Apple iTunes Home Sharing networks Windows computers

Apple ups the ante in the home computer market by offering an easy to use media sharing feature called “Home Sharing” but their ease of use gets worse

Apple’s iTunes 9 was launched with their updated OS X Snow Leopard on September 9th, a busy day in the computer world. Intel also announced the i5 and new i7 45 cpu’s the same day. Intel has the upper hand strategically but Apple got lots of press with Steve Jobs re-appearance.

iTunes 9 is touted as easier to use -sure. Two new features in iTunes 9 intrigued me: Home Sharing and LP. 

Ease of use

The ease of use hype was wasted on me. I had to call phone support to get my iPhone to recognize purchased music from an iTouch. Apple is a control freak. I had to authorize the music on another player, which the friendly girl on the help desk line didn’t even know.

She also didn’t know how to stop a video that started in a test. Not a problem. Windows Media Player has hidden its controls too. Both of Windows Media Player 11 and iTunes 9 are harder to use than earlier versions with the streamlined interfaces.

Home Sharing

Home Sharing promises to allow people to share movies and music across five computers within the same home network. That’s cool. I turned it on but no one here with an iPod has upgraded yet.

I don’t use iTunes for anything other than loading my iTouch and iPhone. The sharing feature might tip me away from Microsoft but I doubt it.

Apple drives me crazy with trying to control my world. They want too much information back at the iTunes Store. What’s on your hard disk is none of their business but they would like to find out.

It is likely people who have Windows will just start using the feature, if it works, since Windows home networking is a disaster. If all the computers are on Vista, and maybe Windows 7, Media Player will share the contents easily. Mixed networks with XP and older operating systems need not apply.

YouTube video on Home Sharing

Is this another thin edge of the wedge for Apple on Windows computers? They have been trying to download their browser Safari for a year now each time you upgrade iTunes. Good luck.

iTunes LP

Apparently enough of you aren’t spending $1.29 for songs at the iTunes store so Apple is adding extra media with purchases of iTunes LP.

Essentially, Apple thinks you want the vinyl experience. LP gives you extra media, LP covers, liner notes, videos and interviews with artists.

I’m going to try out a $20 iTunes Music Store Card and see what LP gives you. The $16.99 they want for Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited is being wasted in the name of research but there are only 8 choices so far.

I’ll have to report back later since iTunes Store doesn’t like my password. I had this problem the last time I used the card. The iTunes Store is truly an customer unfriendly place. Trust me I spend too much money on the Internet and Apple makes every experience ugly.

Jay Robinson has done a decent analysis if iTunes LP. Some Notes On iTunes LP. Check it out.

Signing out for now while I wrestle this one to the ground.