I know this wouldn’t be for everyone, but when I’m in compose mode it would be nice to have a tool that would give me basic iTunes controls: play/pause, next, back and maybe song title.
Again, I don’t know how much interest there would be across your whole userbase for such a tool, but I would use it.
As a matter of interest, why would this be any easier than using the keyboard controls already built into OSX?
You may want to check out Sizzling Keys by Yellow Mug (http://www.yellowmug.com/sk4it/ ).
It has keyboard shortcuts mapped to the function keys. I’ve been using it for a while and really like it. It’s on the MAS as well as from the website.
I did a quick test and it works when in Compose mode on my dual screen.
brooker: Have they added those menu items to iTunes recently? In the past, it’s been impossible to control itunes via the keyboard while another program has the focus.
I’m using a program that’s overkill for just itunes controls, but also allows you to use the keyboard for all sorts of handy things. Take a look at Alfred. The following link will show you what it can do, and also label what is only available via the Powerpack upgrade: support.alfredapp.com/tutorials
If its other features interest you, then it’s well worth the cost; I was able to assign CMD-OPT-CTRL-right arrow to skip forward, back-arrow to skip back, and up-arrow to play/pause. Pretty handy!
When you’re in full screen (sorry compose mode 
) you can still access OSX’s menu bar by sliding your mouse up to the top of the screen.
The task and menu bat will then slide down, you can then run something like ‘tracks’ - conceitedsoftware.com/products/tracks
which gives you access to your itunes library and play controls, you can also define global shortcuts, which should work whilst your running Scrivener (As long as they don’t override any of scriveners)
I’d not see having iTunes controls inside scrivener as being something i’d personally want, I’d rather the team concentrate on other things specific to the writing environment (although yes i know music can be a big part of that )
Robert,
TBH I can’t remember the dedicated keyboard controls (they’re on F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12 for left, play, right, mute, sound down, sound up respectively) ever NOT working when iTunes was in the background, but perhaps they didn’t a few years ago. I’m currently using them on Lion with both an iMac and a MacBook Pro.
The only thing you need to remember is that you may need to use fn+F7 etc if you’ve got System Preferences > Keyboard > ‘Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys’ checked.
Regards
David
Ah, I must be showing my (MB Pro’s) age (6 years!). It doesn’t have those controls on it’s keyboard, and I haven’t been able to find them in the keyboard preferences so that I could reassign them to another set of keys.