I have iPod envy - iTunes question

[wienerdog]

After seeing the iPod Nano, I have such a crazy desire to get one and notice more than ever, so many people on the train have them.

Here's hoping I get one for my birthday next month! I'm dropping hints to my wife lately.

Question about iTunes: Can you upload iTunes file from an iPod to a computer different from the one you downloaded them on?

[defjoe]

no.... unless you save them as files (like if you were to Stuff some). like it was an flash disk or something (which you can use for also)

[The_Black_Knight]

Officially, the answer is no. However, there are utilities that you can download from sites like Macupdate.com and VersionTracker.com that will allow you to do this. They may or may not work with the latest iTunes software, and they are completely unsupported by Apple. I'm sure that there are PC versions of these pieces of software, as well.

[Crimson]

you'll be fine if they are MP3's but anything you downlaod off of itunes is protected and you can only authorize like 5 computers to play music you download off of itunes. I too want an ipod. I'll envy with you.

[defjoe]

oooo there are utilities now...should have guessed!

mac hates that (and so does the RIAA)

you can get around the itunes protected thing also...fairly easily

[colonel5]

there are also programs made specifically to pull the songs off the ipod incase of losing your songs on the computer, and yes along with that there are plenty of utilities to steal music too ;o) When I worked for apple customers always wanted to know how to do that, and of course we couldn't show them, I would tell them where to find it, but had to stress that apple in no way supports it and if it does something crazy to your computer or ipod that they can "eat me" cause we're not helpin ya !

[The_Black_Knight]

you'll be fine if they are MP3's but anything you downlaod off of itunes is protected and you can only authorize like 5 computers to play music you download off of itunes. I too want an ipod. I'll envy with you.
Oh yeah, I should have been more clear about that. The utilities I have seen are only for copying regular MP3s off of the iPod, as opposed to the downloads from the iTunes Music Store (but I'm sure there's stuff out there to copy those, too; I just haven't looked for it).

I've had my 20 GB iPod for three years now. I still like it a lot, and haven't had any thoughts of replacing it yet. If the battery dies, I'll just replace it (the battery) with a better one.

[wienerdog]

You can't replace the battery on an iPod, can you? I thought that's the big setback, and hear the Creative Labs Zen Micro is better.

Can't you get around the .AAC protected file by burning to CD then copying back onto the PC/Mac as an MP3 with CD-writing software like Toast/Easy CD Creator?

[jimking]

You can't replace the battery on an iPod, can you? I thought that's the big setback, and hear the Creative Labs Zen Micro is better.

Can't you get around the .AAC protected file by burning to CD then copying back onto the PC/Mac as an MP3 with CD-writing software like Toast/Easy CD Creator?
That's correct. Rip it back as a Aiff file or a MP3.

[The_Black_Knight]

You can't replace the battery on an iPod, can you? I thought that's the big setback, and hear the Creative Labs Zen Micro is better.
You can, but it ain't too easy (it requires some specialized tools to open the case), and some caution is required. I wouldn't call it a big setback, though. So what if you have to replace the battery every two or three years? If you had to change it every couple of months, then it would be a big setback.

[reuber1]

Mine died in little over a year, just long enough for the warranty to expire. Still don't know if it's the battery or not, because last time I turned it on I got the old "Folder of Death" icon and it wouldn't shut itself off for like twenty minutes...now it won't even start up.

I've also heard that the Creative Labs stuff is better.

[wienerdog]

Hmmm. as much as the iPod is stylish and trendy, I wonder if I should go with Creative Labs.

What's the difference between the storage device on an iPod Mini and iPod Nano?

I keep hearing the mini has moving parts, the Nano doesn't because it's a flash drive. What's the benefit of this? Does it mean less skipping?

[Only Seen Here]

I'm pissed. I thought I was rad when I got my ipod. I got the big dog, the color screen when it came out, 60GB.

Today someone walked past me with a black nano. My ipod, being approximately the size of a Chevy Astro, was dismantled by the other ipod's sexy thinness and gorgeous black face. Grrrrrr.

