Do iPods absolutely require iTunes?

[duragezic]

I really don't want to get an iPod if I need to use iTunes. I don't need that bloated crap to load songs onto an mp3 player. Just give me the device as if its a flash drive, I'll select my songs I want to load in one window, copy-> paste onto that drive in another window.

I thought sure there was 3rd party ways to do this, but I've also read iTunes as a requirement for iPods. I'm mostly looking at a 2-4GB Nano (refurb) if specific models apply.

So what's the word?

 

[MrChad]

Anapod Explorer (not free)

Ephpod

 

[Pabster]

No. People always think it does, though. Just like Podcasts, people think you have to have an iPod to use them.

Anapod Explorer is great, albeit not free. There is a Winamp plug-in to manage your iPod as well.

 

[Drakkon]

although there are others out there i found itunes to be the most efficient in getting content over to my ipod.

I was totally against the itunes software and ipod in general till a friend just gave me one out of the blue. Tried using the other apps and got fedup after transfers took too long, things would crash, so went to itunes. I still dont like itunes although the newest incarnation (7) isnt as bad, it still seems to transfer and never crashes on me.

 

[Noema]

Besides the programs Mr.Chad linked, there's Sharepod which works well, and it also allows you to copy the files off your iPod to any PC easily. Many popular programs like foorbar2000, Winamp and Songbird can use plugins as well.

If you are running Linux, there are programs like gtkpod which work well to play, browse and import music into your iPod.

 

[UnderPantKnome]

Originally posted by: Pabster
No. People always think it does, though. Just like Podcasts, people think you have to have an iPod to use them.

Anapod Explorer is great, albeit not free. There is a Winamp plug-in to manage your iPod as well.

I read somewhere that the Winamp plug-in has a couple of bugs which can damage your ipod. I'm really interested in it but kind of afraid to try it out. Did they fix the issue with the plug-in or is it still the same?

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: duragezic
I really don't want to get an iPod if I need to use iTunes. I don't need that bloated crap to load songs onto an mp3 player. Just give me the device as if its a flash drive, I'll select my songs I want to load in one window, copy-> paste onto that drive in another window.

I thought sure there was 3rd party ways to do this, but I've also read iTunes as a requirement for iPods. I'm mostly looking at a 2-4GB Nano (refurb) if specific models apply.

So what's the word?

iPOD SUCKS ;( get a zune or Creative Vision M

Creative Vision M has Mepg 4 , XVID , DVIX and other video support 🙂 also both can be plug and store your own music ;! just need Windows XP SP2

 

[CKent]

Ephpod works awesome for me, no problems whatsoever. I'd never buy anapod; why pay for software to do what other players don't even require specialized software for...? 😕 On that note, my ipod was free, if I was spending money I'd have gotten an iriver most likely.

And podcasts are just mp3s. Apple just slapped a new term on them and put their image/marketing department behind it, and the sheep laud their innovation... lol, what a world we live in :laugh:

 

[Maximilian]

Well if you think itunes is "bloated crap" you wont be particularly happy with the free alternatives. Ephpod namely, cant vouch for the paid one. I used ephpod to try and get music OFF my ipod once, it was slow to use and it crashed. Itunes is great, give it a chance, its fast too, ive never found it to be bloated. If only it could play videos too it would replace wmp as my main media player.

 

[abaez]

I used the IPOD plugin in winamp. Basically drag and drop once you plugin your ipod.. very nice.

 

[AnMig]

Originally posted by: abaez
I used the IPOD plugin in winamp. Basically drag and drop once you plugin your ipod.. very nice.

This is what I also use.