Apple has updated iTunes and given it a slightly more functional UI.
Everyone knows that iTunes is a bit of a nightmare to navigate, and has been for some time. Apple’s more recent updates, while making the software easier on the eye, haven’t really improved the experience.
That hasn’t stopped it from trying again, though. A fresh update makes a couple of notable tweaks to the iTunes navigation experience.
One of those tweaks is actually a regression to a previous UI feature. Apple has reinstated the sidebar menu for navigating the My Music section. You now have permanent access to your playlists whilst scrolling through your albums and tracks.
Apple has also changed the way you hop between media types, offering a clear drop-down menu for Music, Films, TV Programmes, Apps, and Audiobooks rather than those distinct yet curiously elusive icons of before.
Related: What to expect from WWDC 2016
Overall, Apple’s changes in version 12.4 have undoubtedly made iTunes a little easier to navigate than it was before, but it also feels like a curious compromise of sorts. It’s an awkward mashing together of two iterations rather than a bold step forward, and it doesn’t fix the flaws at its core.
Oh, and good luck finding Apple Music. There still isn’t a tab for that. Hopefully that much rumoured Apple Music overhaul will also add a dedicated section. Roll on WWDC 2016.
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How would you fix iTunes? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
