iTunes Alternative?

[Sparky]

I can't stand iTunes, it just installs too much crap on my PC (example: I prefer Quicktime Alternative vs Apple QT because I don't like being hounded to "go pro" and buy a copy, Bonjour, updater, etc...). Can anybody recommend at alternative program for getting music on to my iPod?

[skier]

went to my cousin's yesterday and he was running MusicBee, looks quite a bit like Itunes but seems better, and isn't apple of course

[Sparky]

Thanks Skier, I'll have to check it out.

[rat6fink]

went to my cousin's yesterday and he was running MusicBee, looks quite a bit like Itunes but seems better, and isn't apple of course

Thank you Skier! Downloading it now, and going to give it a looksy! Hopefully I can put iTunes to bed for good.....

[Major_A]

I just use iTunes to manage my iPods. Can't you use aTunes, Winamp, and MusicMatch?

[Sparky]

I just use iTunes to manage my iPods. Can't you use aTunes, Winamp, and MusicMatch?

I haven't tried any of those yet but will look in to them. The problem I'm having is I don't like all the crap iTunes installs and in the past I've been able to remove QuickTime and install QT Alternative and then disable or uninstall the other stuff like Bonjour, mobile device something or other etc..... This time on my new build the newest version of iTunes won't run unless I install all the software that comes with the iTunes installation. Haven't had time to play with it much but Music Bee that Skier recommended looks like it might fit the bill.

[Major_A]

iTunes NEEDS Quicktime (or Quicktime Alternative/QT Lite) and Apple Application Support. Every time I install an update for iTunes I uninstall
a) Apple Software Update
b) Apple Mobile Device Support
c) Bonjour
d) Remove iTunesHelper and any other Apple related item from my system startup via CCleaner.

iTunes boohoos that I don't have Bonjour installed but it still works fine. Bonjour is the driver/service that lets you share your iTunes library across your network.

If you are looking for other software to manage your collection (i.e. fix tags) I use MP3Tag and MixMeister BPM Analyzer.

[Sparky]

I'm with you Major_A, I'm not sure what's going on this time but I think it's the newer version of iTunes 64bit on my new install. I've always used QT Alternative and like you removed or disabled all the junk I didn't want. This time around after two attempts to install iTunes and remove the junk, it just won't run without it. Looking for previous versions of 64bit iTunes now but still open to alternatives to iTunes.

[skier]

not sure if anyone else actually tried MusicBee, but I love it, can just leave my folder hierarchy and it auto-updates playlists by scanning the folders if you refresh (click another playlist and click back), and it fades songs in and out even if you are just pausing

and MB only uses ~27meg of RAM (stays around 27,560K, highest I've seen is 28,889K) on my system when using my full library and playing music (787 songs, 5.6GB) (this is on my laptop, so i didn't add the rest of my music- 3,350/15.8GB)


also @major, MB asks to install quicktime for MP4 support, but you can just download and put the bass_aac.dll in the main MB folder and it's good to go after a MB restart

[lordvic]

Been looking for a alternative for iTunes for a while also, haha.
Gonna give this a shot.