iTunes Media Kind: missing Apps

The following blue text is a link to the Apple support article, which in turn contains download links for iTunes 12.6.3:

Deploy apps in a business environment with iTunes - Apple Support

These are direct links to the relevant installation files:

• iTunes 12.6.3.6 for Mac OS X/macOS - iTunes12.6.3.dmg (2017-09-22)
• iTunes 12.6.3.6 for Windows (32-bit) - iTunesSetup.exe (2017-09-22)
• iTunes 12.6.3.6 for Windows (64-bit) - iTunes64Setup.exe (2017-09-22)

Windows users need to uninstall iTunes before they can install the 12.6.3 build.

Both Mac and Windows users need to restore a previous version of their library database using the approach in Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash or from a suitable backup.

tt2

1. iTunes 12.7 removed app management features from iTunes, along with those for books, tones, and iTunes U. Apple haven't given reasons, but at a guess the aim is to drive management of device only content to the device. Previously people could buy content in iTunes that they couldn't consume on their computer, e.g. apps, or iBooks on Windows. Removing this option removes the need to refund purchases made by those who haven't understood. There may well be a significant reduction in downloads from Apple's servers given that only thinned versions and delta updates need to be delivered to devices now, and iTunes won't be downloading universal versions in duplicate.
   
2. The main impact on the iTunes library is that most iTunes U content has been rolled up into Podcasts, and may have been moved if iTunes is set to keep the media folder organized. This might mean broken links if you revert to an older version of the database. Other content should have been left in situ and can still be added to your device manually. Keeping regular backups allows you to revert to an earlier version of your library if something goes wrong. Time Machine for Mac users is ideal. When iTunes makes a change to the internal structure of the database it will save a copy of the old version in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder inside your iTunes folder. These can be used to roll back the database when installing an older or lower numbered version. Newer versions of iTunes can read older databases, but not the other way around.
   
3. Only one instance of iTunes can be installed per operating system. I currently have my Mac set up to dual boot in to either Sierra with iTunes 12.6.3 connected to a library that just the collection of apps that were in my library when 12.7 came out, or High Sierra with 12.7.1 which has my regular iTunes Match library. See Open a different iTunes Library file or create a new one - Apple Support for details on how to make and switch between libraries. If you have the installers downloaded to your computer you can probably switch from build to the other in about 10 minutes. Although 12.6.3 will install over 12.7 and 12.7.1 there may come a time when that doesn't work so well.

tt2

Yes, it was explained on the first dialog window that was presented to you and in the update release notes.

wow. did not know, thank you for warning us that Apple officially took APP MANAGEMENT OUT!

i wasted time trying to figure out why my iTunes was missing something! ; )

the question is WHY?!

why in the world would Apple REMOVE PRACTICAL features that make life easier/faster/smoother?!

why regress instead of evolve?!

the post-iTunes 12.7 / iOS11 Nightmare:

- drag 200-300 apps individually across 10+ screens!!

+ you can NOT move screens anymore!?!?!

does Apple expect us to move 1000s of apps to reorganize screens?!!?!

since when is Apple so anti-productivity?!

the pre-iOS11 iTunes scenario:

manage APPS from Mac in iTunes, easily, fast, even move screens around.

installing / uninstalling / updating / organizing etc.

so easy on big screen too! ; )

Apple is being insanely UNgreat!

this is the most impractical Apple i've seen in years,

besides the total disrespect for Pro-Users.

Might as well switch to Windows/Surface Pro/BOXX Apex4/Droid at this rate!

for constructive criticism, esp. since Apple does not seem to read its own forums, hence nonsensically not learning from what issues its users have with its own products and less hope for learning/improving its products (hardware/software) in more detail than https://www.apple.com/feedback?:

what is a practical ALTERNATIVE to APP MANAGEMENT?

is there a 3rd party tool (web or app)?

is Apple working on separate App Mgt app (iOS + macOS)?

is Apple working on more efficient version than pre-iTunes 12.7 for a near-future update of iTunes?

anyone have suggestions/tips on how to manage 100s of apps across many screen in iOS?

thank you,

rolf

irolf2 wrote:

what is a practical ALTERNATIVE to APP MANAGEMENT?

is there a 3rd party tool (web or app)?

is Apple working on separate App Mgt app (iOS + macOS)?

is Apple working on more efficient version than pre-iTunes 12.7 for a near-future update of iTunes?

anyone have suggestions/tips on how to manage 100s of apps across many screen in iOS?

Deploy apps in a business environment with iTunes - Apple Support

See Managing apps with iTunes 12.7 or later. You can revert to iTunes 12.6.3 if you find it essential to manage apps in iTunes. Personally I'm quite happy making the occasional tweak to the layout of my apps on my device, as it occurs to me, rather than waiting until I've connected it to iTunes. Similarly I don't waste time and bandwidth downloading updated versions of apps to both my computer and my device when it is only the device that can use them, although I realize that come the next restore this may be a little less speedy than restoring directly from iTunes.

tt2

wow. did not know, thank you.

but Apple did not advertise/explain anywhere that 12.63 came after 12.7 & that 12.63 is option for App Mgt.

the article "

Managing apps with iTunes 12.7 or later"

Managing apps with iTunes 12.7 or later

mentions 12.63 but i do not see link to download it?

thank you

NinjaJay wrote:

You mean it was explained after upgrading, Losing this feature for me is bad bad bad, I have had enough of apple time to move on. Hello Samsung.

