Soooo...

[saviourseph]

Image via CrunchBase

When I moved over to Windows I installed iTunes, mainly for the sake of having something familiar around. Here's the thing though - I hate it. It's fugly (it doesn't fit into the desktop properly even on Mac, let alone Windows), it's slow, it uses too much CPU and it's obscenely huge and bloated for something as simple as a music player. So I'm looking for something to replace it. However, I'm kind of unfamiliar with Windows software, so I'm not sure what would be the best tool for the job.

There are some things I like about iTunes though - I wouldn't be using it otherwise. So, is there another Windows media player that has the following features?

• Automatic playlist building based on genre a la Genius (shuffle doesn't really cut it with a music collection as fucked upeclectic as mine)
• Last.fm support
• Playback of m4p files (I only have a few, but I'd quite like to keep them around)
• Automatic file organisation (sorting music you add into Artist/Album folders)
• iPod syncing (not totally necessary as I was thinking of selling my iPod)
• The option of a miniplayer so it's not taking up the entire screen
• Able to handle huge music collections (>16k files)

Any suggestions?

Comments

[schonste.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering about this for a long time; iTunes takes up too many resources, especially with my enormous music library, and has a particularly suspicious way of organizing my files. Unfortunately, though, it's really the best music program that covers all my bases (and I don't even use Genius since the iTunes store doesn't recognize half of my music lol :( ).

However, you can look at Songbird, which I stopped using because it didn't support burning CDs (and that's vital for me, since I listen to playlists in the car via oldschool CD :P). However it runs better and is, in general, pretty dang great. Looking at the website now looks like it even expanded more, so you can see if they have what you're looking for.

[paulnolan.livejournal.com]

I tried Songbird a while back - seemed fairly awesome. Just been looking through the available plugins and it appears there's a Genius-type thing available for it too - I think I'll give it a try. Ty :D

[schonste.livejournal.com]

np! I SAVED THE DAY

[daveisdead.livejournal.com]

Can't help you out, but I will agree that iTunes blows ass!

I use Winamp 2.91.

Aphex Twin owns. Have you ever seen this?

[paulnolan.livejournal.com]

Winamp's still around? :O

Does it have any sort of library management now, or is it still the same basic player+equaliser+playlist thing it used to be?

And yeah - possibly the best musical easter egg ever. :D

[daveisdead.livejournal.com]

I had to go to OldVersion.com to get that version of WinAmp, but I think there is a current version.

But it's a pretty simple program, I don't think there's any sort of library management.

[yunghustlaz.livejournal.com]

The current winamp does indeed have some library management. But it's very small, no bloat, and it doesn't even default. You have to open the media library extend to use it.

It works for me, because I organize my music in folder, and just play those folders. I'm a fan of the album experience.

[wille-zur-musik.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how its progressed in terms of miniplayer/iPod support (somehow I doubt it) but foobar2k was pretty damn amazing at how customizable it was and how downright powerful. I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't supported well anymore, though...

...you should get FLELE just for lulz either way, its WAY too entertaining. (Someone needs to make a Roxas skin...)

[harpylink234.livejournal.com]

Indeed itunes on windows is a massive tramp. Guessing you tried using Photoshop at the same time. :/ A massive train wreck. Not sure what you can use as a replacement. Though I'm sure you messed around with media player. Not amazing, but it kinda works. *shrug*