[microsound] iTunes interface

[taylor deupree <taylor@xxxxxxx>]

i missed some of this thread about interfaces, and in particular, the 
iTunes interface,..but i read the posted essay and some followups..

IMHO, with some minor nagging bits, and the ongoing discussions about 
graphics, liner notes, and album art notwithstanding.. i think the 
iTunes interface is fantastic. it's simple, mostly text-based, and 
does not get in the way of my goals when using it.. which is quickly 
finding music and listening to it.

colin wrote in his piece, and maybe i'm misunderstanding him,.. but 
he said that he wished it wasn't alphabetical.. that he could 
organize songs by genre or other information... and i'm sure colin 
knows this (which is why i might be misinterpreting his complaint) 
but iTunes you can simply make the "genre" field visible and click it 
once and now your list of songs is sorted by genre.

personally, i don't use genres.. and my CD collection is organize 
alphabetically.. so iTunes' default way of working is incredible easy 
for me.

i would like to see expanded artwork and liner notes, lyrics, and 
information about labels, release dates, graphic designers and the 
like.. but in terms of overall usability i find iTunes to be simple, 
clean, and to-the-point without gratuitous eyecandy getting in the 
way.

i think one of apple's goals in general with OSX is to make the 
computing experience more transparent and simplified... which i think 
is a step in the right direction. we use computers as a means to an 
end and that end is more important than the means. if i want to 
listen to music, write music, read email, do label accounting, or 
design a cd sleeve i want the "computer" to be in the background 
while my energy focuses on the creative task at hand.

just some thoughts (after a sleepless night).. aye.

taylor


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