Article
Ask iLounge 10-13-05
By Jerrod H.
Contributing Editor, iLounge
Published: Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Category: Ask iLounge
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.
How do I copy music from my iPod onto my computer?
Click here for the answer.
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, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)
The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Windows)
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!
Q: I recently purchased a 30GB iPod photo from a friend. He deleted all of his music off of it in iTunes, and I put my 20GB of my iTunes on it. The problem is that it won’t play any of the 50 or so songs that I purchased from the iTunes Music Store. What is the problem?
- Andre
A: Problems like this can be caused by one of the following two problems:
- The iPod is using Manual synchronization mode, and your iPod was never properly associated with your computer.
- The iPod’s internal software (or “Firmware") is out of date, and is not able to play recently-purchased music. In April of 2004, Apple debuted an iTunes/iPod software update that “broke” purchased music, requiring users to update both iTunes and their iPods simultaneously. It’s possible that the purchased music is using this updated version of the Digital Rights Management (DRM), while the iPod Software is only equipped for the former version.
In your specific case, the first problem is almost sure to be the culprit, as all iPod photos were produced after the tweak to iTunes’ DRM made with the release of iTunes 4.5.
To fix it, enable “Automatic” synchronization mode, (even if only temporarily) in order to properly associate the iPod with your computer and its iTunes authorization. (More about iPod Synchronization methods can be found here). Apple’s support documentation suggests you may also need to deauthorize (See iTunes’ “Advanced” menu) and reauthorize (play a Music Store track) your computer for your iTunes Music Store account, as well.
If this doesn’t work (and for users who believe they have the second issue), download the latest iPod Software Updater, and use it “Restore” your iPod in order to bring its capabilities up to date, wipe it truly clean, and returning it to “out-of-box” condition for a proper iPod - iTunes setup process.
Q: Here’s a simple question for you! I’d simply like to know the names of the songs played during the iPod silhouette commercials. They’re all fantastic, but I can’t find them!
- Meredith
A: Here are individual iTunes links to all songs that have been used in recent iPod advertisements:
- Black Eyed Peas - ”Hey Mama”
- Black Eyed Peas = ”The Boogie That Be”
- The Caesars - ”Jerk it Out”
- Daft Punk - ”Technologic”
- Feature Cast - ”Channel Surfing”
- Gorillaz - ”Feel Good, Inc.”
- Jet - ”Are You Gonna be my Girl”
- N.E.R.D. - ”Rock Star (Jason Nevins Remix Edit)”
- Ozomatli - ”Saturday Night”
- Propellerheads - ”Take California”
- Steriogram - ”Walkie Talkie Man”
- U2 - ”Vertigo”
- The Vines - ”Ride”
...and here is the same list as a convenient iMix.
Q: I am planning on getting an iPod for Christmas this year, but have a few concerns about putting music on it. I have an iBook G3 from mid-2001 that is equipped with USB 1.1, not 2.0, so I apparently can’t use the included cable. If I buy the Firewire cable, does this also charge the iPod while loading music?
- Jennifer
A: First, a USB 2.0 cable is completely compatible with USB 1.1 - no worries there, except that USB 1.1 can’t charge any iPod.
However, your question about Firewire is increasingly relevant. In the recent past, connectivity options haven’t been much of a problem - especially for Mac iPod users. With Apple’s recent decision to drop Firewire data transfer support on both the iPod nano and yesterday’s 5th Generation iPod, however, we felt it would be worth clarifying the situation for all users:
Here’s a current list of iPod data & charging capabilities:
| iPod Model | USB 1.1 | USB2.0 | Firewire |
| 1st Gen | - | - | Charge & Sync |
| 2nd Gen | - | - | Charge & Sync |
| 3rd Gen | Sync only | Sync only | Charge & Sync |
| 4th Gen | Sync only | Charge & Sync | Charge & Sync |
| Photo | Sync only | Charge & Sync | Charge & Sync |
| 5th Gen | Sync only | Charge & Sync | Charge only |
| 1G/2G mini | Sync only | Charge & Sync | Charge & Sync |
| nano | Sync only | Charge & Sync | Charge only |
What does this mean for you with respect to current and recent iPods? You can use Firewire for 4th Generation, photo, or mini iPods, transferring data at full speed. You can use the iPod nano or yesterday’s new 5th Generation iPods, but your transfer rate will be much slower than optimal.
Q: I have a question regarding iTunes 5: before I downloaded this new version of iTunes, I was able to play every song in a random order. Now it only randomizes the songs by album. Is there any way that I can play songs in a completely random order like I used to?
