Any guesses as to how long it will take for Retroactive to work on Sonoma?

[TohMac]

Any guesses on how long it will take Retroactive to work on Sonoma?

Retroactive

I messed up. Just purchased a new iMac and it downloaded Sonoma before I had a chance to set up the computer and look at it. Yes, dumb move on my part. I don't do so until all the bugs are worked out.

But this presents a problem for me. I use my older 2014 4k iMac to download tons of movies/tv shows. I then can run them through iTunes and watch them through my library on the TV.
The new iMac does not use iTunes but the music.app (yuck) so I need a working Retroactive in order to install iTunes on this but I don't see a working d/l for Sonoma yet??!!



Edit: In case someone suggests just keeping these shows on the cloud, I have far too many files to do so. I have to have a working iTunes on this iMac. Hence, Retroactive will be the only solution, I have been told.

 

[Bigwaff]

Any guesses on how long it will take Retroactive to work on Sonoma?

You might be better served following and reviewing the project issue page then posting in MR forum -

Issues · cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive

Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve. - ...

github.com

 

[TohMac]

It doesn't give me any idea whilst i was hoping regular users of it here might have a better idea from experience using it.

 

[gilby101]

I use my older 2014 4k iMac to download tons of movies/tv shows.

Are these movies from Apple with DRM. If not, why don't you find another way of watching them. E.g. Infuse

 

[bogdanw]

@TohMac iTunes 12.9.5.5 works in Sonoma.
It can be installed without Retroactive https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-12-6-5-3-on-macos-catalina-10-15.2184518/post-32010794
Both installation methods can then be fixed to work in Sonoma with SIP enabled
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-12-6-5-3-on-macos-catalina-10-15.2184518/post-32588314

 

[ivnj]

What is wrong with the music app? It's basically the same thing.

 

[Passport-]

Unfortunately it seems Retroactive is no longer supported, and the developer recommends other apps. I've found Swinsian works very well to sync an iPod Classic on Sonoma.

 

[Fishrrman]

The latest Retroactive was released just last month (version 2.1).

It works with Sonoma (at least with the version of Sonoma I have).

Just try it and see for yourself.

ivnj wrote:
"What is wrong with the music app? It's basically the same thing."

NO. It is not.
Apple dropped support for the free internet streaming radio stations in the new Music app. At least, it will not present the user with "a list" of stations from which to choose any more.

This was really the only feature I used in iTunes, and why I still use iTunes on my newer versions of the OS (and don't use "Music" at all).

EDIT:
I wrote the above while booted to Mojave on my 2018 Mini.
Thought I'd better check, so I booted to Sonoma 14.4 "just to be sure".
iTunes is up-and-running (via Retroactive) and the internet radio is working as intended.

 

[August West]

If you install Retroactive can you still use Apple Music or does it replace it?

 

[Fishrrman]

Apple Music will still work.
You will have BOTH Music.app AND iTunes available for use.

 

[Passport-]

The latest Retroactive was released just last month (version 2.1).

It works with Sonoma (at least with the version of Sonoma I have).

Just try it and see for yourself.

ivnj wrote:
"What is wrong with the music app? It's basically the same thing."

NO. It is not.
Apple dropped support for the free internet streaming radio stations in the new Music app. At least, it will not present the user with "a list" of stations from which to choose any more.

This was really the only feature I used in iTunes, and why I still use iTunes on my newer versions of the OS (and don't use "Music" at all).

EDIT:
I wrote the above while booted to Mojave on my 2018 Mini.
Thought I'd better check, so I booted to Sonoma 14.4 "just to be sure".
iTunes is up-and-running (via Retroactive) and the internet radio is working as intended.

Unfortunately for many, including myself, Retroactive 2.1 isn't working for iTunes on Sonoma, and on the download page for 2.1, the developer recommends switching to different apps, which how I found Swinsian. Ideally I would love to have the iTunes 9 or 10 work perfectly on Sonoma as it did with Catalina.

 

[bogdanw]

When discussing if iTunes works or doesn’t work on Sonoma, you have to specify what iTunes version and on what architecture (Intel or Apple Silicon).

iTunes 12.8.3.1 working on Sonoma 14.3.1 Apple Silicon https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-12-6-5-3-on-apple-silicon.2354390/post-32967468
iTunes 12.9.5.5 not working on Sonoma 14.3 Apple Silicon, but working on Intel https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-12-6-5-3-on-macos-catalina-10-15.2184518/post-32896069

 

[Passport-]

When discussing if iTunes works or doesn’t work on Sonoma, you have to specify what iTunes version and on what architecture (Intel or Apple Silicon).

iTunes 12.8.3.1 working on Sonoma 14.3.1 Apple Silicon https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-12-6-5-3-on-apple-silicon.2354390/post-32967468
iTunes 12.9.5.5 not working on Sonoma 14.3 Apple Silicon, but working on Intel https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-12-6-5-3-on-macos-catalina-10-15.2184518/post-32896069

I appreciate the links. I am speaking from my experience on Apple Silicon and iTunes 10 and 11. Although on my old Intel Air the same issues started upon upgrading to Monterey from Catalina.

