Bowtie is a free software for Mac that lets you control iTunes media player with a minimalistic and stylist interface. Yes, there is a minimalistic version of iTunes but it’s not themeable and does not even show the album art of the music which is being played. This free application lets you control iTunes and enables you to play, pause, skip , and rate songs. This application removes the need to open up iTunes just to do these simple things.
Here in the Screenshot below you can see Bowtie’s interface. The default screen skin of the player looks like the screenshot below, double clicking on the album art will reveal the controls through which you can control iTunes.
Anyway Mac user with an eye for simplicity and style will fall in love with this application to control iTunes. With this elegant application you will be able to control basics of media playback without even opening iTunes.
It also provides you with keyboard shortcuts, that make the application even more simple. In the screenshot below I have shown all the shortcuts, anyway if you do not like something then you can always change the shortcuts according to your needs and taste.
The application is not just limited to simple controls, Bowtie can also connect with Last.fm and it scrobbles the songs that you listen to in iTunes. To activate this just open the preference and sign up with your last.fm credentials. Anyway there is an option that is checked on from the begining by default that allows Bowtie to automatically download the missing artwork from last.fm.
One thing that I love is that the application has themes that are amazing and makes the application even more desirable. The community actively keeps on developing themes most of which are free and really look amazing. By default Bowtei comes with three themes. If you want to download more than that can be done from within the application. Just click on the get themes button as shown below. Now you can browse and download skins directly from the application.
The application also allows you to control iTunes from your iDevice, using Bowtie but sadly the iDevice client is paid.
How to install Bowtie for Mac:
To download the application click here this will redirect you to their site. The file will be in zip format after the download is completed, extract it and move it to the Application folder and you are done with the installation.
Verdict:
Being so small and simple, Bowtie is one of the best application in its category. The themes of this application is just amazing and it’s really simple to download and install the themes that you like directly from with in the application, by opening up the theme tab in preference.
This perfect piece of software is available for free, so do give it a try. Download the application and enjoy media in a new way, control iTunes with this awesome and minimal app. And don’t forget to try it out. If you’re not much of a iTunez guy, then try out SongBird which is a really capable music and media player.
