Ask iLounge 9-5-08

Article

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 bought the iPhone 3G dock in the U.S. about two weeks ago, as they were not available for sale in Denmark at that time. Now that I’m back in Denmark for a couple of months I want to use it to direct the output sound from the iPhone’s iPod application to my AV system. So back in Denmark I purchased the Apple Composite AV Cable. However, I am not getting any sound from the iPhone when using these cables via the Dock. The iPhone does charge in the dock, but there is no sound. However, when I connect the AV cables directly to the Dock Connector on the bottom of the iPhone, everything works as it should.

So to get sound from a Dock MUST I use the mini-jack out on the back? Can I not transfer sound through the Dock Connector? Could this be an issue with my 3G Dock being purchased in the U.S. and the Apple AV cables being purchased in Denmark? Any advice is appreciated.

- Kenneth

A: Unfortunately, this appears to be a limitation of the iPhone 3G dock itself, and has nothing to do with where the Dock or AV cables were purchased (there are no international differences between iPhone 3G Docks, and the only difference with the AV cable between countries is the power adapter it is bundled with).

The iPhone 3G Dock simply does not output audio or video via the Dock Connector at all, nor does it pass-through the AV Cable’s video authentication. As a result, the only way to get audio from the iPhone 3G Dock is to connect directly to the audio out mini-plug on the Dock itself. Note that the audio quality from this plug should be equivalent to what you will get via the Apple AV cable anyway, and you can still charge your iPhone either with the AV cable or with the original USB cable and power adapter which came with the iPhone.

For playing back video you will need to either connect the Apple AV cables directly to the bottom of the iPhone, or look at a different dock, as the iPhone 3G Dock has no video output capabilities and does not recognize the Apple AV cables.

The 2007 Apple Universal Dock is compatible with the Apple AV Cables and will pass audio and video output through the Apple AV cables. The AV cables are required for video output, however, as this Dock has an audio-only line-out but does not have any video outputs of its own.

On the other hand, the older 2005 Apple Universal Dock will provide audio and video output via its own S-Video and Line-out port (which can also be used as a video port with a three-lead mini-to-RCA cable). However, the 2005 Universal Dock does not work with the Apple AV cables as the audio and video output is directed to the Dock’s own ports rather than the Dock Connector. Both of Apple’s Universal Docks also provide remote control capabilities, although only the 2007 Universal Dock actually includes the remote control.

The Universal Docks also have the advantage that they can be used with certain types of iPhone cases, meaning you may be able to use the Dock without having to actually remove the iPhone from whatever case you are using it with.

With all of that having been said, however, if your only desire is for audio playback, your best option is to simply return the Apple AV Cables and use the mini-jack line-out port on the iPhone 3G Dock, and use the normal USB cable and power adapter that came with the iPhone to provide power and charging to the iPhone while it is docked.

Q: I’m having trouble creating playlists. I click the plus sign (+) in the bottom left corner of the iTunes window, enter a new title, and drag songs from the music library to the new playlist. When I click on the playlist the selections I put there show up fine. However, they never show up on my iPod. After doing all of the above I sync, but the playlist never shows up on the iPod under Playlist? What do I do?

- Larry

A: The most likely cause of this is that your iPod has been set to sync only selected playlists. In this mode, any new playlists you create are not automatically synced to your iPod—you must specifically enable them for syncing.

You can check your iPod synchronization settings by connecting your iPod to iTunes, selecting it from the Devices list on the left-hand side of the iTunes window, and then choosing the “Music” tab on the main screen:

This will indicate whether you are synchronizing ALL playlists or only selected playlists. Syncing selected playlists is generally used to limit the content which you sync to your iPod, most commonly due to space restrictions (ie, your iTunes library is larger than your iPod’s capacity). If this is not what you desire, however, you can easily select “All Songs and Playlists” and click the “Apply” button to simply tell iTunes to transfer everything in your iTunes library (including all playlists) onto your iPod. Note that if you do not have sufficient space on your iPod to store your entire iTunes library, iTunes will give you an error message advising you of this and offering to help free up space on your iPod by removing certain types of content such as podcasts or photos.

