need iPod help

[glen]

I want to put some songs and audio books on my friend's iPod.
Do I have to put them into iTunes first, then transfer them over?

[PowerYoga]

Depends on if your ipod is jailbroken I'd assume. But As far as I remember (Note: haven't used an ipod/itunes in years) your ipod is synced to your itunes and if you plug this into a different computer (with a different itunes) it will actually erase all the stuff that's NOT on the itunes to "sync" them. Had some grief trying to charge my ipod from different laptops a few years ago.

And this is years ago.... but last time I tinkered with an ipod the song names and stuff are sort of encrypted so that they're not easily findable.

Apple forums is probably a better place to ask:
http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=45

[glen]

Originally Posted by PowerYoga

Depends on if your ipod is jailbroken I'd assume. But As far as I remember (Note: haven't used an ipod/itunes in years) your ipod is synced to your itunes and if you plug this into a different computer (with a different itunes) it will actually erase all the stuff that's NOT on the itunes to "sync" them. Had some grief trying to charge my ipod from different laptops a few years ago.

And this is years ago.... but last time I tinkered with an ipod the song names and stuff are sort of encrypted so that they're not easily findable.

Apple forums is probably a better place to ask:
http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=45

Exactly!
I plugged a friend's iPod into my PC, and it won't let me drag files onto it.
Ok, so I use iTunes, but that required it to ERASE all her stuff.
I knew all the folks who LOVED iPods were idiots.
Twice the money; half the functionality.

They are fashion devices. People buy them because they are cool.

[MotionMan]

Originally Posted by glen

I want to put some songs and audio books on my friend's iPod.
Do I have to put them into iTunes first, then transfer them over?

If you are trying to give your friend some of your songs, then there is no official/legal way of doing that. It is a copyright violation.

There are unofficial/illegal ways of doing it, but I believe we are not allowed to talk about those here.

MotionMan

[glen]

Originally Posted by MotionMan

If you are trying to give your friend some of your songs, then there is no official/legal way of doing that. It is a copyright violation.

There are unofficial/illegal ways of doing it, but I believe we are not allowed to talk about those here.

MotionMan

I don't think I was actually doing anything illegal. I ripped the CD's myself, so i think I am allowed to share them.

[MotionMan]

Originally Posted by glen

I don't think I was actually doing anything illegal. I ripped the CD's myself, so i think I am allowed to share them.

LOL. No, that is illegal.

MotionMan

[DaveStall]

The best solution I have found is to get yourself a small USB stick and install LiberKey on it. Then make sure you install CopyTrans Manager through the LiberKey program manager. Attach the USB stick to your keyring. Now, anywhere you go and you want to put some music on your idevice without having to deal with iTunes, just plug in your USB stick, run CopyTrans from the stick and profit. The music will be added to your device, the library will be properly updated and you can use the stock music player as well.

Of course this is assuming the OP's iPod is a Touch. If it is an older style device I'm not sure what the options are.