Article

The Free iPod + iPhone Book4

Ask iLounge 5-12-05

Author's pic
  • digg this

By Kirk McElhearn

Contributing Editor
Published: Thursday, May 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.

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: Both my wife and I have iPods, but we have separate libraries on different computers. Is there a way to consolidate both libraries? We both have access to the same CD collection, so copyright is not an issue. I want to combine the existing iTunes from both libraries withoput having to re-import the songs on to my computer.

- Chris

A: The easiest way is to choose one of the computers that will contain all the music (let’s call it computer A), and transfer to it the music from the other computer (computer B). Connect the two computers with an Ethernet cable, if possible, turn on the appropriate network settings, and copy the music. If that’s not possible, use rewritable CDs or DVDs to copy the music from computer B then copy it onto computer A, or use an external hard disk and copy the music to and from the hard disk as an intermediary.

When computer B’s music is on computer A, add it to the iTunes library on computer A. Select File > Add to Library, then select the folder that contains all the music. This adds it all to the iTunes library. However, you’ll lose any playlists, play counts, last played dates or ratings on computer B.

You can then make playlists for yourself and for your wife, as necessary, and you’ll both have all the music when you sync your iPods.


Q: A friend recently replaced her 20GB iPod with a 40GB version and she’s giving me her old one. She’s from Europe and I live in the US. Will I encounter any problems when trying to use this iPod? I know there must be some power conversion issues, I just don’t know how extensive they would be. Will there be computer computability concerns as well?

- Joe

A: The first problem you’ll have is using the AC adapter that came with the original European iPod, but you can buy a US adapter from Apple, or simply charge the iPod from your computer if you have a FireWire connector - or USB 2.0 connector if it’s a 4G iPod. One other point: European iPods have a limited volume level compared to US models, so it may not sound as loud; though you shouldn’t play your iPod at its maximum volume anyway - you could damage your hearing. There are tools online to remove the “EU volume cap” if necessary for some specific application; a PC program is called euPOD Pro and a Mac one is VolumeBooster.


Q: I own an iPod and have downloaded iTunes onto my PC and subsequently downloaded my favorite music to my iPod. I purchased another iPod for my parents who need me to download their music onto their iPod for them. How can I keep my music separate from theirs, and use two iPods on the same computer? I do not want their music on my iPod and vice versa.

Another words, can I download iTunes separately and store two different sets of music on the one PC?

- Blake

A: The easiest way to do this is to create a second user account on your computer, for your parents, and log into that account and set up iTunes with their music. When you connect the iPod while logged into that account, it will only look at the music you’ve added to iTunes for your parents, and sync to their iPod accordingly.


Q: When I plug in my iPod shuffle to charge it, there is an orange light blinking while it charges. Does that mean that it is charging? I only want to charge the iPod, not use it as a disk.

- Tina

A: If the orange light is blinking, this means the iPod shuffle is either being used, such as when iTunes is updating it, or it is mounted as a disk. If you don’t want to use it as a disk, select the iPod preferences when it is connected (click the iPod icon at the bottom-right of the iTunes window), and uncheck Enable Disk Use. After you do this, you’ll see an orange non-blinking light when the iPod shuffle is charging, and a green light when it is fully charged.


Q: I recently noticed that Apple has started selling its iPod remote packaged with a pair of earphones for $39. Is this the same remote that used to be packaged with the 3G iPod? Are these just normal iPod earphones? If no, then what are the differences?

- Isral

A: Apple’s actually been doing this for years - and yes, it is the same remote and the same earphones, so if you want the remote, you can no longer buy it on its own. However, it’s not a bad idea to have an extra set of earphones in case something happens to yours.


picKirk McElhearn is the author of several books including iPod & iTunes Garage. His blog, Kirkville features articles about the iPod, iTunes, Mac OS X and much more.