If you are synchronizing only selected playlists, simply ensure that any new playlists you have created which you would like to have on your iPod are selected on this screen and click the “Apply” button. The new playlists will be transferred to your iPod, along with any content listed in them which is not already on your iPod.

Keep in mind as well that some of the newer iPod models such as the iPod nano (with video) and iPod classic now support playlist folders, so even if you are synchronizing your new playlists to your iPod, they may be shown in a sub-folder rather than on the main iPod playlist screen.

Q: Is it possible to connect my iPod to someone elses PC or Mac and add their non-DRM protected music (ie ripped personal cds) to my iPod touch?

- LP

A: Yes, this is definitely possible through “Manual mode.” Like the traditional iPod models, the iPod touch supports a manual transfer mode where the iPod touch does not actually sync with iTunes, and you can drag-and-drop content from any library you happen to connect your iPod touch to. In this mode, even iTunes Store purchases can be transferred from an authorized computer onto your iPod touch, subject to certain limitations—notably that you may only have content from up to five different iTunes Store accounts on a single iPod.

To enable manual mode, simply connect your iPod touch to your computer and select it from the iTunes Devices list on the left-hand side of the iTunes window. On the main “Summary” screen which appears, simply click the box labelled “Manually manage my music and videos” and click the “Apply” button to enable manual mode.

Once manual mode has been enabled, the iPod touch will no longer sync your audio and video content with your main iTunes library, nor will it try to sync with any other iTunes library. Instead, you will add content to your iPod yourself by dragging it from the main iTunes library onto the iPod touch in your Devices list. Likewise, any content you want to remove from your iPod will have to be done manually by expanding the iPod touch in the Devices list and managing it in the same way that you would manage content in your main iTunes library. For all intents and purposes, the iPod touch becomes an independent “library.”

In this mode, you can of course connect your iPod touch to any other computer running iTunes and transfer content onto it in much the same way.

Note that other types of content such as Info items (Calendars/Contacts/Bookmarks), Podcasts, Photos, and Applications will still be synced automatically, however, if any of these are selected. These types of content can only be synchronized automatically from a single computer, although podcasts can be transferred manually like any other type of audio track.

Keep in mind that if you add content from several other computers and then wish to return to automatic synchronization, any content you have added will be removed from your iPod unless it is already in your iTunes library. Returning to automatic synchronization “re-mirrors” your iPod with the content of your iTunes library, so any content that does not exist in the main iTunes library is removed from the iPod. If you want to return to using automatic synchronization and do not want to lose this content, you will need to transfer it into your iTunes library. See our iPod 201 article, Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer for more information on some methods for doing this.

An important note for our other readers: Despite the similarities between the iPod touch and iPhone, “Manual mode” on the iPhone currently does not work in this manner. Enabling manual mode on an iPhone will allow you to manage the content manually from ONE computer, however, your iPhone will still show up as if it is in automatic sync mode when you connect it to any other computer. It is unclear at this point whether this is a bug or intentional behaviour on Apple’s part, but it should be noted that the iPhone did not originally support any manual management mode, so this feature came to the iPhone much later than it did to the iPod touch.

Q: We have 4 computers (PC and Mac) at home, two of which have crashed at various times. After reinstalling the OS and iTunes, I authorized my iTunes Store account and it sees this as a new computer. Further, I recently used Time Machine to restore my disk on my powerMac and now iTunes sees it as a new computer also. I’m eating up my 5 computer allowance with the same machines! What can I do?

- Gil

A: Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about this directly in the situation where your computer becomes inaccessible and has to be reinstalled. Part of the iTunes Store authorization process is based on your actual operating system installation as well as certain hardware parameters, so when you reinstall your OS, iTunes sees your computer as a different machine from where it was previously authorized.

