Category: Cell Phone Talk
I had a discussion with a friend about iTunes and how difficult it is to use, so I decided to write this post.
My friend stated a wish to not have to use iTunes, so I stated you don’t.
First, I happen to really like iTunes, and find it easy, and versatile.
If you are a Jaws, or NVDA user, you don’t even need scripts to operate it affectively. I do not know about Window Eyes, but I suspect the same.
Recently many app developers and music services have created wonderful and accessible methods to get content on your device and manage it. An example of this is the Amazon app for iPhone. This app will allow you to play your music in the cloud, download it to your device, purchase new music, and even play and manage the existing content already stored on your device.
This links to your Amazon library, so can be accessed via your computer as well. I have posted on the accessible methods to use the computer version. The app is totally accessible however.
Like pictures, an easy way is to use iCloud, or if you don’t like that, DropBox.
If you should decide, you never ever have to use iTunes, the client, on your computer, nor do you need to on the phone.
For blind users, if you have to reset your device, iTunes is the best independent method, but how often are you needing to reset? Hardly ever, if at all once you have your device activated.
A quick search will give you several good articles on ways and programs, or methods to use, if you just hate iTunes and think it is the worse program you’ve ever used.
I did a search asking “what other ways can you get content on an iPhone without using iTunes?” and came up with many answers.
This article is old, but still viable.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-ways-to-sync-music-to-your-iphone-without-itunes/
Last, my friend’s argument was that iTunes is not intuitive, and has gotten worse over time. I think it is actually better and easier now.
Any program that we must access with a screen reader is going to have a learning curve and take some study, so I couldn’t justify that as bases for giving iTunes a poor rating.
So, there you have it, my rant, or rave.
Enjoy your iTunes less world.
I like iTunes! I use it on the mac and although they have changed the interface and it's takeing a bit of getting used to it's actually much more responsive. There was a major problem when previewing songs. It would just get sluggish when moving through the table and eventually get quite slow. Now that finally! has been eliminated. It's a great app. Also, I've been really! enjoying iTunes radio. When it first started a year or so ago it was horrible, repeating songs, having perhaps only 5 songs to a play list but now it's really growing in to something worth while and I use it exclusively. one other reason is the accessibility has never changed unlike some of the others such as Pandora and Slacker. Woof!!
I have a lot of trouble with iTunes. On mz computer, it won't recognize my phone, and on my phone, since downloading iOs 8.0.2, I can't download an app from the iTunes store or App Store anymore. When I double tap on the install button nothing happens.
Ah. That is because you must sign in to iTunes on the phone again.
Turn the phone completely off, then restart it.
Pick a song while listening to iTunes radio or something.
When you say you want to buy it, you'll be asked to verify your account again. Once you do, you're set.
A good rule is to never allow your battery to run flat, so you don't have to redo this again.
Also you don't actually have to finish buying the song, you just want the window.
You can try to tap on purchased apps too.
I had that same problem with the 6, and that was how I got it solved.
As for your computer. Remove and reinstall iTunes.
If it isn't seeing your phone after that, check your cable.
On second thought it doesn’t matter if the battery runs down or not.
Once the device you are buying things on is verified, it stays.
You use the credit card number, or some other method depending on how your iTunes account is setup.
Ok thanks I will try that when I get my new 5S.
If you are picking it up at a store, do yourself a favor and go get it at Apple. They'll set it up just like you want it.
Long live Winamp and amazon mp3.
The reasons I don't use iTunes are that when I first started downloading music legaly it wasn't the easiest service to use, and even though it may now be easier to use, everybody else uses iTunes so they have more than enough customers.
I use 7Digital