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Mobile Music – Bittersweet Ending

By The Guru on July 23, 2007

Music_notes
I started this Mobile Music theme a while back, and admittedly, never really finished it. So here it is. As you know, your S60 device can be a killer music playback device. However, the hard part is still getting music ON your device. As far as I can tell, there’s only 2 viable options: iTunes and Windows Media Player. I know, I hate WMP just as much as the next guy. Here’s the skinny: iTunes offers better management on your PC, but WMP offers a MUCH better way to get the tunes on your device and enjoy them there. So pick your poison and click through to get the deets.

iTunes: the desktop management of mp3s has never been as easy and user-friendly as iTunes. If you can’t openly admit that, you’re lying to yourself and everyone else. However, the obvious problem is that it doesn’t directly interface with your mobile. Thus, a simple app called iTunesAgent (only for Windows, though there’s supposedly something for Mac users, too). It allows you to sync any playlist(s) to a mobile device.

Pros:
Desktop management
Smartplaylist options
iTunes Agent syncs quickly and cleanly, and allows you to tell it where and how to save the files.

Cons:
still have to "update" your music library
no playlists on the device
can be finicky

Windows Media Player: the desktop management of mp3s has never been uglier and more of a memory hog (with the notable exception of Musicmatch). It’s WAY too graphical, which is unnecessary with music files. Difficult to add music the to "Now Playing" list, and creating playlists wasn’t all that friendly, either. However, the big boon is that S60 devices are natively supported, and tremendously so. You can pick which playlists sync, and it’ll automatically detect and sync devices when connected (be sure to put your device in "Media Player" mode).

Pros:
No need to "update" your music library (!!)
playlists transfer to device and are usable
stable on PC and with phone connections

Cons:
desktop management is ghastly
no choice in where or how the files are saved on the device
removes ringtones if in the Sounds>Digital folder
Doesn’t tell you the data size of playlists

So what am I using? I’m actually using WMP more than iTunes lately. Why? Mostly because I moved a BUNCH of my MP3s around (I like to organize things myself, screw you Apple) and thus they’re broken in iTunes, and I don’t feel like going one-by-one to fix that. WMP fixes on its own. Admittedly, though, I haven’t synced my phone in a while. I don’t use Nokia’s Music Manager cause I’m a firm believer that I should be able to use the same app for listening AND syncing on my PC. I don’t want to have to organize my music twice.

What are you using? Do you sync your phone often, or rarely? Do you even listen to music on your mobile device? What are your experiences?

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The Guru

The Guru, aka Ricky Cadden, started Symbian-Guru.com in November 2006, out of his excitement for the S60 3rd Edition version of Symella. The Guru has used Symbian devices since the Nokia 6620, and is known for his perspective as a power user. You can follow The Guru on Twitter at @Rcadden

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  • http://technoblabber.abhishta.net/ Abhishta Paranjpe

    I have a mac, so I’ve been using iTunes. With the new Media Transfer beta app, its been a breeze to get music on my N91.

  • http://technoblabber.abhishta.net Abhishta Paranjpe

    I have a mac, so I’ve been using iTunes. With the new Media Transfer beta app, its been a breeze to get music on my N91.

  • JonnyBruha

    Ricky, there’s plenty more ways to get your music onto your device. Symella allows you to download songs OTA, you can use SoonR to download your music from your PC OTA (regardless of how close you are to your computer), you can use the Nokia Music Manager (which no one seems to like anyway), you can drag and drop the music files directly into the Music folder on the memory card, and you can sync the memory card with any media player that can see any mass storage device.

  • JonnyBruha

    Ricky, there’s plenty more ways to get your music onto your device. Symella allows you to download songs OTA, you can use SoonR to download your music from your PC OTA (regardless of how close you are to your computer), you can use the Nokia Music Manager (which no one seems to like anyway), you can drag and drop the music files directly into the Music folder on the memory card, and you can sync the memory card with any media player that can see any mass storage device.

  • http://profile.typekey.com/symbianguru/ Ricky Cadden

    JonnyBruha – It’s true, but I’m looking at it from a consumer standpoint. The easiest way to manage on both your PC and phone, without duplication. I suppose (and you know I hate saying it like this) I’m looking to replicate the iPod/iTunes relationship with my S60 device.

    I tried:
    Winamp – tries to sync via bt constantly, and errored out 90% of the time
    Drag-n-Drop – not PC management, too manual
    Nokia Music Manager – EXTREMELY RAM-hungry, not something I’d use on my desktop
    iTunes – above
    Windows Media Player – above

    iTunes and WMP are a draw, IMO.

  • http://profile.typekey.com/symbianguru/ Ricky Cadden

    JonnyBruha – It’s true, but I’m looking at it from a consumer standpoint. The easiest way to manage on both your PC and phone, without duplication. I suppose (and you know I hate saying it like this) I’m looking to replicate the iPod/iTunes relationship with my S60 device.

    I tried:
    Winamp – tries to sync via bt constantly, and errored out 90% of the time
    Drag-n-Drop – not PC management, too manual
    Nokia Music Manager – EXTREMELY RAM-hungry, not something I’d use on my desktop
    iTunes – above
    Windows Media Player – above

    iTunes and WMP are a draw, IMO.

  • JonnyBruha

    I do admit that after reading your write up, I want to give iTunes another shot. I don’t transfer nearly as much music so frequently that it would make a difference if it had to be transferred in a playlist or not. I’d use MediaMonkey like I used to on my old machine, but now that I’m running something with a dual core processor and Vista Premium which allows both WMP and iTunes to open in a couple seconds, it may be worth it to take advantage of those with my N95 now.

  • JonnyBruha

    I do admit that after reading your write up, I want to give iTunes another shot. I don’t transfer nearly as much music so frequently that it would make a difference if it had to be transferred in a playlist or not. I’d use MediaMonkey like I used to on my old machine, but now that I’m running something with a dual core processor and Vista Premium which allows both WMP and iTunes to open in a couple seconds, it may be worth it to take advantage of those with my N95 now.

  • JonnyBruha

    Here’s a friendly tip: Make sure the common folder name used to recognize your connected smartphone is unique. iTunes Agent recognized the Music folder on my N95 in mass storage mode and the Music folder on my slave drive simultaneously and decided to delete ALL of my music stored on that drive, leaving only what I kept to be synced. I have it all backed up in one form or another, but this sucks something fierce.

  • JonnyBruha

    Here’s a friendly tip: Make sure the common folder name used to recognize your connected smartphone is unique. iTunes Agent recognized the Music folder on my N95 in mass storage mode and the Music folder on my slave drive simultaneously and decided to delete ALL of my music stored on that drive, leaving only what I kept to be synced. I have it all backed up in one form or another, but this sucks something fierce.

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