Recently I downloaded the new iTunes and I don't really like it. Moreover I turned my laptop on today and it has told me I need to make a new library which means adding all my songs back in to iTunes. What a faff!

I haven't used media player in a long time but I didn't like it the last time I did use it.

What other media players are out there to play music on my PC? I suppose my iPod will only speak to iTunes though? When are Google bringing out an iPod rival?!

I use Mediamonkey, but XBMC is pretty neat too.

Yes, Ipod needs Itunes. You could always buy a Zune

CopyTrans: http://www.copytrans...ransmanager.php

You used to have to install iTunes so that the drivers were installed but I'm sure they are available as a driver package now so no need to install iTunes.

Edited 11 December, 201213 yr by Guest

I absolutely detest iTunes, but do use Windows Media Player. When my daughter rather foolishly bought an iPod, I found this http://www.mgtek.com/dopisp/ was really good at letting WMP see the iPod. However it is $20+tax.

Why do you detest it? I don't think it's that bad.

I use itunes solely to sync my ipod.

For music playing, I use winamp which I've been using for about 12 years!

I use Media Player with windows, never had a problem with it. As long as your music is tagged properly it works great, my library of more than 2000 CD's has no problem with it. It took many months of pain to tag it all properly, but once done it manages itself.

Itunes on OSX is perfect, it also has no problems with the same music tracks and has never let me down.

Itunes on Windows, well where do I start, its rubbish. It may look the same as the OSX version, but thats about it. The underlying code is written by a different team. Tracks that import fine into Windows Media Player and Itunes on OSX do not import properly into the windows version of iTunes, I end up with missing artwork, albums marked as unknown, tracks all over the place. These same tracks are tagged correctly, have embedded artwork etc.

Getting music back into iTunes if the library breaks is dead easy, there are 2 ways.

the first way involves using the import function, and the second just move all your music to the "automatically added to itunes" folder and start itunes.

Ah, that's probably why as I use Mac's at home.

I wish I hadn't bought an iPod now. Problem is that 4.5 years down the line it is still going strong! When it breaks then we will reconsider. I also don't know why on Earth iTunes felt the need to remove all my library for a software upgrade!

What other media players are out there to play music on my PC?

VLC

banshee

WinAMP

Windows Media Player

Banshee is available for windows but it is somewhat buggy (although manually compiling it yourself with the cygwin compiler is meant to deliver good results). On OSX or linux though it is highly recommended (and has limited support for syncing with apples devices, generally sucky for iOS 5 and above though).

WinAMP I haven't used.

Media player, well, for pre installed software its pretty good.

VLC's library functionality is virtually non existant. But it does play some of the more exotic file formats which the others won't.

I suppose my iPod will only speak to iTunes though?

Officially yes. Unofficially no. Banshee makes a good job of it and there are several standalone tools which enable you to do it.

When are Google bringing out an iPod rival?!

Google themselves aren't. But a few manufacturers have bought out devices in the smartphone format running android but lacking any cellular connectivity (apart from bluetooth and wifi). These could be considered ipod touch rivals.