Ask iLounge 12-7-07

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Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-, iPhone-, iPad-, iTunes-, or Apple TV-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:

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

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

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

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

What is the purpose of the compilation check box in iTunes? What changes in iTunes and my iPod if the box is checked versus unchecked?

- Mark

The purpose of the “Part of a Compilation” checkbox in your track information in iTunes is to flag a given track as belonging to a “compilation” album rather than a traditional album. This is normally used for albums that contain multiple artists, and can also be used for albums with “featured” artists.

Tracks marked as “Part of a Compilation” can be grouped separately and omitted from the normal artist listings. This can be used, for instance, to prevent “one-hit wonders” from appearing in your artists list simply because they have a single track that is part of a soundtrack album, or happen to have been featured on another artist’s album.

There are actually two steps required for this feature to work: First, the tracks themselves must be marked as “Part of a compilation”—ideally, this should include the whole album and not just individual tracks. This setting can be enabled for individual tracks, or for multiple tracks at once simply by selecting the track(s) and choosing File, Get Info:

Once the appropriate tracks have been marked as “Part of a Compilation” the option to read and use this flag must then be enabled in iTunes and/or on the iPod. Note that this is a separate setting for each, and it is possible to have this option enabled in iTunes but not on your iPod, or vice-versa.

In iTunes, this option is found under iTunes’ preferences, on the “General” tab:

Once this option is enabled in iTunes, you will see an additional entry for “Compilations” in the Artist column when browsing your music library:

Any tracks flagged as “Part of a Compilation” will be displayed under this heading, grouped by album.

Note that if all of the tracks by a given artist are flagged as “Part of a Compilation” that artist’s name will be omitted from the list of artists. This prevents the artist listing being cluttered up with artists who may only have a single obscure track on a soundtrack album, for example.

On the other hand, if the artist is still listed on even a single track that is not flagged as “Part of a Compilation” then the artist’s name will still appear in the “Artists” listing, and all of that artist’s tracks will still be listed under the artist’s name. Note that this is a relatively recent change in iTunes, which in our opinion offers a more intuitive approach to listing tracks (ie, if you select an artist by name, you generally want to see ALL of that artist’s tracks). In versions of iTunes prior to 7.4, however, tracks flagged as “Part of a Compilation” were never listed under the Artist name, even if the artist otherwise appeared in the listing.

The method of enabling compilations on the iPod itself varies between models. Pre-2007 iPod models had a Compilations setting under the Settings menu that could be toggled on or off. The 2007 iPod classic and iPod nano (video) have removed this specific setting. Instead, on these newer models, grouping by compilation is controlled based on whether or not the “Compilations” menu option is enabled, under Settings, Music Menu, Compilations:

Logically, if you choose to display the “Compilations” menu, the iPod assumes that it should group the artist listing by compilations as well, filtering out those tracks that are flagged as “Part of a Compilation” in the same way that iTunes does. If the “Compilations” menu is hidden, the iPod will list all artists in the artist listing, and ignore the “Part of a Compilation” setting in each track.

Note that this works a bit differently on the iPod touch and iPhone than it does on the iPod classic/nano. The iPhone and iPod touch do not have a “Compilations” setting—instead the “Compilations” menu is always available, and the “Artists” listing is not filtered—all artists and tracks are shown in the “Artists” listing, regardless of whether they are “Part of a Compilation” or not.

I have just had my iPod hard drive replaced because it was broken. I want to know if I will be able to just hook up my iPod to my computer, open my iTunes file and update my iPod or if this will delete my music. I am having all sorts of computer problems at the moment and I am not computer savvy and do not know how to back up my music files. I am worried about losing all my music when I connect the iPod to the computer. Am I safe or is there something I need to do to protect my music?

- Stacey

Since you just had your iPod’s hard drive replaced, presumably there is no content on the iPod itself, and it is your music in your iTunes library that you are concerned about.

For the most part, synchronization of music and other media content with an iPod is a one-way process—content is synchronized from your iTunes library to your iPod. The only information that comes back into the iTunes library from the iPod is information on ratings, last played times, and play counts for tracks that have already been synchronized from iTunes itself in the first place.

The concerns you may have heard about music being lost when connecting your iPod generally results from the opposite scenario: Where your music is on your iPod, but your iTunes library on your computer has been damaged or erased. In this case, it is possible for your empty iTunes library to overwrite the content on your iPod, but even this will only happen without warning in very specific circumstances.

