First look: Apple's overhauled iTunes 11
iTunes 11 represents a much-needed improvement to Apple's catch-all media suite, with an update that cleans up the interface, improves performance and enhances features.
Right off the bat, Apple greets new users with instructions on how to navigate the new software, which ditches the dedicated (and numerous) menu options on the left side. Now, a user's library is navigated via a drop-down menu featuring options for Music, Movies and TV Shows.
Under the "Movies" section, Apple has dedicated lists to help users sort their content, including an "Unwatched" tab, and a section devoted entirely to the "Home Videos" category.
For those who prefer the classic look of their music in iTunes, the "Songs" view will be a welcome inclusion, with default sorting options of "Genres," "Artists" and "Albums" presented above the available collection.
The "Albums" tab offers a user's entire collection of albums, presented in the form of nice large album art. Content that is not stored locally but is available through iCloud, whether purchased from iTunes or made available through an iTunes Match subscription, is identified with an iCloud logo in the upper right of the album cover.
Selecting al album opens it like a folder in iOS. A background color is also selected automatically by iTunes, matched up from the color of the album art.
In the "Artists" tab, the artist name is presented on the left with one square album cover. On the right, songs are sorted by album with album covers, names and dates presented by default. Content available through iCloud is identified with a link to download on the right side.
The "Albums" and "Artists" views also feature Apple's new "In the Store" link, which makes it easy to find more content from your favorite artists. The available content is presented in the same window, without whisking users away to a separate store link, as previous versions of iTunes have done.
Users can access the iTunes MiniPlayer with a link in the upper right of the window, just to the left of the fullscreen icon. The MiniPlayer loads quickly and offers an impressive set of options despite its small size, including options for searching, editing playlists, and streaming content through AirPlay.
Clicking the album art opens a larger window that just displays the album cover along with the iTunes controls. Users can return to the full-size player by clicking an icon in the upper left corner of the MiniPlayer.
A dedicated link to the iTunes Store also exists in the upper right section of iTunes 11. Those who have accessed the iTunes Store on the iPad will find the new layout instantly familiar, as the latest iTunes further blurs the lines between Apple's iPad and Mac platforms.
Right off the bat, Apple greets new users with instructions on how to navigate the new software, which ditches the dedicated (and numerous) menu options on the left side. Now, a user's library is navigated via a drop-down menu featuring options for Music, Movies and TV Shows.
Under the "Movies" section, Apple has dedicated lists to help users sort their content, including an "Unwatched" tab, and a section devoted entirely to the "Home Videos" category.
For those who prefer the classic look of their music in iTunes, the "Songs" view will be a welcome inclusion, with default sorting options of "Genres," "Artists" and "Albums" presented above the available collection.
The "Albums" tab offers a user's entire collection of albums, presented in the form of nice large album art. Content that is not stored locally but is available through iCloud, whether purchased from iTunes or made available through an iTunes Match subscription, is identified with an iCloud logo in the upper right of the album cover.
Selecting al album opens it like a folder in iOS. A background color is also selected automatically by iTunes, matched up from the color of the album art.
In the "Artists" tab, the artist name is presented on the left with one square album cover. On the right, songs are sorted by album with album covers, names and dates presented by default. Content available through iCloud is identified with a link to download on the right side.
The "Albums" and "Artists" views also feature Apple's new "In the Store" link, which makes it easy to find more content from your favorite artists. The available content is presented in the same window, without whisking users away to a separate store link, as previous versions of iTunes have done.
Users can access the iTunes MiniPlayer with a link in the upper right of the window, just to the left of the fullscreen icon. The MiniPlayer loads quickly and offers an impressive set of options despite its small size, including options for searching, editing playlists, and streaming content through AirPlay.
Clicking the album art opens a larger window that just displays the album cover along with the iTunes controls. Users can return to the full-size player by clicking an icon in the upper left corner of the MiniPlayer.
A dedicated link to the iTunes Store also exists in the upper right section of iTunes 11. Those who have accessed the iTunes Store on the iPad will find the new layout instantly familiar, as the latest iTunes further blurs the lines between Apple's iPad and Mac platforms.
Comments
As silly as it seems, now that I own a projector I%u2019m a big visualizer fan!
Other than that%u2014this looks good, but I won%u2019t be the guinea pig!
Quote:
Originally Posted by nagromme
Other than that%u2014this looks good, but I won%u2019t be the guinea pig!
So far everything works perfect. Home Sharing, Apple TV. I'm glad they waited a month because this release seems very solid. The speed is very impressive as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GadgetCanada
So far everything works perfect. Home Sharing, Apple TV. I'm glad they waited a month because this release seems very solid. The speed is very impressive as well.
are podcasts still there? and is there still support for applescript?
The playlists are only available under the Music dropdown for some reason. Probably a bug as my playlists also include movie playlists, which also show up under Music. Has anyone figured out the home movies bit yet and how it works?
I haven't had any glitches or speed issues, but still getting a beach ball when syncing and downloading.
Nevermind. Turns out you can turn on the old Sidebar under the view options, so the lack of a 'Playlists' button in the top nav is something I can work around.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nagromme
Is there still a visualizer?
Cmd-T (as it always has been), and make your choice at View/Visualizer/
Bleh. Still rife with visual inconsistencies and confusing options.
Why rely on the upper left-hand 'red-orange-green' buttons anymore? There is now a "maximize" toggle switch on the far upper right. That's just dumb.
It's a mystery to me what the little "download" icon next to the search bar does, because there is no pop-up information. A blue activity bar shows it's doing something... but why?
As I find more problems, I'll list 'em.
Originally Posted by lenny
…no more start playing by just clicking in the album.
Did you try clicking on it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpamSandwich
Bleh. Still rife with visual inconsistencies and confusing options.
Why rely on the upper left-hand 'red-orange-green' buttons anymore? There is now a "maximize" toggle switch on the far upper right. That's just dumb.
It's a mystery to me what the little "download" icon next to the search bar does, because there is no pop-up information. A blue activity bar shows it's doing something... but why?
As I find more problems, I'll list 'em.
Upper right is full screen mode, its much different than the green maximize window button.
Color icons in the sidebar!!!
http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/2840/toggle-itunes-11-miniplayer
AppleScript seems unchanged other than issues with the mini player, whose scripting access seems to have changed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rokrad
Upper right is full screen mode, its much different than the green maximize window button.
Why offer both? It's needlessly confusing. Get rid of the maximize button and let the green button perform that function. Now I have two buttons on opposite sides of the screen performing roughly the same function.
Thus far, it looks like I'm clicking more than ever to do the same thing. Not an improvement.
I do like the 'connected devices' indicator in the upper right.
Syncing is seem quicker too (4S and 5) although haven't tried iPad yet.
Menu navigation seems a bit an afterthought. A lone strip than can be shown/hidden -- no correspond items in the concealed menu when hidden (not all is shown in there - the little window icon in the top left)
Gutted there is still no video preview in the app store for games within iTunes. Link still fire up browser. Might be a small matter but wish it is integrated or at least they included the game video previews along with the screenshots.
Overall Okay just now - 15 mins usage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Splash-reverse
Menu navigation seems a bit an afterthought.
You said it.
Did Jony Ive have input here? If so, this is not a good indicator for future UI "improvements".