Ask iLounge Archives:

7-4-08: Recovering a corrupt iPod, Hard cases for iPhone, Reimporting CDs into iTunes, iPod shows only Other content, Managing multiple audio formats in iTunes, Optimum iPod video output cables

6-27-08: Creating Smart Playlists for Purchased items, Keeping place in multi-track audiobooks, Backing up iTunes before a reformat, iPod Games on 5G and classic, Editing CD tracks before import, Getting Album Artwork automatically

6-20-08: Third-party iPod management tools, Transferring large files on iPod, Shuffling On-The-Go Playlists, Removing played podcasts from iPod, Continuously playing one track, Moving iTunes from PC to Mac

6-13-08: Artists not appearing on iPod, Unchecked items do not play in iTunes, iTunes shows incorrect CD track information, Podcast support on older iPod models, Upgrading to a new iPod, Photo albums on iPod touch

6-6-08: Downloading YouTube videos onto iPod, Selling old iPod models, Fit iTunes Window to Screen, Handing down an iPod, Dock Compatible iPod cases, Problems transferring music from iPod to Mac

See the rest of the Archives...

Shop in the loungeStore for iPod + iPhone Accessories.

Next: The Complete Guide to iPod Audiobooks

Previous: First Looks: Shuffle Art, Soundsticks, iPod AC, Travel Kit

Comments

1

How do I copy music from my library (on my pc) to other ipods? Specifically just a few playlists?

Posted by sistersomeone2002@yahoo.com on May 13, 2005 at 7:13 PM (PDT)

2

i have a pc and i just bought a mac and want to know how to reformat my ipod and get my songs off it and onto the new computer.

Posted by lunakittay on May 14, 2005 at 9:12 AM (PDT)

3

I like shuffling the songs in my playlists (usually about 80 songs per list), but this greatly cuts down on my battery life.  Is there a way to shuffle the songs through iTunes before loading the playlist to my iPod?

Posted by DeanDTSM on May 14, 2005 at 1:37 PM (PDT)

4

can i use windows midia player to put songs on my ipod mini

Posted by amy05 on May 14, 2005 at 3:10 PM (PDT)

5

The music I have in my ipod is in different computer than what I am using now.My old computer crashed.What can I do to keep my old music on ipod and put more music from my new compute?

Tnx

Posted by quiddin on May 14, 2005 at 7:25 PM (PDT)

6

i have songs on my iPod which are stored in the iTunes on my comp too. sadly, a load of songs were deleted off my iTunes and now if i plug my iPod in to update it, the songs will delete, how can i prevent this from happening but also put newer songs onto my iPod?  thanx

Posted by Lauren_Ayres on May 15, 2005 at 8:34 AM (PDT)

7

how can i transfer my phone numbers onto my ipod

Posted by mbl on May 16, 2005 at 7:06 AM (PDT)

8

All you guys who have music on an iPod but not on your computer for whatever reason, go to the top of this page and look at “The most asked question...” The link will give you a nice tutorial - essentially you will need to download one of the many pieces of third-party software which will rip the music from your iPod and stick it on your computer’s hard drive.

mbi:  If you’re using a Mac, use iSync. I don’t know about PC’s.

amy05:  No!

lunakittay:  Congratulations on the Mac! You needn’t reformat your iPod - units formatted on PC’s will work on Macs but not vice-versa. Go to the link at the top of the page to find out how to get your music off the iPod and onto your Mac. Once this is accomplished, you’ll have a nice new library in iTunes on the Mac and you could reformat the iPod then if you really wanted to before letting iTunes resync the library.

sistersomeone:  Assuming you won’t be illegally copying music, I would advise you to have a look at the link mentioned already - there is software available which enables a computer to browse and rip music from a connected iPod.
Otherwise you could enable the iPod as a disc (through iPod options in iTunes). Then find the individual tracks on your computer as files (i.e. not through iTunes) you can copy these to the iPod as you would copy any file to any removable storage device (drag and drop). When you get to the other computer, plug in the iPod and explore it as a drive - just drag the stored files off the iPod onto the new computer and the copying is complete. Usually you just need to play the track through iTunes and it will be copied into the iTunes library.
This is the exact same way I use to carry my work files (Word, Powerpoint etc.) around on my iPod and utilises the iPod in just the same way as any other portable disc drive. Remember - don’t illegally copy music!