In your case, however, connecting your empty iPod to your computer will have no adverse affect on the music that is already on your computer. Essentially, iTunes will simply see this as a brand new iPod, and run through the iPod Setup Assistant that would have appeared when you connected your iPod for the first time. If you then select “Automatic” synchronization, iTunes will simply reload the content from your iTunes library back onto your iPod, in much the same way it would have done before your iPod hard drive was replaced.

I would like to be able to see which songs in my iTunes library are from iTunes Plus, ie DRM free. I do not see an option to view that in “View, Options”. Is it possible to do this?

- Tomo

Although there are no default options in iTunes for this, it is possible to setup a smart playlist to track this information.

The key point here is that traditional iTunes tracks will be listed with a “Kind” field of “Protected AAC File” whereas iTunes Plus tracks instead display their “Kind” as “Purchased AAC File.”

Therefore, a Smart Playlist such as the following, which selects tracks based on the information in the “Kind” field should group all of your iTunes Plus tracks into a single playlist:

Note that this will not include iTunes Plus Music Videos however, as these do not contain the word “Purchased” but rather simply omit the word “Protected”—so a standard iTunes Music Video would be listed as a “Protected MPEG-4 video file” whereas an iTunes Plus music video is listed simply as an “MPEG-4 Video File.”

However, since all iTunes Plus music videos also have a 256kbps audio track, this may help in creating a secondary Smart Playlist that can be used to group these. A Smart Playlist similar to the following would work, assuming that you have not encoded any of your own music videos at a 256kbps audio bit-rate:

This will essentially list all “MPEG-4 video files” with a 256kbps audio bit-rate and a “Video Kind” of “Music Video” (thereby excluding any movies or TV shows that may be in your library). Unless you have encoded any of your own music videos at a 256kbps bit-rate, this should show only iTunes Plus music videos.

I have a 160 GB iPod Classic Black and updated the software to 1.0.3 PC, yesterday I bought a TuneCommand AV Belkin and everything works fine, but the video isn’t working. When I try to see some video file, the screen on the iPod shows “TV Out Enabled, Please Connect Video Accessory” and that’s all.

I can control the iPod with the Belkin’s unit remote, there’s audio signal through the AV out when I play music on iPod, the device appears to charge the battery without problems, but I can’t play any video!!!

- Eumir

Unfortunately, this is a limitation of the new 2007 iPod models. As we have discussed in our previous week’s Ask iLounge columns, the 2007 iPod models (classic, nano, touch and iPhone) all require video accessories specifically designed for these models, with an authentication chip that indicates that they are “video-compatible” accessories.

Technically speaking, this has been the case since the original release, although the v1.0.3 firmware has recently tightened the restrictions on the accessories that will work. Prior to v1.0.3, any accessory with a generic Apple authentication chip could be used to trigger video output (this even included non-video accessories as the iPod HiFi and Apple FM Radio Remote). A partial list of accessories that could previously be used for this purpose was discussed in our Oct 26, 2007 column.

Unfortunately, the v1.0.3 firmware has changed this behavior and reduced the number of non-approved devices that can be used for this purpose. Specifically, the Nike+ sport kit, the FM Radio Remote and the iPod HiFi no longer allow video output to be triggered, and this could easily apply to numerous other devices with generic Apple authentication chips. Both the 2005 and 2007 models of Apple Universal Dock continue to work fine for video output, however.

Note that you can downgrade your iPod firmware back to the v1.0.2 version, although you will have to completely erase and restore your iPod from iTunes in order to do so. To downgrade to an earlier firmware version, simply connect the iPod, and then click the “Restore” button while holding down the SHIFT key (Windows) or OPT key (Mac), and iTunes will prompt you for which firmware package to use to restore the iPod. Select the v1.0.2 package which should still be located on your computer, and iTunes will erase and restore your iPod with the older firmware.

I have recently updated my 160GB iPod classic to v1.0.3, and notice that the screen now stays on indefinetely when docked on my Apple iPod Hi Fi. This was not so before and I’m finding it rather irritating.

- Nino

Actually, this is a feature rather than a bug, and is fortunately user-configurable. The v1.0.3 firmware update adds proper support for the iPod Hi-Fi back to the 2007 iPod models. This was a feature that has been available on the fifth-generation iPod and older iPod nano models since the release of the iPod Hi-Fi, and was conspicuously absent on the latest iPod models.

As of v1.0.3, you should now see a “Speakers” menu that appears when you connect your iPod to the iPod Hi-Fi.

