Manage iTunes and iPods with TuneRanger

Smith Micro's new TuneRanger software enables users to manage iTunes libraries across multiple computers, finding lost songs, coordinating libraries, and managing multiple iPods.

We know it’s shocking, but iTunes—and, dare we say it, the iPod—have become ubiquitous parts of some people’s lives. But as folks upgrade computers, migrate to a bigger and better (or smaller and cooler) iPod, they’re often left in a lurch trying to manage their music across multiple iTunes applications, multiple libraries, multiple computers, and multiple iPods. Smith Micro, current publishers of the venerable StuffIt, wants to come to the rescue with TuneRanger, a new application that lets users manage their ever-multiplying iTunes/iPod lifestyles.

"Chances are you keep your iTunes music and video collection on more than one computer, so you already know how hard it is to keep them all up-to-date," said Smith Micro Consumer Group director David Polzine, in a statement. "With TuneRanger, you can manage all your iTunes-running computers on any network and synchronize music, videos, and playlists with the click of a button."

TuneRanger enables users to synchronize iTunes libraries on both Macs and PCS, and lets users synchronize their libraries across machines. The software makes it easy to recover misplaced songs, get rid of un-owned copies, remove duplicate songs (always keeping the highest-quality copy), and even sync album art, lyrics and other data.

TuneRanger works with Mac OS X 10.4 or newer and/or Windows XP and Vista, and requires the Apple iTunes application for either platform. TuneRanger comes with a license to use it on up to four computers (any combination of Macs and PCs), and is compatible with any iPod supported by iTunes, although the ability to manage files directly requires an iPod which supports iTunes’ "disk use" option.

TuneRanger is available now from Smith Micro’s site along with catalogs and other retailers for $29.99.