Macworld Forums: iTunes 10 - Macworld Forums

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Isn't that Apple TV 3.0?

I'd love to be able to modify the background colors of the interface. All that white with every hint of color drained from the icons looks industrially sterile to my eye. Give me a chance to reverse the colors, use a black or charcoal gray background with white text and let the album cover art pop. Perhaps an opportunity for a third-party developer if Apple won't do it?

Ping will take off once it breaks free from the iTunes application and becomes web-based (which it already is). The current advantage of having it solely inside iTunes is that they can control the rendering engine, where it may not work properly in certain browsers (ahem, IE). I think eventually it'll be a standalone site. Secondly, once it makes roots into existing services, like Facebook, it'll get a big boost.

Good review. I agree the UI changes seem pretty arbitrary / do not really solve any problem. I'm sticking with 9.

I've been pleased about the performance improvements. They're noticeable.

padinc, on 07 September 2010 - 12:25 PM, said:

You would think, since Apple added a 160GB model during after releasing the original 40GB model. But Steve Jobs repeatedly referred to the upcoming Apple TV as the "2.0," and in a way it makes sense. Major version number changes are for significant *upgrades,* whereas a simple 160GB storage bump with no major new features or hardware redesign is more akin to a mid-version *update,* like a 1.3.

Now, Apple has changed its Apple TV *software* a few times, and I believe it's up to version 3.x, which I think will technically bring the new interface on the upcoming Apple TV to 4.0. But we'll have to wait and see how Apple refers to it to be sure.

Another Con: CD importing is broken if you leave "automatically retrieve track names..." checked. In order for iTunes to not become unstable, you must uncheck that box, then manually get CD tracks from the Advanced column, and finally import the disc. This is really surprising given how mature the program is. Someone failed to check whether CD's could be imported while automatically obtaining track info?!

Raymondo17, on 07 September 2010 - 12:32 PM, said:

Go here...My link

Click on the Finder logo on the right side above the thumbnails... it'll give you back the colors... I did it on mine, couldn't stand the
new interface... works great, got my colors back!

this is the first apple update in a long, long time I will be skipping (until I buy a device that requires it). I'm sick to death of "social networking" being integrated in to everything we do. As for the interface changes, they're universally bizarre and unattractive. I'm usually totally on board with apple's design aesthetic, but I don't see a single change in iTunes 10 that isn't a step back. All in all, a shocking unappealing update.

wessew10, on 07 September 2010 - 12:41 PM, said:

I imported a bunch of CDs last night and did not have any problems.

"But this new button layout could be a violation of Apple’s own interface guidelines for third-parties, so I hope developers don’t take it as Apple’s endorsement of using controlled substances while designing new interfaces."

There's no "could" about it. It is a violation of the HIG, not just for 3rd-party developers but for Apple themselves.

The important question is: "Is that a problem?" The most important word in the phrase "Human Interface Guidelines" is 'guidelines.' It is not "Human Interface Rules Which Must Be Obeyed Without Question." Apple has always explicitly acknowledged the reality that there can be valid reasons for deviating from the HIG and I consider it significant and valuable that they themselves have *always* done so, and for the most part their deviations do improve the user experience. It always comes down to whether or not it makes sense "here."

QCassidy352, on 07 September 2010 - 12:47 PM, said:

Ping is completely invisible in iTunes. You can browse the store, listen to music, and do anything else and not even realize Ping exists...unless you look in the source column to see "Ping" listed. Thankfully the feature is not "in your face" the entire time. The interface updates making better use of the screen is bizarre and unattractive? Not sure how you determined that. You do realize that social networking is fully implemented on Macworld and these forums, don't you?

And here we are at version 10 and I STILL can't mix smart playlists with manual playlists in a simple alphabetical order. Something that would life easier, I'm sure, for many more people than me!