As its name suggests, iTunes' origins are in music, and it was the way to buy and transfer music to the original iPod. Then came podcasts, movies, TV shows, and of course, apps and ebooks—none of which the "tunes" moniker is appropriate for. But Apple has crammed everything into that overgrown app. They've learned their lesson with the Mac App store, which has its own app, while iOS still uses iTunes for everything.
But if you just want to transfer a file to or from your iPhone, there should be a better way. And there is. MobileGo from Wondershare ($39.95) is a Mac or PC app that recognizes when you attach an iOS device and lets you address its contents directly. With MobileGo, you can quickly and easily see photos, videos, music on your iOS device and transfer in either direction. Sometimes that's all you need, so iTunes can really get in the way.
It's a smart idea, and Apple could learn a thing or two from Wondershare. Apple does have their AirDrop system coming to iOS 7, and that helps, but it's easier to see everything on a computer sometimes, making MobileGo a handy utility.
The app might seem pricey at $40, but there is a free trial, and it does even more. It lets you manage contacts; including removing duplicates, which is something you might have to buy another app for. And you can backup SMS text messages and more. The free trial makes it a no-brainer to try, and they have versions for PC and Mac, as well as versions to manage your Android device, if you have one!