Why is iTunes so complicated?

One way to check compatibility of your mp3 files with iTunes is to copy them to the Automatically Add to iTunes folder within the iTunes library structure. If there's something in the format of the files that doesn't work with iTunes you'll find that they get moved to a subfolder called "Not Added". Spoken word material sometimes uses odd combinations of sample size & rate that iTunes may not handle.

Its also possible that tags within the mp3 files (or lack of them) may result in the files being added to iTunes but not showing up where you expect them to be. To check this:

• Click on My Music to select your complete library
• Select Songs view from the dropdown at the top right of the iTunes window
• Make sure that the Date Added column is enabled, then click on this to sort everything from newest to oldest - do you see anything listed that could be your language course files?
• You could try the same thing in the Audiobooks listing, though I think that iTunes always handles mp3 files as Music - only dedicated formats such as .m4b and Audible's .aa files are automatically imported as audiobooks.

With regard to audiobooks, this is what happen...

... and when I change the Media Kind from Music to Audiobook, the same song is now an "audiobook":

But note that when I clicked on the Books icon (1. in the screenshot above) the first view was My Books, not My Audiobooks. So it would be easy to assume that there's nothing there until you click on My Audiobooks.

hhgttg27 wrote:

One way to check compatibility of your mp3 files with iTunes is to copy them to the Automatically Add to iTunes folder within the iTunes library structure. If there's something in the format of the files that doesn't work with iTunes you'll find that they get moved to a subfolder called "Not Added". Spoken word material sometimes uses odd combinations of sample size & rate that iTunes may not handle.

Its also possible that tags within the mp3 files (or lack of them) may result in the files being added to iTunes but not showing up where you expect them to be. To check this:

• Click on My Music to select your complete library
• Select Songs view from the dropdown at the top right of the iTunes window
• Make sure that the Date Added column is enabled, then click on this to sort everything from newest to oldest - do you see anything listed that could be your language course files?
• You could try the same thing in the Audiobooks listing, though I think that iTunes always handles mp3 files as Music - only dedicated formats such as .m4b and Audible's .aa files are automatically imported as audiobooks.

Thanks so much lot for this, sorting by date added shows that the audio files were in fact added into the middle of my music collection, I just didn't see them! I couldn't then seem to sync them but adding them all to a playlist has made it possible. Thanks so much, this was driving me crazy! Thanks to other guys who tried to help too. I'm syncing them now so should hopefully work fine.

I have a lot of friends using apple stuff (iphones,macs, ipods, ipads... name it). Obviously not all my friends have or like iPhone. The largest part of them use windows computers. I personally used always windows computers (from time to time Linux to see what's new there) and bought once a MAC which I returned after a week. The computer was nice but the OS it's garbage - what they don't want to understand is I bought the **** computer and it's mine. They should stop trying to be my big brother!. I switched to an iPhone three years ago (it was the best phone which my carrier was offering at the time). The phone it was/is ok. A very good medium-high phone. Built to last as the warranty (I bought two in the same period of time and both start having issues one month after they went out of warranty). I iOS it's easy... almost for brain dead easy... That's good or bad depends of your opinion. The main issue which I had and almost everybody which I know have is THE IDIOTIC ITUNES! I am about to change my phone and I seriously thing to go to android and the main reason is this stupid application! This morning I tried to transfer ONE song to my phone. I don't want to create a playlist or to add it in a play list, or other over complications. At the moment I have ZERO songs on my phone. I want only one song and no playlist. I cannot see how someone could make more complicated this simple task to transfer ONE SONG to a device! I think they had a contest who can put more actions between the user and the target and the dummies guy in apple employees pool won! This is not about new ways. Or wanting or not wanting to learn new stuff! It's more about APPLE wanting to have THE WAY! They want to have their apple way even if that proves the worst option! I asked a lot of people and I couldn't find one which has a slightly positive opinion about this junk named iTunes! Not even one. I have few friends which are quite fanboys and even they are laughing and just agreeing with everybody. Search online to see how many people and for how much time complained about this app. And what APPLE does? As usually they have no fault the user doesn't do it right. I think I heard that before!!!

It's so frustrating! I had to write it here!

Yes, it's the iTunes. It used to be easy, but now it isn't. Purchasing is easy enough. But then some purchased songs it doesn't seem to want to let you listen too. I have Googled for information and help and the "User guide" etc. It is easy however, to move songs around and add them to playlists on the actual device, on an iPad mini it is at least. Not all people are good at all this tech stuff so no of course we won't all know what we're doing. (Some stuff I'm saying btw are mostly in response to what others have said, not you haha) But yh, we just want it easy haha!

I am with you on this one. I almost threw the mouse across the room. As much as the geek community seems to think this is simple it truly is not. I just want to add a few new songs to my I pad and it appears not to be a drag and drop feature. To weed through all of the tutorials and suggestions turns into a couple hour adventure. Not worth it really. Apple is just like the government...instead of allowing us to do what we want, they think they know what we need. Get the message Apple. Keep it simple. Us older folk don't want the wheel reinvented every time we buy or use a new device. There are times I think if I could go back to vinyl records and turntables it would be a welcome journey. Apple has a way of making people feel stupid...or old. I'll get over it and call one of my kids.

On yeah and by the way....Pandora is a nice alternative.

I 100% agree. You shouldn't have to read the user's guide for a music player. It's the most unintuitive Apple software I've used.

No point ranting on here though, these people will defend Apple to the death.

The OP is entitled to rant or are you a self appointed moderator?

Itunes is an abomination - end of story.

No he is not, read the Terms Of Use for this site.