Itunes For Windows Update

Minor interface changes to 'help windows uses feel more at home'; aside from that, it should be pretty much identical to iTunes for OS X. Apple plans to have the final release version available free for download through the iTunes web site sometime near the end of the year. If you're interested in more info, you should check out this article (MacOsRumors only keeps articles up for a few days, and they don't have an archive, so if you're interested, take a look now!).

Make no mistake - I'm very excited about this release! Of course, I'm a little put down by the fact that when iTunes for windows is released, there won't be any need for an iTunes clone (since the original will be far superior to any copy I could come up with)... so I'm debating stopping developement of nAMP and immediately switching over to a new aqua-based project. Any thoughts?

#48172

Let's cross it when we get there. If Apple decides to make iTunes for windows without skinning options and with the standard windows buttons interface, I'd rather stick to what you're working on Mithrandel.

#48175

Dang... seems to be a bad connection letting me think it didn't go through. :/

#48176

I'd say keep it coming, the apple release probably wont be as good as the itunes on OSX. My guess is its gonna be as buggy and feature-less as quicktime is for windows. Keep on updating, your releases are awesome. (Y)

#48182

dood don't stop your music player is the best thing period on windows right now.

just needs file drag and drop,mousewheel

#48188

I think you should move one to something a little more exciting - like a clone of Webby for MacOSX or a Pixadex clone

#48196

I'm wondering if the release of itunes is gonna be helpfull for the developers to get to know how many features really work......like the searh engine, to mention one.......

#48210

I would be very surprised if iTunes for Windows didn't have some kind of catch. My ideas:

• A performance catch, like Quicktime for Windows. On a side note - Apple wonder why so many PC users hate Macs. A major factor in my mind is that they think all Apple stuff runs as badly as Quicktime for Windows does.

• It being nothing more than an interface for the iTunes Music Store.

• It not having the iPod plugin.

• It being free for basic use, but a $30 fee for advanced (ripping, burning) features.

• It being as ugly as Quicktime for Windows is.

It's Catch 22. Do Apple give Windows users one of their most saleable assets, iTunes, and reduce the desirability of the Mac? I'd say no. Then again, if they don't give a carbon copy of the Mac version, then the average consumer just won't use it. Microsoft will come in, integrate their Music Store into an (almost) fully featured Windows Media Player, and bang goes the iTunes Music Store. Apple have to deliver. Their contract with the five major record labels only runs for twelve months. If they don't deliver outstanding results, then the contract will be terminated. If you see the amount of liberties the iTunes Music Store offers compared to rival BuyMusic.com (unlimited track CD burns, transferrable to several iPods, used on up to three computers) then unless the dividend is far greater than on BuyMusic, then the libertarian Apple solution will be jettisoned for the heavy DRM limitations in future online Music purchases.

I'm reminded of an interview with Steve Jobs in 1996 (excuse possible erroneous date). At this time, he was not in charge of Apple. He was asked what he would do with Apple were he still CEO. His answer was quite haunting. I paraphrase:

Were I in charge of Apple today, I would milk the Macintosh for all it is worth, before slowly pulling the plug.

I don't suspect for a second that if Apple release a fully featured iTunes for Windows that it will mean the death of the Macintosh. What I am suspecting, however, is that if Apple for the first time has a free piece of software on both platforms, both of which have the same functionality and performance, it would be potentially significant for the future development plans for Windows.

I've gone off on a tangent here. It's just that I'm seeing this release as a very significant moment in Apple's history, and I will be interested to see how it develops.

#48211

In my mind, the itunes for windows is going to be pretty much a carbon-copy, as you said, of iTunes for windows. It's going to be uber-useful, decently good looking, totally free, iPod support - it'll take names and kick serious butt.

But... chrissakes, he didn't actually say that, did he? That's insane.

In my mind, a perfect clone of iTunes will make the mac more desirable to your average, everyday joe blow (IF he manages to get a hold of it): "Oh, lookee here, the best thing on my computer was made by apple, not microsoft. Wow, it's actually usable, versus the POS media player that came installed..."

#48212

Steve Jobs quit apple didn't he? Maybe he was just in a bad mood.

#48225

yea i suspect they should have an identical copy... cause keep in mind that it will raise sales for their music store/ipod and also spark desire for other to purchase a mac... then again.. they can also go about it the quick time way.. and screw windows users....

#49611

Originally posted by mefistus@Aug 18 2003, 05:37 PM

I'm wondering if the release of itunes is gonna be helpfull for the developers to get to know how many features really work......like the searh engine, to mention one.......

the search engine is based of some code that was used in BeOS...the way i hear it, apple hired a person (or some people) that worked for BeOS, and they brought their ideas with them. that feature was implemented into iTunes, and supposedly should be fully featured in Panther.

i'm sure contrasutra could back me up entirely....unless i'm totally wrong <_<

#49706

Identical copy? Maybe.

Carbon copy? I think not.

Let's not forget about Quicktime for windows.

Identical...Yes

Minor interface changes to 'help windows uses feel more at home...Yup

Therefore I present to you Windows iTunes:

hehe

#49723

Originally posted by DinoJr@Aug 24 2003, 08:30 AM

Identical copy? Maybe.

Carbon copy? I think not.

Let's not forget about Quicktime for windows.

Identical...Yes

Minor interface changes to 'help windows uses feel more at home...Yup

Therefore I present to you Windows iTunes:

hehe

eeek.. they'd better not use Microsoft Sans Serif! if it's going to look like that then who'd get it? definitely not me.

#49769

Well... I knew that Apple would come out with iTunes for PC for a great while now (Almost four monthes). The truth is... You need to watch each and every web-cast Apple puts out. Steve Jobs said:

iMusic, for the time being, is only for Mac... However, if you have Windows, don't fret. We expect it to be for Windows be the end of the year...

Nice art people!... :who's your daddy:

#49925

Originally posted by ihartmacz@Aug 25 2003, 01:13 AM

Well... I knew that Apple would come out with iTunes for PC for a great while now (Almost four monthes). The truth is... You need to watch each and every web-cast Apple puts out. Steve Jobs said:

Nice art people!...  :who's your daddy:

Sorry to nit-pick, but Jobs did not say that.

What he did say was that the Music Store would be out for Windows by the end of the year. It was only a few weeks later when an advert was found on a tech jobs site advertising for a programmer to work on Windows iTunes that it was even certain that Apple would do it. (I watched the Apple Music Event too, before you say anything.)

DinoJr, that's a very good mock-up. I'd been trying to imagine a Quicktimeified iTunes, and had failed. This has helped a lot. Thanks.

#49928

I don't think it'll be hard to just re-comple iTunes...

Just like Mac OS X, If it was written in C*, i hear all they have to do is re-comple...

[sarcasm] What we should do is... hold protests around Apple Hq, and say that 2,000 people die a day because iTunes and Mac OS X were never for Windows.

Kinda like Truth...

[/sARCASM]

#49948

What about the rumour that Apple are developing OS X for PC's? If this is true then we would no longer have to emulate the system.

#50191

#50215