The best solution is to ensure that you DE-authorize your computer whenever possible before reinstalling or sending it for repair or upgrade. Reinstalling the OS or upgrading significant portions of your hardware (ie, replacing the main board) will usually result in iTunes needing to be re-authorized and using up another authorization count.

To DE-authorize your computer, simply select Deauthorize Computer from the Store menu in iTunes, and enter your iTunes Store userid and password. This will remove the authorization information from your computer and reduce the authorization count in your iTunes Store profile. You can reauthorize the same computer simply by trying to play back a purchased item (in which case iTunes will prompt you for your iTunes Store account information) or by selecting Store, Authorize Computer from the iTunes menu.

Note that there are no limits to the number of times you can deauthorize and reauthorize, so this can even be done just as a precaution in a situation where you are not sure whether or not you’ll have a problem (such as sending your computer in for repair or upgrade).

Of course, sometimes computers fail outright and it is simply not possible to deauthorize your computer before reinstalling it or replacing failed hardware. However, if you do find yourself in a situation where you have used up all of your authorizations and are at your five-computer limit, iTunes does provide a safety net: Once per year, after you have reached your five-computer limit, you can deauthorize ALL of the computers on your iTunes Store account, resetting your authorization count to zero.

To do this, log in to your iTunes Store account by selecting the iTunes Store from within iTunes, and clicking on your account name (or the “Sign-in” button) which appears at the top-right corner of the screen. Once you have signed in, you will be taken to your “Apple Account Information” page:

Your number of computer authorizations are shown in the top section below your billing address information. If you have reached your five-computer limit, a “Deauthorize all” button will appear which can be used to reset your authorization count back to zero and clear all of your computer authorizations. Again, this button will only appear after you have reached your five-computer limit.

Once you have used this option, you will need to re-visit those computers that you do want authorized and RE-authorize them manually.

Keep in mind as well that you can only use this option once within a 365-day period, although if you find yourself in a very unique situation where you have reset your authorizations within the past year and have again hit the limit due to some serious hardware disaster, you could always plead your case with the iTunes Store support group, which can of course reset the limit for you manually at any time.

Q: I recently edited the details of a large number of tracks and I want to restore the original data (ie, Artists Name instead of Various Artists). I thought if I deleted the tracks from iTunes and re-imported them this would restore the original track data but it doesn’t seem to work. I also tried changing the location of the folder I was importing from to see if this would make any difference but it seems wherever I import these tracks from they retain the changed information and not the original. Any suggestions?

- Matt

A: When you update or modify track information via iTunes, this information is not only written to the iTunes database, but is also written directly into the AAC or MP3 file headers (or “tags"). As a result, when you reimport these files, or import them into a different library, iTunes reads this tag information to populate its database. There are a few pieces of information that are stored only in the iTunes library, but these are usually due to the lack of any corresponding standard tag to store them in (this includes information like rating, play count, last played date, etc).

The upside of this feature is that you don’t have to rely on a single point of failure (the iTunes database) for your critical track information. Unfortunately, this also means that if you want to revert to earlier information, there is really no easy way back unless you have a pre-import set of your media files backed up somewhere that you can revert to. Tag changes made by iTunes (or any other program) overwrite any information that was previously in the file headers, so there is really no way to get this information back without restoring to older versions of those files.

If you have a backup of your iTunes library database, you might be able to get away with reverting to that, although this can be tricky. iTunes will by default use the information contained in its database, but it will update this information from the ID3 tags whenever an MP3/AAC file is accessed (whether for editing or playback). Restoring the old iTunes database and using the “Convert ID3 Tags” under the menu will work to overwrite the MP3 file ID3 tags with the iTunes database information in some cases, but this is dependent on a number of factors that are likely outside of your control (such as existing ID3 tag versions within the MP3 files themselves).

