Songbird is a XUL-driven media player for Windows. Basically, it’s suppose to be the open-source edition of iTunes. Currently it is in the proof-of-concept stage of design, so it’s a little early to be critical. Nonetheless, I’ve been waiting since December for this, so I was excited to actually get it!
As most of you know, I don’t like iTunes very much. I don’t like the interface, the role of plug-ins (Winamp is über-friendly with these), the media library or iTunes Music Shop. I’m a Winamp kinda-guy, I’ve used it since 2.x . Most other bloggers prefer iTunes, and Apple; now, I feel more obliged to lean to Google, AOL, or Microsoft’s point of view. Apple just gets too much hype.
The main reason iTunes has such a large user-base is due to one simple factor: the iPod. The iPod was the first mainstream MP3 player with a large capacity. iTunes is designed for the iPod. Thankfully though, many coders have made their own tools - like the iPod Support Plug-in for Winamp. Even despite this, I would like my MP3 player not to rely on non-operating-system software and be independent from any media player. A media player is a media player, not a life manager.
In my opinion, Songbird looks and feels too much like iTunes. Why not create a fresh media player? One that looks and feels different from everything else.
Think it looks too much like iTunes? I tend to agree, but here’s the part that means that Songbird IS a fresh new media player; you can change the way it looks.
Like Firefox, being built on XUL means Songbird is entirely skinnable - and I don’t mean in a Winamp 2.xx kind of way when you just paint over the buttons and interface. Songbird enables a user to completely reshape and re-hash the entire interface to their liking; adding new functionality, not just a different layout.
The “iTunes Clone” argument is entirely moot for this point. Songbird is worlds apart from iTunes under the bonnet, which means that despite the appearance of this first preliminary skin - it’s able to look entirely different too.
I’m completely aware of it’s XUL coding and how easy it will be to skin. I still feel the media player will me too heavy and iTunes like.
Ah, no. I have a 60GB Nomad Jukebox 3 to prove it. I hate the thing, but compared to the 5GB or 20GB iPod’s out at the time, the Jukebox was way bigger.
Just thought I would point that little fact out.
I’m interested in the crossplatform aspect of sbn.