As the late, great Rodney Dangerfield would attest, DoubleTwist has been jonesing for some respect for quite some time. For those unaware, said software essentially acts as an iTunes for everything else, giving users of all those non-Apple devices a somewhat familiar interface and portal to sync media, playlists, etc (video demonstration is after the break). Up until now, Android users have been forced to figure out content management on their own, and while geeks have obviously had no issue, those expecting iTunes to take the wheel have found themselves in an uncomfortable position. Reportedly, T-Mobile USA has decided to partner with the company and pre-load the software onto a number of new Android devices -- not just the Fender myTouch 3G. The only real pitfall here is that Amazon's MP3 Store integration is missing, but we should learn more as T-Mob goes official with the details later today. Is this the big break DoubleTwist has been waiting for? Time shall tell.
@Mozer What are you talking about? Songbird looks just like iTunes but purple dude. Same button placement, same volume slider, same folder management...
can't wait until they get all the kinks out. dT still isn't as user/customer friendly as say iTunes. Until then I'll continue to use iSyncr from the andriod market
I think that they should have done this all along. Webos could use this too. I know the people at doubletwist have been working hard in it and being the official syncing tool of Android and webOs phones would be a great help and boon to them. Also, people could stop complaining about Android phones not having a syncing tool.
I've been using Salling Media Sync (http://www.salling.com/MediaSync/Mac/) since Android came out. I've used it with my G1, and now my Nexus One, and it really works great.
The developer is awesome, too; very responsive and helpful when you have a problem or a suggestion.
DoubleTwist is a really cool app, I use it for my PSP Go. iTunes should have been like this in the first place (well, it was like this like 6–7 years ago when it still supported third-party MP3 players).
I've already been using DoubleTwist for my Sprint Hero. I don't get what T-Mobile has to do with anything. It just puts music on the internal SD card over USB.
I like dT a lot - but it has no support for Podcasts (video or audio) and it doesn't sync as cleanly with playlists (or imports from iTunes) very well. Right now I still use iTunes to subscribe to everything and then have to import into dT to sync to my Droid.
(Yes I could just use LISTEN or Mediafly or many other apps, but I don't have wifi at work, etc. and downloading and syncing is quicker/easier this way).
As for tMo - dT is a PC-side app - pre-loading it on the phone doesn't make any sense - it's not an Android app. (is it... yet?)
This thing is so so so so close to being perfect! It just needs a few things.
-Podcast catcher! -Better music controls in the bottom left corner. -Syncing with the iPod touch/iPhone! Technically, this COULD be done, since the dock connector was opened up by Apple a bit I think? You could have it interact with YOUR App/Or an app someone made and DoubleTwist, so you can have your own little Music player. Most likely you'll have to be jailbroken though. But I'd jailbreak to do this. -A unified, universally recognized standard. As in, have an API that developers can take advantage of to interact with DoubleTwist. Multi-device, multi-platform. Not sure how to properly explain this. -PLUGINS! And Plugin-store/marketplace/manager. Allow easy access to a repository of plugins that people can get. Like plugins that allow for Last.FM Scrobbling, Tweeting, Music Discovery, other social stuff. -Show some love for the Linux/Unix peeps!
The UI (On OS X anyway) is superb. It's something I wish iTunes was, since they crapped it up in iTunes 9. I have really high hopes for DoubleTwist.
My only big beef with dT is that it does not currently support media on remote network drives, but Jon commented in the support forums that this should be in place by late Jan/early Feb
This program is a good alternative but, last time I checked, it does NOT support networked drives for music storage. Each time I would add music to the library, it would have to copy the music to the local drive first.
Man, I just installed it and right now it's using 316,000 K of memory. That's ridiculous; it's more of a system hog than iTunes. No thanks, I'll stick with drag-and-dropping in folders, just like with my old Creative Zen.
This is where Android is going to fail. First of all, it's evident Google doesn't include multi-touch (but does include their API calls) to allow Brand Names to Differentiate their Offerings. Consumer fail. Next, rather than providing an Apple is Apple type experience, they fragment all the different services on each Android device, so nobody is getting the same thing. I'd love to believe it's an open source version of the Microsoft Windows multiverse, but it's more likely leading to something very predictable - #fail.
@shagrath all these "partner" deals (T-Mobile and DoubleTwist in this case) in many regional and cell type markets, along with the conflict between the brand names (LG, HTC, etc), and Android's open source nature is leading to a lot more fragmentation compared to the simple experience of an iPhone. That said, @logic thinker, don't agree at all, don't want to have to use a proprietary app to do things, plug and play storage is the way. I'm only mentioning this because I want Android to do well but I'm not sure it's shaping up well.
Android music loading software blows on so many levels in comparison to iTunes. Plus android can't be docked This forces androoid users to go out n purchase a separate iPod touch for the left pocket. Again iPhone IS only phone on the planet that can truly replace an mp3 or touch. Thats the reason for extreme record breaking iPhone sales. Fo some reason bloggers don't understand needs of the masses or regular consumer. We need to open our minds bloggers.