The Android world is even more screwed up than the Apple world.

There is unfortunately no real third option. Well, yes there is, do not use

smart phones or tablets anymore. Or with tablets, move to Windows 10

devices.

So, how do you backup, restore, organize apps? I used to move them around in iTunes and simply apply to change them around, group them, etc. I can do it on the iPhone but it's a bit more clumsy. If I get a new iPhone, how do I restore the apps? Does iTunes back up apps? Checked the new App Store and there does not seem to be an obvious way to do all this. Any tips?

So, how do you backup, restore, organize apps? I used to move them around in iTunes and simply apply to change them around, group them, etc. I can do it on the iPhone but it's a bit more clumsy. If I get a new iPhone, how do I restore the apps? Does iTunes back up apps? Checked the new App Store and there does not seem to be an obvious way to do all this. Any tips?

Why they list media types of Audiobook or Podcasts ? Once synced to my iPhone 7 Plus, they do not seem to work as intended in iOS 11 anyway ... For example, consider the following steps:

1. In iTunes, select some music album with multiple songs; right click, -> Get Info -> Options ... and convert the media type to Audiobook.

2. Sync iTunes with iPhone 7 Plus (to get audiobook loaded onto the phone) under the new iOS 11.

3. Now, play a middle "chapter" of the audiobook; Pause it and minimize the Audiobook app.

4. Go to the new iOS Control Panel and force touch the Music box (now showing the paused audiobook chapter listed at the top), and tap the chapter name.

Note the response: The chapter of the audiobook will open up in the MUSIC app (not the proper Audiobook app). And you will be stuck in a LOOP mode.

I.e the next chapter/previous chapter buttons will not perform properly. Tapping on either of those buttons will go the the end, beginning of the current chapter, then loop to start playing the current chapter from the beginning. In fact, if you let the chapter play to the end by itself, it still will not advance to the NEXT chapter ... it will loop and start over. Furthermore, there is no way from the controls of the phone to get out of that "looping mode" of the audiobook that opened in the MUSIC app.

Now, if you perform the same steps above with a purchased true audiobook from Amazon, it opens in the AUDIOBOOK app as normal.

Why the different responses by the iOS 11? What do I need to do to the "iTunes converted files" to be considered truly audiobooks and act like such ? Is this an bug of iOS 11, or is there some missing metadata stuff that needs to be tagged in the file to be considered a true audiobook.

=====

related problem, but different problem: When I convert a music album to a Podcast ... and play in my car ... then the Next episode button on the steering wheel of the car (that used to work fine in the previous iOS version) no longer works ... it too just starts the current episode from the beginning.

===

It's like converted podcasts/audiobooks are not considered a collection, they are individual files. the Next/Previous buttons do not work.

Thanks for any additional information I may be missing ...

Apple says you dont want to backup apps or arrange them in Itunes so now you cant. They took the feature away rather then letting its users decide. My view is now Iphone 8 or Iphone X actually this change in iTunes decided for me its a Galaxy 8

Richiwalt wrote:

Google Pixel is looking pretty sweet about now to me ...

Because we all know that it won't have any problems. Oh, wait....

https://www.androidauthority.com/google-lawsuit-pixel-2-issues-812027/

There is also no way to manage apps for an Android phone from your computer. So, if that's what's important to you, changing to a Pixel won't get you what you want, either. It would seem to make more sense to back down to iTunes 12.6.3 which restores that app management options.

thanks, but Apple is simplifying for simplification's sake, without consent of what users need, and punishing those that Think Different and DO want the previous 12 years of iTunes managing their Apps.

this is a matter of preference.

if anything Apple can add preference in preferences.

you can not dictate how everyone must use tools, that is insanely ungreat from Apple's usual insanely great ways.

waiting for iTunes may not be your choice, but it is for others. we do not feel it's a waste of time, since as i described, in the case of having 100s of apps across many screens, it is very cumbersome/time-consuming to waste hours dragging icons back & forth. only because Apple killed App Mgt.

some users do want to organize/layout their screens and not randomly have unrelated apps on each screen, whether you can search & click apps or not. so it is not so much about duplicating apps on iDevice + Mac, as Apple thinks, but an organizational need. New iOS11 Files app + iCloud Drive do not solve App Mgt, just file mgt.

why would Apple force us to regress to pre-iTunes 12.7 and miss the new features just to use App Mgt, which Apple killed for no apparent practical real world reason?

irolf2 wrote:

why would Apple force us to regress to pre-iTunes 12.7 and miss the new features just to use App Mgt, which Apple killed for no apparent practical real world reason?

Is there a reason you can't use iTunes 12.6.3 as indicated in the article I linked to above?