Article
Ask iLounge 12-19-08
By Jesse David Hollington
Contributing Editor
Published: Friday, December 19, 2008
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’ve got a number of podcasts that I sync automatically with my iPod classic, keeping only those that have not been played. However, there are a few podcasts that I’d like to be able to keep indefinitely. Is there a way to do this? Can the files be changed from “podcast” to something else in a way that works (I’ve tried it, but not successfully)?
- Tim
A:In iTunes itself you can set individual podcast episodes to exempt them from auto-deletion simply by right-clicking on the appropriate episode and choosing “Do not auto delete” from the context menu.

This will exempt that specific podcast episode from automatic deletion. If you click on the same episode again, iTunes will show the context menu option as “Allow auto delete” to allow you to allow the episode to be automatically deleted again. Note that you can also adjust this setting for the entire podcast series by right-clicking on the podcast title instead of an individual episode.
With iTunes 8, you can also individually adjust the retention settings for each podcast subscription. Simply select the podcast you would like to change and click the “Settings” button found at the bottom of your Podcasts listing.

Uncheck “Use default setting” to override the default settings and specify your own preferences for how many episodes to download and keep for that particular podcast subscription.
If you want to be able to keep some of these older, played podcast episodes on your iPod itself but do not want to synchronize ALL of your podcasts, you can easily create a standard playlist or Smart Playlist in iTunes that includes the specific podcast episodes that you wish to keep on your iPod and then ensure that this playlist is synchronized to your iPod, either as part of all of your music content, or one of your selected playlists. Podcasts within playlists are synchronized in the same way as any other type of audio content.
My TV has a USB port for viewing media. Do I still need the Apple Composite AV cable to allow me to view all my videos on my TV?
- Sam
A:This depends largely on the model of iPod and television that you are using. Some televisions and media receivers specifically offer iPod compatibility, in which case you might be able to use certain models of iPod directly with this USB media port. However, if this port is not listed as specifically supporting the iPod, then chances are it will not work. Many generic USB ports on TVs and media receivers are simply intended to read a set of MP3 files from a USB memory stick.
In this case, you will need an iPod-compatible video cable to connect your iPod to your TV using the normal composite or component inputs, and will simply play back the content on your iPod via the TV Output capabilities.
I have an iPod that is about 3 years old. When I originally purchased the iPod, I was using a PC, but about two years ago I made the switch to a Macbook. I would like to upload all my music from my iPod and reformat the iPod for my Macbook. How do I do this? More importantly, I made some on the go mixes on my iPod that I don’t want to lose; can I upload those as well. I think I have the 5 generation model, but am completely sure. What is the difference between that and the 4th generation?
- Rachel
A:The good news is that your Macbook can read a PC-formatted iPod, so transferring the music and other content from your iPod back to your computer should not be too complicated. See our our iPod 201 article, Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer for more information on how to perform this step. This article also includes information on several third-party tools that can be used to synchronize back your other iTunes library information such as playlists, ratings, play counts and more.
Once you have recovered the content from your iPod back into your iTunes library, you can reformat your iPod for the Mac file-system simply by performing a “Restore” on it from within iTunes.
It shouldn’t matter whether you are using a fourth or fifth-generation iPod model in this case, but you can confirm which model you have by checking out our FAQ, What Are the Differences Between All the iPod Models. In short, however, the fourth-generation iPod models did not display video, although some models came with a colour screen and could display photos. The fifth-generation iPod was the first model to introduce video playback to the iPod family.
I am contemplating buying an iPod touch so I can have email access in Wi-Fi places. One of the reviews mentioned email being good “if you have a service that is covered.” Are there iPod-related restrictions on which email supplier is accessible? What would be the source of limited access?
- Carol
A:There are not really any specific Apple-imposed limitations on e-mail support in the iPod touch or iPhone. Although the iPod touch and iPhone do provide specific support for Microsoft Exchange, MobileMe, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and AOL accounts, most of these are just pre-sets to make these account types easier to set up, and the reality is that any generic IMAP or POP3 account can be used simply by selecting “Other.”

The notable exception that you will run into is Microsoft’s Hotmail service, which presently does not provide POP3 or IMAP access for their free accounts. Apparently, as of November 2008, Microsoft has begun offering POP3 access for their paid “Hotmail Plus” accounts, but there have been numerous reports of users still having problems with this. You will still be able to use Hotmail through the MobileSafari browser on the iPod touch, but you will not be able to download your e-mail directly into your Hotmail client. There are some third-party services that are available to “proxy” your Hotmail mailbox and provide limited POP3 access, but if you’re a Hotmail user with an iPhone, you’d likely be better off switching to any number of other more open e-mail services out there.
Note that the iPhone and iPod touch do provide some special support for Microsoft Exchange, MobileMe and Yahoo! accounts in the form of “push” e-mail. For these accounts, messages are “pushed” directly to your device and basically delivered within seconds of being received at your primary mailbox. Any other type of e-mail account requires your iPhone to periodically poll for new messages, with a minimum polling interval of 15 minutes, although you can always check for mail manually and the Mail application will check your mailbox whenever you open it. On an iPod touch the utility of “push” e-mail is somewhat more limited anyway, as you need to be within Wi-Fi coverage for it to work.
Is the only way to back up your music from iTunes to use a CD or DVD disc? Can you backup to a hard drive?
- Michael
A:The built-in backup feature in iTunes itself is limited to backing up to CD or DVD media. However, you can back up your iTunes library databases and media content as files using any number of third-party backup programs, or even simply copying them manually to another hard drive.
See our recent article on Backing up your iTunes library for more information.
I have an iPod touch with software version 2.2, and I have found two problems and was wondering if there are solutions. I downloaded a music podcast on my iPod but it wasn’t copied to iTunes. I was under the impression that was supposed to happen. The second problem is that I cannot seem to delete On-The-Go playlists, either on my iPod or in iTunes. According to the iPod manual which I downloaded from the Apple website, all I have to do is go to the playlist, select Edit and then Clear Playlist to delete the playlist. However, there doesn’t seem to be an Edit button anywhere. Any help would be much appreciated.
- Simon
A:Podcasts downloaded on your device should definitely sync back to iTunes if you are using automatic synchronization. However, keep in mind that if you are managing the content on your iPod touch manually from iTunes, nothing gets synced back from your iPod to your iTunes library, and in this case podcasts are no exception.
If you are using automatic synchronization, your podcasts should be transferred back from your device after the next sync and show up as an entry in your “Podcasts” section in iTunes.

