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In an undisclosed agreement, Apple Inc. purchased the Barbarian Group’s visualizer, Magnetosphere, for iTunes 8. The Barbarian Group, an interactive marketing group, had developed Magnetosphere as a plug-in for iTunes.
Although the Eva McCloskey, the Barbarian Group’s PR director, would not comment, their website reads, “We’re insanely, ridiculously proud to say that Magnetosphere now lives in iTunes… The Barbarian Group no longer maintains, develops or owns Magnetosphere.”
After a minute of using Magnetosphere, you can see why Apple Inc. included it in their newest version of iTunes. In one song, binary stars orbit each other and are joined by constellations, black holes, and dancing lights. In another, fireworks and party streamers are happily competing for your attention. The original visualizer was a spinning wall of color interrupted by jagged wavy lines. Compared to the new visualizer, the original seems less engaging.
Magnetosphere was released in May 2007 and pulled from the Barbarian Group’s website some time in February 2008, leading to speculation that it had been purchased by Apple Inc.
benet
November 10, 2009 at 7:18pm
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tobefrnk
September 11, 2008 at 11:26am
I use visualizer all the time. I love Magnetosphere and it looks and runs great on both my Dual 867 mirror door upgraded with a Radeon 9800 and my 12" PB 1.5Ghz. Now while it's hard to tell from the normal fan noise of my MDD, I can say that the fan in the 12" PB never got such a workout as Magnetosphere gives it. The normal visualizer would only occasionally kick the fan up in my PB but Magnetosphere, WHOOSH! There is a lot of math going on there. Oh but it is so pretty.
yensid
September 11, 2008 at 11:04am
Magnetosphere is the best visualizer I've seen! I get caught up in it so easily. Before, I didn't use visualizer much but I've been using this one every day. Now if we can only have access to visualizers on Apple TV.
blackzarg
September 11, 2008 at 10:12am
I agree. I was disappointed to see that. Why the change? Those black balls annoy me too.
