How old is Songbird now? Four years? Five? Six? Wouldn’t you think it’d have replaced iTunes by now if it was going to? It’s just a bunch of stupid social networking crap built around music that wouldn’t interest anyone beyond their “tween” years.
iTunes killer, doubtful. But competition is a good thing, if they can add the features that iTunes users want and then some extras it can only cause Apple to improve things. However from the last time I checked it out Songbird still had a long long way to go
Dave- Thanks for the thoughtful review. We’re releasing 1.2 in a couple of days, so check back at the end of the week if you’re interested.
@Billy: Not yet. But it’s scheduled for mid October this year.
@Y-Guy: We’re actually not out to kill iTunes. In fact our release next week will synchronize with the iTunes library. The big idea behind Songbird is around deeply integrating and improving other music services. So, for example, we think Last.fm radio gets better when experienced in Songbird. We don’t think Apple would ever incorporate last.fm, or some of the other major music services, into iTunes, so we think we’re servicing a different niche. We do have a long road ahead, but we’ve also come a long way over the past 2.5 years (not 4 years).
@Ethan: I’ll be sure to check out 1.2. You guys do have a bit of a different nich??, but as a user it does feel like you guys are trying to mimic the iTunes interface. I know there are a number of subtle differences, but overall the design is a bit of an iTunes clone.
@Y-Guy: I agree, the more competition the better. This market really needs some new players… Real and Creative dropped out as real contenders years ago. I’m glad to see some healthy competition again. Though, as Ethan said, I doubt Apple considers them competition as they’re targeting different types of users, but still, good to see.
Hmm… You speak of what I have had in my mind. Word to word The only problem I ever had with songbird (and still do) is the speed. If only it were as fast as some of the other applications (which are not build atop Firefox of course), Songbird might have been my preferred media player.
I have started using Songbird after using Amarok and iTunes, as well as Winamp, and I am very impressed. it is in my opinion the best audio program, and I wouldn’t give it up at all now. Plus it’s cross platform so I can use it whenever I use Windows, Linux, or if i’m on a Mac. Great program, highly recommend. It has only been out for a couple years now, fairly new, give it a shot if you want, it doesn’t hurt to try a free program. My favorite is all the add-ons you can have with it.
I’m an add-ons guy, which is why I use firefox as opposed to Chrome or Safari. It just depends on your personality of course.
It has killed iTunes in my mind. I have switched from it and only use Songbird now. iTunes is a piece of shit on Windows, on Mac it tends to be ok. I use more than just a Macs, so I need one that works well on everything.
Right now I think DoubleTwist [ http://www.doubletwist.com ] is the best rival to iTunes. Personally I don’t like it because it has to open a new window every time you play a new song but I prefer it to Songbird.
Hi! I’m quite happy with my new Mac – but miss MediaMonkey tremendously. There you can browse your music through a finder/explorer view. You can look at all your folders with music and choose music that way. In itunes you have to do a search to find and narrow the song selection down. That’s a problem if you don’t know what you want to listen to and hope to get inspired by looking at all your music arranged in its folders. Why on earth is there no software for Mac that can do the same!!?? Or is there Would be thankful for any input! Jonas
Songbird on Mac is kind of pointless. As the review above mentions, the only reason to play around with it on your Mac is because of the extensions and the integrated web services. But as far as an iTunes alternative, there’s no real reason to use it since you’ve got iTunes right there. The lyrics fetcher is really nice, although I think there may be an add-on for iTunes that does the same thing. Songbird isn’t bad, but iTunes is better at the core functions.
Now, on Linux, Songbird is a godsend. It’s the closest thing to iTunes in the Linux world, and can make Mac users feel right at home. Firefox on Ubuntu smokes Firefox on Mac, so you can probably guess that Songbird is pretty responsive on a reasonably modern Linux box. The other popular Linux players are overly simplistic (Rhythmbox) or try too hard to cram new features in that it ends up a buggy mess (Amarok). I really, really like Songbird on Ubuntu 9.10, but can’t be bothered to run it on my Macs.
I'm already a Firefox and Thunderbird long time user (since FF v0.7) and it's surprising myself that I've never tested Songbird. I'm currently a satisfied Quicktime user with Perian and Flip4Mac codec packs and I'm not sure that the Songbird video support will be fully compatible with enough formats/codecs| but sure I'll give it a try.
A fair and balanced review. I was looking for an iTunes alternative just for the sake of experimentation and stumbled upon Songbird. So far so good. The mashtape add-on is excellent and has greatly increased my listening experience. It’s not as quick (or works as natively) as iTunes but is a good second option for those who are beginning to find iTunes kinda bland after all of these years. Good luck to all involved with the project. Cheers.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
How old is Songbird now? Four years? Five? Six? Wouldn’t you think it’d have replaced iTunes by now if it was going to? It’s just a bunch of stupid social networking crap built around music that wouldn’t interest anyone beyond their “tween” years.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Does it rip cds yet?
