Who doesn't use iTunes?

Stag · 11 Sep 2009 at 13:31

I've been using FLAC for a number of years and don't use iTunes for that reason (yes I know you can get round it, but it's limited).

How many Apple users use Songbird or alternatives?

MikeHunt79 · 11 Sep 2009 at 13:39

I use VLC myself, but I prefer Foobarr2000, but I don't think there's an OSX version of that.

Stag · 11 Sep 2009 at 13:59

I didn't think VLC had the same library qualities as iTunes or Songbird?

MikeHunt79 · 11 Sep 2009 at 14:38

It doesn't, I just drag stuff to the playlist.

Spyhop · 11 Sep 2009 at 19:09

I use iTunes for a bunch of things, but not playing music.

I just use Cog, which is a fairly barebones player, to view my music directory structure and play FLAC files (get the more recent in development build)

Songbird is alright, but why the does the UI have to mimic iTunes so blatantly? It just draws attention to the sloppy looking non-native UI elements.

anti5580 · 11 Sep 2009 at 21:19

VLC is my favourite TBH but I use iTunes for my iPhone.

rossw · 11 Sep 2009 at 21:21

I use Banshee and it works great

edgedemon · 11 Sep 2009 at 21:22

Im a massive mediamonkey fan - paid for the gold licence

Will_3rd · 12 Sep 2009 at 19:19

Don't use iTunes on Windows much, prefer to use VLC. Have used Songbird a little but it is lacking features badly. But on Mac OS X iTunes is king for me.

K1LLSW1TCH · 12 Sep 2009 at 23:47

Will_3rd said:
Don't use iTunes on Windows much, prefer to use VLC. Have used Songbird a little but it is lacking features badly. But on Mac OS X iTunes is king for me.

I'd go with that. VLC on Windows, iTunes is the daddy on Mac for me. Especially the latest release, iTunes 9. It just looks so slick and seems to load up even faster than 8 did.

Tute · 13 Sep 2009 at 01:32

I only use iTunes to play MP3s or CDs on my Mac, I don't and will never touch the store side of it.

meghatronic · 13 Sep 2009 at 02:50

Tute said:
I only use iTunes to play MP3s or CDs on my Mac, I don't and will never touch the store side of it.

This.

Unless I just want to listen to something particular, then I'd use VLC.

MikeHunt79 · 13 Sep 2009 at 03:39

Tute said:
I only use iTunes to play MP3s or CDs on my Mac, I don't and will never touch the store side of it.

Is there a way of being able to use it without having to make an account?

Will_3rd · 13 Sep 2009 at 13:36

MikeHunt79 said:
Is there a way of being able to use it without having to make an account?

Yes, but you won't be able to use the program to search for Album Artwork from the store.

Tute · 15 Sep 2009 at 14:19

MikeHunt79 said:
Is there a way of being able to use it without having to make an account?

I just went into preferences and turned off anything that looked like it might give iTunes permission to connect to the internet.

I already have all my MP3s tagged, sorted, with album art, so I just imported it all in and it's fine.

No problems at all.

As for the store side - well when iTunes starts offering FLAC then i'll take an interest. But at this stage, i'm not paying good money for an MP3 rip when I can pay pretty much the same for CD quality.