iTunes 9 - Mini Player weird behaviour

This is to make it like the Windows version, and I HATE IT. I always thought the Windows version was a stupid UI decision to adhere to the Windows way of handling the minimize, maximize, and close buttons. Why would we want it on a Mac...EVER. I think some noise needs to be made to fix it.

Very strange. I'm glad someone figured it out though. I filled out a bug report as well. Just hope they check it b/c iTunes 9 is not an option for what iTunes you have, so I just picked iTunes 8.1.

This isn't a bug.

The behavior of the + button in previous versions of iTunes was incorrect, even according to Apple's own guidelines, and they have now fixed it.

I agree though that the current solution for toggling between mini and full-size players isn't good.

i don't think anyone is doubting that the green button now acts like any other green button.

the issue is that it is a pretty sad sack of a reason to ruin end-user functionality on a feature that predates OSX even existing.

i don't think i even use the stupid green buttons ever except for in iTunes. primarily because i don't come from a "switcher" background and don't see the point making an app fill the entire screen except in very limited instances (FCP / some Adobe apps).

Apple manages to break their own UI guidelines in many other places... why was this particular one important enough to change?

I filed my bug report to add to the flood of noise they will be getting over this. I'm not one to complain much. In teh last 10 years, I haven't really had many things to complain about with Apple or their stuff, but this behavior is absolutely idiotic.

If they just had to change it, the least they could do was warn us. I kept thinking my iTunes was broken,...

First "complaint" I think I have ever sent to Apple... but the Miniplayer button is such a cool feature with what-used-to-be easy access. It may be my most used feature of the app.

Couldn't agree more. I was worried I was alone in this opinion, but it seems as if a lot of people are ticked off: http://twitter.com/#search?q=mini%20player

The irony is, the old behavior was actually more HIG compliant, too. If you're a developer, please consider duping rdar://7209316 "No button to switch to Mini Player in iTunes 9"

I don't think this is an "improvement". There should be at least a preference option to switch to the Mini Player pre iTunes 9 if they want to keep it this way. It's really annoying.

I was wondering if it was broken, then I wondered if I was the only one who would complain about the idiotic change. I feel better knowing I'm not alone in this and yes, I filled out the feedback form complaining. I've been using iTunes since the initial release and while I had to make some adjustments over the years this change is just stupid. Why screw the core Apple user in favor of a switcher, especially when the selling point is 'ease of use'?

Ok back to the expand like windows default size feature...we get it (but don't like it).

Now why not just make a button that says Mini Player or a small icon with an expand contract arrow or something? Its not rocket science any interface designer could figure this out. I think Apple over thinks things sometimes. They should have got it right from the start.

Also why not give the user a little decision about how their interface looks with the choice of a black or white background jeesh they really give you no creative options!! Music players of the past used to give you skins and everything!!

I went into System Preferences>Keyboard & Mouse>Keyboard Shortcuts and created two new items for iTunes:

'Switch to Mini Player', and 'Switch from Mini Player', and set them both to cmd-m. And you can set it to whatever you want.

Message was edited by: Indigo Kelleigh

graaah! how aggravating. i, too, use(d) that minimize button ALL THE TIME to switch between the miniplayer and the full-screened itunes.

thanks for posting the feedback link, whoever that was. i will definitely be sending in my complaint to add to the chorus.

x23, I agree with you 100%. I never use the green button in any application at all, EXCEPT for iTunes to get the miniplayer. Now they have made the method to easily move iTunes out of the way more difficult and not intuitive.

If they wanted to force interface guidelines, fine. The least they could have done was to add another button somewhere along the iTunes control bar at the top to invoke miniplayer.

Another bad decision by Apple.

Agreed, it's an incredibly stupid change for them to make.

Feedback sent!

Just wanted to add my agreement that the green "+" is far more useful to me to switch to and from the mini-player than what it does now... In every other instance, this button toggles between two states. Why three in this one? (mini-to-window, window-to-expanded, expanded-to-window)

Anyway, I completely agree with the consensus here to switch it back.