Ask iLounge 1-27-05

Article

Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We'll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form. We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

The most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I copy music from my iPod onto my computer?

Click here for the answer.

The second most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I put DVDs on my iPod?

For converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and home movies to your iPod, iPhone or Apple TV, we have a three-part series outlining the best formats, settings, and various tools to use for converting all types of video content for use on these devices.

The Complete Guide to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone Video Formats

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Windows)

Top five questions most recently asked by iLounge readers:

Q: What are the best speakers to use with my iPod? (15, 76-79, and 90-92)

Q: What are the best headphones to use with my iPod? (10, 72-75, and 90-92)

Q: I really want to get a nice case for my iPod. Do you have any suggestions? (36-37, 54-67, and 90-92)

Q: How can I connect my iPod to my car stereo? (14, 32-35, 68-71, and 90-92)

Q: Are there any batteries that I can use to extend my iPod's battery life? (82-83 and 90-92)

A: Answers to these and many other questions can be found in two places. Our Free iPod Book 3.3 provides a complete report card to all of the iPod accessories we've reviewed as of summer 2007, as well as over 125 iTunes and iPod tips & tricks. Further, our new 2008 iPod & iPhone Buyers' Guide has accessory tutorials at the page numbers listed in parentheses above. These and other publications in our Library are free downloads, developed by the editors of iLounge!

And now, for this week's Ask iLounge column:

Q: I’m thinking about buying an iPod, partly because it seems to be a good solution for a home stereo system. I’m looking for an affordable way to have access to my iPod’s music in at least three rooms in my house. I would be willing to take my iPod from room to room, but the ultimate solution would be to have the iPod located centrally and be able to use it remotely from each room. Does such a solution exist?

Also, which speakers do you recommend? I have heard good things about Harman Kardon and Klipsch.

- Paul

A: We use our iPods in exactly the way you describe: this column’s author, for example, has two 40 GB iPods, one for classical music and the other for everything else (rock, jazz, ambient, electronic, etc.), and uses them to provide music to multiple stereo systems. Connecting the iPod to the stereo with a basic mini-din to RCA cable lets you play music from the iPods through speakers, and you can naturally connect the iPod to any self-powered speakers as well.

But that’s not the only way you can do it. If you have a wireless network, you can use an Apple AirPort Express, together with iTunes, to stream music from your computer to a set of speakers. The AirPort Express has a mini-din jack so you can connect it to a stereo, or to self-powered speakers, and iTunes streams your music to the AirPort Express. If you want to go all the way, you can buy several AirPort Express units and set each one up in a different room, using iTunes on your Mac or PC to play music to any of them; just select the appropriate AirPort Express from iTunes and start playing music.

Another solution could be to use a FM transmitter connected to your iPod. With a device like this, you could send music from your iPod over the airwaves to your stereo, using a FM frequency that is not occupied by a radio station in your area. If you go to our reviews page, and scroll down to FM Transmitters, you’ll find information on most of the currently available models.

If you want to remotely control your iPod, as you suggest, you could use TEN Technology’s naviPod (see our review here) or Griffin’s AirClick Remote (see our review here). But these devices are only useful for such things as skipping tracks, changing volume, and pausing or playing your music. Since the iPod is a portable device, it’s just as easy to control your playback from the iPod. You can also see our new review of TEN Technology’s new naviPlay Bluetooth wireless system, which includes a roundup of other upcoming Bluetooth devices that can spread your music wirelessly.

As for speakers, we highly recommend JBL’s Creature speakers (see our thoughts about these here). These tiny satellites and subwoofer provide the clearest sound we have heard at their price point. The upcoming Klipsch iFi speakers will also be excellent, but will set you back a bit more. (Read about these speakers in our
roundup of new products for the iPod. A hard-to-find splurge option would be the Eclipse 307, which the company touts as the Rolls Royce of mini speakers. Unfortunately, you’ll likely pay more than the cost of your iPod for this stylish setup.

Q: My hard drive crashed and I had to reinstall everything, but I didn’t have a backup of my music. Is there anyway to transfer music from my iPod to my computer?

- Virtually every iLounge reader.

A: This is the most common question we receive at Ask iLounge.

Apple has not provided a simple way to do this, most likely because it would allow people to illegally copy other people’s music too easily. Yet hard drive crashes, Windows reinstallations and other problems make this a valid question. We’ve created an iLounge iPod 201 series article that steps you through the entire process.

