NVDA 2019.3-2020.1 & iTunes: UIAutomationTextRangeArray is empty / NULL COM pointer access on some elements

[AAClause]

Steps to reproduce:

There are several ways to reproduce this issue, here's one:

1. Open iTunes.
2. In the library sidebar, select a playlist.
3. Press tab key two times.

Actual behavior:

The following error occurs and no speech/braille feedback for the focused element:

Traceback

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "speech\__init__.pyc", line 523, in getObjectSpeech
  File "documentBase.pyc", line 24, in makeTextInfo
  File "NVDAObjects\UIA\__init__.pyc", line 309, in __init__
NotImplementedError: UIAutomationTextRangeArray is empty

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "eventHandler.pyc", line 213, in executeEvent
  File "eventHandler.pyc", line 94, in __init__
  File "eventHandler.pyc", line 102, in next
  File "NVDAObjects\behaviors.pyc", line 185, in event_gainFocus
  File "NVDAObjects\__init__.pyc", line 1105, in event_gainFocus
  File "NVDAObjects\__init__.pyc", line 991, in reportFocus
  File "speech\__init__.pyc", line 478, in speakObject
  File "speech\__init__.pyc", line 539, in getObjectSpeech
  File "speech\__init__.pyc", line 463, in _getPlaceholderSpeechIfTextEmpty
  File "baseObject.pyc", line 42, in __get__
  File "baseObject.pyc", line 145, in _getPropertyViaCache
  File "NVDAObjects\__init__.pyc", line 1194, in _get__isTextEmpty
  File "documentBase.pyc", line 24, in makeTextInfo
  File "NVDAObjects\UIA\__init__.pyc", line 320, in __init__
  File "NVDAObjects\UIA\__init__.pyc", line 765, in collapse
  File "comtypesMonkeyPatches.pyc", line 26, in __call__
ValueError: NULL COM pointer access

Same thing for some other items.

Expected behavior:

No error and description of the focused item (here: <playlist name> Edit).

System configuration

NVDA installed/portable/running from source:

Installed

NVDA version:

alpha-20175,9967903a

Windows version:

10 Insider (64-bit) build 19624.1000

Name and version of other software in use when reproducing the issue:

iTunes 12.10.6.2

Other information about your system:

N/A

Other questions

Does the issue still occur after restarting your computer?

Yes

Have you tried any other versions of NVDA? If so, please report their behaviors.

Same behavior with 2019.3. Works with 2019.2.1.

If addons are disabled, is your problem still occuring?

Yes

Did you try to run the COM registry fixing tool in NVDA menu / tools?

Yes

[Adriani90]

@AAClause are you still able to reproduce this with NVDA 2023.2 on last version of iTunes?

[AAClause]

Yes, I'm still able to reproduce this issue with iTunes 12.12.10.1 and NVDA alpha-29194,ec914517.

[Adriani90]

Given this article and that alternatives from Apple for iTunes are already published in the Windows store, I am closing as abandoned.
https://applescoop.org/story/from-icon-to-obsolete-what-happened-to-apple-itunes
If you want to hear your Apple podcasts on your Windows PC, there is also a new alternative from Apple:
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/listen-apple-podcasts-pc-web-app/
For audiobooks there is no solution yet, but it is a matter of short time until it will come. If you have audiobooks on iTunes and want to export them, there are plenty of converters that can convert them to mp3.