Tracks by Conceited Software is a Mac application that allows you to search through your entire iTunes music library from your menu bar and then select songs to play. You don't even have to have the iTunes window active to do so.
The Idea
I've been looking for an app similar to Tracks ever since I switched from Windows to Mac OS X in 2009 and Tracks is the first that I've used that's done what it does well. The idea is very simple: have a menu bar icon, click on it (or setup a keyboard shortcut for it), type the name of the song, artist, or album that you'd like to listen to and click enter. The song will automatically begin playing in iTunes and you can go along with your business. Additionally, Tracks will search the iTunes Store for content.
Pro's
- Allows you to play and choose music without interrupting what you're doing
- Last.fm integration is nice to have
- Searching iTunes Store from the menu bar
- Very sleek, Mac-like user interface
- Keyboard shortcuts to use Tracks become very useful
- Growl integration is nice if you'd like to see a notification every single time a new song plays
Con's
- Still has bugs that need to be addressed
- Would like to see issues with freezing resolved
- More social integration: Twitter and Facebook
- I'd like to see some type of equalizer integration as well
Overall
Tracks is most likely one of my favorite applications on Mac OS X, because it's easy to use and works well. I don't have to interrupt what I'm doing, switch to iTunes, pick a song, and then go back to what I was working on. I can just click on the Tracks icon, type what I want to listen to, and hit enter.
Tracks is available in the Mac App Store for €7.99 or for download/purchase here.
It's All Tech gives Tracks a 4.5 out of 5 star rating.