Within this menu, you will find options for tone control and backlight settings:

The backlight option has four possible settings: Always On (which is the default), While Playing, On Keypress, or Always Off. These options are relatively self-explanatory, although the “Always Off” option deserves an additional comment: As the name implies, this will turn the backlight off permanently whenever the iPod is connected to the iPod Hi-Fi. Unfortunately, this may make it difficult to see the menu when the iPod is connected to the iPod Hi-Fi, and since the “Speakers” menu disappears when the iPod is disconnected from the iPod Hi-Fi, it is difficult to see this option in order to navigate back to the “Speakers” menu and change it back. The screen itself does stay on, despite the backlight, so in good lighting conditions (or with the use of a flashlight), you should be able to see enough of the screen to navigate back to the “Speakers” menu.

I bought a 3rd Gen. Nano (video) for my wife in November, which we used with our old PC for about a month before we bought a new MacBook. Now I’d like to get the updates that have recently been released, but iTunes says that “only Macintosh-formatted iPods can be updated.” How can I change it from a Windows-formatted to Macintosh-formatted?

- Scott

As of iTunes 7, the “iPod Updater” has been integrated into iTunes. To convert your iPod to a “Mac-formatted” iPod, you will need to perform a “Restore” operation on it, via iTunes, which will erase everything on your iPod and reformat it for Mac. This will update your iPod to the latest firmware version by default as well.

If you are using automatic synchronization for your iPod and have all of your music in your iTunes library, this process should be relatively painless, as iTunes will simply reload your iPod after the restore process completes. If you are managing the content on your iPod manually, however, you will want to ensure that everything on your iPod is backed up on your computer before doing this, as this operation erases your iPod and returns it back to a new “out-of-the-box” state.

I saw someone browsing the albums on their iPod with cover view but I can’t figure out how to set my iPod to do this. What am I missing?

- Michael

The Cover Flow feature is only supported on the 2007 iPod models. If you have an older iPod model this feature is simply not available.

If you are using a 2007 iPod classic or iPod nano (video), the Cover Flow feature is accessed from directly under the “Music” menu. If this option does not appear, ensure that you have it enabled by going to Settings, Music Menu and ensuring that a checkmark appears beside the “Cover Flow” option.

I have an 8GB iPhone. When I am on the phone for more than 30 seconds the screen goes black. I cannot hang up or do anything. I have to wait for the phone to figure out that I am off or the other person to hang up for the menu screen to return. The screen is completly black so you do not see the end call option. the home button at the center does not respond or work. This is also happening to my friend’s phone. Any suggestions?

- Angeline

The most likely cause of this problem is the iPhone’s proximity sensor that is used to turn off the screen when you hold the iPhone up to your ear during a phone call. This sensor is only active while you are on an actual phone call, and is triggered by the proximity of an external object to the earpiece (at the top of the iPhone). When this sensor is triggered, the iPhone screen goes blank the and is disabled to prevent accidental input from brushing up against your face.

Since the sensor is only active during an actual phone call, when the other party hangs up, the sensor is disabled, returning the iPhone to normal operation.

This sensor is located immediately above the actual iPhone earpiece, and is triggered by any object within about a one-inch proximity (you can find more information on Apple’s iPhone page at http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/index.html#sensor). iPhone cases that block this area could cause the sensor to trigger even when the phone is away from your face, as could significant dirt or smudging in this area. Normally a case should not be a problem as the sensor is not triggered if it’s already covered when you begin a phone call, but it’s possible for the top of the case to trigger the iPhone sensor if it moves even slightly. If you are using a case, try using the iPhone without the case and see if this behavior changes.

It should also be noted that this sensor is inactive when using speakerphone mode or wired or Bluetooth headsets, so this can be used to determine whether the proximity sensor is actually the problem.

If this is occurring without any obvious obstructions on the upper portion of the iPhone, then it is possible the proximity sensor itself is defective and you should look at getting the iPhone serviced.

Ask iLounge Archives:

2-3-12: Deleting pictures from Photo Stream, Transferring Apps to a new iTunes library, Apple Universal Dock and iPhone 4S, Getting Track Names after CD Import, Video Playlists on the iPad

11-25-11: Removing music after activating iTunes Match, Smart Playlists and iTunes Match, Backing up data from an iPhone, Syncing MP3s to an iPod nano, Migrating Playlists to a new Computer

11-11-11: Configure Apple IDs on family iOS devices, Recovering lost audiobooks, Unable to disable passcode lock on iOS devices, Buying an iPod for audio-only use, Preventing deleted tracks from coming back from an iOS device

11-4-11: iPhone 4S storage capacity doesn't match, Transferring HD video from iPhone 4S to a computer, Recovering photos from iPod touch, Notification Center and iMessage in iOS 5

10-21-11: Using iCloud's Find My iPhone on older devices, Batch deleting photos in Camera Roll, Using iTunes Gift Cards internationally, Audiobooks and iCloud, Merging contacts from two devices into iCloud

See the rest of the Archives...

