Despite the how bloated Apple’s iTunes software has become it still remains one of the best music management programs available today. The quick search functions, ability to fully read ID3 tags and sort properly against those tags, as well as decent CD ripping and burning capabilities, all of which I just haven’t been able to find another client that can do everything as well. With all the time Apple has put into developing this software one thing that still baffles me is the lack of a “watch folder”.

I acquire my music from several sources such as CD rips, directly downloaded music, iTunes Store, or the Amazon MP3 store. I have a large music library and like having everything centrally located so any new directly downloaded music gets moved into a central library. None of these direct download files are found by iTunes unless I am willing to completely remove my library and re-index all the information. It would be ideal if iTunes could notice new audio files added to the folders that I have iTunes managing.

I was using a great 3rd party application called iTunes Library Updater with the 7.x versions of the software which would do exactly that. It would scan the folders I had setup in iTunes and add any new files as well as remove deleted files from the iTunes database. Unfortunately with the newest 8.x version this software no longer works and it looks like development has been abandoned. I may attempt to revert back to a 7.x version of iTunes but have worries that I may lose access to the DRM encrypted music I’ve recently purchased through the iTunes store. Hopefully Apple will address this in future versions of the software but I don’t see it being much of a priority for them as they continue to push the iTunes Store and don’t seem to care about music acquired from other sources.