2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guide

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Ask iLounge 10-27-05

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By Jerrod H.

Contributing Editor, iLounge
Published: Wednesday, October 26, 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.

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 own a 4G iPod with color screen and a Bose SoundDock. I’ve been thinking of buying the remote-port version of Griffin Technology’s iFM radio tuner. However, I’m wondering what would happen when I use the iFM while the iPod sits in the SoundDock. Is it possible to hear the radio through the SoundDock, or does the iFM only output radio via the headphones?

- Pascal

A:

Unfortunately, the iFM device outputs FM radio signals through the headphone cable, while the SoundDock gets its audio input from the 30-pin dock connector on the bottom of the iPod. Thus, you will not be able to listen to the iFM’s radio output through your Bose speakers.

However, one can use any speaker system with an Audio-In jack (connected to the output of the iFM) to play though the speakers. Several speaker offerings from JBL, Klipsch, and Altec Lansing have such capabilities.

Q:

Is there a way to change the thumbnail images for videos in iTunes 6? I want to be able to choose the screen that it is showing for all of my “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” episodes.

- Danny

A:

As a matter of fact, you can - and you can do so using several different methods.

First, you can change the thumbnail image of any video as if it were standard album art. For instance, you can drag any image into the “Album Art” box in iTunes’ main window while the video is selected, or change the Album Art using the “Add” or “Delete” buttons in the “Artwork” tab of the “Get Info” window for each song.

However, there’s an even easier way, provided that the thumbnail image you’d like to use is a frame in the video clip itself. Simply play the video (whether in its own window, or in iTunes’ album art box). Either while it is playing or while it is paused, right-click (CTRL-click on the Mac) on the frame, and choose “Set Poster Frame.” For precision frame selection, instruct iTunes to play videos in a separate frame (using the “Playback” tab in iTunes’ Preferences window), and use the Quicktime-style forward and back buttons while paused to step forward and back one frame at a time.

Q:

I know the 5G iPod can display movies and slideshows on a television, but can it also display the “Now Playing” screen and the menu system? I saw that the Apple Remote for use with the Universal Dock had a ‘Menu’ button on it and wondered if this is what it’s for. If not, what does it do?

- Jeremy

A:

The 5th Generation iPod still cannot display the menu system or ‘Now Playing’ screens on a television, though we really wish Apple would allow us to, as it would really make for a neat plug-and-play media center, and greatly increase the value of the Universal Dock / Apple Remote solution. Technically, it’s certainly feasible, as Steve Jobs did it with a specially-rigged iPod in his latest keynote address.

The ‘Menu’ button on the Apple Remote is intended for use with Apple’s new “Front Row” feature available exclusively on the latest edition of the iMac G5. When used with an iPod, the ‘Menu’ button serves no purpose other than to lock the Remote’s IR transmitter to the Dock.

See our complete review of the Universal Dock and Apple Remote here.

Q:

When I set iTunes’ preferences to have the iTunes Music Store operate using a “Shopping Cart,” my Purchased Music playlist went underneath a disclosure tab under “Music Store.” However, when I changed it back to operating using “1-Click Shopping,” my Purchased Music playlist disappeared… any ideas?

- Brennan

A:

We can’t reproduce your problem exactly, however, it’s not hard to remedy.

As soon as you purchase a new song, the playlist will reappear. However, it will contain only your latest purchases… not contain your previously purchased songs.

To quickly find and collect previously purchased music, create a temporary smart playlist using these settings:

image

This will collect all Protected AAC files, all of which were purchased from the iTunes Music Store. Then, drag this “Protected AAC” smart playlist into the “Purchased” playlist to fill it back up again.

If you don’t plan on using the Music Store again soon (meaning your “Purchased” playlist won’t show back up again), you can simply download the Free Single of the Week to restore it without paying.

Q:

Before upgrading to iTunes 6, all of the Podcasts on my iPod would appear in one list, with all of the episodes together.  After the upgrade, when I select the Podcast source option from the iPod’s main menu, the iPod first shows the creator of each Podcast (such as iLounge Week in Review). After selecting one of these manually, I can only listen to the Podcast episodes from that one source, after which time the iPod stops and returns to the main menu. Is there anyway to collect all my Podcasts into one place so they can all play sequentially regardless of the creator?

- Stephen

A:

Absolutely, and this simple solution is in fact what we’ve been doing for ourselves recently.

