Jeff Key

It works on my machine

Sponsors

My Job

My stuff

Old stuff

Useful Stuff

iTunes for Windows bullet review

Pros:

  • Looks cool, like the brushed metal OS X theme.  Interestingly, web pages in its built-in browser use OSX controls.
  • Search is very quick.
  • Listening to song samples is also very quick; starts almost immediately.
  • Apple's home page says “Hell froze over.  Introducing iTunes for Windows.  The best Windows app ever.“  Excellent!

Cons:

  • Music selection appears to be geared toward the Top-40 crowd.  Obviously this is where the money's at, but they won't be getting any of mine because there's nothing for me to buy.  The following searches returned nothing:  Sea and Cake, Jim O'Rourke, American Analog Set, Tortoise, Rainer Maria, Mates of State, Jesus Lizard, Windsor for the Derby, Archer Prewitt.  These two were the only ones that were found:  Pavement, Yo La Tengo. 
  • File format that's only supported by iTunes and the iPod.  I'm not going to download music if I can't play it in my media player of choice (WMP) or use it in my portable player (Rio).

So, unfortunately, I won't be using the service.  There's a slight chance I'd use it if they had the music I like.  If I want to get the latest 50 Cent or Kid Rock, I can grab them on Kazaa.  The stuff I like usually isn't traded online (AFAIK), so I would be much more likely to purchase them on their service.  In theory.

Anyway, nice job, Apple.  Maybe not the best Windows application ever, but definitely the best one I downloaded today.

Posted: Oct 16 2003, 11:17 PM by jeffreykey | with 13 comment(s)
Filed under: ,

Comments

Pete said:

Damn, I've never heard of any of those searches!
# October 17, 2003 7:36 AM

Jason said:

What stuff are you looking for? I thought the same when dealing with Underground Hip-Hop and some of the darker IDM/DnB tracks, but I found 'em.
# October 17, 2003 8:22 AM

Steve said:

One thing I did in the apple version when using the store was to just download a bunch of songs, then burn them to disk. Then, to get them onto the PC, just ripped the disk to MP3. Works great.
# October 17, 2003 9:46 AM

Jeff Key said:

The stuff I searched for was pretty typical indie/post rock. What IDM/DnB did you find? I just did a search for Amon Tobin, Autechre, DJ Spooky, Icebreaker, Mouse on Mars and Squarepusher and got no love...
# October 17, 2003 9:51 AM

Jeff Key said:

Glad to hear it, Steve, I thought of the same thing. My main concern is the clarity since the music is compressed twice, not to mention that it's a lot of work! :) Maybe I'll give it a test run on the new Stereolab.
# October 17, 2003 10:03 AM

Ryan said:

I just think you need to listen to some better music!
# October 18, 2003 2:09 PM

Jeff Key said:

Well, if you consider Barenaked Ladies, Edie Brickell, 2Pac, Miss Elliott, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows and Linkin Park better music, I'll pass. ;) (Those were the selections on the iTunes home page.)
# October 18, 2003 2:13 PM

Ryan said:

Point taken, but show me two different songs from Linkin Park. I think iTunes is giving a service to the masses and since you are not one of those, you really should not bitch about it.
# October 18, 2003 2:25 PM

Jeff Key said:

Where did I complain about anything? I simply stated my experience. I think iTunes is great, but not for me (yet). They (mostly) don't have the music I like and it's in a format my media player and portable player don't support.
# October 18, 2003 2:55 PM

finn said:

fwiw, Apple is working with the indies to get a broader selection of music online. they started with just the big five labels, but know they need to expand what they have available. for example, if you'd searched a month ago you wouldn't have found pavement or yo la tengo either since matador didn't have their music up yet.
# October 21, 2003 3:23 PM

josh said:

i love you

# August 6, 2006 6:40 AM

josh said:

your cool

# August 6, 2006 6:41 AM

josh said:

do you no any music downloading websites

# August 6, 2006 6:42 AM