iTunes 12.4.0.119 won't save TV "Release date" field

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Level 1

16 points

iTunes 12.4.0.119 won't save TV "Release date" field

The newest version of iTunes (version 12.4.0.119) on my MacBook Pro running OS X El Capitan (10.11.15) won't save the "Release date" field in TV show episodes. I can't even edit the field! This is also a bug on the Windows version (see discussion here: Cannot save "Release Date" field in iTunes/Windows 12.4.0.119

I seriously wonder if Apple actually does any regression testing before releasing new versions. It seems that they're only concerned about getting it out but don't give a second thought to making sure they didn't break any functionality! In a former lifetime I was a software engineer and I would get my *** chewed out by my boss if I ever let something like this slip through to the testing group! We did our own regression testing and only once we felt that we didn't hurt any existing functionality would we then give it to the QA group.

Anyone else here remember when iTunes 12 first was released back around Oct 2014? Not only did it show the "Release date" as "6/5/1905" but it actually changed the "Release date" field in all of the TV shows in my library. That was flat out data corruption (and I never heard Apple ever apologize for this).

This time it's looking like we can't set the field value but it isn't changing existing entries.

It's odd how a company with such a great reputation in so many areas can fail so spectacularly so often.

Anyone taking bets on how long it'll take them to fix this? I'm guessing by July 4th, 2016. Yea, I know it's a bit optimistic and it'll like take them well into the fall but I'm hoping for a quick fix. They hardly ever get bugs fixed quickly so maybe they'll finally realize that people like it when products continue to work properly!

Larry.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 20, 2016 8:17 AM

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Answer 1

AAGJMB

Level 1

4 points

May 26, 2016 6:03 PM in response to lschwarcz

I am having the exact same problem on this version of iTunes for Windows, but I am able to edit release date on my MacBook Pro Late 2012 model. I reported this bug to Apple but of course have not heard anything back.

We just purchased a 4th Gen AppleTV, and seasons of TV shows are displaying in odd orders like 2,3,6,4,1,5. One Apple forum suggested changing the release date for TV shows I ripped myself will correct this error. But, of course, I can't test this theory until Apple fixes the release date bug.

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Answer 2

lschwarcz Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 3, 2016 10:53 AM in response to lschwarcz

UPDATE: June 3, 2016

I see that there's a new release of iTunes for both Windows and OS X (version number 12.4.1.6 for both).

The Windows version does not have a fix for the "release date" field but the OS X version does! Once again showing how poor Apple is with testing and fixing their software! They managed to get one OS fixed but not the other 😟.

Being the Mac forum this is mostly good news for everyone. If you also have a Windows system there is a workaround if you have a Mac too! You can "import" a TV show episode from the Windows system to your Mac, set the release date on the Mac and then copy it back to the Windows system. Not exactly a viable workaround for most but if you happen to have both platforms it may work until Apple gets their act together and starts to test their software before releasing it to their customers.

Larry.

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