“At MacWorld San Francisco 2004 last month, Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs introduced the company’s latest suite of multimedia tools, dubbed iLife ’04. Apple markets the $50 product as being ‘like Microsoft Office for the rest of your life,’ which is a cute way of saying that you’ll need the applications in this suite as much as you need products such as Word and Excel when you’ve got work to do. Although iLife ’04 isn’t perfect, it’s a stunning value for the money and a must-have purchase for every Mac OS X user. And if you aren’t running Mac OS X, fear not: I also explore some related offerings for PC users,” Paul Thurrott writes for Getting Connected. “Apple iLife ’04 includes five brilliantly integrated applications, and at least three of them are best of breed.”
Thurrott then reviews each app in iLife ’04. His bit about iTunes caught our eye:
“For Mac users, iTunes is just about perfect, and it’s a great example of the fit and finish Apple fans expect from their favorite company. On the interoperability side, things are a little murkier: Although iTunes integrates easily with the award-winning iPod, it doesn’t support any of the hundreds of other portable audio players on the market, or Microsoft’s pervasive Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, which most other music stores use. On the PC, you have several media players to choose from, but none are as simple and elegant as Apple’s offering, which also ships in a free PC version. For the best music-store experience on the PC, look into either Napster 2.0 or RealPlayer 10 (currently in beta), which is also a great media player. Windows users that need WMA compatibility will be best off with Windows Media Player (WMP) 9 Series,” Thurrott writes.
[MacDailyNews Note: if none of the WMA media players are as “simple and elegant” as the Apple iPod, then why buy one and deny yourself the ability to buy songs from Apple’s iTunes Music Store? Wouldn’t the “best music-store experience on the PC” naturally be what the market is already proving: an Apple iPod and iTunes for Windows?]
Thurrott writes, “Apple’s iLife ’04 isn’t perfect, but it’s an amazing software value and a must-have application for all Mac users. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest Apple Store, CompUSA, or Apple dealer, and pick up this package immediately
I know this is beating a dead horse but every music player out there plays MP3s. iTunes supports MP3s on the Mac and Windows so iTunes supports every player on both systems. Ever his praise is thinly disguised FUD.
Hell is definetly freezing lately. Never thought reading an article like this from Paul Turret (Thurrot)
That was the most accurate article I’ve ever read from Thurrott. Of course, it wasn’t totally accurate. He said, ” Although iTunes integrates easily with the award-winning iPod, it doesn’t support any of the hundreds of other portable audio players on the market…”
That’s not true. Many other DMPs work with iTunes. They won’t directly play music purchased from iTMS but they will play your exisiting collection. This is one point that most “journalists” get wrong.
Why am I not surprised? Thurrott’s praise of anything from Apple in other publications only emphasizes his hypocrisy in bashing Apple and the Mac when he’s playing for his audience on Wininfo. I would have far less of a problem if he stuck to a consistent Mac-hating position (which is his prerogative). He has zero journalistic integrity.
Hmpf. GarageBand. He was not interested+excited of the GarageBand? Who is this guy?
iLife for WIndows, OSX for Intel. The envy coming from the Windows camp appears to be getting louder. They really should just bite the bullet and buy an eMac.
The clamor for Apple products on Windows is good, keep it coming
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> Just leave them jealous and contemplating a switch!
I won’t be giving Thurott any hits though.
I love the idea of garage band on the iLife 04. What I dont like is the idea of comparing or trying copy from windows which sucks, what I have always loved about Apple is that it is different and has always tried to set standards for other operating systems, not copying from them.
Thurrot: I tell you what, as Windows user you already can have iLife 04 for free: BUY A MAC already and stop whining.
I suppose PC users can burn their WMA tracks to CD and then download them to iTunes. I know quality may sufffer somewhat, but… there is a way. As far as Thurrott not being interested in GarageBand. That’s OK. He doesn’t have a single creative gene in his entire body.
