What do you like for iTunes sync?

[inertianinja]

I came from an iPhone, using iTunes Match, which is a fantastic service ($25/year, matching & uploads, instant sync and update across devices).
I have a lot of playlists, the most important of which are Smart Playlists that are sorted by Date Added and their 5-Star Ratings.

I tried - very hard - to use Google Music. Even though it now supports 5-star ratings, it is a mess.
Changes to playlists do not update on my device. There is no way to sort by Date Added. New songs go to the bottom of playlists. If I change Playlist order on my phone, the app goes nuts (songs start disappearing, the app crashes, etc). This is the way it was on my HTC One X, and it's the same on my One even with yesterday's update to Google Music. Also, having to manage two libraries (Google Play and iTunes) is starting to wear on me.

Another wrinkle is that the One doesn't have USB Mass Storage mode, so I can't even give DoubleTwist a try....I'd have to buy the $10 AirSync option.

Does anyone have a solution for iTunes sync that will sync my Smart Playlists, Sorting (date added), etc?

 

[TimmyB]

I came from an iPhone, using iTunes Match, which is a fantastic service ($25/year, matching & uploads, instant sync and update across devices).
I have a lot of playlists, the most important of which are Smart Playlists that are sorted by Date Added and their 5-Star Ratings.

I tried - very hard - to use Google Music. Even though it now supports 5-star ratings, it is a mess.
Changes to playlists do not update on my device. There is no way to sort by Date Added. New songs go to the bottom of playlists. If I change Playlist order on my phone, the app goes nuts (songs start disappearing, the app crashes, etc). This is the way it was on my HTC One X, and it's the same on my One even with yesterday's update to Google Music. Also, having to manage two libraries (Google Play and iTunes) is starting to wear on me.

Another wrinkle is that the One doesn't have USB Mass Storage mode, so I can't even give DoubleTwist a try....I'd have to buy the $10 AirSync option.

Does anyone have a solution for iTunes sync that will sync my Smart Playlists, Sorting (date added), etc?

I use iSyncr (and, their associated player, Rocket Player) and have nothing but good to say about both. The full version of each costs $3.99, but when I know of all the headaches people go through for their music syncing, four bucks is nothing. This is especially true for those of us who have our entire library on iTunes and don't want to go through the hassle of switching it all over to another application on our desktop. iSyncr brings over all your playlists that you tell it to, and checks for changes every time you hook your One up, via usb. Their is also a wifi setting, but I don't make enough changes to my music to warrant that. If I add music to my itunes library, I'll plug my phone in afterwards and, bam, it's on my phone.

 

[Kylazin]

Thanks, I'm going to check out iSyncr. I like the new Google Music with subscription, but it just doesn't over the same level of control as iTunes, not to mention the desktop application.

 

[TimmyB]

Thanks, I'm going to check out iSyncr. I like the new Google Music with subscription, but it just doesn't over the same level of control as iTunes, not to mention the desktop application.

Good customer service, as well. I had a couple issues with my new One, which they helped me resolve; turned out it was an XP issue, which I still have on one of my dinosaur computers at home.

Love your avatar! I grew up with Bostons in the house!!!

 

[semp1]

Google desktop manager application. Only software worth using. Clearly that's not working for you. I never liked the star system on iTunes so none of my music is rated.

 

[inertianinja]

Google desktop manager application. Only software worth using. Clearly that's not working for you. I never liked the star system on iTunes so none of my music is rated.

I'm one of the few people out there that likes Android & iTunes.

I never used to bother with the 5-Star system, but eventually it became a great way to manage a large library with a small device / data caps.
I set up a series of Smart Playlists that will keep only my newest music on the device without having to do any manual work.

5-Star = the best new music that I have added, sorted by Date Added
4-Star = "Must Have" music that I don't listen to every day, but don't want to be without (e.g. old Pearl Jam albums, etc)
3-Star = Music that I want rotated on and off the device. If the song has been skipped recently, it is replaced with a new song.
1-Star = Exclude from all playlists
0-Star + Added after a certain date = all my new music that has yet to be rated

This is a little OCD but it's working for me. I find Google's original "Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down" system too simplistic.

 

[jettie1767]

I still keep all my songs on iTunes. I use iSyncR and it's great!