[Brad]

Back when iTunes 10 came out and Apple washed all the color out of iTunes, I created a custom resource file for iTunes that brought back the vibrant colors of iTunes past. I've updated that custom resource to work with the latest iTunes 10.4.

[Download Link]



To install:

• Unzip the file.
• Control-click iTunes.app in the Finder and choose "Show Package Contents".
• Drop the iTunes.rsrc file into Contents/Resources/ to replace the existing file.
• Restart iTunes.

My rsrc file brings back color to the source list (*both* small and large icon sizes), the Preferences icons (edit: Apple finally brought color back to these), the playlist checkboxes, and the playlist sorting headers.

I made my own edits because all of the others I'd seen lacked some piece or made another piece buggy.

Let me know if you use it. If it looks like people want it, I'll try to keep posting new versions when iTunes updates are released.

edit 2011-03-03: Updated for iTunes 10.2 compatibility!
edit 2011-07-13: Updated for iTunes 10.3 compatibility!
edit 2011-07-25: Updated for iTunes 10.4 compatibility!

[Robo]

Brad, you're my hero.

[Yontsey]

Thank you so much, Brad!

[thegeriatric]

Originally Posted by Robo Brad, you're my hero.

Couldn't have put it better. Thanks Brad.

[zippy]

Originally Posted by Brad Weekend isn't over yet! I've updated and finally uploaded my modified iTunes.rsrc for 10.1. [Download Link] To install: Unzip the file. Control-click iTunes.app in the Finder and choose "Show Package Contents". Drop the iTunes.rsrc file into Contents/Resources/ to replace the existing file. Restart iTunes. My rsrc file brings back color to the source list (*both* small and large icon sizes), the Preferences icons, the playlist checkboxes, and the playlist sorting headers. My rsrc file also flattens the bright header/toolbar gradients to match the system defaults for the full-size player with vertical buttons, full-size player with horizontal buttons, and mini player. Last but not least, I've also smoothed over the "baseball" volume knob. I made my own edits because all of the others I'd seen lacked some piece or made another piece buggy. Let me know if you use it. If it looks like people want it, I'll try to keep posting new versions when iTunes updates are released.

Is the "Purchased" category (under the STORE section) a custom part of your .rsrc file? I ask because somewhere along the way, mine disappeared and I haven't been able to get it back. I can make a smart playlist, but that gets buried in all the other playlists.

[Maciej]

I deleted purchased a while back too, I've been wondering if there's any way to get it back...

[Maciej]

Yeah, I don't really want it back but it's something that has crossed my mind. I was thinking that perhaps buying a song in iTunes might recreate the list but I don't really buy much digital music so it's not something I have the chance to try very often.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Brad My rsrc file brings back color to the source list (*both* small and large icon sizes), the Preferences icons, the playlist checkboxes, and the playlist sorting headers. My rsrc file also flattens the bright header/toolbar gradients to match the system defaults for the full-size player with vertical buttons, full-size player with horizontal buttons, and mini player. Last but not least, I've also smoothed over the "baseball" volume knob.

Jackpot!

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Originally Posted by Maciej Yeah, I don't really want it back but it's something that has crossed my mind. I was thinking that perhaps buying a song in iTunes might recreate the list but I don't really buy much digital music so it's not something I have the chance to try very often.

Unlike the iApp stores, music cannot be redownloaded for free. You may contact iTunes support and in some cases they'll help you, but it is on a case by case basis (read: what happened for someone else may not happen for you).

With my iPhone & iPad, I found if I right-click on them in iTunes, there is a "sync purchased content" or something similar that will copy stuff I've bought (both apps and music) from my iDevice into iTunes.

[chucker]

One niggle with Brad's replacement .rsrc: the icon for the Purchased playlists is blue like regular playlists, but should be green. I'm not sure iTunes 10 still has separate icons for them, though.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by chucker One niggle with Brad's replacement .rsrc: the icon for the Purchased playlists is blue like regular playlists, but should be green. I'm not sure iTunes 10 still has separate icons for them, though.

I noticed that too and I can't fix that. iTunes 10.0 killed the internal distinction between the two list types.

[chucker]

Aw.

[Brad]

Bump! Updated for iTunes 10.2 compatibility. Link updated in the first post, also here: [Download]

[chucker]

Thanks.

[jdcfsu]

I don't know how I missed this the first time around. Very cool! Thanks.

[Yontsey]

Just updated to 10.2 with Brad's modifier. Things working great. Thanks again Brad for making me tolerate iTunes.

[Robo]

Man, by default OS X is getting so...bley.

Of course, it probably doesn't help that I have AppleNova open all the time. But still. Bley!

[Yontsey]

Just an FYI, the Brad Color Hack works with the latest iTunes update 10.3.1

[Brad]

It may work, but I wouldn't recommend using it until I get a chance to actually verify the contents of the new resource file. There could be strings or icons or whole sections of interface missing that are stored as part of the new resource file.

I'll probably take a look at the new update tonight or tomorrow. I haven't bothered to update iTunes to 10.3.x on any of my systems yet.

[Matsu]

Wow, I just installed iTunes 10 and it sucks big time. It doesn't see any of my music, and the few songs it did see only play through my iPod nano in 30 sec slices, WTF?

[Kyros]

Yay, my iTunes is pretty again (I'm still on 10.2 anyway because I'm lazy about updates).

[Brad]

Bump. I've slogged through the new resources and created a new file for iTunes 10.3.1. The new rsrc file from Apple for iTunes 10.3.x does differ from the file for iTunes 10.2.x. So, please update using the new file if you tried using the old one!

[Robo]

Wonderful! Thanks again, Brad. Some of us do really appreciate, you know, colors.

[Brad]

Just a reminder: don't try installing this over the new iTunes 10.4 yet. I may update my patched resources file over the weekend.

[Brad]

Updated for iTunes 10.4!

This is going to get really painful to update in the future. Despite iTunes now being a Cocoa app, it still uses the archaic resource file for various UI elements. However, all of the publicly available resource file editors are PowerPC apps, meaning you can't run them on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. How Apple plans to maintain these files is beyond me. Maybe they have a secret copy of RedEdit running in-house? Anyone have any ideas?

Thank you, Brad! I am now able to see the iTunes sidebar again!
Your fan, Judy

[thegeriatric]

Thanks Brad.

[Brad]

Glad to be of service.

Originally Posted by judy4cats Thank you, Brad! I am now able to see the iTunes sidebar again! Your fan, Judy

Thanks for sending the reminder email, Judy. I'd have probably slacked off and put off finishing it for another few days if I didn't know someone was waiting for it!

Hello Brad, just registered to say thank you for colourising my iTunes! You rock!

Is there any chance I could persuade you to colourise Lion's Finder sidebar too?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Dr. H Is there any chance I could persuade you to colourise Lion's Finder sidebar too?

Good idea. As soon as I upgrade one of my systems to Lion, it'll be at the top of my list! (I'm still holding out on a few third-party compatibility issues.)