Can't say that I like the new version. Had no emotional attachment to any of the previous ones, either.
But I can tell you how I (finally) found the Side Bar: In the 'toolbar' (which is no longer actually editable/modifiable, at least via the "View->Customize Toolbar..." menu in most Apple Apps), on the extreme
left side are three icons. One for music, movies, TV shows, and one for "...". Click the music 'note' and you should see all your music.
But that still doesn't get the Side Bar (Playlists), of course.
Well, it might, it depends on what you have selected in the Tool Bar on the extreme
right side. That is not an icon but a text label. If it says "Songs" you get to see a list of songs. It can also say, "Albums, Artists, Composers and Genres". But no matter what it says, you should still have your playlist(s). Of course, your milage may vary...
An alternate method is to click on the "Playlists" label bear the center of the window. If you click "My Music" (or anything else in that list!) you'll lose the Side Bar. I don't know why; it's just the way things are!
As for your Podcasts, they are plainly available if you click on the obvious 'label' called "..." Where else would you think it was/is?!
Any Mac user should know that "..." means "other stuff we didn't want to list".
For you boobies, simply hover your cursor (not your mouse!) over the labels and Apple will kindly display some descriptive text... assuming you don't 'giggle' the cursor too much...
BTW, if you want to sync/update/backup/etc. with your iDevices, you need to click the never before seen icon representing those things. It looks like a rectangle sitting on one of it's short sides and there is a small break in the line drawing that short/bottom side. I think that indicates where the power/charging cable plugs in.
That newly discovered icon sits just to the right of those music, movie, TV shows, and "..." icons. There is also a very thin, gray vertical line separating the rectangle/iDevice thingy. Apparently there is a law in California prohibiting joining those things!
Anyway, clicking that rectangle will show you a list of any recognized iDevices. Unfortunately, this version of iTunes did not fix the loss of contact with iPhones sitting in the same proximity of the Mac (and the WiFi router). I can see that my iPad, sitting in the adjoining room is recognized but the only way to 'see' the (newer) iPhone is to use a USB cable. It's a known problem and Apple's "fix" is to print a page telling you devices must be connected via cables. DOH!
QUOTE
I don't like the extra little window that got for the player.
I would be hard pressed to tell you what the old one looks like, so I have no opinion on whether the 'new' one is better or worse. I did manage to open it simply by clicking everything on the window just to see what happened. Luckily, nothing was booby trapped and the app never exploded!
Hope you get your old install working. I doubt I ever open iTunes again unless I want to back up my iDevices to the Mac.
"I came. I saw. I was unimpressed."
But I really like the new bright
red app icon...