10-7-11: iPhone 4S battery life, New features in iPhone 4S, Buying iPhone 4S Unlocked, iPod nano and Nike+ Kit, Purchasing iPhone 4S for use abroad

9-30-11: Opening iTunes library from external hard drive, Moving Playlists to iPod, Downgrading iOS on iPod touch 2G, Playing Playlists in iTunes, Problems with iTunes opening automatically when connecting an iPhone

9-23-11: iOS 5 release and OTA installation, Transferring Purchases to iTunes, iPad and iPhone charger compatibility, iPod touch and regional App Stores, Find My iPhone and Remote Lock/Wipe, Previous iTunes Libraries Folder

9-2-11: Transferring iTunes library from Mac to Windows, Reading ebooks on iPod classic, Recovering lost password on iPod touch, Transferring music from a Windows iPod touch to a Mac, Backing up in iTunes 10.4

8-26-11: Updating playlists when consolidating iTunes files, Migrating from iPod touch to iPad, Buying and listening to music on multiple devices, Updating firmware on 4G iPod, Backing up iPhone without a computer

8-5-11: iCloud and Find My iPhone, Mac app for converting DVDs to iTunes, Clearing Sort Fields in iTunes, Importing MP3 audiobooks into iTunes, Creating iTunes library on external hard drive

7-29-11: Adjusting iPod touch ringer volume, iPod touch and wired networks, Consolidating information from two iPhones, Changing Apple IDs on an iPad, Track information not appearing when importing into iTunes

7-8-11: Using Start and End times with Apple TV, Sending Photos to Apple TV via AirPlay, Track Info greyed out in iTunes, iPhone upgrade eligibility, Downloading Album Artwork

7-1-11: Sharing multiple iTunes libraries on one computer, Burning MP3 CDs, Organizing audiobooks on iPod classic, Identify tracks not in any playlists, Copying content from a Mac-formatted iPod to Windows

6-24-11: FaceTime Edition: Costs for using FaceTime, FaceTime iPod model compatibility, Using FaceTime internationally, Using Multiple FaceTime devices in the same family, Missing FaceTime icon on iPod touch, Receiving FaceTime calls when out of coverage

6-17-11: Importing videos into iMovie for iPad, Switching to a new iPod touch, Transferring iTunes library database, User ID requirements for old iPod classic, Burning a CD from an iPod touch

5-20-11: Connecting an iPod to a stereo, Problems moving an iTunes library, Gifting apps, Problems joining CD tracks, Streaming AirPlay from a line-in source

4-15-11: Problems sending e-mail over Wi-Fi, Syncing iPhone content from different computers, Resetting a used iPod touch, Javascript on the iPad, Renaming an iOS device

4-8-11: Setting up an iTunes Store account for a child, Organizing Music Videos in iTunes, Album art missing on iPod touch purchases, Finding a serial number for a missing iPod, Purchases not syncing to iPod nano

4-1-11: Syncing existing apps to new iPad 2, iPod classic microphone compatibility, Recovering lost iTunes Store purchases, Recovering non-purchased content from iPod, Displaying unique artwork for compilation albums

3-25-11: Apple TV not showing Descriptions, Using a U.S. iPad 2 in other countries, Transferring iPod music to iPad 2, Audiobooks on iPod touch, Using an iPad on Windows

2-25-11: Redeeming iTunes Gifts on iOS, Finding MP3 tracks in iTunes, iPad Camera Connector on iOS 4.2, Backing up iTunes Playlists, iPad Video Formats and Battery Life

2-6-11: Removing playlists from iPod, 2G/3G iPod touch cases, iPod charging cables, Locating Apps folder, Transferring audiobooks to iPod

1-28-11: Car Bluetooth receivers, Editing Contacts on iPod touch, iPod touch shuffles songs, iPad and Bluetooth headsets, iPod touch and external keyboards

1-14-11: Transferring iPod classic from Mac to PC, Cover Flow on 30GB iPod, Transferring iTunes library between two external hard drives, iPod shuffle dock adapters, Connecting iPhone to a new iTunes library

