2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers' Guide

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Ask iLounge 11-10-06

Author's pic

By Jerrod H.

Contributing Editor, iLounge
Published: Friday, November 10, 2006
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 had read about the password-protected volume limiting features for iPods, and proceded to buy my young son an iPod shuffle, since it was the least expensive, and most kid-proof. However, I can’t figure this out: does the iPod shuffle have the volume-limiting feature of the other iPods even without a screen? If so, what buttons do I press to activate it?

- Karen

A:

Indeed it does! Since the iPod shuffle has no screen, however, this setting is controlled from iTunes’ iPod settings, not on the iPod itself.

With the iPod connected to iTunes, select it in the column on iTunes’ left side. Then, in the “Settings” tab, you’ll find the volume limiting feature, complete with password protection. Enjoy!

Q:

For any given week, I like to put my favorite tracks in an On-The-Go playlist on the iPod, but when I plug in my iPod to my computer at the end of the day it turns my On-The-Go into a permanent playlist. I really don’t want this to happen, so I can continue modifying the same playlist, taking off and adding on songs as I like. Is there a way to keep my dynamic playlist dynamic?

- Anonymous

A:

The transfer of an On-The-Go playlist to iTunes (thus making it static) upon every sync is a built-in feature of iTunes that can’t be disabled. However, you can continue editing and adding to this track listing on your iPod after a sync by simply creating a new On-The-Go playlist based upon the most recent static copy that iTunes created.

After you disconnect your iPod, simply browse to “Music → Playlists”, highlight the playlist that iTunes created from your OTG playlist, and hold down the center button, creating a new editable copy.

Granted, this will create a new static playlist in iTunes each time you connect to your computer, but if you continually delete the oldest one, you can continue editing your playlist while away from your computer in this manner.

Q:

How can I get audiobooks I’ve imported from CDs to appear in the new Audiobook library in iTunes 7?

- Jason

A:

iTunes’ Audiobook library collects all files in your iTunes library that have either an .aa (Audible Audio) or .m4b (iTunes Store “Bookmarkable” AAC files) file extension. To enable your own imports to fall under this category, import them as AAC audio, copy the files out of iTunes, rename them such that their file extension is *.m4b, and add them back into your iTunes library.

Mac users can do this process very easily with the help of the Make Bookmarkable AppleScript at Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes.

For an even better experience with creating your own audiobooks for the iPod, Mac users can use Splasm Software’s Audiobook Builder, which allows you to import your CDs in a very simple interface, tag them, mark them as bookmarkable, and even embed iTunes chapter markers inside, so you can easily navigate chapters.

Q:

I’m shopping for a new 2nd-generation shuffle, but I have a pre-purchase question. On Apple’s specifications page, I see that WAV and AIFF are listed as supported, but Apple Lossless is not. Is this an error, or is Apple Lossless not supported?

- William

A:

As with the previous shuffle, the new model cannot play Apple Lossless. All Apple Lossless tracks must be converted to a compatible format before being transferred to an iPod shuffle.

Thankfully, this can be done automatically and behind-the-scenes. With your iPod shuffle plugged in and connected to iTunes, select it from the source panel. Then, under the ‘Settings’ tab, select the checkbox for “Convert higher bit rate songs to 128kbps AAC.” If you’d rather convert your Lossless tracks to another format, you’ll have to do so manually - iTunes’ automatic conversion feature is fixed at 128 kbps.



Ask iLounge Archives:

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

9-25-09: iTunes 9 and Shopping Cart, Restoring iTunes to an external hard drive, Using an HTTP Proxy over 3G, Problems transferring movies from iTunes to IPhone, iPod touch shuffle mode, Using an iPhone without a SIM card

See the rest of the Archives...

Next: Microsoft's Third Strike - Zune Hyped, Lessons Learned

Previous: DJ-AM and Sean Avery on iPods & Accessories

Comments

1

i have a video ipod but i dont know how to dounload DVD’s that i own onto my ipod. I do not want to buy them again.

Posted by cody22 on November 15, 2006 at 5:54 PM (PDT)

2

I have a 60gb i pod video for the last few months,as i am currently travelling i am ubnable to use the original pc that was used to put my music onto the i pod.  Whenever i go to update the i-pod even with a cd i am told that all my current songs will be lost if iwish to add the new cd to my ipod. Is there anyway out of this as i really need some new music!

Eoin.

Posted by Stones on November 19, 2006 at 11:41 PM (PDT)

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