so i've been trying out different media players over the years in hopes of getting over itunes as my default player... but no other media player has ever come close to the basic things i want it to do and been able to function on my shitty old mac mini from '06. now that i've got a more up to date machine, i'm remembering that i can actually retry all of the things i previously couldn't because of either lack of sufficient memory or incompatibility. Woot!

so i decided to give songbird another try, and honestly, except for the organization abilities of itunes, it is my new default.

what i like about it:

• offers third-party music purchase options

• has add-on capabilities such as a lyrics display, instant messenger, twitter, LAST.FM for scrobbling (my main concern was whether or not it scrobbled) and you can even browse the internet on it in one tab, while your music library is open in another tab, WHAT.

• rips cd's, imports media without such an extensive analyzation process like itunes has

• can create normal and smart playlists, like itunes

• recognized my android phone and mounted it in the player and let me sync music files on it manually, without me having to navigate around a folder system. it was almost like the way itunes displays an iwhatever. maybe other programs do this, but it was the first time i've ever seen it. the best part was that it even copied over the filing system in place. It was pretty nice.

I guess i must be new to all this newness. I've been so out of touch with new programs and technology because of a lack of access.

Why i still want to use iTunes:

• the way it organizes my music library - maybe i haven't looked hard enough, but i still haven't found a media player that organizes my library for me like itunes does - i don't want to go back to organizing every piece of music i download into it's own folders when i can get a program to do that work for me. I mean, i can't believe anyone still bothers doing that.

As far as i am aware, songbird does not do this on my computer, but i have yet to explore this option. i can't find an options for it in preferences. hmmmm

Spotify:

• also scrobbles

• also plays my own personal library

• lets me play music i don't own

but i will never default to it. I will not pay for it, and honestly, i will probably only every use it to find new stuff t get from elsewhere so that i physically have it. I honestly don't understand the allure.... i guess it's awesome if you pay for it, but i don't want to. maybe one day.

Years ago, when this was songbird's icon (clicky) I found it and found out how cool it was but my feeble machine just could not keep up with it, and i had to give up it's awesomeness.

Now i can do lots of things. :) i'm excited.