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I can't believe with the Awful state Quicktime, Safari, and iTunes runs on Windows that anyone buys Apple products. Especially when they used to buddle each other, so an attempt to install Quicktime (when it was a thing to watch online videos) meant somehow you got a terrible web browser, and a monstrous music player that started 45 background services.

On iTunes, I have an iPod touch that's a decent music and video player, but I can't stand iTunes. I use CopyTransManager to sync music and videos, and i-Funbox to sync files to other applications.

You can even use Apple playback hardware and not use any of Apple's host software to rip and sync the music to it.

Copy-Trans Manager is the software I used to use when I synched an iPod touch to my PC.

You can also shitcan Apple's iTunes client and use something like CopyTrans Manager to sync your iPod instead.

It's a really smart thing to do, and partially de-infests your computer of malware.

Generally for third party software (WinAmp, CopyTransmanager) to be able to sync to iPhone and iPod Touch (and I assume iPad), it requires Apple drivers, which are installed when you install iTunes (along with a bLoat load of background services). Supposedly you can separate the installer into components, and just install the drivers, but I haven't had luck with that. Copytrans Drivers installer will automate the process http://download.cnet.com/CopyTrans-Drivers-Installer/3000-18546_4-75300288.html

CopyTransManager http://www.copytrans.net/copytransmanager.php is simple drag and drop for music and videos

i-funbox will let you drag and drop files for apps that support it (Downlite, FileApp, etc) http://i-funbox.en.softonic.com/
Here's a lifehacker article that mentions a couple alternatives: http://lifehacker.com/5914638/the-best-desktop-file-explorer-for-iphone

I can't believe how terrible iTunes for Windows has always been. When I bought my iPod Touch 4g, I finally reached the cold day in hell where I intentionally installed iTunes on my computer (only to activate, and upgrade the iOS version)

Sure, I can accept some tiny, fast software that acts as a middle-tier between my player and my PC

Well then go for it.

You don't need a course to be a "MOOC". In America many Universities offer videos of their lectures and some offer notes and exercises too. Buy the textbook - secondhand, show some gritm put aside the time and you can learn anything. If you get stuck there are forums like 'mad scientists' where people will help you. Connect with others interested in learning the same thing. If you get stuck on a particular concept, check another textbook for an alternate explanation or check out Kahn Academy. Many tutors post short clips explaining concepts on Youtube too.

Some people ask if you get credit for these. Of course you don't, and I question the motives of those people: If you're more interested in buying a piece of paper, then buy the piece of paper. But if you want to learn, yes, it can be done.

http://ocw.mit.edu/
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/
http://ocw.uci.edu/
http://www.youtube.com/education?category=University
Some universities only make the podcasts available only on ITunes, but there are alternatives to Apple's walled garden: http://www.copytrans.net/copytransmanager.php


Can I add: A Pox on Australian degree factories (also known as 'Universities') who won't make their content available online because they are more interested in squeezing every last cent out of their students. The idea of accidentally helping someone terrifies them.

I bypass itunes completely on my PC with Copytrans

You still have to have iTunes installed for the dll it uses to copy media to the device.

I have never experimented with just loading the dll by itself with regsvr32

http://www.copytrans.net/copytransmanager.php

http://www.getsharepod.com/

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-ways-to-sync-music-to-your-iphone-without-itunes/

For those who don’t want to install iTunes, there is a workaround:

* Download the iTunes.exe file
* Rename the .exe to .zip
* Open up the zipped file and extract AppleMobileDeviceSupport.msi
* Install this file.

You can then sync your iPhone without using iTunes

While it's true that iPhone + iTunes is a package deal after you buy it you aren't forced to do business with Apple ever again if you don't want to. There's even an iTunes replacement, Copy Trans Manager.

Apple doesn't appear to be suing CopyTrans, and they produce CopyTransManager as a free download. It lets me copy mp3 files onto my 3rd Gen iPod Touch directly. I've shitcanned iTunes. Granted, you have to download and pull the driver binaries out of Apple's big wad iTunesSetup.exe file to use it on an iPhone or iPod Touch. But it works great.

iTunes is generally a pain to work with. You can, however, disable automatic updating.

I would recommend using some alternative software, such as CopyTrans Manager or similar. You still need iTunes installed because of iPod/iPhone drivers, but there are ways of extracting drivers from iTunes installer, without actually installing iTunes itself (a short tutorial can be found here)

btw, CTM works only with Windows :/

The backups from an iPhone or iPod can be encrypted. The iTunes db is not encrypted. Managing the database is as simple as copying some files to the proper locations, and modifying an XML.

[Basic info on the XML interface and hte db locations]
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1660

Here are some free alternatives to iTunes. A few minutes of Googling should net you a larger list:

http://www.copytrans.net/copytransmanager.php

http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/10/doubletwist-podcasts-android/ (also works with a variety of devices including Android)

http://ipod.about.com/od/introductiontoitunes/tp/itunes_alterns.htm

Case in point: forgot to copy a new album over to my phone. I realised I could wirelessly connect to my LAN, browse the content, copy an album over to my handset. Job done.

Man, that was a huge pet peeve of mine too. Say I am at work and I want to put an MP3 on the iPhone... Can't do it since it has no guest sync mode. Infuriating. My BROWN ZUNE allows that.

But I found a free Windows app that can manage music on the iPhone without iTunes. This is no use to you since you switched, but others may benefit.

http://www.copytrans.net/download.php

Get CopyTransManager from here. Be sure it is that program, the third one down the page, not CopyTrans. Note that you can just download the zip instead of an installer if you want.

The iPhone is equal parts cool and infuriating. My next phone will probably be an Android too.