11-19-10: Gifting Apps, Backing up Apps, Cleaning up old folders after moving iTunes library, FaceTime data usage, Storing iTunes videos on a different hard drive

11-12-10: Music videos play audio only, Advanced Smart Playlists, Transferring iTunes to another user account, iPhone 4 Case Program, Restoring a locked iPod touch

10-29-10: Viewing content on iPod from iTunes, Playing iTunes at a party, Viewing available space on iPhone, Recovering content from an iPod nano, Moving an iTunes Library to Windows 7

10-22-10: iTunes Store appears differently on another computer, Using iPod touch with an AV output cable, Transferring apps from iPad to iPod touch, Restoring iTunes from backup, Placing FaceTime calls with one e-mail address

10-15-10: Reorganizing content into a new iTunes library, Moving iPad+iPhone to a new computer, Hiding built-in apps on iPod touch, Missing built-in apps on iPod touch, Using iPod shuffle with older operating systems

10-8-10: Using Apple TV with different iTunes accounts, Setting up Apple TV on a different computer, Streaming content to Apple TV from other sources, Merging iTunes Store accounts, Importing music as audiobooks

10-1-10: iOS Calendar integration, Moving iTunes completely to an external hard drive, Automatically tagging imported movies, Recurring billing on iPad 3G, Transferring data to new iPad

9-24-10: On-The-Go Playlists with iOS 4, Using multiple iPods on one PC, Moving Apps and Artwork folders to external hard drive, Transferring Apps from iPod touch to iPhone, Syncing Genius Mixes to iPhone 4

9-17-10: Using iPhone 4 without cellular service, iPhone screen remains active during calls, Re-downloading Apps, Reset passcode on iPod touch, Copying audiobooks to iPod

9-10-10: Disk Use on iPod nano 6G, Using an iPhone and iPod touch on the same iTunes library, About iPod touch 4G Apps and Battery Life, Moving iTunes Library to a new Windows 7 PC, Upgrading to a new iPod touch

8-27-10: Using iPad 3G GPS without a data plan, Setting up iPod without installation CD, Movie Rental options don't appear in iTunes, iTunes prompts to remove apps from iPod, Recovering content from iPod touch

8-20-10: Accessing Internet Radio from iOS Remote app, Converting an iPod touch from Windows to Mac, Home Screen Wallpaper not available in iOS 4, Transferring non-purchasd content to a new computer, Managing multiple iTunes Libraries with different preferences

8-13-10: Restoring iPod touch onto iPhone, iPhone 3G only plays monaural audio, Corrupt iPod Photo Cache, Sharing Apps between family iPods, Not all songs transfer to iPod, Unknown playlists in iTunes

7-30-10: Transferring playlists from iPod touch to iPhone, Tracking Changes in Word Docs on iPad, Alarm Clock apps for iPhone, Problems connecting to iTunes Store, Transferring video from iPod nano 5G

7-23-10: Upgrading to a new iPhone, Using GPS car kit with Bluetooth stereo, Viewing podcast info on iPod classic, Deleting Apps from iTunes, Cleaning up content on iPod marked Other, Finding a lost iPod touch

7-9-10: Transferring iBookstore purchases between devices, Transferring files manually onto iPod touch, Sending e-mail attachments from iPhone, Transferring apps from iPhone to iPad, Selecting music to sync to iPhone

7-2-10: Accessing iTunes U on iPad, Transferring video from 5G nano to iPad, Compilations and Artist listing on iPod classic, Backing up and erasing iPhone 3G, Downloading podcasts outside of iTunes, iPhone 4 Retina Display apps on iPad

6-11-10: iPod touch prompts for old iTunes password, SMS message storage on iPhone, 3G iPod and iM600 speakers, Adding music from iPod nano to iPhone, Converting tracks in iTunes and iPod, Syncing selected music to iPad

6-4-10: iPad 3G and International use, Extra authorized computers in iTunes, Adding music to multiple iTunes libraries, Adding purchased music to iPod from another computer, Problems playing back CDs burned in iTunes, Large amount of Other content on iPod

5-14-10: Storing iPhone apps in a different folder, Removing games on iPod classic, Transferring videos from iPod nano, Continual iPod charging, Bluetooth A2DP support on iPad, Resetting iPod touch password lockout

4-30-10: Updated ID3 tags in iTunes, Problems downloading free updates from iTunes Store, Transferring Keynote files to iPad, Opening iTunes library from external hard drive, Restoring iPod and content, Syncing iPod to a new computer