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
iTunes killer, doubtful. But competition is a good thing, if they can add the features that iTunes users want and then some extras it can only cause Apple to improve things. However from the last time I checked it out Songbird still had a long long way to go
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Dave- Thanks for the thoughtful review. We’re releasing 1.2 in a couple of days, so check back at the end of the week if you’re interested.
@Billy: Not yet. But it’s scheduled for mid October this year.
@Y-Guy: We’re actually not out to kill iTunes. In fact our release next week will synchronize with the iTunes library. The big idea behind Songbird is around deeply integrating and improving other music services. So, for example, we think Last.fm radio gets better when experienced in Songbird. We don’t think Apple would ever incorporate last.fm, or some of the other major music services, into iTunes, so we think we’re servicing a different niche. We do have a long road ahead, but we’ve also come a long way over the past 2.5 years (not 4 years).
Best,
Ethan
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
@Ethan: I’ll be sure to check out 1.2. You guys do have a bit of a different nich??, but as a user it does feel like you guys are trying to mimic the iTunes interface. I know there are a number of subtle differences, but overall the design is a bit of an iTunes clone.
@Y-Guy: I agree, the more competition the better. This market really needs some new players… Real and Creative dropped out as real contenders years ago. I’m glad to see some healthy competition again. Though, as Ethan said, I doubt Apple considers them competition as they’re targeting different types of users, but still, good to see.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Hmm… You speak of what I have had in my mind. Word to word
The only problem I ever had with songbird (and still do) is the speed. If only it were as fast as some of the other applications (which are not build atop Firefox of course), Songbird might have been my preferred media player.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
I have started using Songbird after using Amarok and iTunes, as well as Winamp, and I am very impressed. it is in my opinion the best audio program, and I wouldn’t give it up at all now. Plus it’s cross platform so I can use it whenever I use Windows, Linux, or if i’m on a Mac. Great program, highly recommend. It has only been out for a couple years now, fairly new, give it a shot if you want, it doesn’t hurt to try a free program. My favorite is all the add-ons you can have with it.
I’m an add-ons guy, which is why I use firefox as opposed to Chrome or Safari. It just depends on your personality of course.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
It has killed iTunes in my mind. I have switched from it and only use Songbird now. iTunes is a piece of shit on Windows, on Mac it tends to be ok. I use more than just a Macs, so I need one that works well on everything.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Right now I think DoubleTwist [ http://www.doubletwist.com ] is the best rival to iTunes. Personally I don’t like it because it has to open a new window every time you play a new song but I prefer it to Songbird.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Hi! I’m quite happy with my new Mac – but miss MediaMonkey tremendously. There you can browse your music through a finder/explorer view. You can look at all your folders with music and choose music that way. In itunes you have to do a search to find and narrow the song selection down. That’s a problem if you don’t know what you want to listen to and hope to get inspired by looking at all your music arranged in its folders. Why on earth is there no software for Mac that can do the same!!??
Or is there
Would be thankful for any input!
Jonas
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Songbird on Mac is kind of pointless. As the review above mentions, the only reason to play around with it on your Mac is because of the extensions and the integrated web services. But as far as an iTunes alternative, there’s no real reason to use it since you’ve got iTunes right there. The lyrics fetcher is really nice, although I think there may be an add-on for iTunes that does the same thing. Songbird isn’t bad, but iTunes is better at the core functions.
Now, on Linux, Songbird is a godsend. It’s the closest thing to iTunes in the Linux world, and can make Mac users feel right at home. Firefox on Ubuntu smokes Firefox on Mac, so you can probably guess that Songbird is pretty responsive on a reasonably modern Linux box. The other popular Linux players are overly simplistic (Rhythmbox) or try too hard to cram new features in that it ends up a buggy mess (Amarok). I really, really like Songbird on Ubuntu 9.10, but can’t be bothered to run it on my Macs.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Thank you for this review.
I'm already a Firefox and Thunderbird long time user (since FF v0.7) and it's surprising myself that I've never tested Songbird. I'm currently a satisfied Quicktime user with Perian and Flip4Mac codec packs and I'm not sure that the Songbird video support will be fully compatible with enough formats/codecs| but sure I'll give it a try.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
A fair and balanced review. I was looking for an iTunes alternative just for the sake of experimentation and stumbled upon Songbird. So far so good. The mashtape add-on is excellent and has greatly increased my listening experience. It’s not as quick (or works as natively) as iTunes but is a good second option for those who are beginning to find iTunes kinda bland after all of these years. Good luck to all involved with the project. Cheers.