The Harry Potter iPod and iTunes 5

Guess that iPod cobranding thing is really working out for Apple, since now they're doing a Harry Potter iPod too. Besides the crest on the back, it's more or less more of the same, being a tie-in for the exclusive they scored on all six Harry Potter audiobooks. Apple also launched iTunes 5 today, which will have an improved song randomizer they're calling Smart Shuffle, parental access controls, a new "streamlined look," and faster search tool—apparently reviews will also be added to the mix (no pun intended).

[dnquark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

IMO, the iTunes interface improved only slightly. Playlist folders, the ability to save music store previews for later purchase, and the ability to refine search results with the search bar should've been there from the beginning.

And when, oh when will iTunes allow me to search library from within a playlist??? Here's how this could work: from a playlist,
1. Say, Ctrl+click into search box
Do a search, screen would split into a search results pane on top, current playlist on the bottom.
2. Drag the song you want to where you want it in the playlist.

I hate having to:
1. Click "Library"
2. Click the search box
3. Drag the song to the tiny playlist name entry in the left-hand pane.
4. Click on the playlist name
5. Drag the song to where I want it in the list.

This is something everyone does quite often. Making such a common procedure take 5 steps as opposed to 2 makes no sense at all. Hello, Apple!

[BM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Can't believe no one has commented on this! This is the best news ever!

[Billfred @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'm using iTunes 5 on Tiger. The functions are pretty good, and I like what they did with the song display...but I really did like the brushed-metal look better. Maybe I'm just weird like that.

[jake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

iTunes 5 is -f u g l y-

this said, the best news today that nobody talks about are the Apple iPod Nano Tubes, latex condoms for your music!

[Foetus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Still no ability to take the CD covers from the iTunes library when ripping a CD to my iPod Photo?

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Why in the hell is iTunes 5 taking like 10 minutes to install on my P4 2.4ghz machine? This is really becoming a major piece of bloatware... and I say that as probably the biggest iTunes booster around here.

Still waiting... waiting... waiting... ok, finally done, and now I gotta go and uninstall the stupid QuickTime tray icon again... (bad Apple!)

Ok, I like the look of iTunes 5 better already, but it is still a freakin' dog on Intel machines. They still haven't even figured out how to get scrolling and window resizing to work properly. Both of these things are totally smooth on a Mac and the whole thing just feels a lot faster. It's totally just iTunes; most other cross-platform apps I have feel faster on PC. And all iTunes is is a web browser; there's no reason just scrolling through the music store should be so choppy.

I forgave them this up to now, but come on Apple, you're on version 5 now and this is getting stupid. You just did a total redesign of the look and you're still not using DirectDraw?

I am glad they got rid of the brushed metal, that look was played out the day it was introduced. We can only hope this means the Mac OS is gonna ditch the brushed metal soon too.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

definately an improvement over 4.9

the next question is WHEN are they coming out with an iPod updater to fix the live updating firmware problem?

[Josh Glaser @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I officially dub it the "iPod magic."

I want one, but I doubt I'll buy the complete audiobook set ($249) so I can buy it. An iPod nano will suit me just fine...but it is tempting. :)

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Where's the Hogwarts iPod for the UK??? Seeings as Joanne is a British author?? huh!?

[khamel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

what the time frame till the complete audiobook is on bit torrent? i have a few of the audiobooks already but a set would be a little cleaner. 2-3 days? lets hope its not more.

[Hitesh Sawlani @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Itunes 5 = Craptunes

Its in spanish for some reason, even if i have my OS in spanish doesn't mean i want my apps in spanish, stupid Apple

[quis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Anyone else had trouble installing iTunes 5 on OS X? Mine gets to a stage in the installation where it keeps popping up a dialog saying "Close iTunes before running the installer". This dialog keeps popping up even after force-quitting the installer. Getting rid of it required umounting and deleting the disk image from Terminal, and it come straight back when I run the installer again, even after re-download and reboot. Anyone?

[Eric Jeffers @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

HOLY Crap, That has to be the MOST WORTHLESS PICE OF CRAP EVER. Like even worse than the u2 ipod. Why would someone ruin such a beautiful device with something so juvenile and... well... Gay.

[tf @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hitesh, during the install it asked you for the language, it defaults to English (American). You must have spazzed and been clicking like made during the steps. Your own problem, not Apple's.

[HILTER @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

you ccan Bittorrent the whole Henry Porter collection for Free. And the bitrate is higher than what itunes is selling you. ArgH!!!! Also itunes 5 if the Fugliest of all. It looks like they forgot to include pieces of the UI. And it took about 30 seconds to instal on my A64 machine. Sorry inHELL!

[Onim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I would. I'm actually considering buying an ipod just for the logo. Call me consumer whore, if you want.

