A closer look at iTunes 8.0: Grid View

Getting used to iTunes the first time around can be a bit of a daunting task. The list view, search, and sorting options are a little bit different than anything else on the market, and that’s what makes it so great. But what about iTunes-initiates who might find the system a little daunting? Enter Grid View.

Grid View is essentially the album view provided in Windows Media Player 11. Honestly, why Apple felt the need to include it is a little beyond me. The iTunes alternative to Album View has always been the more stylish (though arguably less functional) Cover Flow. Cover Flow let you recreate the experience of flipping through your favorite albums, while at the same time showcasing the cover art and presenting everything in a slick faux-3D fashion. Grid View on the other hand presents you with a simple series of icons to represent your selections.

While the last paragraph has likely made it abundantly clear that my preference leans towards the old style List View/Cover Flow, Grid does have a few nice touches. When sorting by artist, hovering above the icon will create a brief slideshow of their album art in your collection. Double clicking on any album art automatically brings up a traditional list view-style, merging the two styles nicely.

Visually they seem to have nailed things as well. The rounded edges and black background also keep with the spirit of elegance and simplicity that has been their trademark since the birth of the portable music business.

While it’s purely optional (although it does default to it after you upgrade to 8.0), Grid View just seems like an option that nobody was asking for. I’m willing to remain open-minded and try it out a little more in the hopes that it may grow on me, but in the end this may simply be a feature that falls by the wayside.

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