Letting go of Apple

I am trying to let go of Apple.

I don't mean completely, my main home computer is a MacBook, and I don't want to, not do I need to get a new computer for home.

The main problem is with the two applications I use most on the Mac are just starting to annoy me.

The first is iPhoto.  I don't use it every day, but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  I think Google Picasa is just as good, and some things that I might even prefer about it (firstly it is cross platform).  iPhoto hasn't been updated since early 2009, and if a new version of iLife came out if would have to have some super features I can't even think of to make me want to upgrade, and it probably wouldn't be long for Google to catch up anyway.

The next application is iTunes.

It has actually always been a program I have liked, but it really does seem to just be getting slower every time it is updated.

I have also realized that iTunes is music prison.  Once you are in, it is very difficult to get out.  Every thing is locked down, and you have to do things their way.  For a long time I liked their way, and there are still things I like very much about iTunes (Genius, Smart Playlists, etc).

What made the change.

It was time for me to get a cell phone upgrade, and I decided to get a Samsung Galaxy S, which is a smart phone that runs the Google Android OS.

I am now trying to move my life to Android, and off my iPod, and the biggest thing to think about was iTunes, etc.

So far, the changes I have made, I prefer my new way of doing it.

Audio Podcasts:

I am using a Google Labs app called Listen.

Listen uses a folder in Google Reader (which I have been using anyway) to keep track of what Podcasts I subscribe to.  What is great about this, is that I can manage my subscriptions from anywhere.  I don't need to go home and sync my podcasts.  I can sync on WiFi anywhere (or on 3G with a warning message).

The only thing I do not like about it is that it does not play podcasts at double speed like my iPod used to, but it is still a Labs product, so more features might come.

Video Podcasts:

I am still using iTunes for this.

I am thinking of looking at Miro.  I have not tried it yet, I should just download it and give it a try.

Audio Books:

I have found an Application Called Audio Book Player 2. I have not yet used it to much, but it seems fairly simple, and it works.  It also doesn't seem to have a double speed option, but there will always be someone willing to develop a better application.

Music:

To listen to music I am using an app called TuneWiki.  It is a pretty awesome little app.  It automatically downloads Album Art and lyrics.  It will also show you what other people close to you are listening to.

I am not syncing music at the moment.  I know there are options, like DoubleTwist if I decide to go that way.

I still want to decide how I want to manage my music on the computer before I thing about whether or not I want it synced.  I might decide to just mange it myself in files and folders.

Photographs:

Well now that I am using Picasa to keep my photos in, all I do is upload them to Picasa Web Albums, and they automatically show on my phone.  I can look at all my galleries, and look through and brows any pics I want.

Thats all I can think of right now.  I still want to make time to go through my iPod Touch and see what apps I can put onto my Android phone to replace them.

I will blog that list when I do it.