Note also that marking your MP3/AAC files read-only will not solve this problem for future edits. Since iTunes insists on writing updated metadata into your file tags, it will not allow metadata to be updated for a read-only file, even in the iTunes database. Read-only tracks are shown with their properties greyed out when you try to edit them in iTunes.

Q: Do you know of any note or list applications available through the App Store that display the red circle notification on the Home Screen when a new event or “To Do” is created. I am looking for an application that displays these outside of the App itself, so there is no need to check within the App. It would be nice to quickly glance, and see
if you are forgetting anything. If there are some applications that are capable of this, are there any that are free?

- John

A: Unfortunately, most applications do not currently make use of the “badge” on the main Home Screen. In many cases this is an intentional design decision on the part of the developer. The problem is that since the badge can only be updated when the application is actually running, it can be misleading, particularly in applications where the data is somewhat dynamic. For example, if tasks become “due” and you haven’t opened the application in some time, the badge count will not update to reflect these new tasks. Users who are unaware of this limitation to mistakenly assume that the number shown on the home screen is an accurate reflection of their pending items.

While we have not undertaken a comprehensive review, three to-do list applications that we have personally looked at that do make use of the Home Screen badge are OmniFocus by The Omni Group ($20, iTunes Store Link), Things by Cultured Code ($10, [url=http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284971781&mt=8]iTunes Store Link[url]), and ToDo by Appigo ($10, [url=http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=282778557&mt=8]iTunes Store Link). While all of these are pricier options, they generally include features to match. The first two sync with companion desktop applications of the same name for the Mac, while the third will sync with online services Remember the Milk or ToodleDo. (Note that there are several applications on the iTunes Store named “ToDo”—the one we are referring to here is the one by Appigo).

Unless you are looking to set up a comprehensive “GTD-style” task management system, OmniFocus and Things will be far more than you need. Appigo’s ToDo, however, is a fast and well-designed little app that works very well for simple to-do lists with the advantage of being able to sync with a web-based service on the back-end for maintaining your lists elsewhere.

However, the number of task and list-based applications on the iTunes Store is almost overwhelming, and we have not looked at all of them at this point. If any of our readers know of any other todo or list applications that use the badge icon to display item counts, we encourage you to let us know in the comments.

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Ask iLounge Archives:

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

10-31-08: iPod charging accessory compatibility, Adding tracks to multiple albums, Removing pre-installed games, Transferring contacts from iPod touch to a second computer, iPod touch accessory compatibility, iPod synchronization to a new computer

10-24-08: Importing folders with M3U files, AV cables with 2008 iPods, Moving iTunes libraries between computers, Unknown albums after importing music, Newly added tracks don't show up on iPod

10-17-08: Backup up your iPod, iPods and viruses, Using an iPod on Mac and Windows, Managing photos on an iPod manually, Adding iTunes Shared Music to iPod, iPod video out

10-3-08: Displaying lyrics on iPod touch, Calculating playlist sizes, Transferring tracks to iPod in manual mode, Purchasing older iPod models, Using iPhone without phone service, Shuffle modes

See the rest of the Archives...

9-26-08: iTunes HD TV episodes showing up twice, Shure MPA-3C and iPod touch, Synchronizing iPod to a new iTunes library, Problems updating iPhone applications, Managing iTunes media files on an external hard drive, Managing multiple iPods on one computer

9-19-08: Removing Genre column in iTunes 8, Syncing TV Shows by playlist, Recovering Mac-formatted iPod on Windows, Recovering photos from iPod, XtremeMac Luna X2, iPod flash memory capacity, Restoring older iPod models

9-12-08: Managing iPhone Backups, iPod disk mode and deleted items, iPod Plays only single tracks, iPhone and T9 predictive text, Copying ratings and play counts from iPod to computer, Automatically retrieving CD information and album artwork

9-5-08: AV output from iPhone 3G dock, New playlists not appearing on iPod, Transferring music on iPod touch from multiple computers, Resetting iTunes Store authorization counts, Editing tag information, iPhone task applications

