Interesting news/reviews/deals from the portable audio market
No more iTunes as the default music-playing software for HP’s consumer desktops and laptops. The deal inked with Apple two years ago has expired and Hewlett-Packard decided to replace iTunes with RealNetworks’ Rhapsody. Beginning spring ‘06, HP customers will also get a free 30-day trial subscription to RealNetworks’ music subscription service. “The deal marks a [...]
Winamp vs iTunes vs MediaMonkey: no definite winner to be found, though he makes some good points for each app. Also, I like the idea for an “inbox” of music: ” Just like email, music that has just been downloaded (or whatever) should be separated from the main library, and then only at your discretion [...]
HP’s iTunes obligations coming to an end: “Hewlett Packard’s deal with Apple, requiring HP to bundle iTunes with its PCs, will lapse in January. HP says it plans to pursue a new digital entertainment strategy in 2006, but isn’t telling what that strategy will look like. Business Week reports that there has already been [...]
Libra allows you to create, use and manage multiple iTunes music libraries. I know more than a few people that’ll find this handy.
You usually get these kind of programs for Mac only, but this one’s got a Windows binary for us Bill-folks too (screenshot on the right of this post).
$10 shareware. [via]
Remember those reports about iTunes 6.01 not playing nice with the iPod Shuffle? iPod Updater 2005-11-17 claims to fix that. [via]
Apparently, the 6.01 update to iTunes doesn’t work with the iPod shuffle.
EMI said yesterday that the new Macrovision-built DRM they plan to employ on their compact discs will be iTunes-friendly. Users will be able to rip it using iTunes and transfer it to their iPods. (Furthermore users will be able to make three copies of the disc on blank CDs and burn each individual track up [...]
EMI to ship iTunes-compatible copy-protected CDs: I couldn’t be more indifferent to this, as I stay away (run!) from copy-protected CDs, but anyway.
FoxiPod: neat Greasemonkey hack which I’ve discovered recently (OSX only, though). Once installed a little icon is placed next to any MP3 file on a webpage; click it, and the song is downloaded and automatically transferred to iTunes.
You may want to read this introductory post of ours before proceeding.
iTunes 5
refined display
playlists can be organized into folders—finally!
new search capabilities; search bar
Windows users: automatically synchronize contact and calendar information for Outlook or Outlook Express
“Smart Shuffle” because “we’ve got a lot of people saying our shuffle is not random” (laughing); use a slider, let iTunes [...]