I read his piece, just to see what he really thinks as better Windows versions. Somehow I don’t find him believable. But I did calculate his better Windows apps price, it came to about $130-150 without anything to replace GarageBand. And the Windows apps don’t work together like iLife does (or at all).
I agree, buy a Mac already!
The article mentions PC alternatives that cost more (yeah, I gave Paul a hit, but it wasn’t to his website so I got no guilt) for almost every category of iLife, but he fails to mention that there are also more expensive options for Macs as well. iLife is a winner because it combines all of these features into one suite for a very low cost. Adding up his cheapest alternatives more than doubles the price of buying iLife. Of course, if pc users simply switch, then they get a better computer AND the iLife suite free (oh yeah, that’s been mentioned) AND no mydoom! It is frustrating that anal-ysts can review this stuff and not figure out how to use iTunes across formats.
One guy,
Here in the U.S. ads are running on TV about why it is important that kids receive an education in the arts (including music) when they are young. The ads show kids without this education belittling musicians, paintings, etc. Maybe Paul T. could be the “poster child” for this campaign, given his lack of interest in GarageBand!
Yea Apple should see iLife for windows for the price of 799.99 the same price as an entry level eMac.
Now Apple should concentrate to ip0rnSToRe.
They all ready have the iMovie for editing, Garage Band for music, iDVD and .Mac for distribution. The applience could be something like iDild0 or iPu�y or iTiTs? This compined with iCal to share youre daiting calendar, AdressBook to share telephone numbers and iChat AV for van king.
Though Apple must remember that there are children and Beatles, so they have to change the name for this service to iBanana.
One question.
Why should Apple move to Intel? limited Architecture and the Power platform will surpass Intel with IBM full support.
ALSO,
M$ has already migrated to the p970 from IBM in the next gen Xbox. M$ has realized that Intel is NOT the way to go.
Oh, I forgot iKen and iBarbara! with iSuck (new vacuum cleaner) and iBlow (new hairdryer). There will be (according to mac ars) iChihuahua=Apple branded Sony Aibo and iCaramba=Aibo dancing samba?
<<For PC users, the story is a bit murky.>>
Isn’t it always like that (as are most of your articles too by the way Thurrott)? There is one simple solution to clear everything up, just buy any new Mac. Hell, they even come with the full iLife ’04 suite pre-installed for no extra charge to boot. Now then, that easily clears up the murky PC waters doesn’t it?
Mr. Thurrott-Want iLife? Buy a mac. Mac users have clamored for years for “Windows Only” apps often to no avail. The software shoe is now on the other foot.
iLife for Wintel? Screw the Windroids. If they want iLife, then they should buy a Mac. Dumbasses.
Yup, rlhamon has it right. iLife is available for Windows, starting at just 799.99 (education discounts available). It even comes with more features than the Mac version!
I must say though, I’m shocked! I mean, come on, this was never the real PT. He didn’t make ridiculous claims to discredit iLife. He didn’t claim Apple stole it from M$. In fact, he sounded like the more moderate albeit clueless tech writers out there. Return of the Body Snatchers?
Btw, is there an official up-to-date list of Mp3 players that work with iTunes? It would be nice just to mail it to all the clueless idiots who spout the same crap over and over.
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Give Bill PT for his bunghole, hmm..hehmm..hehh…hmm.. :-p
Imagine HP with a version of iLife, that would only work on HP machines, instead of media center. HP sells it for $100.00. Apple gets their 50 bucks, HP can offer it 50% off for a promotion.
A case of Pepsi included to get you using iTunes.
Thurott is sounding more and more like Hiawatha Bray- Mac basher to mac lover. This is the first chink in the armor.
He’s a closet mac lover, his coming out party will be soon. We have to help this poor man embrace all that is good.
Hey, Guy From Finland, there was an iBrator but the site is now a dating service. The market has spoken, “Macs already satisfy those urges.”
Thurrott should sell “hisLife to M$”. Guys, stop paying attention to those Windows HOs! They’ll say anything to get hits!