iTunes Skin - Introducing the new SkiniTunes! Skinnable Player for iTunes, Hotkeys, Lyrics & More

---

iTunes Skin By Daniel Dwase | Published 17th April 2009

Have you wanted to listen to your music without having to shuffle between your web browser or any application and iTunes?

I certainly did and you can too. A new skinnable player for iTunes called SkiniTunes lets you have the convenience of browsing the web or performing any task on your computer and at the same time allows you to control your music without the bother of switching task screens.

So what is SkiniTunes?

SkiniTunes is an iTunes skin controller application that will enhance your listening experience with iTunes by allowing you to enjoy your music with two compact skinnable players and a track pop-up window with song information, album art and track rating. It allows you to control your music from within any application.

Additionally, SkiniTunes will download and import lyrics directly into your iTunes library, display lyrics in a panel with the album art and even displays lyrics while listening to your favorite online radio station.

How to setup SkiniTunes

It's pretty simple really! There's a free version of SkiniTunes you can download that allows you to do basic stuff with it and there's a paid version that opens up more features. SkiniTunes let you download as many skins from their website for free. It cost $4.99 for the Pro version and $14.99 for the family pack.

I suggest you try out the free download first and if you like what SkiniTunes does with its amazing skins you can then upgrade to the Pro version or the family pack.

Here are a few tips and screenshots of setting up Skinitunes...

Download and install SkiniTunes here!

The first time you run your iTunes skin you'll be presented with the 'Settings' screen.

The General Tab

The 'General' tab lets you check for updates, show tool tips, set effects for SkiniTunes window etc. (Recommended)

Skins Tab

The skins tab lets you choose the skin you prefer. I chose the 'SkiniTunes' skin as I liked the look of it. There are the other two skins you can choose... the 'Machina Black and 'MyTunes'. Selecting a skin is more like a taste so you choose whichever will let your music come to life!

Mini Player Tab

This is where you specify whether you want SkiniTunes to be always on top of applications or you want it hidden. I preferred mine to be on top of applications as I can control my music without switching between iTunes and other applications running. You can also set the transparency of the player high so that it can blend in with the background of other applications.

Skin Player Tab

Skin player setting allow you to specify where you want the player on your screen. You can choose 'Align to screen' or 'Free position'. After that select the location of the player. I chose 'Top center'. Again this is personal preference and you know what will work best for you.

Pop-up Tab

Choose 'Enable pop-up' under 'General' and choose 'Skin' under 'Appearance'.

Hotkeys Tab

Check enable 'Global Hotkeys'. Use Global Hotkeys to play/pause, stop, go to previous track, go to next track, repeat (song/all), turn volume up or down, rate tracks, show/hide itunes, switch to mini player etc.

Album Art Tab

Do you have an album art that you want associated with your songs when no album art is available? Add it here using 'Browse'. I left this blank because I have album art for all my albums.

Lyrics Tab

Do you want to add lyrics to your songs so that you can sing along. Check 'Download lyrics from the internet' and 'save my downloaded lyrics to my iTunes'. You can download lyrics from LyricWiki.org.

Note: If SkiniTunes finds that you currently have existing lyrics, it will not over write them.

Windows Messenger Tab

You can change your Live Windows Messenger display picture to the current track album artwork by checking it.

Registration tab

The registration tab is basically who Skinitunes is registered to. As you can see it is registered to me.

This is how the player looks... on top of my internet browser.

You can switch view to Skini Player

This is how the Skini Player looks.

Return from iTunes Skin to iTunes Home Page

Return to iTunes Skin Top Page