iTunes for Windows accessibility

By CambrianGenesis, 6 December, 2017

Forum
Windows

I am really struggling with the new iTunes for Windows. Particularly creating playlists and transferring them to my iPad. I feel that a multi-gazillion dollar company like Apple should be doing a little better with accessibility, because we know it is possible.

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Comments

By Justin Philips on Thursday, December 21, 2017 - 19:03

Creating playlists are confusing to say the least. Even transferring songs/audio is a hard task to achieve.

By DPinWI on Thursday, December 21, 2017 - 19:03

I am no Apple apologist. However, iTunes is currently about as accessible as it has ever been. Which is to say, it has been much worse in the past. Apple doesn't adhere to Windows programming conventions, and often seems to make user interface and other design changes that either breaks, or makes accessibility much more difficult with each new version. Eventually, things get refined, and access improves, just in time to start the cycle again.

In the current version, using JAWS 2018 on Windows 10, I am able to manage my media, make playlists, and sync content to my phone, iPad, and various iPods. Perhaps it is with the reflection of past major hurdles that I see this current version favourably. It could be, and has been, much worse.

And now that I have said that, cue Apple's release of an all new iTunes that i will hate and struggle to use.

There are many tutorials and many tidbits of information scattered around the internet, but, it is important to ensure that the info is relevant to the current version. Things can change quickly and dramatically.

Yes, what you say makes a lot of sense. I am running Windows 10 with JAWS 17 (upgrading soon to 18). Maybe the upgrade of JAWS will help.
But it makes a kind of sense that Apple doesn't put the same sort of effort into making its Windows applications accessible as it does Apple devices. I specifically have a problem where I can't cut and paste files to the iTunes sidebar in iTunes 12 - mostly because there is no real sidebar it seems to me. Its hit and miss but I can add files one by one (very tedious) - but also getting to the place where I can do that takes lots of tabbing and dare I say praying! (Sorry I am being flippant!)
Thanks for the comments, its good to know I am not the only one struggling with this.

By sockhopsinger on Sunday, January 21, 2018 - 19:03

I can't speak for everyone on this website, obviously, but I have no problems with accessibility of iTunes on Windows; and yes, for the record, I am totally blind.

By DPinWI on Sunday, January 21, 2018 - 19:03

While there have been issues in the past, iTunes on Windows is very accessible and is probably the best it's been in a long time. If your often repeated assertions are correct and Apple doesn't care, they sure got lucky this time.

By Homer Dog on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 - 19:03

I am using Windows 10 and iTunes 12.7.3.46. I cannot find my playlists. I only seem to be successful in hearing the names of all the songs or albums in my library. Also, as another user stated, when I sync my iPhone 6 with iTunes, the playlists that show up on my phone are all messed up! I have a 70s and 80s list that should have 80 songs in it. I have three copies of the same list and only the same 8 songs in each. What gives?!

I love the accessibility of the iDevices themselves and they would be absolutely wonderful if you did not need to sync with iTunes!