I use my BlackBerry (Curve 8320 and now 9700) currently for my dedicated music player, and it does a fine job doing so. Hopefully my Nexus One will be up to the task.
@logic thinker Your mouth is moving, but I hear steve talking...
I hated my iphone and especially hated itunes. The locked in "user is to dumb to handle anything else" experience was insulting. Nothing like trying to corner a market and stifle competition by making all your products proprietary and exclusive. I hope the DOJ and EU both rain hell itself on apple one day.
DoubleTwist, Songbird, WinAmp and several other products are easy to understand they just need exposure. They also open up all ipods etc to other music sources. Honestly the best thing would be for a big name like Amazon to partner with one of these guys for distribution and brand recognition. Since apple wants a piece of Amazons ebook pie, they should be going more aggressively at apples music pie.
Wow, I can't believe Engadget still hasn't fixed replying.
@shagrath all these "partner" deals (T-Mobile and DoubleTwist in this case) in many regional and cell type markets, along with the conflict between the brand names (LG, HTC, etc), and Android's open source nature is leading to a lot more fragmentation compared to the simple experience of an iPhone. That said, @logic thinker, don't agree at all, don't want to have to use a proprietary app to do things, plug and play storage is the way.
I'm only commenting because I want Android to do well but I'm not sure it's shaping up well.
I have been using Double Twist since it's induction and so you get your facts right!, there is Amazon Mp3 intergration right in the pc app itself which means the T-mobile one would be automatic too. It is a great alternative for non techies to get their media easily on their Android phones as well as many other brands . It works just like Itunes for those accustomed to that way of syncing.It is very user friendly and compatible with alot of different types of hardware.
Tried this last night... VERY nice. The Songbird sync appears to be limited to Windows. I like Songbird as a player.. but until it supports MTP sync on Mac/Linux, I'll be using Doubletwist instead on my Mac.
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posted January 25th 2010 8:31AM
Songbird would be much more fitting in my opinion. Something new, open source and revolutionary instead of something trying to knock off apple.
Thats what android is trying to do, right?
@Mozer
What are you talking about?
Songbird looks just like iTunes but purple dude. Same button placement, same volume slider, same folder management...
can't wait until they get all the kinks out. dT still isn't as user/customer friendly as say iTunes. Until then I'll continue to use iSyncr from the andriod market
@Aubrey
Right, of course!
Except for the Amazon thing is ready to go, tons and tons of addons, and a level of custom-ability that not standard Mac user would be prepared for.
But yea, just purple
@Slick
Exactly.
I think that they should have done this all along. Webos could use this too. I know the people at doubletwist have been working hard in it and being the official syncing tool of Android and webOs phones would be a great help and boon to them. Also, people could stop complaining about Android phones not having a syncing tool.
I've been using Salling Media Sync (http://www.salling.com/MediaSync/Mac/) since Android came out. I've used it with my G1, and now my Nexus One, and it really works great.
The developer is awesome, too; very responsive and helpful when you have a problem or a suggestion.
you said the Amazon MP3 is missing, yet another engadget article says that it is powered by Amazon MP3. So which is it?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/doubletwist-now-powered-by-amazon-mp3-store/
funny how that looks EXACTLY like itunes ;)
@micanuck No it doesn't, I have doubletwist and don't use it very often because I'm so used to iTunes
DoubleTwist is a really cool app, I use it for my PSP Go. iTunes should have been like this in the first place (well, it was like this like 6–7 years ago when it still supported third-party MP3 players).
I've already been using DoubleTwist for my Sprint Hero. I don't get what T-Mobile has to do with anything. It just puts music on the internal SD card over USB.
I always found this software cool. I would be using it if I was on anything other than an iPhone.
Note: if you plan on buying a phone to use this, make sure it is compatible. Not all phones are.
I like dT a lot - but it has no support for Podcasts (video or audio) and it doesn't sync as cleanly with playlists (or imports from iTunes) very well. Right now I still use iTunes to subscribe to everything and then have to import into dT to sync to my Droid.
(Yes I could just use LISTEN or Mediafly or many other apps, but I don't have wifi at work, etc. and downloading and syncing is quicker/easier this way).
As for tMo - dT is a PC-side app - pre-loading it on the phone doesn't make any sense - it's not an Android app. (is it... yet?)
Eh. I'd prefer Songbird, especially since you can have Songbird automatically clone your iTunes.
This thing is so so so so close to being perfect! It just needs a few things.
-Podcast catcher!
-Better music controls in the bottom left corner.
-Syncing with the iPod touch/iPhone! Technically, this COULD be done, since the dock connector was opened up by Apple a bit I think? You could have it interact with YOUR App/Or an app someone made and DoubleTwist, so you can have your own little Music player. Most likely you'll have to be jailbroken though. But I'd jailbreak to do this.
-A unified, universally recognized standard. As in, have an API that developers can take advantage of to interact with DoubleTwist. Multi-device, multi-platform. Not sure how to properly explain this.
