Can't play music from my iphone on itunes?

Me too, am still waiting for an answer. Like I said in my previous post, I just want to be able to listen to the music that is already loaded on the iPhone. Not to reload the entire library to my work computer.

My iPhone is set to Manually Manage at home. However, at work (a DIFFERENT location and DIFFERENT computer)will NOT allow me to check that box that say "Manually Manage Music" without trying to erase all my songs.

Have you tried it and see if it actually erases the songs? If it does, you can simply reload them when you get home.

Yes, already tried that. It's such a silly thing to try, but I have tried it before I even posted the first post. Why on earth will the simplest function been "disallowed" in an iPhone? Why do I HAVE to sync in order to listen to my music?

Just a thought.
Is your work computer authorized for your iTunes account?
iTunes menu Store -> Authorize computer.

I too would like to add my frustration to that already sounded. I used to bring various iPods into work to listen to my music with no problems. The computer is one of the five authorized to play my songs. If my iPod works, I think my iPhone should as well. Added to it is that my disappointment that my car stereo, which again worked fine with my iPod, didn't work with my touch or iPhone. In that case I can understand, but if I can SEE my music on the computer but it's greyed out for some unknown reason, some stupid software limitation, I don't think that's right.

All of this said, I swear I got it to work on two computers once. I can't remember what options I picked or what process I went through, but when I upgraded the software on the iPhone it disappeared. If I have any luck again I will post to let everyone know...

I have authorized my work computer for my iTunes account, but still no luck. I still cannot play music straight from my iPhone.

Add this family to the users who are more than a little frustrated by this artificial limitation.

This is so maddening. Raise your hand if you paid the extra $100 for a 16GB iPhone because you wanted it to work more like your 30GB iPod, only to find out that the iPhone cannot be used at remote locations through iTunes.

Listen, Apple, it's stupid enough that we can't manual sync from multiple computers (my iPod could) but to not even let iTunes PLAY the music on my iTunes is ridiculous. I can plug in the headphone jack and play the music that way, but I have to touch the screen to control the music rather than using iTunes.

Worst software ever.

Add my husband and I too, to the list of disgruntled iPhone owners who sit in silence at work now. Thank GOD I did not upgrade to the 16GB thinking I'd replace my iPod.

1. Copy the files 'iTunes Library' and 'iTunes Music Library.xml' from the iTunes folder on the computer where your music is stored to the iTunes folder on the second computer.
2. Open iTunes on the second computer and attach your iPhone.
3. In the iPhone's 'Summary' tab, click 'Manually manage music and videos'.

Magic! (At least it worked on my Macs. I haven't tested with Windows.)

Has anybody tried upgrading iTunes Plus? Supposedly DRM-free which might make a difference. Still doesn't do anything for all the old CDs we ripped.

Come on Apple... you have such great products. Why do you always hinder them with limitations.

<Edited by Moderator>

I'm also mystified about this. My (personal) laptop is my syncing point. My (work) G5 is not. Both are authorized to my account. I just want to be able to hook up my iPhone to the G5 to play music with the convenience of iTunes to navigate the music, and my keyboard controls to switch between songs, mute, etc.

This works with the latest generation of iPod Touch.

An officemate handed me his one afternoon, I hooked it up to USB, and was able to play the music in iTunes. Don't care about adding music from my computer or copying his music off the iPod -- just being able to control it from iTunes from any computer where I connect it.

There are workarounds out there that involve copying iTunes xml files around, but I detest having to do workarounds for things that should Just Work.

Apple, please address this issue.

I absolutely agree Damacus — this should 'just work'! Apple, isn't that your line? The computer, operating system, and in this case the iPod, are 'all made by the same company'… They should all play nicely together. No excuses for this.

In another thread, someone was trying to defend Apple by saying it all has to do with some limitation regarding 'disk mode'. Well in my book, the iPod Touch and iPhone should work as an external drive too. Why not?? If it's only for the convenience of being able to yank the cable out of your iPhone without unmounting it first, then at least give those of us who want to use it as a drive the option of turning on that feature.

I hope that Apple addresses these issues, but in the meantime I do recommend people try the workaround. It really is pretty painless and it does work. You don't have to copy your music across, just those two library files. Heck, it should even work with just one of the files (can't remember which one iTunes uses by default).

I would also like to express my disappointment on this issue. One of the major reasons I purchased an iphone was so that I could consolidate both my cell phone and ipod into one device. Now I still have to bring my ipod to work if I want to play my music through itunes since I do not wish to copy my songs to my work computer. Very disappointing considering how much I love everything else about this phone. Sounds like it should be a pretty simple software fix to allow this. Hopefully something will be done about it.

It is not something to "fix". This is done by design. It was not overlooked.