8-29-08: Disabling data on iPhone 3G, iTunes Plus and Apple Backup, Deleting photos from iPod, iPhone v2.0 and TV Out accessories, Consolidating multiple iTunes libraries, Restoring iPod touch from backup

8-22-08: Cleaning up applications in iTunes, Playing back all songs on iPod, Excluding podcasts from Smart Playlists, Bookmarking tracks, Playing tracks back at a consistent volume level

8-15-08: Transferring play counts back to iTunes, Playing iPod while charging, Customizing iPhone alerts, Syncing movies to iPod nano, iTunes not recognizing new CDs, Sudoku reviews

8-8-08: iPhone and SIM card contacts, Syncing iPhone contacts, Hiding SMS previews on iPhone, Playing iPod touch on secondary computer, Syncing photos to iPod, Resuming interrupted iTunes WiFI Store downloads

8-8-08: iLounge Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Horwitz responds to reader questions on all things iLounge, including technical issues related to iPhone 3G, and behind-the-scenes editorial issues

8-1-08: iPhone Edition: Switching between apps, Car charging accessories, Activating older iPhone models, Sending MMS, App Store in wrong language, Excel and A2DP support

7-25-08: MobileMe on iPhone for Calendars only, Buying iPods for International use, Voice recorders for 4G iPods, Free Music for iPod, Problems transferring purchased content to iPod, Playing AAC files in Windows Media Player

7-18-08: Ask iLounge iPhone v2.0 Edition: Installing apps on multiple devices, Converting videos for iPhone 3G, Activating first-gen iPhones, Saved photos on iPod touch, Push e-mail support

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

5-30-08: Burning iTunes purchases to an MP3 CD, Playing iPhone via computer, Pre-loading a gift iPod on another computer, Music Video playlists on Apple TV, Music videos on 2G iPod nano, Importing existing MP3 and WMA files into iTunes.

5-23-08: Finding and backing up purchased music, Syncing duplicate tracks to iPod, Restoring 4G iPod and AC power, Syncing iPod to a laptop when travelling, Finding photos on iPod, Storing a large iTunes library in multiple folders

5-16-08: Using the iPhone with integrated in-car Bluetooth, Problems with iPods and depleted batteries, Transferring content to a new iPod, iPod displays audio but no video, Removing photos and album artwork from iTunes, Overdrive Media and iPods

5-9-08: About iPod battery life and charging, Using Apple FM Radio remote on older iPod models, Scan and Fix dialog using iPod on Windows Vista, Preserving iTunes metadata when reinstalling Windows, Importing multiple tracks into iTunes, About iTunes and ID3 tags

5-2-08: Transferring digital camera movies to iPod, Reordering and shuffling playlists, Transferring playlists between iTunes libraries, Importing audiobooks, Correcting tags on CD import, Burning CDs with longer gaps

4-25-08: Finding Duplicates in iTunes, Setting files to open in iTunes automatically, Resetting authorizations, 1G iPod nano and voice recording, Syncing a library larger than your iPod capacity, Grouping multi-disc albums

4-17-08: Ripping CDs to external hard drive, Zeppelin speakers and USB port, Bluetooth stereo on iPhone, Converting TV shows to iPod, Audio recording on iPod touch, Wireless security on iPod touch

4-10-08: Transferring LPs to iTunes, Movie Rentals and 5G iPod, New iPod models on older Macs, Maintaining Playback Position on iPod, Importing CDs on multiple computers

4-3-08: Using several iPods on one computer, Renaming imported CD tracks, iM7 and iPod nano, Burning different CD types, Purchasing from iTunes while travelling, Importing CDs on MacBook Air, Sending photos from iPhone

3-28-08: iPod capacity and bit-rates, International iTunes Gift Cards, iPhone charging accessories, Moving iTunes purchases to another computer, iPod touch and third-party tools, iPod videos play only audio