In a pinch, you can also use a simple software- and computer-agnostic procedure to “find” the music on your iPod. Your music is stored in hidden folders, but this article tells you how to see those folders and recover your music manually.

Q: I’m curious about the Sound Check options in iTunes and on the iPod. Do they only adjust the volume during playback, or do they actually adjust the volume of the actual MP3/AAC files? I’ve heard some people complain about it distorting songs. Can you give me a better description of what the Sound Check option really does and how effective it is?

- Cary

A: When you turn on the Sound Check option in iTunes (Preferences > Audio), iTunes analyzes your music to determine each track’s “average” volume. It determines how much of an adjustment it should make when playing back music to ensure that the overall volume level is more or less constant. You can see the amount of adjustment that iTunes makes as a number of decibels (dB) when looking at info about a track. Select a track, then select File > Get Info and click the Summary tab. The Volume shown (with either a plus or minus amount) is the adjustment made during playback.

If you have turned this option on in iTunes, and then activate it on your iPod (Settings > Sound Check), the iPod will take this volume change into account and increase or decrease the volume accordingly.

Sound Check is only really useful if you listen to many types of music. Say you listen to Metallica and Bach; the Metallica will get lowered a few dB, and the Bach will be played back a bit louder. It can save you changing the volume manually as tracks change. But note that you must turn this on in iTunes to be able to use it with your iPod; the iPod can only make this adjustment if iTunes has set a volume level change.

As for distortion, it is entirely possible that very soft or very loud music could be distorted if the adjustment is large enough. However, we looked through one of our ambient music collections and found tracks where the volume was adjusted as much as +17 dB without any noticeable distortion. The highest negative adjustment we found in that iTunes library was about -11 dB, and again, we didn’t hear a noticeable difference with that song. Noticeable distortion will depend as much upon the quality of your ears and source material as on iTunes and the iPod’s ability to change specific levels.

Q: I have a new 4G 20Gb iPod. I have read many myths and theories about how to get the best battery life out of my iPod. Is there a clear answer to this question:

When I’m sitting at my desk at work listening to my iPod through speakers, I am next to an AC outlet; it would be easy for me to plug my iPod into this outlet and keep it charging. Is it better for the battery to leave it plugged in like this, or does it not make a difference?

- Johanna

A: It’s true that understanding iPod batteries can be complicated, especially because there is a great deal of uninformed opinion floating around. The best place to go is Apple’s FAQ about iPod batteries; this document says, “The battery stops charging when it’s full. Leaving it connected won’t charge it any more. It’s perfectly OK to leave it connected so it can charge overnight, for example.”

To learn more about making your battery last as long as possible, check this Apple document, which gives you tips on getting the most out of your battery.

Q: I have ordered an iPod mini, but the Apple web site says that it requires USB 2.0. I only have USB 1.1. Will the iPod mini still work?

- Josh

A: Yes, it will work, but it will take a fair bit longer for you to transfer your music. You’ll probably transfer a lot of music at first, then add songs gradually after that. So make sure you charge your iPod mini completely before the first transfer. After that, the difference in time won’t bother you much, unless you replace a lot of music, or transfer lots of new songs.

Kirk McElhearn is the author of several books including iPod iTunes Garage. His blog, Kirkville features articles about the iPod, iTunes, Mac OS X and much more.

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Ask iLounge Archives:

7-4-08: Recovering a corrupt iPod, Hard cases for iPhone, Reimporting CDs into iTunes, iPod shows only Other content, Managing multiple audio formats in iTunes, Optimum iPod video output cables

6-27-08: Creating Smart Playlists for Purchased items, Keeping place in multi-track audiobooks, Backing up iTunes before a reformat, iPod Games on 5G and classic, Editing CD tracks before import, Getting Album Artwork automatically

6-20-08: Third-party iPod management tools, Transferring large files on iPod, Shuffling On-The-Go Playlists, Removing played podcasts from iPod, Continuously playing one track, Moving iTunes from PC to Mac

6-13-08: Artists not appearing on iPod, Unchecked items do not play in iTunes, iTunes shows incorrect CD track information, Podcast support on older iPod models, Upgrading to a new iPod, Photo albums on iPod touch

6-6-08: Downloading YouTube videos onto iPod, Selling old iPod models, Fit iTunes Window to Screen, Handing down an iPod, Dock Compatible iPod cases, Problems transferring music from iPod to Mac

See the rest of the Archives...

