iTunes 7.4
By Copernic, 06 September 2007 - 08:38 17 comments
iTunes is a piece of software that lets you add to, organize and play your digital media collection on your computer, as well as sync it to a portable device. It's a jukebox player along the lines of MusicMatch and Windows Media Player, and you can use it on a Mac or Windows machine. The most significant difference between iTunes and some other media players is the built-in iTunes Music Store (where you can get podcasts, music videos, movies, audiobooks and TV shows, too) and its multi-level integration with Apple's iPod portable media player. With iTunes 7.4, sync your favorite music and more with the new iPod nano (third generation), iPod classic, and iPod touch, plus create custom ringtones exclusively for iPhone with many of your favorite songs purchased from the iTunes Store. You can now also play purchased videos with closed captioning (when available), easily rate your favorite albums from one to five stars, and watch videos at a larger size inside the iTunes window.
What's New:
This update adds support for the new iPod nano (third generation), iPod classic, and iPod touch, plus create customer ringtones exclusively for iPhone.
Download: iTunes 7.4
View: Apple iTunes Website
Comments (17)
excalpius - 06 September 2007 - 10:05
Looks like they've capped CoverFlow's RAM usage to 1/3 of system RAM, but it's still retarded about caching the processed cover art. It just throws stuff away as it holds the dumb raw buffer instead of caching the already processed artwork to the hard drive for faster paging, etc.
Well, it's a start. At least now iTunes only takes up 700 mb of RAM on a 2 gb Vista system.
King Mustard - 06 September 2007 - 16:47
Your RAM is there to be used. As long as programs efficiently release the memory when needed, I don't see the problem.
Flyer00 - 06 September 2007 - 18:49
The problem is that programs should be written to respect other programs on your system and not hog all of the memory -- even if it the memory is available when the program launches. The state of your system can always change and other programs could need the memory iTunes has tied up for more critical tasks.
excalpius - 06 September 2007 - 19:20
Exactly. This isn't an issue of standard Vista caching algorithms (which are great BTW). This is about Apple's programmers being exceptionally lazy here. Does it work this poorly on OS X or is this just poor coding for the Windows version?
David3k - 08 September 2007 - 13:03
Don't forget that Quicktime was pretty much crap too.
cork1958 - 06 September 2007 - 10:09
I've only ever played on one computer that had Itunes installed. Man, what a slow piece of crap laden bloatware!!
Will NEVER install it on any of my machines!!
excalpius - 06 September 2007 - 11:18
The number of services it installs is pretty outrageous. I don't own an iPod or iPhone, so why would I even want all those services? Can't I click a check box for Yes/No iPod, Yes/No iPhone????
Flyer00 - 06 September 2007 - 18:54
If you have Vista, you can go into Services and safely disable the "Apple Mobile Device" service and the "iPod Service" and iTunes cannot re-enable them due to Vista's new security features -- it will prompt you once, but you can deny it. In XP however, you can disable them but iTunes restarts them again the next time it is launched. I think this is the first time Vista's security features have come in handy for me!
Vettetech - 06 September 2007 - 13:24
I have a Creative ZEN V Plus and I use Winamp to sync my music. Works awesome. Tried iTunes years ago and it slows your system to a crawl. Uses 50k of memory.
monkey13 - 06 September 2007 - 15:32
50k of memory.
When did you try it 1984?
Flyer00 - 06 September 2007 - 18:56
LOL, probably more like 50mb -- but even that sounds too low for iTunes :P
excalpius - 06 September 2007 - 21:42
Yeah, iTunes uses 50-100mb by default. The memory problems are with CoverFlow on.
Galley - 06 September 2007 - 14:27
The ability to rate albums separately from its individual tracks in nice, but I would've preferred to see that space used to display "Average rating" and "Average number of plays" data. :)
[Edit] Apparently it does display an average rating using hollow stars, rather than solid stars.
Vettetech - 06 September 2007 - 15:48
Try it on my counsins pc last month. Was using around 48-50k.
excalpius - 06 September 2007 - 19:21
Use CoverFlow and scroll through all your album art. Each one will add 1 mb of ram to iTunes. 40-50 mb is just for the program.
+Nightwind Hawk - 07 September 2007 - 05:43
Stupid new version. Now on x64 I get this message everytime I open it:
iTunes was not properly installed. If you wish to import or burn CDs, you need to reinstall iTunes.
Yeah, thanks for letting me know that you guys still don't support x64 EVERYTIME I open now!
Dirtie - 10 September 2007 - 07:29
Anyone know what services are safe to remove (if it's even possible) without affecting iPod functionality when I plug it in?