Songbird Takes on the iTunes Behemoth

In the last six years, iTunes has become the de facto hub for all things media. Own an iPod or an iPhone? Well, chances are you use iTunes to manage your media with little protest or regard. Though Apple has given relatively little to complain about in comparison to its currently gauche rival, Microsoft, the "all roads lead to Rome" approach Apple created with iTunes, for buying and downloading music, video and software applications have left many wondering if there is an exit nearby, and if not, if someone will please build one.

Enter Songbird.



Songbird is not the first to challenge iTunes' position and approach, but it is certainly the most convincing to date. With an open source format, Songbird supports a variety of audio file formats, including MP3s and FLAC files on all formats, as well as Ogg Vorbis content without having to make the typical setting adjustments necessary to play them. Best of all Songbird supports WMA, both DRM-protected and otherwise, as well as AAC (the common iTunes format) and Fairplay for both Mac and Windows. To top it off, Songbird even lets you apply lyrics and other information to the media metadata, going a step beyond the media mainstay, iTunes.

Songbird comes with several add-ons already preloaded. These add-ons include: an iPod support application, a podcast/internet radio feature, concert and ticketing information via Songkick, aggregated information via Last.fm and the artist information feature called Mashtape. These add-ons make a strong argument for themselves, enhancing metadata details while providing a wealth of information about songs, albums, artists and concerts. Best of all, there are dozens of other add-ons to help make your experience more intuitive, informative and entertaining.

Songbird's video player could use a little work, but features like tabbed browsing and full transparency with system footprints make up for any of its shortcomings. It still isn't perfect by any means, but it's off to a great start, and is gaining momentum with each completed add-on and application. Though iTunes isn't likely to lose its footing anytime soon, the progress that Songbird has made in such a short time with just several iterations should have Apple taking notes.

Check out our reviews of the best music download services, and don't forget these other harmonious blog posts:

YouTube Legally Broadcasts American Gladiators, You Can Thank MGM

Nokia Loses Market Share to Apple, BlackBerry Left Behind

There's a Storm Comin': Final Pricing Details for the BlackBerry Storm

Rumor: YouTube to Start Live Streaming Service?

Official iPhone Tethering App Is Coming