Jesse Potter

So if you’re anything like me, when it comes to my computer and files, I like things organized and easy to use.  Especially when it comes to my music and videos as that is a large part of what fills my computer.  Unfortunately, that seems to be the antithesis of what iTunes is all about.  Now I’m a Windows user, never owned a Mac in my life. So that obviously puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to using iTunes. But I like podcasts and I like a large selection of music available to me, and that’s why I’m forced to use iTunes.  I know that I can download podcasts from other sources like Zune Marketplace, Winamp, or straight from the source site, but the truth is, no matter what your preference is, you have to admit that iTunes simply has the most podcasts available and the easiest method of acquiring them.  Also, when you are looking for music to buy, the iTunes store has a selection like no other.  They are unmatched when it comes to having smaller artists and great deals.  Plus, they give out more free material than any other download site.  This fall, as primetime TV shows were premiering and returning to the air, iTunes offered free HD complete episodes of shows like Trauma, Community, White Collar, and much more.  As well, they can offer discounted CD’s, pre-orders, rental movies, audiobooks, and entire season passes of TV series.  So basically, they are as close to one-stop shopping as you can get for music and video content.

However, now comes the problems that I have with them…they suck.  The music library offers almost no organization apart from alphabetizing your songs. The playlist controls offer nothing to someone who might use it to DJ a party or something like that.  The most annoying thing is that Apple, in all their self-righteous wisdom, makes ALL of their files use a proprietary file format so that songs and videos are incompatible with any other piece of software.  But the thing that has set me off today is their ridiculous update strategy.  Just about every two weeks like clockwork, they release an update which is anywhere from 50-100MB (no small amount for a simple software update).  Each update requires a system restart, re-reading and accepting their terms and conditions, reloading your entire media library (which is HUGE for me), and then after all that time and effort, you realize that the update has changed NOTHING.  In fact, it’s running even slower now than it was before, and it’s always been a memory hog.  I just don’t understand how the most popular software of the most popular computer company in the world can be so absolutely lame.  I mean, even my highly advanced Adobe Master Suite software which is a professional level creative engine can update itself in about two minutes without having to restart the computer.

Honestly, I wish that something would come along that could legitimately compete with iTunes and the iTunes store so that I could make the switch.  Sure, there is software out there that works better and is less glitchy, and there are ways of getting all of the content out there from various locations.  But at this point, nobody can offer the selection and price that iTunes has along with the availability of podcasts and other exclusive content. So really I just wanted to take this opportunity to vent a little.  Someday we’ll get a real alternatibe, but until then I’ll simply continue to get taken advantage of by Apple.

Thanks for your time. If you feel similarly, or even if you really like iTunes and want to dispute what I said, leave a comment below.  I would also love for you to follow this blog regularly as I’m going to make the effort to post to it regularly.  It’s as simple as entering your e-mail address in the bar on the right side of this page, or you can follow me via Facebook using the NetworkedBlogs App.

BONUS RANT:

As far as hardware goes, Apple likes to think that they are the cream of the crop for portable music players with the iPod, Touch, and iPhone.  I personally think that these devices are mostly overrated.  I’m not a fan of the Zune either, same overblown price for worse hardware.  Personally, I’m completely satisfied with the much simpler (and cheaper) Sandisk line of MP3 players.  You can get an 8GB player with a 2” screen for $49.99 online that is way easier to use than an iPod, sounds the same, and even has a microSD slot so you can add as much memory as you like.  Honestly, the only Apple product that I could see myself ever owning is the iPhone, and even then only really for the Apps. I just can’t bring myself to spend such a ridiculous amount of money for something like that.

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