To create a playlist that will always (and automatically) contain all of your current Podcasts in a flat, one-level listing, create a new smart playlist entitled “Podcasts,” and assign it these basic settings:

image

From then on, this playlist will automatically contain all Podcast episodes found in your iTunes Library, and - like any normal playlist - will not attempt to sort them into multiple levels by their creator.

To access this capability on the iPod, simply navigate to “Music->Playlists->Podcasts” rather than using the main menu option “Music->Podcasts”.



Ask iLounge Archives:

11-6-09: Storing iPod software updates, Playing an iPod continuously, Transferring play counts to a new iTunes library, iPhone backups, Klipsch S4i earphones

10-30-09: Authorization problems with iPod touch, Changing Grid View background in iTunes, iTunes library and Music Folder are different sizes, Older iPods and firmware updates, Reconciling two different iTunes libraries, Syncing multiple devices to one iTunes library

10-23-09: Using a laptop with an iTunes library on an external hard drive, Transferring YouTube videos to iPod, iPod touch accessibility settings, Disabling Shake to Shuffle on iPod nano, Purchased songs fail to download from iTunes Store, Charging and powering off iPhone

10-16-09: Moving iTunes to a new computer, Transferring contacts from Blackberry to an iPhone, Disabling iPhone Backups, Using AV cables for audio only, Problems syncing photos to iPod touch, Memorex iFlip and iPhone compatibility

10-9-09: iPhone OS and external keyboards, Adjusting ratings in a remote iTunes library, Excluding tracks from Genius Mixes, Moving iTunes library out of My Documents, Playlist folders on iPod touch, Refreshing random Smart Playlists

See the rest of the Archives...

Next: First Looks Special: Tivoli iSongBook Portable iPod Music System

Previous: Ask iLounge 10-20-05

Comments

1

hey iLoungeeee, Do you know how to get the contact pictures to be displayed on the iPod G5’s? Coz all the info from the vcards are transferred but vcards dont save the pictures. And even iTunes synchronising doesn’t get the contact pictures to the video ipod.

Posted by beatoven on October 27, 2005 at 2:06 AM (PDT)

2

Hey I-lounge,
Is there a way to just transfer from my
mini to my new I-Pod Video without using my computer?

Posted by dorlando on October 27, 2005 at 10:59 AM (PDT)

3

as of about a week ago, everytime i plug my 15gig ipod into my pc it causes it (my pc) to crash. when it reboots, i get a message saying that i have a driver error.

it was working fine befor, and seems to work fine if i plug any other ipod in to it.

any suggestions?

how can i reload my ipod if it keeps crashing my pc?

Posted by dubstylenine on October 30, 2005 at 6:25 PM (PDT)

4

Q: How can I transfer music files from my new 5th Generation Ipod to someone elses playlist.  I understand how to get music from their playlist, by putting the Ipod in Manual mode.  Can anyone out there assist me?


VEM III

Posted by Vemiii on October 31, 2005 at 6:37 PM (PDT)

5

Ok I don’t know if my questions ever got answered but here they are again:

1. I have a mini 1st gen, and would like to upgrade, but am having a time of it. (this was my 1st induction into the ipod fam). I like the spacing of the lrger ipods but not the bulkiness, what to do (HELP ME!!!!!)?

2. Do you think that they are going to up the storage capacity for the nano?

3. Smartlist issues I have been trying to create a smartlist by various ‘genre’ and then narrow them down by ‘ratings’, but it seems that everytime I try they seem to zero themselves out or it list all the music in each genre. Help how do I fix this problem?

Sexydredlocs (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

Posted by sexydredlocs in Bronx on November 19, 2005 at 11:07 AM (PDT)

6

Sorry for the dup PC issues.

Ok I don’t know if my questions ever got answered but here they are again:

1. I have a mini 1st gen, and would like to upgrade, but am having a time of it. (this was my 1st induction into the ipod fam). I like the spacing of the lrger ipods but not the bulkiness, what to do (HELP ME!!!!!)?

2. Do you think that they are going to up the storage capacity for the nano for Xmas?

3. Smartlist issues I have been trying to create a smartlist by various ‘genre’ and then narrow them down by ‘ratings’, but it seems that everytime I try they seem to zero themselves out or it list all the music in each genre. Help how do I fix this problem?

Sexydredlocs (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

Posted by sexydredlocs in Bronx on November 19, 2005 at 11:12 AM (PDT)

7

Hello.  Does anyone know if Griffin Technology’s iFM radio tuner plans to make one for the video iPod?  I’d called Griffin a few weeks ago and they didn’t know.

Thank you!

Posted by tfeddern on November 20, 2005 at 5:14 PM (PDT)

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