[Matt Packwood @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Anyone having problems with Outlook syncing?

[Greenline @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Number 11.

Installed it the second the Apple site was updated and there was no problems. When it says to close iTunes, it means to close iTunes, why are you closing the installer??? Just close iTunes at this point and hit 'ok' then open iTunes.

Now for everyone else, iTunes 5 is much better (not to mention long overdue), and more attractive and gives me no problems. If you are having problems on your Windblows machine maybe it's time you bought a Mac.

The Harry Potter move (which is what these comment are supposed to be on) is a good one. Exclusive content of the audiobooks is a big deal to a lot of people and will help sales (minus the torrents which 90% of the world doesn't understand, especially all the 11 yr olds who are going to be begging for this for Christmas!)

[noname989 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I can't believe that Itunes is still so slow. Entire parts of the Itunes Music Store are rendered useless by the slowdown. The Mac version is so much better than the Windows version that it isn't funny. Version 5.0 should have solved these problems but no thats it I give up.

[meatmcguffin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

wow! take a few playlists and put them in a folder

now click the folder and the songs from all the playlists will be displayed for playing/editing. this made the download well worthwhile for me.

anyone know how these folders are shown on the nano/older ipods? nested or in a list? and i wonder if playlist folders can be played....

[quis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Greenline: iTunes wasn't open, or it may have been the very first time I tried to install. The installer won't continue once the dialog pops up, and it stops the installer from closing normally, hence the force-quit.

[Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

The Harry Potter audiobook set is $250. WTF are they smoking?

[michael @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

20: I had the same problem. System prefs -> Users -> you-> Startup Items -> turn off iTunes Helper/SizzlingKeys/other iTunes things -> reboot and install. Turn your stuff back on when you're done.

[Toji @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I can't get it to install. about 5 mins after I click cancel from it being stuck at "Starting services" it comes up with the message:

"Error 1920.service.bonjour.service(bonjour service) failed to start. Varify that your had sufficient privilages to start system services"

...
...
...
WTF!?

[applie-user @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

The same error is happening with me on BOTH my machines....

"Error 1920.service.bonjour.service(bonjour service) failed to start. Varify that your had sufficient privilages to start system services"

I have 2 machines, one is XP Pro and the other is running XP Home. I am running as an administrator on both too.

Can anyone help?

[Annoyed man @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I get the same error!
stupid bonjour service!
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[K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

BAHH SAME THING

[Crow @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Yes, can someone PLEASE tell us how to deal with this annoying message!!

"Error 1920.service.bonjour.service(bonjour service) failed to start. Varify that your had sufficient privilages to start system services"

[Tuner in english @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hitesh,

I had the same problem regarding language. Solved it doing the following: go to control panel - Regional and language options. Then in the regional options tab set both the "location" and "standards and formats" to English/ United States. Then reinstall iTunes and it should be english.

[Jesper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hitesh & Tuner in english,

You don't have to reinstall. The language will magically change, once you've changed the regional settings. But you will have to live with the English format. You can press customize, to set the formats individually, however. In my eyes an annoying bug, that you cannot choose the language directly in iTunes...

[bananaphone @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

i'm also getting the bonjour error on my pc. nice work apple... i'm quickly losing faith in your ability to produce quality products.

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Error 1920 solution!

I had the same problem and ended up with no working iTunes at all, even when doing a system restore. As suggested on some obscure help page I was able to find in apple, I updated my windows XP, restarted, closed my virus protection and my VPS services (a vurtual network program I didn't know I had open)

iTunes 5 loaded fine then, though I am still having problems getting onto the music store. Not sure if it's a virus protection conflict or just amazingly slow.

As mentioned by some of the others, I found the changes cosmetic and very minor, I would stick with an older version and wait for the bugs to be worked out myself if I could go back.

Good luck!

[Archos Adorer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

iPod = indulgent Piece Of Detritus.. (that means overpriced junk).. buy an archos instead.. then use harry potter as a screensaver and change to something better as soon as the next trendy thing comes out.. lol.. the Archos works well with PCs and has a special plug-in for the trendier sort who prefer a mac...oh and the best thing.. when you're sitting at home watching the next Harry Potter DVD I'll be out and about watching it on my portable color screen.. *ciao*

[confused @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Okay, I'm REALLY confused. I can't dl the new 5.0 and the 4.9 is gone. I have no itunes and it sucks. I also am having issues with the error message. Can anyone tell me how to get my old 4.9 up and running again like it used to? I'm very sad without my itunes. Please email me at [e-mail]

Thanks!

[Tommy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

"apparently reviews will also be added to the mix (no pun intended)."

Anyone else not see the unintended pun?