3-21-08: Basic DVD conversion, 5G iPod and subtitles, Slideshows on iPod touch, Using the Voice Memo function, iPod classic TV output quality, iPod Dock Connector extender cables

3-14-08: About Skip Count, iPhone alarm clocks, 5G firmware updates, Cleaning up after a library move, Syncing new playlists to iPod nano, Authorization of multiple iTunes Store accounts

3-7-08: Transferring MP3 files to new iTunes library, iPhone ringtones on Windows, Wired remotes for iPod classic, Sharing iTunes with multiple users on one PC, iTunes library and Time Capsule, Chargers for 3G iPods

2-29-08: Finding iPhone Backups, Contact Display on iPhone, Automatic vs manual iPod management, iTunes CD burning restrictions, iTunes movie rental expiry on iPods, Downloading podcasts to iPhone

2-22-08: Upgrading your iPhone, Recovering data from corrupted iPod, Recreating default playlists, Syncing iPod Games from more than one computer, Problems playing purchased TV shows on iPod, Output settings when playing movies from iPod to TV

2-15-08: Setting up an AirTunes network, Shuffling music, Playing podcasts sequentially, Firewire support on modern iPods, Recovering Mac-formatted iPods on Windows, Recovering iTunes library from a virus

2-7-08: Transferring music from iPod touch, Voice recorders for 2007 iPods, Cover Flow on 5G iPod, Renaming your iPod, iTunes and iLife, Organizing music transferred from the iPod

1-31-08: Apple TV AirTunes Support, iPod Games on 5G and classic, Keeping videos only on iPod, Syncing iPod using checked songs, Charging with Universal Dock, International iPod and iTunes Store use

1-18-08: Macworld Expo 2008 Special Edition: Questions about the new iTunes Movie Rentals and Apple TV features, including Time Capsule and the Apple TV, Renting HD Movies from iTunes, Transferring rented movies to and from the iPod, Fifth-generation iPods and movie rental support, AirTunes support on Apple TV Take Two.

1-10-08: TV output quality, iPod windows driver installation errors, Connecting iPod to portable DVD player, Syncing games, iPhone charger compatibility, Reformatting iPod for Mac

1-3-08: 2007 iPod models and speakers, Video resolution vs bit-rate, Preventing auto-deletion of podcasts, Videos with no sound, Using iTunes Store when travelling abroad, Transferring videos to iPod, Importing Audiobooks

12-27-07: Your First iPod, Differences between iPod models, Accessory compatibility, Converting DVDs for iPod, New iPods and older computers, Earphone Recommendations, Troubleshooting iPod Problems

12-21-07: Other space on iPod, Search feature on iPod touch, Adding third-party ringtones to iPhone, iPod suddenly shows no content, TV Dock compatibility, Artists appearing more than once on iPod

12-14-07: New iPods - Buy now or wait? Transfer music from an old iPod, Convert MP3 to Lossless, Listening to videos and battery life, Bluetooth headphones for iPod nano, Universal Dock and line-out volume

12-7-07: Using Compilations settings, Re-syncing iPod after hard drive replacement, Locating iTunes Plus tracks, New iPod firmware - video output and iPod Hi-Fi support, Mac-formatted iPods, Cover Flow on iPod, iPhone screen goes blank when on a call

11-29-07: Photo resolution on the iPhone, Obtaining video content for the iPod touch, Restoring older iPod models, Sharing iTunes library on a single computer, Transferring iTunes via external hard drive, Auto-deleting played podcasts

11-22-07: Syncing games to iPod, Removing album artwork, Replacing files in iTunes library, Limiting volume on iPod, Preventing iPod sync when connecting with iTunes, Skipping audiobooks when shuffling songs

11-16-07: iTunes and Vista, iPod classic video output (revisited), Transferring iTunes from PC to Mac, Organizing Music Videos in iTunes, Using newer iPods with older OS X versions, Sorting photos on iPod

