Wake-up call: Apple won’t port iTunes to Linux

[praka123]

Wake-up call: Apple won’t port iTunes to Linux

May 23, 2008


Introduction

I want to bring iTunes-loving Linux users back to reality. As you can see from the following Ubuntu Forums threads, some Ubuntu-ites are deluded about the idea of Apple porting iTunes to Linux:

Why Apple doesn’t want to release iTunes for Linux
Petition - iTunes for Ubuntu
Should Apple port iTunes to Linux?
The iTunes Linux Project

If you’re too lazy to read those links, I can sum up how the iTunes discussion usually goes among Linux users:

Hi. I’m new to Linux. How do I install iTunes on it?
iTunes is a bloated piece of crap. Use a real music application like AmaroK.
I really like iTunes, though.
I installed iTunes on Ubuntu with Wine.
iTunes installs with Wine, but it isn’t fully functional. Don’t bother.
Why do you have an iPod anyway? Use a Cowon player instead. It’s more Linux-friendly.
I kind of like the iTunes music store. Will the songs I bought from there be able to play on a Cowon player?
No. Pop music sucks these days. Don’t support the big labels. Support independent artists.
But I like pop music. Can’t we convince Apple to port iTunes to Linux?
I’ve put together a petition for it. Go to this link to sign it.
I hate iTunes, but I signed the petition because it’ll help bring more users over to Linux.
Apple can keep its proprietary applications. We have better iPod-management software on Linux anyway.

I think I got all the major arguments in there.

Philanthropic Apple porting iTunes?

Now imagine you’re an executive at Apple—Steve Jobs or somebody else. If you read that kind of back-and-forth, would you (even if you were more philanthropic- than profit-oriented) port iTunes to Linux? I know I wouldn’t. Even if I didn’t care about profit, I wouldn’t, because there are too many anti-proprietary software and/or anti-Apple elements in the Linux community. With the number of Linux users not buying iPods, buying iPods and installing Rockbox onto them, and using non-iTunes Music Store services like Jamendo, eMusic, or Amazon, I wouldn’t see a very compelling case for putting any resources into porting iTunes to Linux.

Read the complete article here:
http://ubuntucat.wordpress.com/2008/...unes-to-linux/

[Dark Star]

WHy I would use iTunes ? I just don't like.. when player like Amarok is present who really cares about Itunes

[praka123]

you know,apple is really furious about Linux penetration and open source ofcourse!
reason :FOSS rocks and Linux is the nearest competitor in OS market

[j1n M@tt]

hmm dat ws a long story praka........but I don't care abt Apple products, they r for some people with large, long pockets

[MetalheadGautham]

the real reason is this:

The moment apple ports a bloatware like iTunes that steals every setting of yours to itself, people WONT try to install it.

Look at what happened to real player. People asked real to port real player to linux, got pissed off that their beautiful looking Crystal icons were being replaced with ugly real icons and all file associations handed over to real. So they just grabbed the real linux-native codecs and coded some stuff into xine to make it use them. There are even workarounds for Real Mozilla plugin.

Then imagine what would happen to iTunes. The nessassary features and ipod sync tools, etc will be extracted from the iTunes install, and used to power a mod for AmaroK, Banshee or some other better media player and iTunes removed and purged.

[BBThumbHealer]

Originally Posted by Dark Star

WHy I would use iTunes ? I just don't like.. when player like Amarok is present who really cares about Itunes

exacty ...

[sourav123]

I hate Apple products. I think they’re overrated and overpriced. Apple locks users in more than Microsoft does. Down with DRM! Down with proprietary software!

This looks like me!

[Hitboxx]

Er., why would you want any Apple products on Linux? I don't get it. Personally I have no need or even care if a company called Apple exists. Sure if Windows goes away I will miss it but why Apple? It's all a crazy monology of these so called Ubuntians.

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by Hitboxx

Er., why would you want any Apple products on Linux? I don't get it. Personally I have no need or even care if a company called Apple exists. Sure if Windows goes away I will miss it but why Apple? It's all a crazy monology of these so called Ubuntians.

perfectly true.
ubuntu makes linux look like a joke many times.

[Krazy_About_Technology]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

the real reason is this:

The moment apple ports a bloatware like iTunes that steals every setting of yours to itself, people WONT try to install it.

Look at what happened to real player. People asked real to port real player to linux, got pissed off that their beautiful looking Crystal icons were being replaced with ugly real icons and all file associations handed over to real. So they just grabbed the real linux-native codecs and coded some stuff into xine to make it use them. There are even workarounds for Real Mozilla plugin.

Then imagine what would happen to iTunes. The nessassary features and ipod sync tools, etc will be extracted from the iTunes install, and used to power a mod for AmaroK, Banshee or some other better media player and iTunes removed and purged.

+1. very well said

[desiibond]

Thank god. I can continue using Amarok. iTunes sucks big time. Who knows, you might even see a BSOD in linux due to iTunes

[Pat]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

perfectly true.
ubuntu makes linux look like a joke many times.

Care to explain ?

