......It contradicts itself.
"The Tivo, DVD, VCR and X-box are plugged into the Stereo. Anyone of these devices play through the stereo without a cable or chord stretcing across the room."
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Originally posted by The Pariah:
Vansmack, thanks for the insight into your sad life..... Please clear this up......It contradicts itself.
"The Tivo, DVD, VCR and X-box are plugged into the Stereo. Anyone of these devices play through the stereo without a cable or chord stretcing across the room."
It's like this markie:
<img src="http://66.106.50.102/images/setup.gif" alt=" - " />
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So only one connection is wireless..... Woop de dooo
with all those wires does that one absent wire make so much difference? Looks like a piss in the Atlantic to me.
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Originally posted by The Pariah:
So only one connection is wireless..... Woop de dooo
with all those wires does that one absent wire make so much difference? Looks like a piss in the Atlantic to me.
You only need one unit to be wireless if it can control everything. That's the point.
All of the stereo electronics are in one cabinet so all of the wires are in one place and behind the cabinet (keeps wifey happy). The DSL and Router are next to the stereo cabinet.
The laptops and the USB hardrive are in a separate room. The digital music on each harddrive plays through the stereo via the wireless connection which was the point from the start - not having the long cable stretch across the room to play your digital collection through your stereo using iTunes.
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you lost me...what does the mp3 playing software have to do with being wireless?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
you lost me...what does the mp3 playing software have to do with being wireless?
Initially, the question was about iTunes and some members were touting iTunes ability to play music files off of multiple computers on a network. I was pointing out that TiVo will do that for you as well, even to the point where you don't have to run a cable from the stereo out (or headphone) jack from your laptop to the back of your stereo because TiVo can work on a wireless network.
Therefore, you can play MP3 files through your stereo off of every machine on your network without having to run cables from your stereo to your laptop.
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http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/499.html (http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/499.html)
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http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/biztech/10/21/apple.itunes.reut/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/biztech/10/21/apple.itunes.reut/index.html)
Apple PC iTunes hits 1 million downloads
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) --Apple Computer Inc. said that computer users had downloaded more than one million copies of its iTunes digital jukebox software for Windows since its launch Thursday, and that a total of one million digital songs had been purchased at 99 cents in that time.
That compares with 1 million songs sold in the first seven days when it introduced the original iTunes for Mac users, according to Apple co-founder and Chief Executive Steve Jobs.
"We're off to a great start, and our competition isn't even out of the starting gates yet," Jobs said in a statement Monday.
The latest million-song milestone includes both Mac and Windows iTunes sales, however, meaning that the exact number of songs bought just by Windows users remains unclear.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, last week unveiled in San Francisco, in a characteristically glitzy presentation, the Windows version of its popular iTunes software, with Apple's online music store integrated into the program.
Apple said that 14 million songs have now been bought and downloaded since the original, Mac-only iTunes software and music store launch in April.
Along with last week's launch of iTunes and the music store for Windows, the software now allows for buying and sending gift certificates and setting up "allowance" accounts for children whose parents don't want to give them access to a credit card number.
Jobs last week set a goal of selling 100 million songs by April 28, 2004, one year from the launch of the innovative and easy-to-use service. To help meet that goal, Apple also announced a promotion with PepsiCo Inc. starting in February in which 100 million winning bottle caps on certain Pepsi drinks grant the winner a free song.
Apple also last week announced a partnership with Time Warner Inc.'s America Online AOL to make it easier for the Internet service provider's 25 million users to sign up for and use Apple's online music store. Time Warner is the parent company of CNN.com.