iTunes is not dead

Even Apple knew it. The introduction to the iTunes portion of today's keynote address was a little ironic on the addition of Calendar, Mail and Safari in the desktop application. "One thing we hear again and again: can iTunes do even more?" joked Software Vice President Craig Federighi.

<img alt = "iTunes" data-caption = "iTunes" data-credit = "Nathan Ingraham / Engadget" data-credit-link-back = "" data-dam-provider = "" local-data-id = " -1-9292157- 1559597356770 "data-media-id =" 337e33d6-0476-4a0c-be01-83336bf4f6b9 "data-original-url =" https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2019 What's New % 2C1000 & image_uri = https% 3A% 2F% 2Fs.yimg.com% 2Fos% 2Foscreatr-uploaded-images% 2F2019-06% 2F8c462230-8646-11e9-bfd7-65Stay-the-the-rest-the-week with a Lower price

Once everything has been set aside, Apple has announced its solution: iTunes will be split into three applications in macOS Catalina for music, podcasts and television. Of course, that makes a lot of sense on the surface, but that does not really solve the main problem of iTunes. In fact, I would say that more apps might not be better. You'll know exactly where everything is immediately – do not worry about this cursed drop-down menu that is rampant in the current version. However, this will mean turning on another application when you want to change the content library. It's not really better, just in a different place.

Fortunately, you will not have to use another app to sync items on your phone or tablet. Apple already lets you download your music, movies, and more directly to your device via the cloud. Of course, if you really want to use a cable, you can do it. But in this case, you will have to open each application individually, according to the MacOS Catalina ad from Apple.

Please, Apple: just give us something that looks like a reader, and less to a file management system.

Basically, instead of an almost organized and reduced iTunes, Apple provides us with separate applications, each with a single purpose. I think I could accept that if everyone was redesigned. The TV application is mainly due to the fact that the company is preparing to launch its streaming service, Apple TV +. But he looks like his tvOS counterpart. Music and podcasts, however, seem pretty much identical to iTunes. Of course, they focus on their specific niche, but the overall look is the same.

Please, Apple: just give us something that looks like a reader, and less to a file management system. When you compare the design to Spotify, Pandora or PocketCasts (on the desktop), the gap is glaring. iTunes seems dated compared to other services, and this overflows on other desktop interfaces. Apple Music looks like the iTunes Store and less like a streaming service. And it seems like it will continue, at least for the immediate future.

<img alt = "macOS" data-caption = "macOS" credit-data = "Chris Velazco / Engadget" data-credit-link-back = "" data-dam-provider = "" local-data-id = " -2-1947889- 1559597548985 "data-media-id =" cbc7f575-35fd-44c9-baff-4e600b27b9b4 "data-original-url =" https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2019 -06 / 0a593810- 8647-11e9-adea-3fb3b22ffe77 "data-title =" macOS "src =" https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?resize=2000%2C2000%2Cshrink&image_uri=https%3A%2F % 2F% 2Fs.yimg. Com% 2Fos% 2Fcreatr-transferred-images% 2F2019-06% 2F0a593810-8647-11e9-adea-3fb3b22ffe77 & customer = a1acac3e1b3290917d92 & signature = 43c571ef08cf5827e7ad614368e93d2d

I am fully aware that this situation could have been much worse. Apple could have chosen the way of the news and lazily transfer an iOS application to the desktop. And that would probably have resulted in the loss of some key features along the way. So in the end, what's left is neither better nor worse than what we had before – really different. And only very slightly.

We get separate audio apps, but each one is so similar to iTunes that you will not know the difference. Except when you have to click on a separate icon in the dock to access music or podcasts, or use the Finder to sync and monitor the rest of your iPhone's elements. Let's be honest, it's here that these device management features should have been used from the beginning.

Nobody claims that iTunes is not a clutter, but it did not need to be dissociated. It just needed a little bit of love and attention (and maybe a major overhaul). So do not believe the headlines: iTunes is not dead, it is multiplying.