Some more in-depth info about the new Music app?

[Janichsan]

So far, I haven't seen anyone really comprehensively comparing the new Music app with the old iTunes, only disparate bits and pieces. I think one place to collect these information would also be helpful for the general public.

So, how does Music compare to iTunes? Which features have been removed? What's new? What views are available? How does importing music work now? What import options are available?

If anyone else has other questions, feel free to contribute.

 

[WebHead]

Good thread. I'm also curious if Apple Music (the service) can be hidden just like the iTunes Store? Is it simply a case of deselecting it as a sidebar item?

 

[Nermal]

Apple Music can still be disabled in Preferences. I can't give much else of a review at this stage as my test machine doesn't have any music on it and Home Sharing seems to be broken as I can't get it to show any music. I can, however, get my shared music to show up in the TV app (but it won't play). Go figure.

 

[x34]

is there still a column browser (or however it is called in english)?

can we still only show titles? still show artist/ album/ titles and nothing else?

anyone posting a few screenshots would be appreciated!

 

[colinwil]

Apple Music can still be disabled in Preferences. I can't give much else of a review at this stage as my test machine doesn't have any music on it and Home Sharing seems to be broken as I can't get it to show any music. I can, however, get my shared music to show up in the TV app (but it won't play). Go figure.

Home Sharing works almost fine for me. You probably already know this - but you have to enable it in Settings/Sharing/Media - not in the music / tv apps

Once enabled on my MacBook Pro with Catalina I was able to browse the music from my Mac Mini with the Music app, and the movies from my Mac Mini with the TV app. So the ‘client’ side is basically working.

And the server side seems to be working too - I could browse the music, movies on my MacBook Pro from my Apple TV.

Things that weren’t working were...

- The artwork for movies on my home shared Mac mini didn’t show up in the TV app on MY MacBook with Catalina
- There didn’t seem to be a way to access shared TV shows shared on my Mac Mini from the TV app. I cold only get it to show Movies

 

[MrGunnyPT]

Anyone got some print screens of the albums and playlists?

Also how's finder, can we finally backup to an external drive?

 

[FelixII]

Can anyone confirm if it is still possible to share the music library as XML? This is important for integration with other apps like the Alfred Mini Player. Thanks for checking!

 

[adrianlondon]

Can anyone confirm if it is still possible to share the music library as XML? This is important for integration with other apps like the Alfred Mini Player. Thanks for checking!

They've moved media sharing to a system preference, and I don't see any XML option.

is there still a column browser (or however it is called in english)?

No :-(

 

[Maki Roc]

Have star ratings survived?

 

[Janichsan]

They've moved media sharing to a system preference, and I don't see any XML option.

I don't think this is actually a "sharing" option. This is rather something that is part of the library management.

is there still a column browser (or however it is called in english)?

No :-(

 

[ncrypt]

Have star ratings survived?

Yes

 

[Mr. 123]

I don't think this is actually a "sharing" option. This is rather something that is part of the library management.

So if I select “song view” from the side bar, I no longer see all the tracks and the metadata like play count, album name, last played, bitrate, genre, album name, album artist etc?

I’m also wondering if play count is the same as in iTunes and if you can edit album metadata like covers etc...

 

[ncrypt]

So if I select “song view” from the side bar, I no longer see all the tracks and the metadata like play count, album name, last played, bitrate, genre, album name, album artist etc?

I’m also wondering if play count is the same as in iTunes and if you can edit album metadata like covers etc...

You can change that in the view menu to show as a songs list to then bring back the columns etc

 

[997440]

Is Internet Radio still available?

EDIT: and File Sharing?

Thank you.

 

[mrhansolo]

Is Internet Radio still available?

EDIT: and File Sharing?

Thank you.

I'll be honest I didn't know Itunes did Internet Radio. I'm assuming its the same feature that they mentioned for ios? Access to 100,000 plus radio stations?

 

[x34]

View attachment 840972
You can change that in the view menu to show as a songs list to then bring back the columns etc

would you mind posting a screenshot of how this looks?
thank you!

 

[cajuncocoa]

Apple Music can still be disabled in Preferences. I can't give much else of a review at this stage as my test machine doesn't have any music on it and Home Sharing seems to be broken as I can't get it to show any music. I can, however, get my shared music to show up in the TV app (but it won't play). Go figure.

I don’t want Apple Music...things went horribly awry went I started a trial a few years ago and I vowed I never wanted to touch it again. So I’m just verifying (because support wouldn’t give me an answer to this question)...we’re not going to be required to subscribe to Apple Music after iTunes goes away?

Thank you.

 

[Shirohana]

would you mind posting a screenshot of how this looks?
thank you!

 

[Janichsan]

View attachment 841074

But nothing like the column browser like it was in iTunes (the upper part in the screenshot below)?

 

[WebHead]

Edit: Just noticed in the screenshot above that music videos are indeed included in the Music app.

 

[LizKat]

View attachment 841074

But nothing like the column browser like it was in iTunes (the upper part in the screenshot below)?

Right, we need to know if you still split the songs list view horizontally with a command-B and then see the columns for genre, composer, artist, album?
[doublepost=1559792118][/doublepost]

Is Internet Radio still available?

Radio appears under Apple Music in the sidebar in that screenshot in post #!8.

But I wonder if it will only be available to subscribers to AM?

 

[997440]

Radio appears under Apple Music in the sidebar in that screenshot in post #!8.

But I wonder if it will only be available to subscribers to AM?

Liz, I think your speculation is right about that sidebar icon. It’s probably for the AM version of radio:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204944

I’ve seen no evidence that Internet Radio made it through the iTunes transition; doesn’t sound that it has. Internet Radio:
https://support.apple.com/guide/itunes/listen-to-internet-radio-itns2946/mac

I’ve also seen nothing about iTunes File Sharing:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201301

Thanks. It’s early, yet. A good time to send feedback in the chance that persuasion is still possible. If it isn’t, adapting certainly is.

 

[Nermal]

Home Sharing works almost fine for me. You probably already know this - but you have to enable it in Settings/Sharing/Media - not in the music / tv apps

Once enabled on my MacBook Pro with Catalina I was able to browse the music from my Mac Mini with the Music app, and the movies from my Mac Mini with the TV app. So the ‘client’ side is basically working.

Good to hear that it (partially) works for you. I think I'm running into the problem described by the release notes:

"Connecting to another computer using Home Sharing might not show the remote library as expected."

 

[seb.wagner]

And what about iTunes libraries where either the music files themselves or the whole library folder is kept on a NAS? Is that still possible and does it work with (automatic) sync for iPhones or iPads in the vicinity (a.k.a. the local WiFi)?

 

[Janichsan]

Edit: Just noticed in the screenshot above that music videos are indeed included in the Music app.

Just to clarify: if you are referring to my screenshot, that's iTunes, not the new Music app.