Alternative to iTunes

[colonelciller]

Win 7 User (every machine in the house):

Ok... I've been using iTunes forever and while I do love the visualizer... I've reached my breaking point. With every release, the ever increasing payload of iTunes Bloatware, spyware and system clogging "services" (that I have to manually disable) and the terribly sluggish performance characteristics of iTunes have taken their toll on my patience. The final straw has been the release of iTunes 11... it's absolutely terrible. It's time to switch and say goodbye to apple forever.

My question to everyone:
What are some great software only alternatives to iTunes that I can transfer my entire library to? (I'll happily ditch and delete all apple-DRM "Protected Apple AAC" files).

All files are in the following formats:
*MP3
*Apple Lossless

Software that:
*can read tags done by iTunes (PERFECTLY!) is a must
*can play 'apple lossless' files is a bonus
*has a separate 'section' for audiobooks would be preferred

:thumbsup:free software (in the Stallman sense)
:thumbsdown:spyware software (that listens to you listening to your music)

 

[jhansman]

You'll get several suggestions that have been offered in the past, but all that I have tried lack the one thing I like most about iTunes (actually, the only thing I like), streaming radio. Yes, the new design sucks, but its radio offerings are, AFAIK, unmatched. I can stream to my receiver in the LR or my Roku in the BR. Find me another music player that will do that, organize my collection decently, and play FLAC, and I'm there.

 

[kleinkinstein]

MediaMonkey, Foobar, and VLC

 

[colonelciller]

Radio via iTunes isn't something I've ever used but I do understand if that's a functionality that you can't live without.

As to streaming I've taken an alternate approach. Rather than push audio signals around the house I've chosen to keep the music library in a single shared folder and pointed the software on the HTPC to the library residing on the shared drive. (Works for laptops attached to home network as well).

 

[colonelciller]

MediaMonkey, Foobar, and VLC

thanks for those suggestions !
...familiar with VLC but the others are new to me. I'll look into them

 

[mlauzon76]

I second the call for Foobar 2000, once you use that, you won't want to use any other music player for Windows!

 

[Jodell88]

Clementine

 

[DarkTXKnight]

are there any good links for using foobar as an itunes replacement? ive always seen it mentioned but can't find any good documentation unless maybe its being suggested to use foobar as a player only?

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

MediaMonkey. Floola is a good transfer alternative.

 

[nemesismk2]

Another vote for Foobar 2000

 

[Charlie98]

Not to hijack the OP, but I was wondering the same thing. I agree, iTunes is getting worse and worse...

Question: Do you still need to maintain iTunes to manage your iPhone and upload media? ...or can you upload media off another utility?

 

[kleinkinstein]

..or can you upload media off another utility?

Yes, aTunes.

 

[gmaster456]

You realize you can set up iTunes 11 to look exactly like it did in iTunes 10? It literally took me 2 minutes to figure that out. It also runs noticeably faster.

 

[MontyAC]

For people wanting to use the version 10 look:

http://www.tuaw.com/2012/11/29/itunes-11-for-old-fogies-goin-back-to-the-way-it-was/

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I really like foobar myself and media monkey is a good manager as well.

 

[Venom20]

I've never used itunes, so I cannot directly confirm anything.

That being said, I suggest Banshee. I use it on all my linux machines (i just checked, there is a windows installer). I have friends who say it is as good as itunes as an alternative, but that's all heresay.

 

[colonelciller]

thanks to everyone for all the great new software ideas.

I look forward to experimenting and moving away from iTunes!

 

[crashtestdummy]

I'm partial to media Jukebox. Does a good job managing podcasts as well.

 

[mlauzon76]

I forgot, you may also want to check out the following site:

http://alternativeto.net/software/itunes/

 

[jhansman]

The thing I use iTunes most for is it's excellent streaming radio. With Airplay, I can stream radio (or my cataloged music) to my receiver (wired) in my LR and thence to speakers there or down in my workroom. I have yet to find any application that can duplicate this functionality. So far, I've looked at Winamp, Songbird, and Media Monkey. While all these do a great job cataloging my collection, none of the (AFAIK) will stream to DLNA-compliant device. So, if anyone has a suggestion that include this feature, please chime in. I really don't care if the program is the best cataloger on the planet; I listen to most of my music on my phone, streamed to the head unit of in my car via BT. Thanks.

 

[mlauzon76]

Foobar2000, with the following addon should do the trick:

http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_upnp

 

[jhansman]

Well, after trying three of the suggested replacements (and add-ins), it looks like I'm sticking with iTunes cause (and I hate this slogan as much as the next non-koolaid drinker) "it just works." It sees my receiver with no configuration, and my Roku can pull from it with ease via Plex. Perhaps one day the bozos at Apple will see the virtue in letting iTunes play FLAC.