Skip to main content

Alternatives to iTunes

Okay so we have all heard everyone whining about iTunes, the main problem for me is that it is only designed for iXXX items, and hence you are tide into using Apple stuff, I like to move my tech around, and see no reason to have to upgrade with in a manufacturers ambit. And now with the new iPhone not working with any of the old iXXX cradles I am keen to move on.
So now I need to replace my iTunes, I have spent a lot of time creating play lists and groupings, and storing MP3 tags and do not want to lose these.

Songbird v2.1.0 Build 2419:

Songbird
This seems to be a popular choice when I search for an alternative, so I downloaded it. Their claim: Songbird. Connecting Fans Everywhere! With a focus on fans, Songbird personalizes music content from the artists you love the most. Download here:

Positives

  • Relatively small download, quick install
  • Imported iTunes Library fine
  • Static Playlists imported are there
  • Tabbed view at the top seems to

Negatives

  • It seems very clunky and the interface is quite old fashioned
  • No Grouping support, in fact Met TAG view very limited
  • No automatic playlists ported across
  • No auto DJ to mix tracks into one another
  • No Genius
Summary good for someone who does not have a history of tags and things in iTunes, not for me.

Clemetine 1.1.1

clemetine
Also well recommended, their claim: Clementine is a multiplatform music player. It is inspired by Amarok 1.4, focusing on a fast and easy-to-use interface for searching and playing your music. Download here clementine-player.org

Positives:

  • Simple Interface
  • Has a remove duplicate songs feature
  • Auto tag complete, interesting but not that functional, as just does standard goodies
  • When playing song tells you radio info
  • Has smart playlists
  • Interesting tag mood
  • Clean uninstall

Negatives:

  • No library import at all, this makes it dead in the water to me
  • After importing library
  • No grouping
  • No auto DJ
  • No Genius
  • Rating of songs not ported when you add the songs
If you want something quick and easy, only a step above VLC as a player

Zune

XBox music
Now Xbox player, and will obviously attract the same anti MS sentiment that seems to still perpetuate the industry, they were the first people forget, just did not make an onlne store quicker. Download here www.xbox.com/en-GB/live/zune

Positives:

  • The interface is awesome after you get used to it
  • Manage all your media here, and seems to support devices besides iXXX

Negatives:

  • Large download, also takes a while (and I mean a while) to install
  • No grouping
  • No Import of iTunes Library, and playlists (there are some third party apps), or needs to be done before (see: www.zunerama.com/forum/index.php?topic=15458.0)
  • No Genius
  • Interface seems imposing at first
  • Need to create an account for extra functionality (not sure what since did not)
  • Rating system too simple
  • Limited Tag information (main reason I do not like it)
  • Uninstall hidden in Control Panel, I know this is the correct place but find it a silly place
This product is Microsoft's attempt, never seems to quite work though.

Media Monkey

media monkey: />
Seems a popular choice too, their claim: music manager and jukebox for large collections of CDs, MP3s and other audio files. Download here <a href=mediamonkey.com/download/

Positives

  • Multi language support
  • Supports Grouping
  • Tabs across the top supported
  • Interface very comprehensive, but takes a while to get to grips with
  • Support for Media Servers
  • After importing library imported, also imports other settings
  • Tag support is comprehensive
  • Auto DJ, although it is via Menu
  • Comprehensive Device support, gives you access to stuff iTunes does not

Negatives:

  • Need to register to get access to some features, and that requires a purchase
  • Apps are not ported (that is not so serious for me)
  • The menu is where you find most of the features, a decent tool bar would be great, you can construct your own, but would be nice to have a good one to start
  • No Genius
  • Grouping does not autofill

This product ticked all the boxes, but the interface needs work, a very old school look, however may be worth the $25

I also tried to download and install Spotify but it gave me some error about not being supported in South Africa.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Migrating QuickBooks to Sage One Cloud accounting - Part 1 Exporting the data

Some notes Sage means sage one online accounts, wherever we say Sage we mean Sage one. The QuickBooks we used was version 2012 Professional. But most of the information is similar. What you need > You need the templates from Sage and the data from QuickBooks, see below for how to do these. Get Import Templates from Sage To get the templates for the items go to help.accounting.sageone.co.za/en_za/accounting/from-your-previous-accounting-system.html Although you can construct the templates from the information in this post you can download samples of the templates need. Below are the links they provide: Use the following downloads which are referenced in the guide: General Ledger Accounts Import Template Customer Import Template Customer Outstanding Invoices Import Template Supplier Import Template Supplier Outstanding Invoices Import Template Item Import Template   Another useful page that is hard to find on their system is: help.accounting.sageone.co.za/en_za/ac

Bitcoin / Cryptocurrency – what is it and how can I benefit

What is it I started investigating Bitcoin when it was worth just over $1000 a bitcoin. I was interested in what it was and how it worked. A lot of people are saying we missed the boat, but I believe that everyone should at least try put a little money in now, or at least use a faucet (see below) to make a little micro-currency. You can read a Wiki article about bitcoin and its history etc. But what you need to know is that it is a currency, that is independent of country. No one really knows who invented the concept of a cryptocurrency since the person who published the paper used a nom de plume. All new cryptocurrencies work more or less the same way as Bitcoin. So as I explain below I interchange these terms. Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency. How Bitcoin works The currency releases a coin based on a mathematical formula. There will never be more than 21 million bitcoins (other cryptocurrencies do not work like this). Each bitcoin can have divided into one hundred mil

Mindfullness Meditation and Depression - in a pod cast

Over the last 3 years I have found that meditation has really assisted me, in resolving the depression I have had. I have planned to write about my experience for a while, and hopefully will get around to doing that. However today having listen to the latest podcast by Dan Harris on 10% happier, so many things just clicked in to place, so I want to share it. To understand what is covered in the podcast I would recommend you understand what mindfulness meditation is, and what the default mode network in the brain is (see links below). Listen to the pod cast - but here are some extracts (which I do not have permission to publish - and will remove if asked). Link to podcast: tumello.com/listen/H11a5NYJf; or itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/10-happier-with-dan-harris/id1087147821 Chuck Raison, a psychiatrist and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, and Vlad Maletic, a clinical professor of neuropsychiatry and behavior sc