[morea]

^ lol! ^

[defjoe]

there will always be something new

[Crimson]

Does any body know where to get software to bypass the protectection. Oh wait I didn't say that. I'm sure the FBI is watching these threads.

[Neballer]

What's the difference between the storage device on an iPod Mini and iPod Nano?

I haven't seen a nano yet, but I can tell you a mini isn't worth your money. They're cheap pieces of plastic sh!t. I fellow at my work got one for free when he bought his car and he's on his second one because the first one was pancaked up, and the new one isn't too better either. Just take the dive and get a regular iPod. I've dropped mine a couple of times and it's still kicking - which I doubt I could say if I owned a mini.

[Jason Fraker]

^^ Indeed, sir. I have a 4Gb silver iPod mini. When I opened the box, I uttered those words made famous by Carl Reiner in Ocean's 11: "That is the sexiest thing I have evah seen!" I absolutely love it. Since I found audible.com in July, I love it even more! I'm thinking about selling it to buy a bigger iPod because my poor ibook's HD is getting so full, and I'd like to still have all my data with me all the time.

Go with the iPod, weinerdog. You won't be sorry.

[colonel5]

flash drive vs. hard drive... with a flash drive you can jog/move around with it without worrying about the hard drive bouncing too much and corrupting, plus it's much more light weight, that's why the iPod shuffle is so popular for the working out type.

the thing minis have going for them is that there outside isn't as delicate as the regular ipod, except for the older ones had odd color fading sometimes, though we won't have to worry about that now since they are discontinued, but if you're looking for a cheap iPod, check your local apple stores cause they probably have a few minis in back that are at a discount price.

an easy fix for the "folder of death" is to restore it (check the manual) or if you can't figure it out bring it to a Mac Genius at your local apple store, they'll restore it, diagnose it etc for free, if something needs to be replaced then you're on your own with the warranty/apple care issues.

No matter what other companies try they continually get ther @$$ kicked by apple. because if something goes wrong with your creative labs mp3 player or your sony, etc who can u bring it too? at best the geek squad who'd have it in their hands for a month and you'd still get it back broken...

[idaho]

The only .AAC files that are protected are the ones that you download from iTunes. If you rip your own personal CD collection to .AAC format then they are not protected and you should be able to copy on and off of the iPod.

[wienerdog]

flash drive vs. hard drive... with a flash drive you can jog/move around with it without worrying about the hard drive bouncing too much and corrupting, plus it's much more light weight, that's why the iPod shuffle is so popular for the working out type.

the thing minis have going for them is that there outside isn't as delicate as the regular ipod, except for the older ones had odd color fading sometimes, though we won't have to worry about that now since they are discontinued, but if you're looking for a cheap iPod, check your local apple stores cause they probably have a few minis in back that are at a discount price.

an easy fix for the "folder of death" is to restore it (check the manual) or if you can't figure it out bring it to a Mac Genius at your local apple store, they'll restore it, diagnose it etc for free, if something needs to be replaced then you're on your own with the warranty/apple care issues.

No matter what other companies try they continually get ther @$$ kicked by apple. because if something goes wrong with your creative labs mp3 player or your sony, etc who can u bring it too? at best the geek squad who'd have it in their hands for a month and you'd still get it back broken...

Thanks for the info. It seems like the Nano will be a welcome replacement to Mini. I didn't realize a hard drive would be so problematic and have skip issues. I've had trouble with a Smart Media card before, not being able to reformat it to work properly with a digital camera I had. So I guess you can have problems with flash media, but since there are no moving parts, I guess you're putting your trust in an operating system and hope the memory card doesn't get too glitchy.

[colonel5]

i've also had a few ipods in my day (the hard drive ones) and worked out with them and never had issue though either, so i think that it's just a potential problem.

[MD]

The ipod hard drives have a 15 min. skip protection on them. They are only problematic when jogging or running. But I think if you have an arm band it won't skip.

[reuber1]

Yeah, mine never skipped in the armband when I went for a jog. Then again, the arm band I had sucked.