I downloaded the new version of iTunes (8.0.0.35) today, but only because it kept asking me to. The really irritating thing about any new install of iTunes is that all of my short cuts get messed up. Every time I get a new version, which seems to be quite often, I have to add all of the links back in so that I can access the program on my own terms! I'm going to just leave it this time, I'm sick of it!
Is it an improvement? Well you can probably guess from the title of this post that it isn't. I think it is a definite step backwards. Rather than sort out all of the stupid and annoying things that this program does, they have just added on some bells and whistles to make it more pretty.
Lets start off with this Genius thing. I don't care what it is, if a media playing program simply stops you from using a it until you have enabled some silly little music advertisement component, then it has failed. I found that the only way to get rid of it was to attempt to create another play list. However, it does this every time you open the bloody program! I had to sign up to it just to get it to stop!
What is the point of this Genius program? When I'm listening to a song from my extensive Black Sabbath collection, I don't want to be sold a live recording of Iron Man. I am really not interested! Not only that, but the thing doesn't work with any other media, so when looking through videos or podcasts it just sticks a big bar at the side that says "Genius sidebar only works with music." I can't get rid of it now!
As for the bells and whistles let me give this analogy. Take something, anything really, and jump up and down on it for around 20 minutes, if you don't weight much then carry something heavy whilst doing this. Put the resulting bits and pieces of rubbish into the best looking box that money can buy. I'm talking jewell encrusted, made of gold and silver, literally the best box you can get your hands on. You now have the new iTunes interface. It is like trying to paint miniature models, whilst wearing boxing gloves. Every time you try to do anything it is kept back from you by a level of unnecessary uselessness. The thing I hate most about using podcasts on this pile of poo is that little grey arrow to the left of the podcast title. Well the worst bit of usability I have ever seen is still there, you just have to dig through the fluffy pillows with pretty pictures on them to get to it. What is the point? If isn't broken, then don't try to fix it. More importantly, if it is broken, fix it, don't put a ribbon on it and pretend that it wasn't broken in the first place.
iTunes, pretty on the outside, unusable on the inside.
I have noticed one thing about the new interface as well. When I have iTunes open my CPU usage goes up to 100% and my computer starts to wheeze like an anorexic hamster on a lead weighted wheel. My computer is not particularly old or slow, but iTunes just seems to kill it off. This makes it a little difficult to watch videos with it as it just displays a frame, waits for a few seconds and then displays another frame. It is like going to the cinema and it consisting of some guy holding up pictures of what is going on, which he shows you one at a time. Much like Bob Dylan in Subterranean Homesick Blues.
Starting today I'm looking for alternatives. The only requirements I have is that it syncs my iPod (although I'm shopping for something else) and that can manage my podcasts. If you have any suggestions then please let me know.