iTunes trivia

[ChrisA]

Try this fun experiment: Log on and start iTunes set preferences to convert to MP3 when a CD is inserted. Next use fast user switching and log in as another user, start iTunes and do as above. Next insert a CD. Both copies of iTunes will "see" the CD and begin converting it and storing the MP3 files in each user's library. One conversion will of course start a fraction of a second before the other. User A reads CD sector 120, User B reads 100 then A gets 121 and B gets 101 and so on. The CD reader makes noises like it is going to beat itself to pieces but both iTunes do eventually convert the songs. Each can even have different setting so you can put the CD in once and get both low bit rate and high bit rate encodings. Overall progress is slower but there is less disk handling. Three and four logins works too but man, it makes for one buzy sounding CD drive

Oh yes if each user shares his library the other logged in users can see it and play the songs. My Mac Mini can share three iTunes libraries at once all are visable in the notebook at once

BTW Running three copies of iTunes at once does NOT user 3 times the memory. Mac OS (or really Darwin) is smart enough to only copy the executable code into memory once and share the image duplicating only the data segments once per running copy

 

[Nermal]

I'm baffled as to why you'd want to do this

 

[russed]

and the point of this is......?

and why is it trivia? hey lets make my cd drive make a random noise....GGGGGGGGGrrreat fun!

 

[ChrisA]

and the point of this is......?

Why do it? Well the point isn't to cause the CD to make noise. Noise is just the byproduct. The point was just to see what would happen if three users all had a complete suite of iLife apps open and running all at once on three different login sessions. The result was (1) it works well even on a lowly Mac Mini and (2) It requires only marginally more memory than having only one complete suit of iLife apps open and (3) when you insert a CD all three iTunes "see" the CD at once and each reacts acording to it's own user preferences.

It this usfull? Really only in one case. Let's say you have three iTunes libraries and you'd like to share them on the network all at once. Well you can do it. Next test is to see if I can have three iPods all plugged in at the same time and have each doing an updata at once. Why? I don't
want to log out or even switch users just so my son can charge/sync his iPod

And Yes, we have four libraries and three iPods

 

[Boelman]

now why am i supposed to do this again?????? I would rather read useless posts. Hold on a sec?????????

 

[russed]

and again ansering my questions, why is this trivia and why would i want to do it?

 

[GimmeSlack12]

ChrisA, go outside man. Sounds like a little too much time spent on your Mac.

 

[Poff]

I actually find it rather annoying. When I put a cd in one user, another user will try to rip it. So when you switch to that other user later, iTunes is asking you if it should rip the cd when the files are allready there..

 

[mkrishnan]

I guess it's a testament to Apple's multitasking / multiuser structure that two users can (more or less?) effectively share the CD, rather than one user shouldering the other out. But at the same time, I could see how this would be frustrating if you made significant use of FUS....

 

[Poff]

I guess it's a testament to Apple's multitasking / multiuser structure that two users can (more or less?) effectively share the CD, rather than one user shouldering the other out. But at the same time, I could see how this would be frustrating if you made significant use of FUS....

We've been several people sharing one house, and everyone (3-4 users) were always logged on.. so.. yes.. quite frustrating.

If the cd just appeared when you switched to your user, it would be much nicer, imo.

 

[kretzy]

I was expecting some kind of music quiz.....