iPhone update restores manual music, video control

[AppleInsider]

While Apple's iPhone 1.1.3 update has brought features such as map positioning and a customizable home screen, the coinciding release of iTunes 7.6 brings a long-requested feature to the iPhone: drag-and-drop music and video control.

Although its close cousin the iPod touch and all traditional iPods have had the ability to load or delete songs and movie clips at will, the iPhone has until now been limited to automated sync features, such as playlists, most recent TV shows, and podcasts.

However, the iTunes 7.6 upgrade now puts the iPhone on a level playing field with Apple's other mobile devices. An owner of the handset can now see the individual songs and other media files loaded on the phone in iTunes and either drag files in the iTunes Library to the device or else delete them by hand to make space for new content.

One exception to the rule that AppleInsider has discovered is podcast support. Whether they're audio or video, podcasts must always be automatically synchronized with the phone by their viewing status or recentness.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Neruda]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

long-requested feature to the iPhone: drag-and-drop music and video control. [/url][/c]

Why Apple did not include this functionality when the first iPhone was released is beyond comprehension. Add Cut and paste to that list.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by Neruda

Add Cut and paste to that list.

Apologies for another dumb question (I've had a couple of those today -- too busy a day, and too much info to process): So, 1.1.3 does include cut-copy-paste?

[user23]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Apologies for another dumb question (I've had a couple of those today -- too busy a day, and too much info to process): So, 1.1.3 does include cut-copy-paste?

don't hold thy breath.

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Apologies for another dumb question (I've had a couple of those today -- too busy a day, and too much info to process): So, 1.1.3 does include cut-copy-paste?

No =P

Best,

K

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by user23

don't hold thy breath.

That's too bad. It - along with absence of voice dialing - is my only major beef with the iPhone.

I am surprised they sold 4 million!

[McDave]

Originally Posted by Neruda

Why Apple did not include this functionality when the first iPhone was released is beyond comprehension. Add Cut and paste to that list.

I think they should have eliminated manual mangement from all iPods with the recent refresh. This option dooms unsavvy iPod users to accidentally circumvent autosync and reduces an aspect of usability of the product to that of its competitors - you shouldn't have to drag & drop, just plug it in. All the flexibility can be replicated by 'manually managing' a sync'd playlist.

It does, however, aid piracy. Trashing a product's usability to facilitate that is ridiculous!

McD

[Ireland]

Drag and drop podcast support isn't really needed. As people subscribe to podcasts. The podcasts I really want to listen to always end up on my iPhone anyway.

[Neruda]

Originally Posted by McDave

I think they should have eliminated manual mangement from all iPods with the recent refresh. This option dooms unsavvy iPod users to accidentally circumvent autosync and reduces an aspect of usability

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on that one. Drag and drop has been a pillar of the Mac OS usability, and having to synch the device manually was just plain retarded and contrary to the ease of use and functionality of Apple's own iPods in that regard. I don't want to have to re-sync the freaking phone every-time that I want to add a song or two. This is a move in the right direction by Apple.

Apple 1, McDave 0

[Booga]

Another change in iTunes 7.6, as I mentioned in the iPod Touch discussion, is that it reminds you every single time you start it up that there's a $20 upgrade to your software, and forces you to either buy it or click "Remind Me Later" EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

So... how do I downgrade?

[ecking]

People with the iphone couldn't do this the whole time and no one seemed to document or mention it? What the hell?

[Booga]

Originally Posted by Booga

Another change in iTunes 7.6, as I mentioned in the iPod Touch discussion, is that it reminds you every single time you start it up that there's a $20 upgrade to your software, and forces you to either buy it or click "Remind Me Later" EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

So... how do I downgrade?

Interesting... a "No Thanks" button appeared the last time I did it... either Apple updated it online this evening, or you have to "Remind Me Later" sufficiently often and it appears. Still. Apple's in-your-face, pay-up-the-nose tactics are starting to wear very thin.