-PLUGINS! And Plugin-store/marketplace/manager. Allow easy access to a repository of plugins that people can get. Like plugins that allow for Last.FM Scrobbling, Tweeting, Music Discovery, other social stuff.
-Show some love for the Linux/Unix peeps!
The UI (On OS X anyway) is superb. It's something I wish iTunes was, since they crapped it up in iTunes 9. I have really high hopes for DoubleTwist.
this better be to all Android in general.....
I found SongBird far more mature.
My only big beef with dT is that it does not currently support media on remote network drives, but Jon commented in the support forums that this should be in place by late Jan/early Feb
:)
This seems phenomenally sensible. Almost TOO sensible...
This program is a good alternative but, last time I checked, it does NOT support networked drives for music storage. Each time I would add music to the library, it would have to copy the music to the local drive first.
Man, I just installed it and right now it's using 316,000 K of memory. That's ridiculous; it's more of a system hog than iTunes. No thanks, I'll stick with drag-and-dropping in folders, just like with my old Creative Zen.
@jamo
Wow, sounds like Firefox in some instances. I'm sure they'll get that resolved though.
iTunes is currently using 60 MB of memory on my machine (Win 7 64-bit).
That interface looks mighty familiar...
This is where Android is going to fail. First of all, it's evident Google doesn't include multi-touch (but does include their API calls) to allow Brand Names to Differentiate their Offerings. Consumer fail. Next, rather than providing an Apple is Apple type experience, they fragment all the different services on each Android device, so nobody is getting the same thing. I'd love to believe it's an open source version of the Microsoft Windows multiverse, but it's more likely leading to something very predictable - #fail.
@huh this software is working with all Android devices. Where do you see fragmentation here ?
@shagrath all these "partner" deals (T-Mobile and DoubleTwist in this case) in many regional and cell type markets, along with the conflict between the brand names (LG, HTC, etc), and Android's open source nature is leading to a lot more fragmentation compared to the simple experience of an iPhone. That said, @logic thinker, don't agree at all, don't want to have to use a proprietary app to do things, plug and play storage is the way. I'm only mentioning this because I want Android to do well but I'm not sure it's shaping up well.
Android music loading software blows on so many levels in comparison to iTunes. Plus android can't be docked
This forces androoid users to go out n purchase a separate iPod touch for the left pocket. Again iPhone IS only phone on the planet that can truly replace an mp3 or touch. Thats the reason for extreme record breaking iPhone sales. Fo some reason bloggers don't understand needs of the masses or regular consumer. We need to open our minds bloggers.
@logic thinker
I use my BlackBerry (Curve 8320 and now 9700) currently for my dedicated music player, and it does a fine job doing so. Hopefully my Nexus One will be up to the task.
@logic thinker
Your mouth is moving, but I hear steve talking...
I hated my iphone and especially hated itunes. The locked in "user is to dumb to handle anything else" experience was insulting. Nothing like trying to corner a market and stifle competition by making all your products proprietary and exclusive. I hope the DOJ and EU both rain hell itself on apple one day.
DoubleTwist, Songbird, WinAmp and several other products are easy to understand they just need exposure. They also open up all ipods etc to other music sources. Honestly the best thing would be for a big name like Amazon to partner with one of these guys for distribution and brand recognition. Since apple wants a piece of Amazons ebook pie, they should be going more aggressively at apples music pie.
Up until now, Android users have been forced to figure out content management on their own, and while geeks have obviously had no issue,
If by "geeks" you mean "those with basic computer knowledge and IQ greater than 90" had no issue, I agree.
Wow, I can't believe Engadget still hasn't fixed replying.
@shagrath all these "partner" deals (T-Mobile and DoubleTwist in this case) in many regional and cell type markets, along with the conflict between the brand names (LG, HTC, etc), and Android's open source nature is leading to a lot more fragmentation compared to the simple experience of an iPhone. That said, @logic thinker, don't agree at all, don't want to have to use a proprietary app to do things, plug and play storage is the way.
I'm only commenting because I want Android to do well but I'm not sure it's shaping up well.
For music playlist maintenance on the Droid, Media Monkey and Winamp work pretty well,
I just wish Winamp added support (or someone made a plugin for Winamp that adds support) for Android.
I have been using Double Twist since it's induction and so you get your facts right!, there is Amazon Mp3 intergration right in the pc app itself which means the T-mobile one would be automatic too. It is a great alternative for non techies to get their media easily on their Android phones as well as many other brands . It works just like Itunes for those accustomed to that way of syncing.It is very user friendly and compatible with alot of different types of hardware.
I've used Doubletwist and its pretty solid. Looks like it finally supports syncing on a Mac too. Nice.
Tried this last night... VERY nice. The Songbird sync appears to be limited to Windows. I like Songbird as a player.. but until it supports MTP sync on Mac/Linux, I'll be using Doubletwist instead on my Mac.
Preload it onto an android device? It's a PC app guys.... I assume you mean they'll put the installer on a CD?