5-30-08: Burning iTunes purchases to an MP3 CD, Playing iPhone via computer, Pre-loading a gift iPod on another computer, Music Video playlists on Apple TV, Music videos on 2G iPod nano, Importing existing MP3 and WMA files into iTunes.

5-23-08: Finding and backing up purchased music, Syncing duplicate tracks to iPod, Restoring 4G iPod and AC power, Syncing iPod to a laptop when travelling, Finding photos on iPod, Storing a large iTunes library in multiple folders

5-16-08: Using the iPhone with integrated in-car Bluetooth, Problems with iPods and depleted batteries, Transferring content to a new iPod, iPod displays audio but no video, Removing photos and album artwork from iTunes, Overdrive Media and iPods

5-9-08: About iPod battery life and charging, Using Apple FM Radio remote on older iPod models, Scan and Fix dialog using iPod on Windows Vista, Preserving iTunes metadata when reinstalling Windows, Importing multiple tracks into iTunes, About iTunes and ID3 tags

5-2-08: Transferring digital camera movies to iPod, Reordering and shuffling playlists, Transferring playlists between iTunes libraries, Importing audiobooks, Correcting tags on CD import, Burning CDs with longer gaps

4-25-08: Finding Duplicates in iTunes, Setting files to open in iTunes automatically, Resetting authorizations, 1G iPod nano and voice recording, Syncing a library larger than your iPod capacity, Grouping multi-disc albums

4-17-08: Ripping CDs to external hard drive, Zeppelin speakers and USB port, Bluetooth stereo on iPhone, Converting TV shows to iPod, Audio recording on iPod touch, Wireless security on iPod touch

4-10-08: Transferring LPs to iTunes, Movie Rentals and 5G iPod, New iPod models on older Macs, Maintaining Playback Position on iPod, Importing CDs on multiple computers

4-3-08: Using several iPods on one computer, Renaming imported CD tracks, iM7 and iPod nano, Burning different CD types, Purchasing from iTunes while travelling, Importing CDs on MacBook Air, Sending photos from iPhone

3-28-08: iPod capacity and bit-rates, International iTunes Gift Cards, iPhone charging accessories, Moving iTunes purchases to another computer, iPod touch and third-party tools, iPod videos play only audio

3-21-08: Basic DVD conversion, 5G iPod and subtitles, Slideshows on iPod touch, Using the Voice Memo function, iPod classic TV output quality, iPod Dock Connector extender cables

3-14-08: About Skip Count, iPhone alarm clocks, 5G firmware updates, Cleaning up after a library move, Syncing new playlists to iPod nano, Authorization of multiple iTunes Store accounts

3-7-08: Transferring MP3 files to new iTunes library, iPhone ringtones on Windows, Wired remotes for iPod classic, Sharing iTunes with multiple users on one PC, iTunes library and Time Capsule, Chargers for 3G iPods

2-29-08: Finding iPhone Backups, Contact Display on iPhone, Automatic vs manual iPod management, iTunes CD burning restrictions, iTunes movie rental expiry on iPods, Downloading podcasts to iPhone

2-22-08: Upgrading your iPhone, Recovering data from corrupted iPod, Recreating default playlists, Syncing iPod Games from more than one computer, Problems playing purchased TV shows on iPod, Output settings when playing movies from iPod to TV

2-15-08: Setting up an AirTunes network, Shuffling music, Playing podcasts sequentially, Firewire support on modern iPods, Recovering Mac-formatted iPods on Windows, Recovering iTunes library from a virus

2-7-08: Transferring music from iPod touch, Voice recorders for 2007 iPods, Cover Flow on 5G iPod, Renaming your iPod, iTunes and iLife, Organizing music transferred from the iPod

1-31-08: Apple TV AirTunes Support, iPod Games on 5G and classic, Keeping videos only on iPod, Syncing iPod using checked songs, Charging with Universal Dock, International iPod and iTunes Store use

1-18-08: Macworld Expo 2008 Special Edition: Questions about the new iTunes Movie Rentals and Apple TV features, including Time Capsule and the Apple TV, Renting HD Movies from iTunes, Transferring rented movies to and from the iPod, Fifth-generation iPods and movie rental support, AirTunes support on Apple TV Take Two.