- Felicia
A: This is the result of a feature new to iTunes 5 called “Smart Shuffle,” which allows the user to dictate how random the shuffle feature is, as well as whether iTunes shuffles through “Songs,” “Albums,” or “Groupings.”
Luckily for you, this feature can be configured through simple controls in iTunes’ “Preferences” window, accessed from iTunes’ “Edit” menu. Choose the “Playback” tab from this menu, and you’ll find a slider that controls the randomness of the shuffle feature, and radio buttons for selecting the source of shuffling.
Simply place the slider in the middle, and ensure that “Songs” is the selected radio button, and iTunes 5 will behave just like iTunes 4.
Q: I play my iPod through my car stereo using a cassette adapter. It worked fine for a long time, but now the volume is so low I can’t even hear it over road noise with the volume on both the stereo and iPod at their maximum settings. The iPod works fine otherwise. What’s going on?
- David
A: This is a common and easy-to-fix issue that occurs with virtually all cassette adaptors.
Most car stereos have the capability to play both sides of a cassette without removing it. If you play the wrong side of the electronic cassette adapter than the one it was designed for, the volume will indeed be extremely low. Simply play the cassette adapter in the opposite direction from what you’re currently using (consult your car stereo’s manual if you don’t know how to do this).
If this isn’t the issue, there’s likely something wrong with your cassette adapter, and you should replace it.
Ask iLounge Archives:
9-5-08: AV output from iPhone 3G dock, New playlists not appearing on iPod, Transferring music on iPod touch from multiple computers, Resetting iTunes Store authorization counts, Editing tag information, iPhone task applications
8-29-08: Disabling data on iPhone 3G, iTunes Plus and Apple Backup, Deleting photos from iPod, iPhone v2.0 and TV Out accessories, Consolidating multiple iTunes libraries, Restoring iPod touch from backup
8-22-08: Cleaning up applications in iTunes, Playing back all songs on iPod, Excluding podcasts from Smart Playlists, Bookmarking tracks, Playing tracks back at a consistent volume level
8-15-08: Transferring play counts back to iTunes, Playing iPod while charging, Customizing iPhone alerts, Syncing movies to iPod nano, iTunes not recognizing new CDs, Sudoku reviews
8-8-08: iPhone and SIM card contacts, Syncing iPhone contacts, Hiding SMS previews on iPhone, Playing iPod touch on secondary computer, Syncing photos to iPod, Resuming interrupted iTunes WiFI Store downloads
Shop in the loungeStore for iPod + iPhone Accessories.
Next: First Looks: Tunewear/Speck nano, On Stage II, UE5EB/3S, Aneta Genova, Contour & More
Previous: First Look Special: Apple Computer iPod (5G) with Video
Comments
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1
I have a problem with the art work on my iPod. When my ipod is pluged in to the coumputer it shows the artwork on the songs but i dont have artwork when my iPod isnt pluged in to the computer. Whats the problem?
Posted by bobchambo on October 14, 2005 at 8:13 AM (PDT)
2
Regarding the list of sync / charge capabilities for each iPod version, is this just for Macs?
I have windows / firewire / 4G iPod and it most certainly does NOT charge the iPod, it is only sync’ing.
Posted by snappy on October 14, 2005 at 8:42 AM (PDT)
3
snappy -
The list is meant to show the iPod’s capabilities, and wasn’t meant to reflect the capabilities of your computer. Yes, it’s definitely true that many Windows PC’s (especially laptops) don’t have powered firewire ports and thus can’t charge an iPod even if it is otherwise able to accept power via Firewire.
From a total-solution perspective, you definitely raise a good point that we indeed neglected to mention - thanks.
Posted by Jerrod H. in TX on October 15, 2005 at 12:11 PM (PDT)
4
Are you sure about iPods not charging off of USB 1? I’m sitting here with a 4th gen and it certainly claims to be charging off my USB 1 hub.
Posted by rreay on October 18, 2005 at 2:31 PM (PDT)
5
I just tried to load Chris Botti’s new CD To Love Again into iTunes and it would not allow me to do so. Instead, this new album has placed RIP restrictions and only allows windows media player to be used and the files are protected. Is there a way I can get these into iTunes?
Thanks....Bob
Posted by rrosso1 in New Jersey on October 18, 2005 at 2:56 PM (PDT)
6
The cassette adapter was a little glib. Cassette adapters are basically hacks. I lot depends on the temperature of the car and of the cassette adapter itself.
As the heat of the components increases, the volume changes drastically. It’s not a problem with the cassette adapter since you can wait for the temperature to cool and everything is fine.
Posted by OrangeWhip on October 19, 2005 at 8:54 AM (PDT)