4-23-10: Converting lossless tracks for iPod, Repairing corrupted iPod filesystem, Syncing existing apps to a new iPad, Streaming iTunes Radio in the car, iPads and iTunes Store authorization limits

4-16-10: Pairing iPod touch with Bluetooth headsets, Adding lyrics in iTunes for Mac, Restoring playlists on a new computer, Upgrading iPod touch to 3.0, iPod touch shows iTunes logo, Adding playlists to iPhone

4-9-10: Copying text from iBooks, Using iPad without Wi-Fi access, Syncing one iPad to multiple libraries, Setting up an iPad as a gift, Conserving space on iPod, Gifting an iPod touch, Syncing and backup up iPhone Notes

3-19-10: Restoring iPhone from Backup, Sharing Apps on multiple iPhones, Syncing Recently Added playlist, Older iPods and firmware updates, iPad and Remote Desktop control apps, iPhone Sync Cable compatibility

3-12-10: Syncing iPod with new iTunes library, Excluding selected playlists from sync, Sharing iTunes content on multiple iPhones, iPad and iTunes sync options, Shuffle playlists on iPod classic, Creating iPhone ringtones

3-5-10: Running iTunes app on external hard drive, iPod shuffle shows no content, Switching Apple ID in iTunes, External microphones for 5G nano, Removing columns in iTunes, iPod Dock and Remote control solutions

2-26-10: iPad Edition II: Sharing files between apps, iPad font support, Connecting to projectors, Using external storage, Downloading third-party music, iBooks and dictionary support

2-19-10: Checkmarks in iTunes, Storing files on iPhone, Identifying songs not in playlists, Black Dock adapters, Transferring purchased apps from iPod touch, Reformatting iPod for Mac

2-12-10: Using iPod with purchased content in different countries, Playing WMV e-mail attachments on iPhone, Deauthorizing iTunes, iPhone background audio recording, Displaying photos via TV out, Transferring saved photos from iPod touch

2-5-10: Recovering iPod serial number from iTunes, Using apps on new iPod touch, Transferring apps to another iPod touch, iPod touch and apps requiring OS 3.x, iTunes Media Folder path and network drives, Backing up audiobooks to CD

1-29-10: The iPad Edition: Updating Apps for iPad, iPad Accessory compatibility, iPad and iPhone tethering support, AT&T Wi-Fi access, Annotation support in iBooks

1-22-10: Recovering iPhone apps, Joining Audiobook tracks, Cleaning up after iTunes Consolidation, Moving iTunes to an external hard drive, Recovering iTunes onto an external hard drive, Burning CDs from an external hard drive

12-18-09: Audiobook Burn Limits, iPod touch audio quality, Adding a second family iPod to iTunes, Accessing iPod Diagnostics Mode, Track numbers appear in track names, Syncing playlists to iPod

12-11-09: Resetting iTunes authorizations, iPod capacity for audiobooks, iPod docks and line-out, Audio output from iPod shuffle, Resuming playlists on iPod touch, Syncing newer iPods with older versions of iTunes

12-4-09: Syncing iPod with no Internet access, Syncing a replacement iPod, Removing synced photos from iPhone, iPhone and iPod external batteries, Transferring photos from iPod nano to computer, Saving iTunes before an OS reinstall

11-27-09: Identifying purchased tracks in iTunes, iPhone 3GS Airplane Mode requirement, Advanced Smart Playlists in iTunes 9, Restoring iTunes from external hard drive, iTunes Store country restrictions, iPod nano 5G speaker compatibility

11-20-09: Sharing iTunes libraries between two user accounts, Enlarging text on iPhone 3GS, Transferring an iPod to a new user, iPhone shuffles when walking, New 8GB iPod touch models, Transferring purchases from a remote iTunes library

11-13-09: Syncing different contact info with two iPhones on the same computer, iPod shows no content, Syncing music and videos in playlists, Exclamation marks next to tracks in iTunes, Playing podcasts on 3G iPod shuffle.