1-10-08: TV output quality, iPod windows driver installation errors, Connecting iPod to portable DVD player, Syncing games, iPhone charger compatibility, Reformatting iPod for Mac

1-3-08: 2007 iPod models and speakers, Video resolution vs bit-rate, Preventing auto-deletion of podcasts, Videos with no sound, Using iTunes Store when travelling abroad, Transferring videos to iPod, Importing Audiobooks

12-27-07: Your First iPod, Differences between iPod models, Accessory compatibility, Converting DVDs for iPod, New iPods and older computers, Earphone Recommendations, Troubleshooting iPod Problems

12-21-07: Other space on iPod, Search feature on iPod touch, Adding third-party ringtones to iPhone, iPod suddenly shows no content, TV Dock compatibility, Artists appearing more than once on iPod

12-14-07: New iPods - Buy now or wait? Transfer music from an old iPod, Convert MP3 to Lossless, Listening to videos and battery life, Bluetooth headphones for iPod nano, Universal Dock and line-out volume

12-7-07: Using Compilations settings, Re-syncing iPod after hard drive replacement, Locating iTunes Plus tracks, New iPod firmware - video output and iPod Hi-Fi support, Mac-formatted iPods, Cover Flow on iPod, iPhone screen goes blank when on a call

11-29-07: Photo resolution on the iPhone, Obtaining video content for the iPod touch, Restoring older iPod models, Sharing iTunes library on a single computer, Transferring iTunes via external hard drive, Auto-deleting played podcasts

11-22-07: Syncing games to iPod, Removing album artwork, Replacing files in iTunes library, Limiting volume on iPod, Preventing iPod sync when connecting with iTunes, Skipping audiobooks when shuffling songs

11-16-07: iTunes and Vista, iPod classic video output (revisited), Transferring iTunes from PC to Mac, Organizing Music Videos in iTunes, Using newer iPods with older OS X versions, Sorting photos on iPod

11-9-07: Editing calendar on iPod touch, Multiple iTunes libraries on one computer, Creating an iTunes Store account without a credit card, Burning CDs with track names, iPod/iPhone remote control, iPhone TV output from Safari

11-2-07: TV Docks for new iPod models, Calculate song file sizes, iPhone backup and restore, Sync selected content with iPhone, Universal Dock compatibility, Managing podcast synchronization

10-26-07: iTunes Plus, Play Slideshow on iPod nano, Activate TV out on new iPods, Recover Mac iPod in Windows, Add descriptions to TV shows, iTunes not opening when iPhone is connected

10-18-07: iPod and Windows Autoplay, Reinstalling iTunes, Manually Managing Videos, iPod charging accessories, iPod touch power and sleep modes, Resyncing recovered iPod content

10-11-07: Managing a class set of iPods, New firmware and older iPods, Windows ME support, Sorting artists by last name, 3G iPod car audio compatibility, Resetting iPod language

10-5-07: iTunes WiFi Store, Videos with no sound, Managing video content manually, Tagging TV Shows, Renaming iPod, Flash support on iPhone, Removing multiple artwork images, iPhone and multi-recipient SMS, US/UK iPod compatibility, Photo storage on iPod touch

9-27-07: iPod classic audio quality, New iPod models: features and accessory compatibility, Transferring music from iPod 5G to classic, iPod nano voice recording, Storing multiple bitrates in iTunes

9-7-07: Special Edition on the new iPod lineup - users most common questions answered about the new iPod lineup and new iTunes release, including accessory compatibility and new software features.

8-30-07: Playing single tracks, iPhone sleep timer, Deleting iPod content, TV shows do not appear on iPod, Manually sorting playlists, Fitting content onto audio CDs, Car line-out solutions

8-23-07: Set Video Kind within files, Authorization and iPod transfer, Chat Clients for iPhone, Importing CDs for gapless playback, Tethering iPhone, Burning Purchased Tracks

8-16-07: Managing podcasts, Bookmarking audiobooks, No artwork in Cover Flow, Storing iTunes content on two hard drives, Sleeping with an iPod, ROKR sunglasses and iPhone, Selling an iPod

8-9-07: Playing Podcast episodes in sequence, Recording radio in iTunes, New iPod with songs already on it, Authorized Computers, Sync iPod with a new computer, Transferring a Windows iPod to a MacBook

8-2-07: Syncing the iPhone to more than one computer, Transferring iTunes music to the Blackberry, Continuous video playback on the iPod, Problems editing track info in iTunes, Transferring content from iPhone to computer, Video playback from the iPhone, Sending MMS messages from the iPhone