 

[TohMac]

Unfortunately for many, including myself, Retroactive 2.1 isn't working for iTunes on Sonoma, and on the download page for 2.1, the developer recommends switching to different apps, which how I found Swinsian. Ideally I would love to have the iTunes 9 or 10 work perfectly on Sonoma as it did with Catalina.

I am on Sonoma 14.0. Can you please let me know which version Sonoma you are using, before I decide which one I am going to try.

 

[TohMac]

Thanks for all the updates on this app and new one mentioned. I will have to make a choice today.

I have been running my 2014 iMac 27" (Mojave) beside my new one and using that to stream TV shows/movies to my Samsung TV.
No they are not Apple Movies but files I have d/l on the internet in either .mkv or .mp4 format. If in .mkv I use Handbrake to convert to the .mp4 file, then stream to the TV.
There might be something better/newer than Handbrake but i have used that for 10+ years and am very comfortable with it.

But with my 2014 iMac I can only download, and then convert separately. Its slow enough now that I can only do one action at a time. Basic browsing, etc.
Obviously I use the new iMac for everything else.

 

[galad]

How are you watching them on the TV? With an AppleTV?
The TV app on macOS still supports home sharing, so unless there is some bug that prevent it from working, I don't understand the reason to use iTunes.

 

[TohMac]

How are you watching them on the TV? With an AppleTV?
The TV app on macOS still supports home sharing, so unless there is some bug that prevent it from working, I don't understand the reason to use iTunes.

Yes, I load up the .mp4 files on the old iMac in the iTunes Library-then have an Apple TV so I turn on the TV and go to the Computer app. There it opens and is a copy of my library on the iMac. Yes home sharing is set up on the TV/iMac.

Obviously on the new iMac (Sonoma 14.0) I do not have iTunes so I am just trying to figure out how to do it from this new iMac. I am not as technically inclined as some of you might be.

 

[galad]

Enable media sharing in System Settings - > General -> Sharing. Then put the files in the TV app.

 

[TohMac]

Enable media sharing in System Settings - > General -> Sharing. Then put the files in the TV app.

Need iTunes to do what I need. A quick peek at the TV app and I am not able to load in the files I need. That said I have not delved in too far as I already know for others it wont work for my needs.

Looking at Retroactive but its pretty complicated. Not sure I wish to go further with that if it wont work past Sonoma anyhow, otherwise I will never be able to upgrade the OS.

Unfortunately what I need to do is a very important part of my usage on the computer so I have to find a way as my 2014 iMac wont last forever.

 

[galad]

TV supports every format that iTunes supported. To import a file either select File -> Import or drag them to the Library section.

Actually TV is the video part of iTunes with a different name. It contains a new section for the streaming services like AppleTV+, but the library part works exactly the same way it worked in iTunes.

 

[TohMac]

Well it doesn't work that way for my needs. I can put movies/tv shows in the library on my computer but it will not show up on the TV. It doesn't stream it there as iTunes did. It wants to sell you movies and tv shows but not let you put your own there.
Unless you are doing this yourself and its successful, others have also said the new TV app wont do it. Indeed on my older 2015 iMac I left it on Mojave in order to keep iTunes. After Mojave iTunes no longer worked, if I recall correctly.

Here for example is a show I just threw in but it will not stream to the TV. I could watch it on my computer but i have an 85" 4k TV so the point is to be able to stream it there.

 

[galad]

Did you enable media sharing in System Settings?

Yes, I am using it myself and it works.

 

[TohMac]

Did you enable media sharing in System Settings?

Yes, I am using it myself and it works.

Where exactly is the media sharing that you are referring to?

In the TV app on my computer, I have "Authorized" it under Account/Authorizations, although admittedly each time I go in at the moment it seems I have to keep authorizing it despite it being allowed each time. Once I do it tells me I have authorized 2 out of my allowed 5.
Close the app, reopen and need to reauthorize.
( Works the same way with iTunes on my older iMac that streams directly to the TV)

Not sure what else you would be referring to?

Both my iMac and TV are signed into my account.

 

[galad]

I wrote I above, but here's an expanded explanation: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-media-sharing-on-mac-mchlp13371337/mac

 

[TohMac]

Perfect. Thank you. I mightn't have time to get to this tonight but will do so tomorrow. Will let you know if I got it working for me as I need it. If it works, I wonder why so many said it didn't. Will know more tomorrow.