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

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

9-18-09: Recovering unlisted media content from iPod, Repeat and continuous video playback on iPod touch, iPhone 3G vs 3GS, Customizing iTunes sorting, Rebuilding an iTunes library, Removing artwork from iPod in iTunes 9

9-11-09: Genius Mixes and iPod classic, Drag-and-drop content to iPod, Sharing home libraries in iTunes 9, Using an iPod without iTunes, Waking to a playlist on iPod touch, Kensington LiquidAUX, Disabling Geotagging Warnings

8-28-09: Consolidating Multiple iTunes Libraries, iPod touch Bluetooth headset compatibility, iPod holds less than advertised number of songs, Transferring media between iTunes Store accounts

8-21-09: Recover Contact/Calendar info from iPod touch, Connect iPod without automatic sync, Managing On-The-Go playlists, iPhone and Stereo Bluetooth Support, Sharing an iTunes library between multiple users on the same computer, Disabling Shake-to-Shuffle on iPod nano

8-14-09: Syncing iPod touch apps and data with a new iTunes library, Automatically adding media files to multiple iTunes libraries from a network share, Downgrading to iTunes 7, iPod nano and disk mode, Displaying release dates on iPod, Playing iPod through TV USB port

8-7-09: Clean up album artwork in iTunes, Syncing media content and calendar/contact info from different computers, Reorganizing recovered tracks in iTunes, Using multiple iPods and iPhones on one computer

7-31-09: Using an iPod and a Zune, iPod and on-TV menus, Backing up Notes from IPod touch, Sharing an iTunes library between a Mac and a PC, Waterproof earphones, 3G iPod and iPhone Accessory compatibility, Shure earphones

7-24-09: Displaying recent plays on web site, iPhone and car integration, iPod classic TV output, Renaming iPhone, Sound quality on different iPod models, iPod shuffle accessory compatibility

7-17-09: Transferring saved application data to new iPhone, Recovering Content from Mac iPod on Windows, iPhone 3GS and charging accessories, Recreating Recently Added playlist, Restoring old iPod touch, Track sorting on iPod classic

7-10-09: Passwords on iPod touch, iPod headphone jack problems, Tagging tracks imported from CD, Adding chapter markers to audiobooks, first-generation iPhone and stereo Bluetooth, Nike+ shoes

7-3-09: iPhone Recent Calls list and location info, iPod touch Bluetooth audio support, Car interface fails after 3.0 upgrade, iPhone battery life, iPhone stereo audio recording,

6-26-09: Recovering a dead iPod touch after 3.0 update, Battery Percentage Display on iPhone 3.0, Options hidden after 3.0 update, iPhone locked after 3.0 update, Managing videos on iPhone, iPod classic accessory compatibility

6-12-09: Conserving power on iPhone, Syncing iPhone Notes, Syncing Apps on new iPod touch, Block pop-ups in Safari, Syncing new iPhone, Playing multiple albums

5-29-09: Sorting tracks in iTunes, iPhone Bluetooth Headset Dock, Recovering Mac-formatted iPod on Windows, Screen damage on 4G iPod nano, Syncing purchased tracks back to iTunes, Managing a class set of iPods

5-22-09: Syncing iTunes content between computers, Importing music into iTunes, Re-transferring apps from a new iTunes library, New iPods and charging accessories, Using multiple iTunes libraries

5-15-09: Starting out with an external hard drive, Syncing playlists manually, Recovering lost iPod serial number, Music count vs Playlist count, Multiple iTunes Store accounts on the same computer, Optimizing album artwork

5-8-09: Organizing audiobooks, Problems transferring purchased items back to iTunes, Keeping played podcast episodes on iPod, Transferring iTunes library to a new computer, iPod shows no content, Using a new iPod with an existing iTunes library

4-24-09: Playing iTunes purchases on a non-networked computer, Finding iPod manuals online, Sharing an iTunes library between separate user accounts, Equalizer on iPod shuffle, Recovering content from Apple TV, Screenshots on iPod touch

4-17-09: Converting tracks to higher bit-rates, Using iPod with non-iTunes content, Using iTunes with an external hard drive, Expired rentals don't delete on iPod, Using only part of a song, Restoring 4G iPod stuck on AC adapter icon

3-27-09: Transferring iTunes library from XP to Vista, Using iPhone as an alarm clock, Splitting iTunes library across two iPods, Recovering iPod onto a computer with an existing iTunes library, Purchased TV Shows stuck in downloads folder, Tagging tracks as Audiobooks in iTunes 8

3-20-09: Using two iPods on a single computer, iPod shuffle 2G/3G accessory compatibility, Displaying TV Show seasons separately in iTunes, Playing iPod through secondary computer, Stopping iPod playback on iPhone, iPod touch 2G and Dock audio

3-13-09: iPod touch vs iPhone, Storing music only on your iPod, Problems transferring rented content, Managing content manually on iPod shuffle, iPod lyrics display, Playing video out to TV from iPhone

3-6-09: iPhone playback on other computers, Games on iPod classic and 5G, Transferring iTunes tracks to SD cards, Group compilations on iPhone, Transferring your iTunes library, iPhone Car Integration

