Winamp finally comes to Mac, aimed at Android users

Winamp has long been a favourite music library-cum-player for PC users, especially those looking for an alternative to iTunes -- and now it's appeared on the Mac. Well, kind of.

Winamp for Mac Sync Beta is the first Winamp app for Mac, but it's only really a taster of the PC edition's three course meal. This is primarily a music sync solution for users of Android phones, although there are playback and library management features chucked in.

After installing the app, you can import your Mac's iTunes music through a single click. There's also a 'Keep Updated' option that scans the default music folder on your Mac every time the app starts up, adding any new music or playlists that have appeared -- you can also specify other folders for the app to keep tabs on.

The app lets you then sync music (either the entire library or selected playlists) with your Winamp-equipped Android phone: just make sure your mobile and your Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network and the phone should pop up in Devices -- you can then pair them and sync the music over wirelessly. Prefer to do things the old-fashioned way? Wired syncing is supported too, natch.

While it's early days for Winamp on Mac, the company promises that this beta release is only the beginning for the platform. It says the basic playback and library management features will be expanded upon soon (which'll be nice, because there's no shuffle play option or tweakable EQ at the moment).

What would you like to see in future updates of Winamp for Mac? Can you see it becoming a major rival for iTunes or will its lack of features (and inability to sync with the iPod, iPhone and iPad, which isn't realistically going to change in the future) mean it's destined merely for cult status? Let us know in the comments section below.