Note that you will not get any kind of Podcast playlist for these, and unlike music purchased from the iTunes Wi-Fi Store on your device, podcasts are not added to your “Purchases” playlist in iTunes simply because they’re not purchases.
With On-The-Go playlists created on your device, you can only Edit and clear the current On-The-Go play queue—that is the entry that exists at the top of your Playlists screen titled “On-The-Go.”

However, once you sync your iPod touch with iTunes, your On-The-Go playlist syncs back to your iTunes library as a normal playlist with the name “On-The-Go” and a numeric suffix.

Despite the name, these are no longer actual “On-The-Go” playlists, but are simply normal playlists which have been created and synced from your device, and are automatically set for synchronization back to your device. Like any other playlist, these cannot be edited directly on the iPod touch, and must be modified or deleted by using iTunes itself. Deleting these playlists in iTunes is simply a matter of selecting them from your iTunes Source list and pressing the DELETE key.
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
Next: iPhone Gems: Four Hyped Games and a Serious Editorial
Previous: iPod Gems: Seven New Click Wheel iPod Games, Reviewed
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Apple launches Reserve and Pick Up retail service
- Apple patent points to simplified data sharing
- iPodweek coming shortly, still time to register
- Apple rolling out updated iTunes LP/Extras files
- Apple seeking new iPhone security manager
- Vers launches open-front Shellcases for iPod, iPhone
- iPhone developer accused of stealing phone numbers
- Quirky intros Beamer case for iPhone 3G, 3GS
- Apple’s Jobs named ‘CEO of the decade’
- Intel responds on iPhone sync issues
Recent Reviews
- Elexa Consumer Products iBlink
- Bose SoundDock 10
- Shure SE115m+ Sound Isolating Headset
- Apple Remote (2009)
- Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone
- Tapulous Metallica Revenge
- Electronic Arts NBA Live by EA Sports
- Edifier iF500 Luna5 Encore
- Griffin iTrip for iPod + iPhone With iTrip Controller App
- XtremeMac Luna Voyager
Recent Articles
- iPhone Gems: Asphalt 5 and Doom Classic
- Ask iLounge 10-30-09
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of Apple TV 3.0
- Ask iLounge 10-23-09
- iPhone Gems: Copy Cat, Derek Jeter Baseball, I Am T-Pain, MotionX GPS Drive, Pang + Real Racing GTI
- iPhone Gems: 2XL ATV Offroad, Adrenaline Golf Online + Iron Fist Boxing 3rd Strike
- iPhone Gems: BombLink, Rock Band + Tap Tap Revenge 3
- Ask iLounge 10-16-09
- iPhone Gems: Global Eater, NPR News, Pocket Tunes Radio, scanR + vTuner Radio
- iPhone Gems: Itsy Bitsy Spider and Little Red Hen Childrens’ Books

1
I don’t know if its the same issue, but when the new firmware came out podcasts I downloaded on my touch werent syncing back to my PC, I found that I needed the very latest version of iTunes to make this happen.
Posted by robroe in Manchester, UK on December 22, 2008 at 2:35 AM (PDT)
2
So does anyone know how to import music videos from outside Itunes into Itunes. It seems to import but then I can’t see it either in the Music list or the Videos list. What gives?
Posted by Steven Netsch on December 22, 2008 at 1:42 PM (PDT)
3
I lost (crashed) my computer with all my itunes/library. now have another computer, but it says my ipod can only connect with one library. how can i get my ipod to sync with my new computer/library
Posted by lesley on December 26, 2008 at 3:25 PM (PDT)
4
Is there an AM tuner available for the Apple ITouch 2nd generation? I recognize many will perform FM functions; however, I have not noticed an AM/FM. Thank you.
Posted by Paul M. on December 29, 2008 at 4:16 PM (PDT)
5
when i plug my ipod into my computer a box comes up ipod is corupt must reset it, however then it goes back to ipod main screen and will not alow me to reset it. i need help
Posted by jj on December 29, 2008 at 5:14 PM (PDT)
6
My itunes will not open on my computer. I try to open it the icon on my desktop and the itunes says that it has encountered a problem and it needs to shut down. It says to send the error to microsoft, after that it does nothing. I try to open again and it’s the same thing is there any way I can get itunes to work again without losing my library?
Posted by Kimmie on January 16, 2009 at 9:38 PM (PDT)