7-26-07: Transferring photos from iPhone, Using iPhone speaker and dock, Song volume adjustments in iTunes, Transfer from a Mac-formatted iPod in Windows Vista, iTunes Other category and TV show syncing, Printing track lists from iTunes

7-19-07: Importing MP3 CDs, Using two iPods on one computer, Showing current track in Windows Messenger, iPod nano accessory compatibility, Keeping content only on the iPod, Transferring between two iTunes libraries

7-12-07: Sorting in iTunes 7.3, Joining CD tracks, Selecting TV Shows for sync, Recovering photos from iPod, Tagging multiple video tracks, iPhone activation requirements

7-5-07: Managing your iPod content with Smart Playlists, External hard drives and iTunes, Problems getting CD info from CDDB, Grouping by Album Artist, Using iPod as a removable hard drive

6-28-07: Manual mode and preventing auto-sync, Transferring iTunes library, Burning, ripping and sound check, Saving your place in multi-track audiobooks, Renaming your iPod, Resolving lost iPod content, Drivers and Software for 4G iPods

6-21-07: Smart Playlists for Podcasts, Incorrect track info when importing CDs, Deauthorizing computers revisited, Problems transferring purchased tracks, Transferring photos from iPod to computer, Deleting On-The-Go playlists, Songs not appearing under Artist name

6-14-07: Problems syncing re-ripped MP3s in iTunes 7.2, Grouping albums with multiple artists, Radio tuners for older iPod models, Managing Podcasts, Using an iPod on Mac and Windows, Selecting items for synchronization, iTunes not showing full iPod capacity

6-7-07: Using two iPods with the same library, Converting to AAC to Apple Lossless, Corrupt iPod errors, Sound Check and Crossfade, Exporting from iMovie to iPod and Apple TV formats, Copying from DVR to the iPod

5-31-07: iTunes Plus DRM-free music, Using iTunes songs in Windows Movie Maker, Storing notes on the iPod, Restoring the iPod, Synchronizing Watched TV Shows, Adding music from a second library, Viewing iPod menus on a TV screen

5-24-07: Storing artwork on an external hard drive, Nike+iPod kit and treadmills, Setting up a new iPod with an existing library, Using the iPod as an alarm clock, iTunes fails to transfer all tracks to the iPod, Syncing selected items to iPod, Identifying iPod models

5-17-07: Converting e-books for iPod, Problems Syncing Selected Playlists, Normalizing volume between tracks, iTunes truncating long filenames, Sorting tracks properly within albums, Pausing and remember playback position on the iPod

5-11-07: Video conversion: iPod vs Apple TV format, Automatically adding music to iTunes, Finding iPod-compatible music online, Organizing tracks on the iPod, Bluetooth speaker accessories, iHome speakers

5-3-07: Tagging content for your Apple TV, Organizing your Music Videos, Duplicate copies of your iTunes library files, Using the Universal Dock line-out, Problems restoring your iPod, Power adapter compatibility, Unlocking your iPod's volume limit

4-27-07: Transferring purchased content between iTunes accounts, FireWire/USB connections, External batteries, Problems turning off iPod, Sharing iPods on the same computer, Sorting tracks when importing CDs

4-19-07: iPod widescreen mode, Transcoding lossy formats, Locating missing music files, Assigning artwork to multiple tracks, Transferring iTunes purchases, Playing single tracks

4-12-07: Converting DVDs to iPod, Resetting Screen Lock, Moving an iTunes library to a new computer, Deleting songs manually from an iPod, Compatibility with overseas accessories, Finding accessories for the 5G iPod, Speakers for charging a 3G iPod

4-5-07: Playing iPod through iTunes, Preventing Apple Remote from controlling Universal Dock, Resetting iTunes authorizations, Transferring podcasts from a secondary computer, Finding music by composer tags, Sorting tracks on the iPod Shuffle

3-29-07: iPod photo transfer performance and accessories, Sorting photos on iPod, Syncing music and contacts from two different computers, iTunes video storage and formats, Converting AAC to MP3, Burning MP3 CDs

3-22-07: Album artwork and Other storage on the iPod, Storage size of iPod Games, Multiple iPods on the same computer, Etymotic Earjacks, Charging iPod while recording audio, Syncing TV Shows to iPod, Properly Tagging Albums

