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Improve Or Disable iTunes Link Arrows, Disable Genius Sidebar
Posted by Adam Pash at 6:00 AM on September 24, 2008
Despite iTunes' success, most people—especially those averse to DRM—still don't buy music there. The last thing we need, then, are shortcuts to take us from our music library to the iTunes Store with a single errant click. Since you can no longer disable these links in the iTunes 8 preferences, weblog The Glitch highlights how to tweak iTunes 8 in both Windows and OS X to remove the track arrows that—when clicked—take you to the iTunes Store. All it takes is a simple Terminal command in OS X or editing the iTunesPrefs.xml file in Windows. I still prefer to keep the links around, but I remove their iTunes Store functionality and instead point them at my own library. (E.g., clicking the link next to an artist will filter all songs by that artist.) Here's how that works.
In OS X, you can make this tweak with previously mentioned Secrets. In fact, Secrets will also handle disabling the links altogether if you don't feel like firing up Terminal. You can even use it to disable the Genius sidebar, which is little more than a rebranded mini-store, anyway.
I did some digging for an analogous tweak in the iTunesPrefs.xml file in Windows, but didn't find any promising leads. You can still link the arrows directly with your library by Ctrl+Clicking—just like Option+Clicking does in OS X; you'll just have to remember to hold the Ctrl whenever you want to do it. If you know the proper tweak for permanently making this change in Windows, let's hear it in the comments. Thanks Sylvia!
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
gemini8200
Posted 6:21 AM 24/9/08
I'm still holding out for iTunes Lite. Anybody noticing how heavy iTunes 8 is, even in comparison to the last version?
gemini8200
Mr.Sparkle
Posted 6:13 AM 24/9/08
You can also make mp3s into "Audiobooks" in the Get Info dialogue.
Useful if you get OCD over stuff like that.
Mr.Sparkle
Mr.Sparkle
Posted 6:38 AM 24/9/08
On Windows? I can't use it on my desktop because it runs so poorly.
Mr.Sparkle
afolex
Posted 7:04 AM 24/9/08
Thank you for the Windows' one
afolex
lankysob
Posted 6:46 AM 24/9/08
Thanks for the info, Adam. Those stupid little arrows are history.
lankysob
lankysob
Posted 6:45 AM 24/9/08
@gemini8200: It truly is. I can't recall iTunes ever locking up on me before version 8, and it's happened to me twice this afternoon. It's running at about 100MB more than the previous version did (7.7 I think?).
lankysob
GeoffGirardin
Posted 7:13 AM 24/9/08
@gemini8200: I definitely noticed it. It's gotten to the point where I can't have it open at all unless I'm using it. And I have to close the rest of my programs or songs will skip.
GeoffGirardin
Mostro
Posted 7:52 AM 24/9/08
am i missing something? cause in preferences under parental controls, you can disable the store, and the genius sidebar, and the arrows and obviously the store are gone...
Mostro
EnzoFX
Posted 8:09 AM 24/9/08
It is good to note that the store links are great when you need to fix some tags, it saves you from googling info, or using a 3rd party app.
EnzoFX
almostcrimes
Posted 8:01 AM 24/9/08
They also removed the option to hide the Genre in the browser. This can be fixed, too, using the Terminal in OS X: "defaults write com.apple.iTunes show-genre-when-browsing -bool FALSE"
almostcrimes
MCWHAMMER
Posted 8:52 AM 24/9/08
I was able to use Genius Sidebar one time before I realized my computer was choking to death on it. I quickly disabled it and will never use it again. Oh well, it was just a gimmick anyway.
MCWHAMMER
Cripesonfriday
Posted 8:50 AM 24/9/08
@Mostro: Yeah I turn off the store to get rid of the arrows, I can't update apps at the store at the moment anyway (damn 5002 error)and I haven't bought music there in 3 years or more so poof it, and the bloody arrows are history.
Cripesonfriday
snail
Posted 10:49 AM 24/9/08
aww, I feel so special! I probably should just disable the itunes store completely instead, but this was nicer.
snail
JonathanB
Posted 11:29 AM 24/9/08
iTunes Lite, that's what we need. iTunes has been seriously bogging down my aging windows desktop since version 7. There's no way I'm even going to attempt to install 8. Lately I've taken to managing my music and my iPod with WinAmp. It's got a few quirks compared to iTunes, but is certainly a lot less bloated.
JonathanB
PaladinMJ
Posted 8:56 PM 24/9/08
@JonathanB: It's true WA is lighter on resources that Itunes but even WA is suffering from bloat in regards to the 5.x Series, ever since AOL bought it..
PaladinMJ
Darkmatter91
Posted 10:04 PM 24/9/08
I have never had major problems with iTunes before 8 and now I have it lock up and freeze often. I am running XP so it should have as many problems (ie. Vista) Also my computer is not "old" by any standards so idk
Darkmatter91
costruire
Posted 9:22 AM 24/9/08
Windows Users: You can block those arrows by going to "Parent Options" and selecting to have the store blocked. If you never use the store, you won't miss it being gone.
costruire
mag1972
Posted 7:00 AM 24/9/08
You can also get rid of the links by disabling the iTunes store in the parental control section of preferences.
mag1972
BenRad
Posted 1:58 AM 26/9/08
I'm having no problems with 8 on my Vista machine and I find the random Genius playlists to be pretty good. Can't say I'd use it all the time, but it's fairly consistent.
BenRad
cbuffalino
Posted 2:35 PM 26/9/08
I think this is a cool post but I think it's irresponsible editing to say that "most people... still don't buy music there." The iTUnes store last year took one of the highest spots available #1 or 2 for purchasing music overthrowing BestBuy! That's a pretty crazy achievement if you ask me.
cbuffalino
NewtonFlayer
Posted 1:27 AM 28/9/08
How do you do the command line tweak in OSX Tiger to have the arrows point to the library instead?
NewtonFlayer