iTunes and Vista Sing A Sad, Sad Song
February 05, 2007 | by Geoff Duncan
Apple has released a patch for one problem using iTunes under Vista, but says iTunes users should wait on Vista until a new version of iTunes is available.
One has to wonder what Apple was doing with its time during all the years that Windows Vista was seeded to developers, in developmental beta, in public beta, and available to business and enterprise clients in advance of consumers. Maybe they were too busy making iPods, converting Macs to Intel processors, planning iPhones, and rolling out the Apple TV—who knows? In any case, the maker of one of the most commonly used jukebox applications on the planet—iTunes—seems to have been caught with its pants down now that Vista is available to consumers. It's best advice to the millions of iTunes users under Windows: hold off on upgrading to Vista until we get the next release of iTunes out the door.
Apple says that the current version of iTunes—7.0.2, if you're counting—will work fine under Windows Vista for many "typical PCs," but there are several known compatibility issues, some of which many Windows users would consider serious. For instance, iTunes may not be able to play music purchased from the iTunes store if users upgrade to Vista from a previous version of Windows, and ejecting an iPod using the "Safely Remote Hardware" feature may not be so safe: instead, the contents of the iPod may be irretrievably corrupted. In addition, contacts and calendars won't sync with an iPod, and iPod models with the "Enable Disk Use" option turned off might not be able able to update or even restore iPod software, or make settings changes.
Apple has released an iTunes Repair Tool for Vista which can re-enable playback of media purchased from the iTunes store under Vista by fixing some permissions issues…but fixes for any other Vista-related problems will have to wait until the next version of iTunes. And Apple has yet to say when that might be.
If you're darned and determined to install Vista and run iTunes, Apple recommends the following steps as a best chance of success:
- De-authorize all iTunes accounts
- Enable Disk Use on all iPod models
- Uninstall your current version of iTunes
- Perform a clean installation (rather than an upgrade) of Vista
- Reinstall iTunes
- Open iTunes and re-authorize the computer from iTunes' Store menu
Good luck with that!
Post Your Comment...Comments
Hell on Feb 6th, 2007 at 1:33 AM:
I think that this is just ordinary PR movement. And when new version of iTunes would be available?! ;) As for me I'll choose somethig else...
TJLM on Feb 6th, 2007 at 5:31 AM:
Wow! Imagine software from a company not working perfectly on another companies operating system that just got released. You're all right, Apple must be performing a PR stunt.
" One has to wonder what Apple was doing with its time during all the years that Windows Vista was seeded to developers, in developmental beta, in public beta, and available to business and enterprise clients in advance of consumers." - Maybe you should ask Microsoft the same question since there is already a major service pack update being created for most likely later this year. It is typical of a Windows roll out, here it is everyone... but it's still incomplete.
Perhaps you should question what ATI and Nvidia were doing with their thumbs in their butts too, since they do not have all their drivers updated for all their video cards. And DirectX10 is not universially supported.
Most people should hold off on Vista anyways because: 1) It really isn't ready yet, 2) You don't really need it (there are no drastic NEEDS that XP doesn't provide), 3) You will most likely need a new PC that cost $$$$ to run it with all it's prettiness turned on (I saw a system at BestBunk w/ dualCore 2.66 and 2GB RAM running 1 Explorer Window and 2 IE windows and it had 768MB of Hardware RAM tied up, I guess the WOW starts there for me), 4)Microsofts oppressive DRM; the effects of the protection measures extend to cover all hardware and software that will ever come into contact with Vista. This tends to slow a machine down. And for what, so Microsoft can make sweetheart deals with content creators while stripping you of computing freedoms and rights on your OWN machine.
Keep drinking the KoolAid guys!
John R. on Feb 6th, 2007 at 4:32 PM:
"For instance, iTunes may not be able to play music purchased from the iTunes store if users upgrade to Vista from a previous version of Windows..."
An upgrade from one Windows version to the next causing problems for the software previously installed? I'm stunned!
"...and ejecting an iPod using the "Safely Remote Hardware" feature may not be so safe: instead, the contents of the iPod may be irretrievably corrupted."
Which is exactly what can happen if you just disconnect the iPod without "stopping" the device. Sounds like Vista's usb subsystem isn't actually disconnecting the device.
As for Apple staging a PR stunt, software developers can only work with with the API they are given.
Roy W. on Feb 7th, 2007 at 8:26 PM:
If it was a PR stunt it sure has backfired. I have had so many problems with my iPod anyways so maybe this is what I need to buy something with less problems that can sync with Vista.
Ian Bell on Feb 7th, 2007 at 10:39 PM:
Vista is a huge release, and from what I can tell most of the problems out there are related to hardware driver issues, there have been very little software incompatibilities. Like Geoff said, Apple has had a while to work on a software update.
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Ian Bell on Feb 5th, 2007 at 12:46 PM:
I really call B.S. on this. I think Apple intentionally has crippled iTunes so that it struggles under Vista. Maybe so they can buy some time to announce a new product?
Whatever the case, Apple is using this as a PR stunt, so there is some sort of ill intention.