11-9-07: Editing calendar on iPod touch, Multiple iTunes libraries on one computer, Creating an iTunes Store account without a credit card, Burning CDs with track names, iPod/iPhone remote control, iPhone TV output from Safari

11-2-07: TV Docks for new iPod models, Calculate song file sizes, iPhone backup and restore, Sync selected content with iPhone, Universal Dock compatibility, Managing podcast synchronization

10-26-07: iTunes Plus, Play Slideshow on iPod nano, Activate TV out on new iPods, Recover Mac iPod in Windows, Add descriptions to TV shows, iTunes not opening when iPhone is connected

10-18-07: iPod and Windows Autoplay, Reinstalling iTunes, Manually Managing Videos, iPod charging accessories, iPod touch power and sleep modes, Resyncing recovered iPod content

10-11-07: Managing a class set of iPods, New firmware and older iPods, Windows ME support, Sorting artists by last name, 3G iPod car audio compatibility, Resetting iPod language

10-5-07: iTunes WiFi Store, Videos with no sound, Managing video content manually, Tagging TV Shows, Renaming iPod, Flash support on iPhone, Removing multiple artwork images, iPhone and multi-recipient SMS, US/UK iPod compatibility, Photo storage on iPod touch

9-27-07: iPod classic audio quality, New iPod models: features and accessory compatibility, Transferring music from iPod 5G to classic, iPod nano voice recording, Storing multiple bitrates in iTunes

9-7-07: Special Edition on the new iPod lineup - users most common questions answered about the new iPod lineup and new iTunes release, including accessory compatibility and new software features.

8-30-07: Playing single tracks, iPhone sleep timer, Deleting iPod content, TV shows do not appear on iPod, Manually sorting playlists, Fitting content onto audio CDs, Car line-out solutions

8-23-07: Set Video Kind within files, Authorization and iPod transfer, Chat Clients for iPhone, Importing CDs for gapless playback, Tethering iPhone, Burning Purchased Tracks

8-16-07: Managing podcasts, Bookmarking audiobooks, No artwork in Cover Flow, Storing iTunes content on two hard drives, Sleeping with an iPod, ROKR sunglasses and iPhone, Selling an iPod

8-9-07: Playing Podcast episodes in sequence, Recording radio in iTunes, New iPod with songs already on it, Authorized Computers, Sync iPod with a new computer, Transferring a Windows iPod to a MacBook

8-2-07: Syncing the iPhone to more than one computer, Transferring iTunes music to the Blackberry, Continuous video playback on the iPod, Problems editing track info in iTunes, Transferring content from iPhone to computer, Video playback from the iPhone, Sending MMS messages from the iPhone

7-26-07: Transferring photos from iPhone, Using iPhone speaker and dock, Song volume adjustments in iTunes, Transfer from a Mac-formatted iPod in Windows Vista, iTunes Other category and TV show syncing, Printing track lists from iTunes

7-19-07: Importing MP3 CDs, Using two iPods on one computer, Showing current track in Windows Messenger, iPod nano accessory compatibility, Keeping content only on the iPod, Transferring between two iTunes libraries

7-12-07: Sorting in iTunes 7.3, Joining CD tracks, Selecting TV Shows for sync, Recovering photos from iPod, Tagging multiple video tracks, iPhone activation requirements

7-5-07: Managing your iPod content with Smart Playlists, External hard drives and iTunes, Problems getting CD info from CDDB, Grouping by Album Artist, Using iPod as a removable hard drive

6-28-07: Manual mode and preventing auto-sync, Transferring iTunes library, Burning, ripping and sound check, Saving your place in multi-track audiobooks, Renaming your iPod, Resolving lost iPod content, Drivers and Software for 4G iPods

