Unsupported iTunes 12.6.3 enterprise version allows for app management, installation
About two weeks after Apple released iTunes 12.7, it made a "legacy" version of iTunes available for enterprise customers that retained app management and installation -- but it is an unsupported configuration.
The iTunes 12.6.3 download was first spotted on Reddit, and is neither secret, nor was it a release intended for the consumer audience. The installer is designed to be the main install of iTunes, and will supersede any prior iTunes 12.7 installation.
It also adds support for iOS11-specific devices, like the iPhone 8, and iPhone X that was lacking on versions of iTunes prior to 12.7.
Despite the ability to perform a bi-directional synchronization eradicated, the ability to install apps and ringtones wasn't completely purged with the jump to iTunes 12.7. Users can still drag and drop properly signed .IPA files (apps), and .m4r (ringtone) files to a device connected to iTunes 12.7, and they will still install.
Apple notes that iTunes 12.6.3 is unsupported, and that the company only provides assistance for the latest version of iTunes. The company suggests that enterprise customers rely on Volume Purchase Program, and the Apple Configurator for enterprise environments.
The download is available for Mac and PC. Given the discovery of the page on by the Reddit user base on Sunday, it is unclear if Apple will leave the download link active, or how long it will actively support the configuration.
As mentioned by Apple in a popup window displayed after installation, iTunes 12.7 places emphasis on music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks. Absent from that list is the App Store, which was previously incorporated as a means to preview, purchase and manage iOS apps on registered devices.
The iTunes 12.6.3 download was first spotted on Reddit, and is neither secret, nor was it a release intended for the consumer audience. The installer is designed to be the main install of iTunes, and will supersede any prior iTunes 12.7 installation.
It also adds support for iOS11-specific devices, like the iPhone 8, and iPhone X that was lacking on versions of iTunes prior to 12.7.
Despite the ability to perform a bi-directional synchronization eradicated, the ability to install apps and ringtones wasn't completely purged with the jump to iTunes 12.7. Users can still drag and drop properly signed .IPA files (apps), and .m4r (ringtone) files to a device connected to iTunes 12.7, and they will still install.
Apple notes that iTunes 12.6.3 is unsupported, and that the company only provides assistance for the latest version of iTunes. The company suggests that enterprise customers rely on Volume Purchase Program, and the Apple Configurator for enterprise environments.
The download is available for Mac and PC. Given the discovery of the page on by the Reddit user base on Sunday, it is unclear if Apple will leave the download link active, or how long it will actively support the configuration.
As mentioned by Apple in a popup window displayed after installation, iTunes 12.7 places emphasis on music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks. Absent from that list is the App Store, which was previously incorporated as a means to preview, purchase and manage iOS apps on registered devices.
Comments
“iTunes is a bloated mess. It’s disgusting, unusable. Get rid of the bloat, remove features, split it up into multiple apps!”
On this episode of “As the Apple Turns”
“They removed MY favorite feature? iTunes is a mess now. It’s disgusting, unusable. Put MY bloat back in.
So true. Everyone agrees on the bloat, but no two people agree on what's essential and what needs to go.
They also need a lot more how-tos as they become less intuitive.
If it is your opinion that Apple actively kills its older products, I'd think you'd say the other companies just left them to die in their infancy then?
2) If that's not one of the "bloat" items are talking about in Apple's music and video player then what other features should be removed before taking out apps?
3) Can Apple win here? As @lkrupp notes, it seems no matter what they do people are going to shit on it.
Personally, I found it easier to find iOS apps via Safari on my Mac as I'm a heavily Mac user and then download via the iTunes portal—which I then immediately delete—but that wasn't a big deal since they have that feature that auto-installs the app on your iDevices… but I've never complained about bloat. What I don't want is having a dozen different apps whereas now I have just one. I'd personally like to have my iBooks built into iTunes, which is odd because audiobooks are still in iTunes (it is audio so that makes sense) but on iOS the Books apps contain audiobooks (which also makes sense because they're books). The problem, for me isn't combining features and services into apps but unsymmetrical divisions.
You can install this version of iTunes 12.6.3 but not over previously installed version 12.7 directly. You will be asked to 'download' the new version once installed.
I had to downgrade from 12.7 to 12.6 and then install 12.6.3. You can not use Time Machine to go back. While instructions on how to 'downgrade iTunes' are straightforward, it requires Terminal and sudo commands to delete the iTunes app, then replacing the iTunes Library.itl file from a previous version .. then installing 12.6.3 - easy but not something most will likely feel comfortable doing. I have quite a few older iPads around our household so having app management in iTunes remains useful for me.
PS: Off topic, but speaking of Apple TV, why isn't there an iCloud backup option for your Apple TV setup? As of tvOS 11 there's an option to syncing home screens but it's not quite the same thing. I really didn't enjoy having to re-download apps, organize app, adjust settings, and sign in to every account linked when the same mechanism for upgrading aiPhone, iPad, and Watch already exist.
https://www.imobie.com/support/how-to-uninstall-and-reinstall-itunes-on-mac.htm
p.s. I liked the bloated mess. Seriously.
https://blog.macsales.com/42416-apps-with-known-high-sierra-compatibility-issues
p.s. Btw, what's the big reason to switch right away to High Sierra.