iTunes 5.0 (#3): Podcasts lost, fix; Entire library lost; Jumping from song to song; more

Podcasts lost, fix Yesterday we reported on an issue where users are losing all of their currently subscribed-to Podcasts after updating to iTunes 5.0.

In most cases this issue can be resolved by creating a smart playlist that contains all Podcasts (even though they may not be visible). Subsequently, drag this newly created smart playlist to the Podcasts icon on the left-hand iTunes navigation bar. Doing so will result in all of your Podcasts again re-appearing, though you will have to re-subscribe to each of them afterward.

iTunes encoded tracks not playing correctly in other applications Jason Smalley reports an issue where AAC tracks encoded with iTunes do not play properly in other applications -- in particular they stop about three-quarters of the way through.

Jason writes:

"I have a crazy 'bug' for lack of a better word. CD's and books encoded with Quicktime 7.0.1 and iTunes 4.9 play just fine in both iTunes and all Quicktime aware applications (Quicktime Player, iMovie, etc). Now with iTunes 5.0 and Quicktime 7.0.2 things are completely messed up. Books and CDs encoded with the terrible twosome play fine in iTunes, but in all other Quicktime aware applications, they only play to 72% of their total time. For example, A chapter from an audiobook (ripped as a single track with Join CD) plays for 48:09 in iTunes as one would expect, but if you play it in either Quicktime Player or iMovie, it only plays for the first 34:56. All subsequent data is gone. This gives a value of 72.5511% of original. You are probably saying what is with this 72% number. I really don't know, but I checked it with another file. That other file should play for 22:16 but in all other apps besides iTunes, it only plays the first 16:09 resulting in only the first 72.5299% of the file. How weird is it that in both cases only the first 72.5% of the file would be played outside of iTunes? I think it is weird. Furthermore, all files encoded prior to iTunes 5.0 and Quicktime 7.0.2 play fine both in and out of iTunes."

Jumping from song to song erratically MacFixIt reader Charles Haynes reports that iTunes 5.0 erratically jumps from song to son without completing the currently playing track.

Charles writes:

"I can't play through any song before iTunes shifts within a playlist to another song. My settings: Under 'Playback' tab - nothing is checked, Smart Shuffle is set to more likely and 'Groupings' because there is no Smart Shuffle Off. Under the 'General' tab - Party Shuffle and Radio are unchecked. Didn't have this problem with last version before 5."

Entire library lost MacFixIt reader Vinko Tsui is one of the few readers who experienced a loss of his entire music library after updating to iTunes 5.0. This problem is unfrequent, though it has occurred with previous iTunes updates, and underscores the importance of backing up your iTunes music library.

Vinko writes:

"I just updated iTunes and after restarting and starting iTunes, all my songs and playlist are gone. It looks like iTunes 5 had created a brand new library for itself.

In other cases, the old Library is simply moved to a different folder, which must be re-added to the iTunes 5.0 library. One reader writes:

"It appears that iTunes 5 have backed up my iTunes 4 Library into a folder called 'Previous iTunes Libraries.' In this folder I found a file 'iTunes Library 2005-9-8.'

"I then navigate to the 'iTunes Music' folder within the ~/Music/iTunes folder. To my surprise, I found many, if not all, my previous music.

"The only way I can find to get my music back into iTunes was to select the "Add to Library..." menu item and choose the "iTunes" folder within my Music folder.

"It appears that I have lost all my previous Playlist and ratings for my songs. This is very disappointing, especially when there did not seem to be a warning about this behavior prior to my upgrade."

iPod not recognized MacFixIt reader Richard reports that his iPod is no longer recognized by iTunes after the update:

"As soon as I upgraded iTunes to version 5 I was unable to upload or communicate with my iPod Mini. I have iPod OS 1.4 on the iPod. Every time I plug it in the do not disconnect symbol comes up. In iTunes the iPod does seem to exist."

In some cases this issue can be solved by re-applying the most recent iPod updater, or resetting your iPod.

Disc burning issues Paul Ablett reports some issues burning CDs with iTunes 5.0:

"When burning a playlist, iTunes flashes 'checking media' but does not move forward. Workaround is to quit iTunes and relaunch with disc in. It then burns without 'checking media' mysterious..."

Tracks demanding re-authorization Some users report that the are forced to re-authorize all tracks after the update.

Bev writes:

"I seem to have all the playlists in my new iTunes but when I go to play purchased music, even the one I downloaded after I installed the update. I am not about to authorize each song individually - don't have the time. This is the only computer I have with purchased music on it."

Sharing not working We've received several reports from readers for whom music sharing does not work after the update.

One reader writes:

"Yesterday, I upgraded iTunes from 4.9 to 5.0 on three machines: a DVI powerbook and two windows XP machines. I lost all ability to see other music shares from the powerbook (other machines can still access the powerbook's shared music). I'm fairly certain this is not a network configuration issue, as everything worked immediately before upgrading."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous coverage:

• iTunes 5.0 (#2): Persistent "Quit iTunes before installing" message, fix; more
• Apple introduces iTunes 5: New search bar; new shuffle features; more

Resources