[hellknight]

Who needs iTunes when we have AmaroK, Banshee, Exaile and Rhythmbox on Linux..
AmaroK and Exaile are far superb players than iTunes..

[ray|raven]

I dont think people care , if Apple does port iTunes or not.
For me , I am more than content with mpd and mplayer.

Why exactly would people go after iTunes when there's better stuff out there that does that already is beyond me.

[gxsaurav]

iTunes is not just about iPod management. Even WMP11 can do it, it is also about iTunes Music Store.

[ray|raven]

WMP manages iPod's? Since When?

[aditya.shevade]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

iTunes is not just about iPod management. Even WMP11 can do it, it is also about iTunes Music Store.

+1... I think this is the main reason for 80% of the people who want it on linux. I mean, people who actually do not have windows on their machine are supposed to be good with linux. (supposed to be.. I am not saying that they always are). And if they know that much, then managing iPod from banshee, amarok is also possible.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by rayraven

WMP manages iPod's? Since When?

http://www.mgtek.com/dopisp/

[ray|raven]

^Sweet. Thanx for the Info.

[iMav]

did any1 read this

I kind of like the iTunes music store. Will the songs I bought from there be able to play on a Cowon player?
No. Pop music sucks these days. Don’t support the big labels. Support independent artists.
But I like pop music. Can’t we convince Apple to port iTunes to Linux?

Quite indicative of Ubuntu support the guy wants him to change his music taste for the OS

coming on topic, for iPod management Linux has a great iPod management software, I forgot which application, but it was an already bundled music player in Ubuntu.

For the iTunes store, well it's Apple's wish, their market is not Linux users. Never was.

[ray|raven]

^gtkPod is a good iPod management app, But it isnt bundled with ubuntu.
Rhythmbox comes with ubuntu and can sync with iPod's.

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by iMav

did any1 read this
Quite indicative of Ubuntu support the guy wants him to change his music taste for the OS

coming on topic, for iPod management Linux has a great iPod management software, I forgot which application, but it was an already bundled music player in Ubuntu.

For the iTunes store, well it's Apple's wish, their market is not Linux users. Never was.

how the hell can music taste affect choice of OS ?
Its not as if Ubuntu or Windows comes with Metallica theme by defualt, is it ?

And yes, both linux AND windows have great alternate iPod management software. Either you have those dll forking light weight apps for windows, or you have those reverse engineered intergrated apps for linux.

I think Media Management software is sonething which shows your own ineffitiency - I prefer organising them myself, because no software can take into concideration the rules I use to sort music.

iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc often disgust me because while they are really slow, they have no good use. Infact, on windows, I think the sleekest media player is that mplayer2.exe, the mortal remains of WMP6.4 which still rocks.

There are music stores other than iTunes music stores as well. Besides, iTunes music store and almost 99.9999% if the music stores in the business rip people off. The audio quality is not lossless, but still we need to pay more than we do for the CD. Sheesh. Its better to buy CDs or if no CD is available, you get a reason to justify piracy.

[iMav]

Originally Posted by rayraven

Rhythmbox comes with ubuntu and can sync with iPod's.

yes Rythmbox it was, I enjoyed it. It is one really nice application for iPod owners who are on Linux.

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

how the hell can music taste affect choice of OS ?
Its not as if Ubuntu or Windows comes with Metallica theme by defualt, is it ?

I was referring to where the guy tells the other person to stop listening to pop & switch to independent artists

[MetalheadGautham]

Originally Posted by iMav

yes Rythmbox it was, I enjoyed it. It is one really nice application for iPod owners who are on Linux.

Rhythembox is sick, bloated and ugly. Banshee and AmaroK are better.

[hellknight]

True.. AmaroK has default equalizer presets... Rhythmbox and Banshee doesn't.. iTunes has become a system hog over the years..

[ray|raven]

^You call an app useless just coz it has default equalizer presets? Sheesh.

[praka123]

Rhythmbox works great for me I like Exaile in Gnome than amarok though.heck,both are the same.

there is one new player called Listen.I think it got some integrated ipod sync function?

[iMav]

At one point of time I started booting into Ubuntu only for Rythmbox & it's iPod sync facility which IMO is better than iTunes when you have not synced your iPod and are manually managing your library.

[hellknight]

Originally Posted by rayraven

^You call an app useless just coz it has default equalizer presets? Sheesh.

Nah.. its not like that... Use AmaroK and then use the other two, you'll feel the difference and superiority of AmaroK

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by MetalheadGautham

how the hell can music taste affect choice of OS ?
Its not as if Ubuntu or Windows comes with Metallica theme by defualt, is it ?

Lolz...you don't understand anything do u? Or is it some psycological flaw in u?

The support guy told him to change his music taste cos his iPod wasn't working with Ubuntu, how LAME is that

we need to pay more than we do for the CD. Sheesh. Its better to buy CDs or if no CD is available, you get a reason to justify piracy.

Wrong. In an album suppose there are 10 songs for Rs 100 but i only like 2 of them, so why buy the whole album at Rs 100 & why not just 2 songs for Rs 20.