iTunes vs. Winamp
I’ve been using iTunes for some time now. I really love using it, but I found a few cons. Right now, it uses about 40 MB of RAM. To me, that seems like an awful lot of RAM just for a MP3 player. I think it is most likely due to my large amount of mp3s loaded into it. You also cannot change the look of iTunes with skins and there are no plug-ins for it (on PC anyway). But the positives remain there, it has the best way of browsing and managing your mp3s, the list is very easy to read, and smart playlists are awesome.
Meanwhile Beta 2 of Winamp5 came out recently. Wondering where Winamp4 went? I really don’t know. Winamp5 is supposed to be Winamp2’s stable engine, with Winamp3’s skinning. If anyone used Winamp3 for a good amount of time will know it likes to give people problems. But Winamp5 is great, it uses well under 10 MB of RAM, loads up much faster, has complete skinning flexibility, has a plethora of plug-ins, and many have come accustomed to using Winamp. Winamp does have a Media Library, but it’s not as functional as iTunes’.
I have not yet decided if I would ditch iTunes and go back to Winamp. But I’m leaning towards Winamp because of several plug-ins it has that I like using. Or perhaps I will use both for the different situations.
Anonymous Said:
on December 28, 2003 at 10:01 am
I would like to correct something.
The WinAmp 5 is not named after Winamp 2 and 3.
Well.. in some way it is. 2+3 = 5. So It is Winamp 5.
The iTunes takes lots of memory not because it loads lots of mp3 files.
Don’t load any mp3 files and compare those programs. If you use Winamp 3 skins with the Winamp 5, then it also uses lots of memory. But in general it isn’t.
There are many differences I think.
The iTunes has “Music Store” interface and resources for it. The iTunes has “iPod” code for using with it.
It has better sound capability, and intelligent (smart) playlist feature, etc.
Well, if you listen to pop music only, then you will not differentiate the sound quality of the two programs, but with classical musics, the iTunes produces better sound.
Probably iTunes does something to enhance sound. However I hope that future version of Windows version of the iTunes will be smaller.
Anonymous Said:
on January 19, 2004 at 11:17 am
Check the new version of Winamp. It has an awesome media library feature
fred Said:
on February 10, 2004 at 10:54 am
its the best from winamp 2 and the best from winamp 3 = 5
Siddy Said:
on February 11, 2004 at 6:38 am
I was a Winamp bigot until iTunes came out.
I don’t have an iPod, but the iTunes app itself is a much better tool for large MP3 file collections.
And you can change mass ID3 tags?!
Holy moly! This is what I’ve been wishing for!
owen Said:
on February 24, 2004 at 12:37 pm
I like how itunes movies my files around and it’s works better went you have multiple people using you machine. I wrote a review too
Slunk Said:
on April 28, 2004 at 10:28 am
I’m trying out iTunes as I write this. As for “improving sound”, I think you’re just feeling the pyschological effects that make a pepsi feel colder just because its can is blue, :P. I do like itunes smart playlist feature and organization of music, but honestly, winamp’s is practically the same. The only difference, is that winamp does take a lot less resources and you can navigate through the library much more efficiently.
Slunk Said:
on April 28, 2004 at 12:29 pm
Smart playlist is equivalent (hope i spelled that correctly) to adding a “view” in winamps media library. The one and only thing that itunes has that winamp5 doesnt (or maybe i haven’t figured out how to yet) is sharing music with people on a network. However, winamp has TV and radio stations. And as far as the quality of the music, winamp has equalizers for that. iTunes has a wonderful interface, but it does hog resources. Even though winamp 3 skins are slower than 2.x, those skins (3) in winamp 5 load a lot faster than in winamp3. ie. after much deliberation, i have to go with winamp…now if only someone would make a decent iTune skin, ;).
Slunk Said:
on April 28, 2004 at 11:16 pm
Sorry for that double post, but I just found out how to mass edit files in winamp in the media library, just choose a group of files and right click > edit selected items;
TheNoize Said:
on August 1, 2004 at 9:47 pm
I used RightMark Audio Analyser to test the output signals of WMP, Winamp and iTunes, when playing the test signal from MP3 at different kbps, WAV file and Audio CD.
I concluded that in fact, iTunes does some kind of sound enhancement WITH MP3 only…some kind of noise reduction, because the output noise floor of mp3 files was lower than it’s physically possible (- 100 dB). That made me roll out iTunes for mp3, because I have a small pro home studio and I want signal purity. I don’t want any EQ’s or enhancers f*cking up the sound definition and distorting it…
Windows media player has some kind of problem when reading audio cd’s. Don’t use it for that. Signal level is lower, and quality is worse. Reading WAV files I found no difference in any of them.
I never understood why some people actually USE the EQ in winamp (and when they say winamp has better sound quality they always talk about tweaking the EQ)… Well… 1 common user knowing more about sound EQ than the mixing engineer/producer who mixed the album…seems a little weird to me. The EQ is obsolete, unless you have a really terrible sound card and speakers.
Anonymous Said:
on August 10, 2004 at 5:02 pm
lambe-me o tomate