3-16-07: Converting Windows-formatted iPods for Mac use, Importing Calendar and Contacts from Outlook, Moving iTunes content to another hard drive, Recovering Playlists from iPod, Recording Lectures, Calculating iPod Storage

3-10-07: Understanding the new sort fields in iTunes 7.1, Smart playlists and rating preference, RSS feeds for new iTunes content, Checkboxes and synchronizing music to small iPods

2-22-07: Hiding the iTunes Store from view, Restoring iTunes' "Recently Played" smart playlist, Restoring an iPod's missing free space, Using third-party A/V cables, Apple TV and Wi-Fi network protocols, Authorizing iPod games

2-1-07: Windows Vista iTunes issues, Music Video organization in iTunes, Removing songs from Shuffle play, Sorting albums by year

1-17-07: iPhone Questions, Apple TV Stereo Connections, Car Stereos with USB ports, Now Playing screen on TV, Locating playlists a song belongs to, Playing podcasts sequentially

12-29-06: Charging iPod video with old AC adapter, Identifying iPod generations, Preventing iTunes from accessing the store, Accessing and playing video with DLO HomeDock Deluxe, Nike+iPod Sport Kit compatibility

12-14-06: Searching the comment field in iTunes, Buying an aux-in cable for the car, Making a recent top 25 playlist, Multiple genres per song, Radio Charts in iTunes

12-9-06: Gifting specific items from the iTunes Store, Linking to photos from the iPod's Notes feature, Properly listening to iPod music in loud places, Using Mac-formatted iPods with an XBOX 360

12-1-06: iTunes visualizers, Programs stored on iPod, Converting music en masse, Charging second-generation iPod shuffle, Adding chapter markers to videos

11-23-06: iPod deals, Continuously playing videos on iPod, Getting replacement iPod manuals, Finding size and playtime of a group of tracks, Fixing podcasts that reset iPod

11-16-06: Extracting audio from videos, Transferring albums to iPod easily, Using iTunes Store gift cards, Dealing with a scratched iPod backing, Recovering contacts from iPod

11-10-06: Volume limit on iPod shuffle, Preserving On-The-Go playlists between syncs, Storing Audiobooks in proper iTunes library, Apple Lossless on iPod shuffle

11-3-06: iTunes Store displayed in foreign language, All tracks begin where they were last stopped, Converting tracks to mono in iTunes, iPod wakes up and plays tunes on its own, Greatest Hits album won't show on iPod

10-26-06: Loading TiVo/DVR TV Shows on iPod, Accessing iTunes music with a Media Center PC, Leaving an iPod in the car, iPod Hi-Fi remote control, Tagging tracks just added to the library

10-20-06: Disc capacity & song quality tradeoff, iPod sleep behavior explained, Ordering albums by year on iPod, Using an iPod while charging via USB, Restoring a deleted playlist in iTunes

10-12-06: Displaying singles in iPod's Artists menu, Party Shuffle not advancing tracks, Two+ iPods on one computer - revisited, Finding songs not in any playlist, Returning to beginning of iPod shuffle playlist

10-5-06: Only one song plays at a time in iTunes, Playing interactive booklets, Resetting iPod's language, Shuffle anywhere on iPod, Isolating MP3 songs from AAC

9-28-06: Suppressing 'Explicit' tags in iTunes Library, Restoring the 'Purchased' playlist, Differentiating 5G 30GB models, Album Artist on iPod, Just for You in iTunes 7

9-21-06: Splitting "hidden" tracks from other songs, Multiple iTunes libraries, Movie trailers in the iTunes Store, iTunes-fetched artwork on iPod, Isolating Music Videos from songs in iTunes

9-13-06: iTunes 7 issues: Preserving library upon upgrade, Authorizing games for iPod, Audio severely distorted with static, Album artwork retrieval problems, Enhanced podcasts menu

9-7-06: Reverting to former iPod software updaters, iPod crashes and loses library, iPod not storing advertised song capacity, Cleaning out one's iTunes Library safely, Deleting Album Artwork en masse

8-30-06: Unchecked songs in smart playlist, Connecting iPod to car Aux-In jack, Deleting songs from iTunes, Filling iPods completely, Playing only one song in iTunes

8-25-06: Quickly erasing duplicate songs, Replacing iPod's front panel, Excluding videos from playlists, Using albums in smart playlists, Album art missing from iPod

8-17-06: Tags disappearing on play, Third party headphones on iPod, eAAC and eAAC+ codecs, Creating random batches of songs with smart playlists, Transferring iTunes Music Store tracks