Posted by alfa1996 in UK on May 16, 2005 at 8:21 AM (PDT)

9

Does anyone know where I can get a UK adapter that fits an On Stage JBL unit?

Posted by joedmiles on May 16, 2005 at 11:40 AM (PDT)

10

I had a recent hard drive fry on my previous computer. During this chaos I lost all of my music that was on the computer. Luckily it is all on the I pod. Now, how do I remove music from my ipod and install it on my computer. I have spent a while doing this but I cant figure it out. I appreciate it.

Posted by confusedipodder on May 16, 2005 at 3:26 PM (PDT)

11

A friend of mine put all my music on to my ipod from his PC, and now I have a mac computer and want to put the music from my ipod on my itunes library. Is this possible without losing everything? I believe all will be deleted? I’d love to avoid this if there’s any way?
Thank you!!!!

Posted by rioviper on May 16, 2005 at 4:04 PM (PDT)

12

I recently bought a cd (Van Zant) on the Sony/Nashville label and wanted to download on to my i-pod and could not make this happen.  Has Sony come out with software that prevents the downloading of their music?  If so, is there anyway around this?

Thanks

Posted by findthesun on May 17, 2005 at 7:22 AM (PDT)

13

Guys: YOU CAN TRANSFER MUSIC FROM AN iPod TO A COMPUTER WITH A PIECE OF SPECIAL SOFTWARE.

Please read the previous posts and have a look at the top of the page: “THE MOST ASKED QUESTION....”

It gets really boring reading posts every week from people with the same problem who haven’t even read the page!

Posted by alfa1996 in UK on May 17, 2005 at 3:09 PM (PDT)

14

My uncle has a whole bunch of music that i dont have, so he put it all on my ipod from his computer. the question is how do i get music FROM my ipod ONTO my computer??? he has a whole bunch of great songs but i cant play them on my itunes because i cant put music from my ipod onto my computer. PLEASE HELP AND ANSWER!!! thank you

Posted by i-boy on May 17, 2005 at 6:14 PM (PDT)

15

I want to copy music-files to my iPod shuffle without iTunes (copy/paste in Windows-Explorer OR with Media Player).

Is there a way to do this, because I have my music on different computers and I cannot install software on the computer in my office.

Posted by MikeMayr on May 18, 2005 at 12:30 AM (PDT)

16

Im sure this has been asked but I cant seem to resolve my problem.  I have 4th gen ipod and have downloaded ituens to my PC.  Itunes will open once but will not recognise the ipod.  After this itunes crashes and refuses to open. The PC recognises that an extenal disc drive (ipod) is attached.  I have uninstalled itunes and have found that doing this disbles my DVD ROM drive (Toshiba DVD ROM-M1212).  The ipod works on my friends PC with absolutely no problems.

Any help or advice would be great.

Posted by Steviedunn on May 19, 2005 at 1:23 AM (PDT)

17

i purchased my ipod second hand and am currently trying to put songs onto it. i could not get a hold of the itunes cd but have managed to download it off an apple website but still i am having no luck. any ideas?

Posted by antz on May 21, 2005 at 5:34 AM (PDT)

18

i downloaded my ipod on my cousins computer.eventhough i did that can i still download itunes to my ipod from ny computer?

roses

Posted by roses on July 10, 2005 at 3:19 PM (PDT)

19

i recently got a new hard drive in my computer. when i plug in my ipod, itunes comes up but its the newer version and doesn’t have any of my songs listed in the itunes library. how do i get the songs off of my ipod back into my itunes library??

Posted by Browneyes on July 23, 2005 at 1:46 PM (PDT)

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.





What's new at iLounge? Subscribe to iPodweek!
Each week we giveaway three (3) iTunes Gift cards.

Recent News

Recent Reviews

Recent Articles

loungeStore: iPod Accessories & more...