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Apple Releases Major iTunes Update
shunnicutt writes "Apple has released iTunes 4.5 (and iPod software 2.2 and QuickTime 6.5.1) and relaxed some iTunes Music Store restrictions: now tracks you purchased can be authorized to play on up to five other computers, instead of three. However, they reduced the number of times you can burn a playlist to an audio CD from ten to seven. Another new feature is iMix, which allows you to publish playlists on iTMS, including comments on each track. The iTMS also offers a weekly free single for download."
crazney adds "This release also changes their network sharing protocol in a way that breaks the open source iTunes sharing applications that have been released (based on my work on iTunes 4.2's DRM)."
kefoo writes "Among the new features is Apple Lossless Encoding, which claims to compress losslessly to half the size of uncompressed CD quality audio." Hm, and I was about to re-rip all my CDs at 320 kbps MP3 ...
Update: 04/28 14:56 GMT by P : I just tested, and I can listen to previously de-DRM'd AAC files from playfair, but I cannot use either playfair or FairTunes any longer. The former "Couldn't get DRM key for user," and the latter produces a blank file.
I was stunned. After the deludge of crap music (hip hop, rap, dylan, britney), Apple is starting to listen to it's requests.
20 Minutes for a 17MB file? I hope you were exaggerating. Are you sure there isn't a network involved in the copy somewhere? I have a 733 G4 and a 20MB copy takes about 3 secs.
I like macs because of the way the UI is organized. I always seem more productive when using the mac. I have a MUCH faster pc (2.66gHz), and honestly, while the PC is more responsive, it slows me down. I keep it around for games, really. The mac is where I do my work.
On the flip side, the UI of OS X is still incredibly clunky. By clunky, I mean it eats up more processor / memory than it should. Certain things such as iTunes, Apple's Java support, iPhoto, and Macromedia's entire suite (inc. the flash plugins) run abismally slow sometimes. And I don't want to hear about how Java is inherently slower, blah, blah, blah. I know that, but I can run a java app in Virtual PC on my mac faster than running it on that same mac! The issue is that Apple has done a very poor job of optimizing their code. Apple elects instead to produce a glittery look and feel to catch people's eyes. This is just their business choice. Microsoft decided to go the route of make it run first, then add the flair (or fix the bugs). In a predominently Wintel market, Apple has to use other means to attract customers.
Basically, the Apple UI, while resource intensive, gets my work done faster. I feel bad that you have had as many problems as you have had with macs. Whatever you prefer is whatever you prefer. I can only offer my opinion.
If it does, what about the 1/2G machines - is the cap still removable by deleting the "limit" file from the iPod disk? (Ie. is the new fw safe to install on an EU 2G iPod?)
This is a troll if I've ever seen one. The poster doesn't have the slightest idea what he's talking about in some cases. And you would think that the "OMG the shufflez is teh party!! THE DJ IS ME!!1" would be enough of an indicator.
Hades, PoD: Official Advocate
YHBT.
If you do a textsearch across Slashdot for the non-specific parts of that post, you'll find it's pretty much a fill-out-the-form troll.
Like this.
I cannot understand why an otherwise intelligent poster and article submitter would post such a useless and soon to be moderated "troll/flamebait". What good may come of this?
I am not trying to pick a fight, I just want to understand the rationale - particularly noting that this forum will be swarming with avid Apple supporters.
I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
2. They took a good OS (BSD) fubared it, and wrapped it in flashy with extra sprinkles good for nothing GUI.
3. OS X belongs where Windows does, in a Window.
4. Performance of OSX is sub-par compared to YellowDog 3.0.
5. I just hate Mac fanatics
1. I hate the way iTunes makes you move your music into IT's directory instead of leaving it where they are.
2. I hate DRM.
3. The radio station listings are majorly liberal. Why do we need 8 streams of NPR?
4. Whatever else I can think of
Satisfied?
This is a test. This is a test of the emergency sig system. This has been only a test.