[smokeonit]

i think the $20 update for ipod touches will not sit well with customers... if they'd done that with a real osX update it would be understandable, but like that i doesn't feel right...

my 2 cents

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by smokeonit

i think the $20 update for ipod touches will not sit well with customers... if they'd done that with a real osX update it would be understandable, but like that i doesn't feel right...

my 2 cents

If they did that with OS X I'd shoot Steve.

My 2c

[smokeonit]

i meant an update like 10.4 to 10.5...

[jschuur]

Originally Posted by Ireland

Drag and drop podcast support isn't really needed. As people subscribe to podcasts. The podcasts I really want to listen to always end up on my iPhone anyway.

Where this would come in handy is if you're syncing podcasts from 2 locations: Pick up daily podcasts at home in the morning, and grab updated content throughout the day from the office e.g., a they are updated.

I really miss this ability that I used all the time on my Nano, because I don't always take the Macbook I sync to with me to work.

[Cleverboy]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

One exception to the rule that AppleInsider has discovered is podcast support. Whether they're audio or video, podcasts must always be automatically synchronized with the phone by their viewing status or recentness.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

This is NOT an exception. You can manage this manually too. Uncheck "Sync", and drag podcasts to your iPhone. Apple let's you keep syncing your podcasts separately from everything else, but you still don't need to.

~ CB

[Quarky]

I overcame syncing podcasts, by right clicking on them and then using 'Convert selection for iPod/iPhone
They then appear under Movies as well as Podcasts and can be dragged from Movies into the iPhone.

cheers

Paul

[jeffhrsn]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

I am surprised they sold 4 million!

That's what most people who don't have one say. I'm surprised that haven't sold 8 million. This phone, with the above mentioned features still missing, is still absolutely incredible. Sorry to sound like such a fanboi but I look at the crap that I used to call a "cell phone" now and can't image dealing with such primitive devices ever again.

[superduperjacob]

Is the drag-and-drop functionality independent of the firmware on the iPhone, and does it work on both locked and unlocked iPhones?

[internetworld7]

Does anyone know when 10.5.2 will be available? I thought it was to be released during MacWorld.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by internetworld7

Does anyone know when 10.5.2 will be available? I thought it was to be released during MacWorld.

And will it be $20?

[k squared]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

And will it be $20?

Didn't Apple have to charge for the Touch update? Unlike the iPhone, they are not spreading the profit across quarters.

[jonnyb]

The iPhone drag and drop functionality in iTunes 7.6 isn't working for me. What am I doing wrong?

edit: duh - just turn on 'manually manage songs and video' in 'Summary'!

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by k squared

Didn't Apple have to charge for the Touch update? Unlike the iPhone, they are not spreading the profit across quarters.

I don't buy that they had to charge for it. Seriously, we're supposed to believe that now it's illegal to do free software updates that add features? And if situations like that are going to happen, they should do accounting for ALL their products like the iPhone.

Even if they really are required to charge for it, just make it a small token amount, like $5 or even a buck.

[skottichan]

Originally Posted by k squared

Didn't Apple have to charge for the Touch update? Unlike the iPhone, they are not spreading the profit across quarters.

Actually, the 1.1.3 update is FREE for the Touch. The $20 is for the application pack, and I think it's totally fair. My girlfriend only uses her Touch as an iPod, so she has no need for the app pack, where as I'm such a fangirl, and it was only $20, so I grabbed it.

[McDave]

Originally Posted by Neruda

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on that one. Drag and drop has been a pillar of the Mac OS usability, and having to synch the device manually was just plain retarded and contrary to the ease of use and functionality of Apple's own iPods in that regard. I don't want to have to re-sync the freaking phone every-time that I want to add a song or two. This is a move in the right direction by Apple.

Apple 1, McDave 0

What on earth are you talking about? Have you actually used an iPod in it's default state? (automatically synchronised) or is this another opinion based on assumption? "having to sync the device manually"? The point of sync is that you don't do anything - you just plug it in!

And since when has having to perform a function been easier than not having to? Autosyncing is set up once - that's it!

McD