2-27-09: Problems transferring iTunes content to external hard drives, Using an iTunes library database from an external hard drive, Converting Palm address book for iPod touch, How iTunes organizes music videos, Preventing iPhoto from opening when connecting an iPod touch

2-20-09: Video docks for 5G iPod, Connecting an old iPod to a new iTunes library, Downloading iTunes 8 on another computer, Erasing a used iPod and starting fresh, Recovering photos from an iPod, Tracking purchases in iTunes

2-13-09: Waterproof cases and sound quality, Upgrading to iTunes Plus with a manually managed iPod, Reinstalling games on the iPhone, iPhone 3G Dock options, Fixing album artwork problems, Display iTunes Applications category

2-6-09: iPod nano voice memo format, Buying iPods abroad, Skipping a playlist when shuffling, Adjusting playback speed of music tracks, Not all TV Shows syncing to iPod, Checking and unchecking multiple items in iTunes

1-23-09: Synchronizing contacts to iPod touch, Pairing iPhone Remote app, iPhone call audio via Dock Connector, Recovering iPhone apps, New iPods and charging, Remote control of Windows via iPhone

1-16-09: Creating Smart Playlists based on other playlists, Transferring or syncing an iTunes library between two computers, Converting Mac-formatted iPod to Windows, Using Artist and Sort Artist fields, Using an iPod on more than one computer, Importing audiobook CDs as audiobooks

1-2-09: Parents controls on iPod touch, Running iTunes from an external hard drive, Search feature on 5G iPods, Syncing videos to iPod touch, Safari problems on iPod touch, Other content on iPod shuffle

12-19-08: Keeping podcast episodes, iPod and TV USB inputs, Converting PC-formatted iPod to Mac, iPod touch e-mail accounts, Backing up iTunes to a hard drive, Managing and syncing iPod touch On-The-Go playlists

12-12-08: Classifying videos in iTunes 8, Sharing music between iPods, Sharing apps between iTunes libraries on the same computer, iH9 and iPhone compatibility, Recreating Purchased folder, Locating Music Videos

12-5-08: Creating custom slideshows for Apple TV, Optimal album artwork size, Transferring iPod touch from PC to Mac, Upgrading to a new iPod touch, Authorizing iPod Games on new computer, Managing iPod content manually

11-21-08: iPod keeps resetting, Organizing iPhone apps, iPod touch video accessories, iPod-compatible online music sources, Reordering playlists manually

11-14-08: Cover Flow on 4G iPod nano, Setting up iPod touch without Internet access, Internet radio for iPod touch, Apps button missing on iPod touch, mm50 speakers and new iPod models, Including Year field on iPod

« Ask iLounge 12-14-07

Ask iLounge 11-29-07 »

Comments

1

I am copying a multi-disk playlist to cd and after copying the cds do not have the names of the songs or artists listed. It simply says track 1, track 2, etc. Any idea how I can get my cd copy to list the artist, song, and album.

Posted by JanR on December 8, 2007 at 8:44 PM (PDT)

2

Tonight I upgraded (from 7.0) to iTunes 7.5 on my Toshiba, running XP home. Immediately afterwards, I noticed several hundred songs have an exclamation point in the left margin of my music library. Clicking on any one of them, opens a window that says “this song cannot be used because the original cannot be found. Do you want to find it?” Why has this happened and how am I supposed to find the original that has always been there before? I bought all my songs from iTunes store and I’m starting to feel ripped off.

Thanks, Mike

Posted by mikewins44 on December 13, 2007 at 5:17 PM (PDT)

3

Does anyone know what the blue dot in iTunes at the left mean?

Posted by John on September 2, 2008 at 12:15 PM (PDT)

4

I recently backed up my iPod Library to an external hard-drive and everything seemed to be working fine with my 5th gen ipod until today. When I opened iTunes to listen to some music only my purchased songs were there and none of my playlists are present. Is there a way to recover my playlists from the external drive or my iPod, or are they lost forever??

Posted by Thomas on August 20, 2009 at 1:07 AM (PDT)

5

I have many of by cds downloaded unto my computer via a portable hard drive. I also have i tunes with on my computer. I have a classic i pod. What is the hierarchy of syncing? Does the ipod sync to the hard drive, or itunes? How can I get the ipod, itunes and my computer music library so that things do not duplicate? I have over 8,000 songs.

Posted by Lyddi Bolig on August 1, 2010 at 1:18 PM (PDT)

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