8-9-06: Size of Smart Playlists, Changing an iPod's file system format, Backing up iTMS video purchases, iPod not automatically disconnecting, iPod shuffling problems

8-2-06: Airport Express not working under "Multiple Speakers", Tuning radio remote in 0.1 increments, Ordering albums properly, Video podcasts on older iPods, Multiple album artwork files per track on iPod

7-27-06: Exclamation marks near playlists, Artist column on far left of library?, Songs in multiple playlists, No options in for iPod slideshow music, Song numbering in iTunes' Library

7-20-06: Speaker icon next to currently-playing song, Sound lost in one headphone channel, Finding songs not in any playlist, iPod mini shuffling by album, Removing contacts and calendars from iPod

7-13-06: Maximizing battery life, Slideshows from an iPod nano, Trouble with iPod's volume meter, Powering two devices from one car power port, Smart playlists and sort order

7-6-06: Custom EQ on iPod, Viewing large text files on iPod, Buying an iPod from overseas, Finding iPod setup files online, Lossless vs. Lossy audio files

6-28-06: Unlocking an iPod, Creating a list of albums in iTunes, Restoring missing menu items on iPod, Converting video to iPod, Increasing the iPod's volume

6-21-06: Preserving select podcasts, Locating tracks in playlists, Automatically ejecting iPod after transfer, Microphone for iPod mini, Tracks missing when browsing via "Artist"

6-15-06: Backing up Smart Playlists, Using 4-pin Firewire ports, Viewing hidden data in iTunes, Recording direct to iPod from cassette, Synchronizing a folder of files between computers using iPod

6-7-06: Browsing albums by Genre, Fixing "Library Locked" message in Mac iTunes, Using generic AV cables for iPod TV display, Finding a simple iPod mount for the car, Transferring iTunes Library to a new Mac

5-31-06: Converting WMV video clips to iPod, Party Shuffle on iPod, Burning an MP3 CD from WAV files, Best iPod for running?, Identifying unknown track information

5-25-06: Independent left & right volume controls, Serial numbers on iPod installation?, Dealing with two-disc albums, iPod shuffle headphone jack problems, and the latest new iPod rumors

5-18-06: Organizing Compilations on iPod, Using the iPod's Notes features, Transferring large amounts of photos via iPod Camera Connector, Removing extra Album Art images from songs, Resolving discrepancies between iPod and iTunes smart playlists

5-11-06: Creating a simple, kid-friendly iPod interface, burning multiple playlists at once, viewing iPod photos on an Xbox 360, including multiple genres in one smart playlist

5-4-06: Videos not displaying on iPod, Using the iPod's power adapter overseas, Creating a "Most Played this Month" playlist, Editing iTunes-created playlists on the iPod

4-28-06: iLounge Week in Review podcasts, Creating iPod videos, Made For iPod, New and unpublicized additions to the iLounge site, Publicizing your company to the iLounge community

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Comments

1

In regards to the sound check question. I found that if you listen to music that itself changes volume half way through. Something like The Mars Volta for instance, it will regulate the sound spikes. making the “quite” guitar playing sections the same volume as when the drums and rest of the band kicks in. This really distorts the experience since your expecting to rock out and then it adjusts the volune down. I am pretty sure this was caused by this option since unchecking it fixed the fluxation. Snoogans

Posted by graphicgeek in Utica, NY on January 28, 2005 at 6:14 AM (PDT)

2

Every now and then, My click wheel on my 4G 20gig will not respond. It seems to be tempermental. And then it will return to normal

Posted by fredrap in USA on January 28, 2005 at 4:58 PM (PDT)

3

I love my ipod and I have over 10 gig already on it. I tried to put more music on it recently but the ipod doesn’t act like it’s connected. The music is just sitting in my library waiting to be transferred. Why is my ipod not saying “do not disconnect”? The battery charges while it’s hooked up, but it doesn’t realize it’s connected I guess.

Posted by Kreis in Maryland on January 28, 2005 at 8:37 PM (PDT)

4

I have a 20G iPod and a DLO car trasmitter and have been looking for a skin that I can be used with the mount and charger without taking off the skin to place it in the mount when I’m in my car. I have found no product that will adhere to my needs.

Any Suggestions or products that will work?

