OSX Keyboard Media Keys Stopped Working in iTunes

For me the Chrome Google play extension had stolen the functions.

Chrome | Settings | Extensions & scroll to the bottom of the page | Keyboard Shortcuts

iTunes and I really don't get on - 100% CPU

If I wasn't attached at the hip to iOS devices I would gladly put every known iTunes developer to the sword.  But I am, and Apple don't seem to be listening to my calls to buy MediaMonkey.

So I have to put up and shut up (well, not so much shut up).

My Windows 7 install of iTunes has been misbehaving. Very slow to start and between it and the AppleMobileDevice service stealing 100% of the CPU. Killing the AMD service made the machine usable, just.

Eventually looked into the issue and low and behold plenty of reported problems.  And all the solutions were to run 'netsh winsock reset' << Wait, what!, I seriously have to reset the settings back to default?

Apparently different apps clash, Apples bonjour service being particularly susceptible. Getting Autoruns and clicking the Winsock tab only showed bonjour and HMA VPN server (highly recommended) entries. This machine is close to a rebuild when Windows 8 is on general release so what the hell.

Ran the command, reboot and bingo. iTunes restored, HMA Winsock entries gone, but HMA still working (?)

Did some more reading and it seems any type of networking problem will lead to netsh winsock reset. Not sure after, cough, many years of being in tech I've never come across this before.

netsh winsock reset = swiss army knife of Windows.

iTunes/AppStore default apps assigned to another user

The iLife apps which now come with Lion+ are by default 'assigned' to the first iTunes user that logs in to the MAC and updates.

Which is fine if its your personal device but not fine when its a business one and that initial user leaves the company.  Apple provide no method to re-assign apps and the no media mandate means you can't re-install.  Essentially your broken and can't update any of the apps.

Spent a good deal of time on Google and eventually emailed support - who were crap.

Resorted to calling Apple Care and after the first tech tried to send me back to iTunes support.  With some perseverance I got through to a senior tech (who wishes to remain anonymous). He took the details and totally owned the case.

Came back within the hour and said we could switch the registration from user XYZ to ABC.  We registered ABC, which will now become the business iTunes account and had the apps switched over.

At first this failed but a suggestion to delete the apps and then re-install resolved that.

Happy user, and really happy with the way Apple support dealt with this.