Genius sidebar gone with update 10.0.1

I agree with Apple's decision to incorporate Ping to iTunes without having to switch to Store section. That's good if you use Ping (hey, it's free, if you want it, do not use it!). What I dislike is the decision of removing the iTunes Genius bar. Maybe some people do not use it, but I considered many of its recommendations and I think that helped me to discover new music on a better way than Ping. I really hope that Apple considers return to the Genius Bar next iTunes upgrades.

So basically, Apple's removed something that was useful and entertaining for me and replaced it with something that is completely useless and irritating to me, and that's an "upgrade"? Enough with the niche social network garbage! At least give me the option of switching the Genius sidebar back on!

I have downgraded to versin 10 too as like many other people here, I have no interest in Ping, but I find Genius incredibly useful. Thanks to Sekoya for the link and Claus Lund for the instructions on how to downgrade.
Apple peeps - please give us the option of having the Genius sidebar rather than just replacing it with a Ping sidebar. I won't update my iTunes until I have this option.

PLEASE, PLEASE RETURN THE GENIUS SIDEBAR (which disappeared with 10.0.1) and CHUCK PING in the BIN!! If I had been made aware that the Genius Sidebar was going to be replaced with "Ping" I would NOT have updated. PLEASE TAKE NOTE APPLE!!

While I undertand Apple is trying to accelerate adoption of their fledgling social network, what I don't understand is why they aren't giving us a choice.

The Genius sidebar was useful and actually drove more music sales (at least for me) because I would see related songs, preview them right in the sidebar, and then buy with one click. Since I don't use Ping, and any music that appears is totally unpersonalized to my tastes, there is a much smaller chance I will buy anything.

The removal of the Genius sidebar is not only a horrible customer satisfaction decision, but also a poor business move.

I TOALLY AGREE - COME ON APPLE - PLEASE LISTEN - GIVE US BACK GENIUS SIDEBAR..

Same problem here so this is a plea to Apple versus adding any real value to the thread. Please bring the Genius Sidebar back!!! I'm not sure what Ping is but at least let me continue to use the features that I like while I figure out what the heck Ping is and why I would want to use it and better yet how do I get the same functionality out of it that I enjoyed in the Genius sidebar.

I have just used the iTunes feedback option to complain about the removal of the Genius Sidebar.

Good idea Fredrik. Perhaps if they hear from enough of us, they'll bring back the option of the Genius sidebar.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

Just submitted my feedback too.

Apple could have made iTunes Grand Central compliant or they could have made the app OpenCL compliant or they could have made it 64-bit... ...but, rather than do anything that actually upgraded their software, Apple eliminated useful functionality and, worse, didn't disclose that fact to their enormous user base (and still haven't to my knowledge). I shake my head. Inarguably arrogant and a misuse of their loyal customers' trust.

Bizarre and shameful.

Don't you just love progress, what ever happened to choice, itunes have done us a massive disservice. I found the genius bar very helpful, I have a love for a huge number of artists, only 2 of which appear in the Ping list, which is, as a service, about as much use as a chocolate tea pot. Well it is Roll Back time and disable updates. Thanks APPLE this type of progressive is not in the least bit helpful.

Bring back the Genius Sidebar!!!

I just provided feedback at the link given in this string previously.

Apple's iTunes version selector dropdown doesn't even include iTunes 10 of any stripe. Apparently, Apple feels its latest iTunes is without blemish and therefore requires no user feedback.

I have more than 80,000 tracks in iTunes. The Genius Sidebar evolved to be more and more a tool of merit. I began to use it more and more. And now, without explication, excuse or notification, it is no more. This is really bad form.

Pioneer

I'm really starting to hate Apple, and I used to be a major fan. First iPhone IOS 10.4 update, which deleted my phone's music, and then wouldn't work with my car interface. Spent half a day having to restore 10.3.2. Now, arbitrarily they destroy the genius sidebar for some trendy rubbishy ping social networking guff, which I can already get fine with Spotify & Facebook (and which makes sense in that context). AND, they don't even give us the option of replacing the ping sidebar with the genius one, which I really liked. Again, I've had to go back to 10.0, which in itself is bad enough, but at least has the genius sidebar.
These people used to know their onions, now they know squat. Soon people will start switching off in droves, unless they remember that customers need Information and CHOICE, not some authoritarian nanny knows best approach.

Dick

Thanks for the link. I registered a complaint as well. Keep up the feedback, let's get the Genius Sidebar back.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html