Posted by Andrew7830 on January 29, 2005 at 8:52 AM (PDT)

5

my daughter and i both have mini ipods and are using the same itunes software on a hp pc with xp windows. the music on her mini is perfect. however, the same songs on my mini sound awful, loud and distorted guitar and drum tracks, and barely discernible vox and accessory instruments. also the sound quality on my mini is very echoey and reverby. is my mini ipod bad?

Posted by bobstan on January 31, 2005 at 1:03 PM (PDT)

6

First, reset all settings on the mini to default and see if that fixes it.

Posted by Clev in Ottawa on January 31, 2005 at 1:22 PM (PDT)

7

I would like to hook my ipod up to a Bose Wave radio/CD play to play thru it. Can this be done? What accessories needed?

Posted by wxz on January 31, 2005 at 4:23 PM (PDT)

8

On my itunes, when i click on my little ipod icon the screen is gray,well down by where it says how meny gb you used up theres a lil lock symbl by it and i cant do anything like move around my music. how do iget the lock symbl gone?????????

Posted by Dosty on January 31, 2005 at 5:18 PM (PDT)

9

AHHH, im going crazy, i hear all these rumors about how apple is thinking about making cell phone i-pods. IS THIS TRUE, or even possible!??? someone plzz answer me, i’d appreciate it,

Posted by gadgetGEEK on January 31, 2005 at 8:44 PM (PDT)

10

If I buy an IPOD in the US can I use it and register it in the UK

Posted by patricia on February 1, 2005 at 7:01 AM (PDT)

11

Why is it that i bought a 20GB ipod but i looked into its settings and it says it’s capacity is only 18.5GB? i mean geez, 1.5 gigs is like 200-300 songs. what’s the deal? if they’re not gonna make it full 20 dont sell it as a full 20....

Posted by ijeremy on February 1, 2005 at 7:02 PM (PDT)

12

when I put my ipod in my dock with the dock connected to a d.i.y installed firewire card it either shuts down my computer or does nothing any IDEA’S??????????????

Posted by Scottydoo43244 in Dublin on February 2, 2005 at 10:39 AM (PDT)

13

How much does it cost to download songs from itunes? Somebody please answer so i can get my ipod!

Posted by Magspice on February 2, 2005 at 3:27 PM (PDT)

14

Does anybody now how much each song from itunes costs?

Posted by Magspice on February 2, 2005 at 3:29 PM (PDT)

15

is there anyway to listen to whole albums in a shuffle mode i.e. instead of listening to 3 bob dylan albums in a row how do I shuffle whole albums?

Posted by chinadog on February 2, 2005 at 7:32 PM (PDT)

16

is there a way that i can format my ipod so i can listen to live albums insted of there being a slight pause in between songs? its real ###### when im listening to the wall and there is a pause in between every song.

Posted by yogibear in ca on February 3, 2005 at 10:01 AM (PDT)

17

Can someone please help me. I have a 4G-40gig and every other week, my computer is not regonizing my ipod and I have to reset it in order to transfer my CD’s and I keep losing all the music thats on my ipod. Is there anyway to get my ipod & computer on the same page. I’m getting tired of re-entering all my CD’s. Help!!

Posted by mmalone4270 on February 4, 2005 at 1:35 PM (PDT)

18

If I load music from someone elses itunes library onto my ipod how do I load that music onto my own itunes library?

Posted by kid on February 4, 2005 at 8:15 PM (PDT)

19

hey everyone .. I’ve got my second ipod now but it still wont work .. when I plug my ipod in my pc (windows xp home ) it starts itunes and then starts inporting a few songs about 3 and he just quits with inporting .. Then itunes give me the message ‘’kopying to the disk failled unknown error -69. so i cant inport songs anymore PLS PLS HELP i really thank u if u send me a message back pls HELP

Posted by anatjuh in netherlands on February 5, 2005 at 6:49 AM (PDT)

20

Is there a program that will allow me to download basic text files to the iPod from a Windows system (IBM)?

Daron

Posted by D_K_R on February 5, 2005 at 10:02 AM (PDT)

21

Hi I bought a 2nd hand 80 gb ipod with 17000 songs on it . 1/2 am not interested in: Hip Hop is not my scene!

I also have an Imac .

I want to erase 50% of the music on the ipod and reload with bought tunes from I tune and Cds that I own
Is it possible to do this please?

How!

Kind regards Giles

Posted by baskervilleboz on December 10, 2007 at 2:16 PM (PDT)

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