IPOD questions

[CrimsonChaos]

I'm buying my wife an IPOD for Christmas. However, I have a few questions:

1. Is it possible to simply plug the IPOD into the computer (via USB I presume) and transfer the songs to it without much hassle?

2. The songs are in .WMA format -- is this OK? Or do they have to be in .MP3?

3. Are there any other warnings you might have to offer when considering an IPOD?

 

[Buck Naked]

1. Normally they need to be formatted for PC

2. No on the .WMA

3. They are addicting

 

[CrimsonChaos]

Thanks for the response.

1. When you say they have to be formatted for PC, how much of a pain is this? Is it a feature on the IPOD, or something I need to do from the PC itself?

2. Damn. That hurts.

3. Good.

 

[CrimsonChaos]

And why don't they support WMA? I thought WMA files were smaller in size than MP3 files -- which would make it possible to store even more songs.

Edit: One more question regarding MP3. Does the music have to be recorded at any particular KB/S ? Or can I choose whichever quality-setting I want?

 

[d2arcturus]

Formatting is really easy. You install the iPod sofware, and it tells you to plug it in, etc. Just follow the easy instructions. Just make sure you start the software before plugging in the iPod. Plugging in the iPod before the software says so can cause problems, after that you are good.
Updating songs is very easy, but you have to use iTunes. Just add all your music in the iTunes library, create playlists if you'd like, and you can set the iPod to automatically update the library/playlists when it connects to the PC. Easy stuff, enjoy.

 

[DanDaMan315]

Not to hijack, but just another iPod question: How soon will the iPod video be out? I'm in the market for an iPod and I would wait for the video models if they are due out soon.

 

[d2arcturus]

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Not to hijack, but just another iPod question: How soon will the iPod video be out? I'm in the market for an iPod and I would wait for the video models if they are due out soon.

iAudio X5.

 

[Buck Naked]

Originally posted by: CrimsonChaos
And why don't they support WMA? I thought WMA files were smaller in size than MP3 files -- which would make it possible to store even more songs.

Edit: One more question regarding MP3. Does the music have to be recorded at any particular KB/S ? Or can I choose whichever quality-setting I want?

Apple uses .AAC not .WMA
For MP3's I am pretty sure it can support VBR, and up to 320 Kbps.

 

[Crescent13]

I have an iPod Mini. Note that he siad the ipod doesn't support WMA (Windows Media Audio on a Apple device is a no-no), he didn't say it had to be in MP3. Here are the formats you can use



AAC: 16-320kbps, 44.1-48khz. (the higher the number the higher the quality). AAC is MUCH better than MP3. A 128kbps AAC file usually sounds better than a 320kbps MP3. I use 320kbps 48khz AAC, and I personally can't tell the difference between the original and this, and since my iPod won't hold everything at a higher quality, this is the next best thing. It takes up just a bit more space than a MP3, the quality-size ratio is well worth it though.

AIFF: This is excactly the same as WAV, only it's made by apple. see WAV for details.

Apple Lossless: This is an excact copy of a CD, but it is compressed. Mathematically no quality is lost, but each CD ripped will be smaller. I tried using this format once, my 345MB original CD ended up being 230MB.

MP3: You probably know more than you should about theese, and if you don't, then search on the internet because my fingers are getting tired .

WAV: 8-48khz, mono or stereo, 8 or 16 bits. This is an EXCACT copy of a CD. Unlike apple lossless, this does not compress the music, even though the quality is excactly the same with it compressed. EX: a 345MB CD will be 345MB in your hard drive, even though you can get exactly the same quality with apple lossless.

Hope this helps

 

[twitchee2]

when you import though itunes it will automaticly convert them so .WMA is not a problem

 

[V00D00]

I'll be getting my ipod soon. Except I didn't pay for mine. Go go Free Ipods! (insert the .com too)

 

[Eureka]

Overpriced, and fragile. If the cost wasn't so high, it would be an excellent player.

Norm

 

[eXx08]

Ok, here we go

1. yes, click the auto-update all songs and playlist and it will do it automaticaly
2. yes, just save them to a folder, click file, add song to library, and convert it to a ACC file
3. No, there great, I have the 4th gen. use it all the time, LOVE IT

 

[Buck Naked]

Originally posted by: cevilgenius
Overpriced, and fragile. If the cost wasn't so high, it would be an excellent player.

Norm

Good point for OP.
They scratch very, very easy. You will want a skin for it as well.

 

[GI Ho]

Originally posted by: CrimsonChaos
I'm buying my wife an IPOD for Christmas. However, I have a few questions:

1. Is it possible to simply plug the IPOD into the computer (via USB I presume) and transfer the songs to it without much hassle?

2. The songs are in .WMA format -- is this OK? Or do they have to be in .MP3?

3. Are there any other warnings you might have to offer when considering an IPOD?

1. Use iTunes, I manually transfer my MP3 to iPod though.

2. Apple don't speak WMA!

3. Get yourself a screen protector or full body protector. The chrome part of the iPod (minus shuffle) are prone to fingerprints and smudges.

I got the iPod nano 4GB, it can also be used as a flash drive! Today is the second day of my "test drive" I'm happy with it for the most part, but the cost is hard to justify. My MP3s are encoded at 192K bits per second, forget about 1,000 songs and long battery life

 

[DanDaMan315]

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Not to hijack, but just another iPod question: How soon will the iPod video be out? I'm in the market for an iPod and I would wait for the video models if they are due out soon.

Anyone know?

 

[theMan]

id say the main problem with the ipod is the batter ussue.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
Not to hijack, but just another iPod question: How soon will the iPod video be out? I'm in the market for an iPod and I would wait for the video models if they are due out soon.

Anyone know?

It's a rumor, no one ever knows. Just buy an iPod now if you want one, otherwise quit fretting.

 

[DerelictDev]

Just so you guys know, all the ipods out since generation 2 (i believe)have had the hardware to support video. A simple google search for ipod hacks/ mods will yield you results on how to transform your ipod into basically a mini linux box thats able to run/ watch videos and play music.

But its your risk if you want to flash and alter the ipod of course.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: theman
id say the main problem with the ipod is the batter ussue.

Keep it out of the kitchen!

 

[Hacp]

Ipod mini is VERY scratch resistant. Buy one now as it has been discontinued.

 

[mike3uz]

Itunes will convert non drm wma's to mp3 so thats not an issue.