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iTunes Now Available From the Microsoft Store For Windows 10 (windowscentral.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the long-time-coming dept.

iTunes is now available in the Microsoft Store, almost a year after Microsoft first revealed it was working with Apple to get iTunes listed in the Store. Windows Central reports: For a portion of Windows 10 users, iTunes' appearance on the Microsoft Store may not matter much because they can use the standard desktop app. Where it will have an impact, however, is for anyone using Windows 10 S, which is locked down and only allows installation of apps from the Microsoft Store. For those users, the full desktop iTunes experience should be available here, complete with access to Apple Music streaming and iPhone syncing.

26 comments

  1. Great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Now everyone can enjoy the buggy piece of shit that is itunes.

    1. Re:Great news by mark-t · · Score: 2

      Nope. There's still no Linux or FreeBSD iTunes client.

      Whether that is complaining or gratitude is left as an exercise for the reader.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    2. Re:Great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I haven't tried iTunes in a long time, but the last time I did it, without prompting me, proceeded to scan all of drive for audio media and started actually renaming it all. I had to kill off the process and restore from backup. It also installed some bloatware (possibly spyware) "Bonjour" background service without my permission. After that horrible experience, I never touched iTunes again.

      foobar2000 is by far the best audio player software anyway.

    3. Re:Great news by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Whether that is complaining or gratitude is left as an exercise for the reader.

      Dude, I don't come here to get extra homework.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    4. Re:Great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bonjour is Apple's Zeroconf service implementation for mDNS-aware clients (like iDevices and other instances of iTunes on the network).

      It's only useful if you want to share your music and photos between devices, or if you want to remote control your iTunes from an iDevice over Wi-Fi. Otherwise - kill it.

    5. Re:Great news by Joce640k · · Score: 1

      It also re-associates all your medis file extensions to open files using the steamingist pile of dung media player ever made (including things like JPEG images), adds drivers for all the Apple iPods you'll never own and generally fucks up the entire PC. It'll take you weeks to get back to normal even if you uninstall it.

      Just say no.

      --
      No sig today...
    6. Re:Great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It is generally accepted that you'd need to actually use something before stating your opinion on it. Otherwise your comment is a mix between trolling and a bunch of contradicting statements.

    7. Re:Great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gratitude. We have gtkpod that can retrieve mp3 from classic ipod unlike itune.

    8. Re:Great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's only useful if you want to share your music and photos between devices

      There are much easier ways to do that without the need to install extra crapware.

      or if you want to remote control your iTunes from an iDevice over Wi-Fi.

      The wonderful thing about foobar2000 is you can control it via a web server component (if enabled) from any device with a web browser. It can be secured and doesn't allow changes to the player configuration or files. I have mine set up to only work within my LAN, but you can make it accessible everywhere.

      Otherwise - kill it.

      That is the only thing I recommend people do to iTunes.

  2. Maybe updates will work via the store. by WimBo · · Score: 1

    iTunes has always had update problems for me in the past. (uninstall, multiple reboots, install, to get it to work) I'm just hoping that this means I can keep iTunes up to date without a huge hassle going forward.

    1. Re:Maybe updates will work via the store. by GerryGilmore · · Score: 2

      So, why use it? Between Banshee and the plethora of alternatives available is there ANY functionality only available through iTunes?

    2. Re: Maybe updates will work via the store. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Youâ(TM)re âoethat guyâ

    3. Re:Maybe updates will work via the store. by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      It makes podcasts convenient if you have an ipod. When I lost my ipod I did not find any suitable replacements for the ipod or for a itunes alternative that did convenient podcasts to a generic mp3 player. I would however have suggestions from people about their favorite program which inevitably involved too many manual operations. My solution was to buy an old ipod mini online (newer ipods went downhill).

    4. Re:Maybe updates will work via the store. by tlhIngan · · Score: 3, Interesting

      iTunes has always had update problems for me in the past. (uninstall, multiple reboots, install, to get it to work) I'm just hoping that this means I can keep iTunes up to date without a huge hassle going forward.

      Yes, because iTunes from the Microsoft App Store cannot have extra services (no more iPod helper services, bonjour services, etc), and Apple has to ditch the Apple Software Updater, so no more requests to install iCloud or other Apple software as well when you update iTunes.

      Basically it's self contained, and the Microsoft App Store is responsible for keeping it updated.

      So, why use it? Between Banshee and the plethora of alternatives available is there ANY functionality only available through iTunes?

      Yes, full iOS backups. Did you know iCloud will not back up certain things? Personal things like password keychains and such are not backed up with iCloud (including stuff like location services MAC caches, the source of the "tracking" data a few years ago).

      An iTunes backup will backup the apps on your device, or it should, so discontinued apps can be safely stored and installed on other devices you own even if they're no longer sold.

      An ENCRYPTED iTunes backup will backup your entire iOS device, passwords and all, so if you want to make sure you absolutely have every bit of data, you need an encrypted backup.

      The reason for this is obvious - passwords and such Apple doesn't want in iCloud - because it means any law enforcement request for iCloud data would leak 3rd party account information as well, so Apple does not want to be the "loophole" that lets law enforcement bypass the need to get warrants for services the user may use. So just because they get your iCloud data, it means they won't have access to your email, facebook or other account data and would have to subpeona those services independently.

      Obviously, an unencrypted iTunes backup (a local backup) should expose sensitive data either, or it's a loophole to get at your personal information. (Why subpoena Apple when you can sync the phone and get at all the data on it?).

      Thus, full backups require an encrypted backup so your PC will not have your phone's data in the clear.

    5. Re:Maybe updates will work via the store. by sabbede · · Score: 1
      I had a similar reaction. I haven't had problems like you describe, at least not lately, but I hate Apple Update. Stupid thing is always popping up at an inconvenient time and getting in my way. Plus it insists on trying to get me to install iCloud, which I don't want to do.

      If I install it through the store, maybe it will silently update and leave me the hell alone until those rare times when I need it. That's my hope at least.

    6. Re:Maybe updates will work via the store. by tepples · · Score: 1

      In the past, many bands have made their musical recordings available in the United States only through iTunes Store, not through Amazon Music or Google Play Music. I don't know whether this is still common.

      The other part is actually backing up the roommate's iPhone SE. Does Banshee back up all data on the device, not just music? And how soon is it updated to work with new iOS versions?

    7. Re:Maybe updates will work via the store. by Larry+Lightbulb · · Score: 1

      There is no such word as "centralized", you mean "centralised"

  3. Nope, Nope and more Nope by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 1

    iTunes is bad enough. I run it in a VM so it can't get its tendrils into my main OS.

    Mixing iTunes with Windows 10 is akin to crossing the streams of a portable particle accelerator.
    Absolutely nothing good can possibly come from it.

    Maybe Microsoft is doing this so the end user won't know who to blame when their system keels over. :D

    1. Re:Nope, Nope and more Nope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can you boot Windows 10 in the VM, into the Metro start screen and run this Windows 10 app thing without seeing (or even running) explorer.exe?
      Not that it'll be particularly useful. I am curious.

  4. In other news : by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    - Lotus Notes is released, working with Microsoft Sharepoint
    - a new Java JVM now runs on the .NET runtime
    - OpenBSD environment available on the HURD
    - Burger King available at Macdonalds
    - Comcast partners with Tesla to include their cable box software in the center console
    - Jehovah Witnesses are available at the Church of Scientology
    - Prison food now available at school lunches

  5. Just goes to show by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    There STILL is nothing but utter garbage in the Microsoft Store.