Disliking the Look of iTunes 10

One problem with changing the style of your products with every iteration, eventually you’ll run out of great ideas and have to settle with something mediocre just to have your new product look different. I’m no expert on modern software design aesthetics but what did they do to iTunes?

First of all, the new logo just doesn’t look like an Apple icon. I’ll have to do a little digging, but I swear I’ve seen a very similar icon on a third party Windows music app. Its not that it’s bad, it just doesn’t look like Apple.

But the interface is what disappoints the most. Monotone can be very stylish, but the new iTunes is so flat and faded that its hard to see on a dim screen, neither edgy or hip. Also, the spacing in the Album Art view is odd. By default it hides album art if you only have a couple of songs, but it still floats the album title left, leaving space to the right, making columns wider and the whole interface harder to navigate. Actually, everything about the interface feels harder to navigate.

Finally, I just don’t know what to make of Ping and will reserve judgement, except to ask “just who is this for?”  I would love to hide it (same with Genius), simplify my sidebar, but its obviously meant to be a marketing tool and will live permanently with the store.

I’ve been using iTunes since the very beginning and have never been as bothered by its design until now. Too much is being shoe-horned into it. Having lots of options is a good thing, but I’d appreciate it if they let the user decide which options were visible.