Paid (or free) replacement for iTunes


  1. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Paid (or free) replacement for iTunes


    I have found iTunes to be a real POS on Windows.

    A big, and continuing frustration is that I can't do a new install of iTunes, same system or different, without getting a stupid message about how iTunes will sync the phone or tablet to this system ONLY after wiping out the music, books, videos already on the devbice. I want to do the reverse: sync the contents of the device to iTunes on Windows.

    So I need an alternative that completely replaces iTunes or else replaces the parts not involving calendar and contact syncing. I'm willing to spend "reasonable" money. What is good and what is crap to be avoided?
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #2

    I've had no problems with iTunes - do you know how to use it?
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  3. Posts : 516
    Windows 10 Professional 64bit
       #3

    If you are using an iOS device with iTunes right now, there isn't an alternative. Apple requires the use of iTunes for its iOS devices.

    If you are using iTunes for it's music player, you could swap over to using Windows 10 Groove or the well-known VLC player.
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  4. Posts : 170
    Win 10 Pro 2004
       #4

    I play online radio and lossless music using foobar2000. It networks well and has many component addons available. It's free and you can install it as a portable app.

    Compare and contrast: foobar2000 vs iTunes detailed comparison as of 2018

    [disclaimer] I've never used iTunes or anything Apple since running a MacSE in the 90s.
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  5. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Steve C said:
    I've had no problems with iTunes - do you know how to use it?
    Steve,

    Of course i know how to use iTunes. My issues are that it is very inflexible. Please go back and re-read my original post.
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  6. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #6

    Hi folks
    1) For playing on a computer VLC handles any sensible format both Video and Audio.

    2) On Remote TV's / Amazon TV fire sticks etc - use KODI on android devices and simply share files from computer --on remote device KODI also plays ripped DVD ISO's directly with all the menus / options e.g subtitles etc.

    Who need "IChoones" any more -- also no FLAC (Lossless) / other formatted lossless music is supplied by Apple anyway on "IChoones". With cheap large capacity HDD's and fast internet why use hideously compressed low res video or MP3's --if you have to use mp3's at least go for 320 kb/s.

    Highly compressed MP3 Music that might sound "passable" ?? to anybody using those horrible cheap bud earphones - especially the white apple clone ones (where other people hear more sound than the wearers of those things) sounds absolutely hideous if played through even a decent cheap hi fi amplifier with proper speakers. As I said MP3 is OK if using 320 KB/s - you might just get away with 256kb/s if you like your music to sound like a bunch of Road drills - any lower compression - even 192 kb/s -- don't even THINK about it.

    Cheers
    jimbo
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  7. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    IIRC media monkey has integration with apple devices, or at least it did at one point.
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  8. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    [QUOTE=Mystere;1321815]IIRC media monkey has integration with apple devices, or at least it did at one point.[/QUOTE

    I should say that I'm not looking for a music player. I'm actually looking for one or more replacement tools that provide
    device backup
    • 2-way sync between my media (music, books, etc.) on my local system and my devices
    • 2-way sync for calendar items, appointments, tasks
    • iOS updates
    • rearrange icons across screens (less important - I can always iTunes for this without too much harm)
    • remove apps from a device
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #9

    x509 said:
    Mystere said:
    IIRC media monkey has integration with apple devices, or at least it did at one point.
    I should say that I'm not looking for a music player. I'm actually looking for one or more replacement tools that provide
    device backup
    • 2-way sync between my media (music, books, etc.) on my local system and my devices
    • 2-way sync for calendar items, appointments, tasks
    • iOS updates
    • rearrange icons across screens (less important - I can always iTunes for this without too much harm)
    • remove apps from a device
    what exactly do you think “integration with apple devices” means? Back when I used it, it was the only thing that would download stuff from my ipod to my computer, but that was years ago, so not sure about its current capabilities

    I doubt you will find anything that does ios updates though.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,750
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Mystere said:
    what exactly do you think “integration with apple devices” means? Back when I used it, it was the only thing that would download stuff from my ipod to my computer, but that was years ago, so not sure about its current capabilities

    I doubt you will find anything that does ios updates though.
    Agree that iOS updates is probably not available with third-party utilities. But I can always do the updates directly from the devices. It's the other capabilities that I need.
      My Computers


 

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