Linux Format forums

Rhakios · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:03 am Post subject:

iTunes, the application that changed all the folder and file names in my mp3 collection to something "better", so that none of my existing 64 m3u playlists worked any more Mad

So, that must be why I keep back-ups.

Amarok simply indexed the lot as they are, all the playlists still work.
_________________
Bye, Rhakios

jer1ch0 · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:19 am Post subject:

In Suse 9.3, I use Amorak, but it doesn't work. It sees all my music and organises it but won't play it. Drag a song and click on play, does not work. Browsing to the folder and clicking on the song opens the default Suse music player - Real Player and the song plays. However open it in Amarok and hit play. Nothing happens

sandyman · Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:32 pm Posts: 53

davecs · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:42 am Post subject:

Which only goes to show that the system that is right for you depends on what your needs are. Though I do agree that AmaroK is overrated, I prefer the simple tabbed interface of Kaffeine, which, though a video player, does Audio with no problem. I just don't need all the bells and whistles...
_________________

Asus Asus M2N32 WS Pro+Athlon AM2/4200+ — GeForce 7600GT — 2Gb Cosair VS RAM — 500Gb WD5000AAKS SATA Drive — PCLinuxOS

andychannelle · LXF regular Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:08 pm Posts: 111

If SUSE doesn't play MP3s properly, go into YaST and select YaST Online Update, then choose Multimedia Pack 1 (I think) and install it. All your MP3s will play.

Why Amarok is 3 times better than iTunes. An Essay by Andrew Channelle.

Wiki.
Lyrics.
MusicBrainz.
Dynamic playlists (Air + B52s = Flaming Lips)

Library management is far easier and, as has been mentioned, the back end of iTunes does unspeakable things to a collection of files.

sandyman · Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:32 pm Posts: 53

phil_m · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 6:49 pm Post subject:

Come on people, iTunes messes with your files only if you're silly enough to let it manage your collection. I think that renders the "the back end of iTunes does unspeakable things to a collection of files" argument null and void.

andychannelle · LXF regular Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:08 pm Posts: 111

I'm not sure. The 'feature' is turned on by default. How many average joe users mess with the preferences?

Rhakios · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:58 pm Post subject:

Ah, but iTunes didn't manage my collection. My collection included the playlists, which it imported but didn't change to match the other changes it made. I don't seem to recall reading anywhere in the preferences or dialogs that it would only be capable of doing half the job.
Amarok manages my collection without messing it up and it works just fine on all three machines I use it on. As for the playing mp3s issue, I found that after installing the SuSE updates to KDE3.4 that I had to install amarok-xine and then select that as the engine for playback.
Let's not forget, amongst all the bickering, that Linux is about choice: if you don't like it don't use it.
_________________
Bye, Rhakios

Flea · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 2:12 am Post subject:

sandyman · Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:32 pm Posts: 53

phil_m · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 4:55 pm Post subject:

sandyman · Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 5:32 pm Posts: 53

This has all gotten bogged down with an argument about the Pros and Cons of iTunes.

IMHO the real discussion on this topic should be about comparisons of, ease of use, user friendliness, and the UI.

paulhoy · Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:23 am Posts: 1

ggsinclair · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 10:20 pm Post subject:

To answer the question - No - principal reason is that I cannot afford a Mac!

Is it much better than (free) Linux though? As a graphics - CAD - computer it certainly had the upper hand - and the aesthetics are great too, but are the everyday packages any better?

Gordon
_________________
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.