Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Freeware, iTunes
TotalTunes controls iTunes with ease
We've all been there, you're working on something and want to easily change a song in iTunes. What do you do? Well, you could right-click on the iTunes icon in the dock; but that will only give you rudimentary options. Well, here comes TotalTunes Control. With TotalTunes, just create a toggle key then start playing a song. When you want to change a song, just press that key combo and you're given a slew of options for changing song, playlist, rating, volume level, shuffle, and repeat. You can download this slick application for free from the developer's website (it's freeware, but donations are accepted).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gareth Burleigh said 2:47PM on 12-30-2007
I always used to use Sizzling keys buts since getting the new wireless keyboard I use a mix of the dedicated F7-9 keys and Sizzling keys to show album art, iTunes vol etc etc.
However this look very tidy, I might just give it a whirl.
Gareth
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Jack said 2:50PM on 12-30-2007
This looks very similar to CoverSutra, which also has support for last.fm, which I've been using for a while now.
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MickPunk said 2:54PM on 12-30-2007
Or set your QuickSilver triggers to control iTunes
I use option+cmd+space to toggle play/pause and option+cmd+arrows for volume (up/down) and previous/next (left/right)
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Pascale said 2:58PM on 12-30-2007
@Jack, yeah but CoverSutra isn't free (or cheap). Finally a good alternative.
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Simon Arch said 5:19PM on 12-30-2007
True, but it works very well. I wouldn't pay full price, but I managed to snag it on sale from...MacZot? MacUpdate? I can't remember now. Whatever, it was $10. Reasonable enough for me, but maybe not for some.
It's nice to have choices, isn't it?
Ian Beck said 3:08PM on 12-30-2007
Since I abandoned Quicksilver for LaunchBar, I've been using TuneBar:
http://www.tunebarapp.com/
It's the least intrusive of the iTunes controllers that I've found, and the skinning introduced with version 3 is very cool.
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webmacster87 said 3:30PM on 12-30-2007
Just looks like a fancy ripoff of CoverSutra to me...
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fp said 3:46PM on 12-30-2007
But how can this be a ripoff if it's a freeware?
Raymie said 3:56PM on 12-30-2007
i just use the hot keys on my macbook or my apple remote to switch songs
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SomeOtherGuy said 3:58PM on 12-30-2007
I use GimmeSomeTune - lets you control and fetches covers, lyrics, has scrobbling (last.fm)support, etc, etc. gimmesometune.com
But this is clearly a rip-off of CoverSutra.
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C said 4:09PM on 12-30-2007
What about you control: tunes, which allows you to pause/play/stop, select albums or playlist and rate songs from the menubar? I think after awhile key commands become clunky, especially if you have a couple of apps that use key commands. Between this and quicksilver I think the average user would be good to go.
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Dexter said 9:42PM on 12-31-2007
My eyes! The goggles, they do nothing!!
Gosh, it's as if a blind person tried to copy CoverSutra... I know, freeware and all, but that doesn't make blatant copying okay.
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dazonic said 8:39PM on 12-30-2007
Might be useful for touchscreens in car installs. Anyone know of other apps that could help me out here?
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Jason Sawtelle said 9:27PM on 12-30-2007
I'm a big fan of Byte Controller. Simple controls in the menu bar allow for prev, next, scan fwd and back and volume.
http://www.bytetastic.com/
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Junior said 10:20PM on 12-30-2007
Will it...
Work with iPod
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benny said 10:24PM on 12-30-2007
hey, I got another key combo that does the same thing - Command-Tab will switch to iTunes - allowing you to have complete control over, uh, iTunes! :^)
Looks cute though...
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Macroy said 1:29AM on 12-31-2007
I'm confused. I tried running this, and setting it to appear when I press F2, but it seems to open up behind every other window I have open. Am I doing something wrong, or is this pointless? (Or some other explanation that isn't mean?)
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Alan G said 11:40AM on 12-31-2007
Is it working for others that have Leopard? It immediately crashes for me.
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Christina Warren said 1:36PM on 12-31-2007
It works for me.
I appreciate free - but as others have noticed, it is kind of ugly (someone went a little overboard with the HUD and gloss effects). Still, very useful if you don't want t use QS.