6-21-07: Smart Playlists for Podcasts, Incorrect track info when importing CDs, Deauthorizing computers revisited, Problems transferring purchased tracks, Transferring photos from iPod to computer, Deleting On-The-Go playlists, Songs not appearing under Artist name

6-14-07: Problems syncing re-ripped MP3s in iTunes 7.2, Grouping albums with multiple artists, Radio tuners for older iPod models, Managing Podcasts, Using an iPod on Mac and Windows, Selecting items for synchronization, iTunes not showing full iPod capacity

6-7-07: Using two iPods with the same library, Converting to AAC to Apple Lossless, Corrupt iPod errors, Sound Check and Crossfade, Exporting from iMovie to iPod and Apple TV formats, Copying from DVR to the iPod

5-31-07: iTunes Plus DRM-free music, Using iTunes songs in Windows Movie Maker, Storing notes on the iPod, Restoring the iPod, Synchronizing Watched TV Shows, Adding music from a second library, Viewing iPod menus on a TV screen

5-24-07: Storing artwork on an external hard drive, Nike+iPod kit and treadmills, Setting up a new iPod with an existing library, Using the iPod as an alarm clock, iTunes fails to transfer all tracks to the iPod, Syncing selected items to iPod, Identifying iPod models

5-17-07: Converting e-books for iPod, Problems Syncing Selected Playlists, Normalizing volume between tracks, iTunes truncating long filenames, Sorting tracks properly within albums, Pausing and remember playback position on the iPod

5-11-07: Video conversion: iPod vs Apple TV format, Automatically adding music to iTunes, Finding iPod-compatible music online, Organizing tracks on the iPod, Bluetooth speaker accessories, iHome speakers

5-3-07: Tagging content for your Apple TV, Organizing your Music Videos, Duplicate copies of your iTunes library files, Using the Universal Dock line-out, Problems restoring your iPod, Power adapter compatibility, Unlocking your iPod's volume limit

4-27-07: Transferring purchased content between iTunes accounts, FireWire/USB connections, External batteries, Problems turning off iPod, Sharing iPods on the same computer, Sorting tracks when importing CDs

4-19-07: iPod widescreen mode, Transcoding lossy formats, Locating missing music files, Assigning artwork to multiple tracks, Transferring iTunes purchases, Playing single tracks

4-12-07: Converting DVDs to iPod, Resetting Screen Lock, Moving an iTunes library to a new computer, Deleting songs manually from an iPod, Compatibility with overseas accessories, Finding accessories for the 5G iPod, Speakers for charging a 3G iPod

4-5-07: Playing iPod through iTunes, Preventing Apple Remote from controlling Universal Dock, Resetting iTunes authorizations, Transferring podcasts from a secondary computer, Finding music by composer tags, Sorting tracks on the iPod Shuffle

3-29-07: iPod photo transfer performance and accessories, Sorting photos on iPod, Syncing music and contacts from two different computers, iTunes video storage and formats, Converting AAC to MP3, Burning MP3 CDs

3-22-07: Album artwork and Other storage on the iPod, Storage size of iPod Games, Multiple iPods on the same computer, Etymotic Earjacks, Charging iPod while recording audio, Syncing TV Shows to iPod, Properly Tagging Albums

3-16-07: Converting Windows-formatted iPods for Mac use, Importing Calendar and Contacts from Outlook, Moving iTunes content to another hard drive, Recovering Playlists from iPod, Recording Lectures, Calculating iPod Storage

3-10-07: Understanding the new sort fields in iTunes 7.1, Smart playlists and rating preference, RSS feeds for new iTunes content, Checkboxes and synchronizing music to small iPods

2-22-07: Hiding the iTunes Store from view, Restoring iTunes' "Recently Played" smart playlist, Restoring an iPod's missing free space, Using third-party A/V cables, Apple TV and Wi-Fi network protocols, Authorizing iPod games

2-1-07: Windows Vista iTunes issues, Music Video organization in iTunes, Removing songs from Shuffle play, Sorting albums by year

1-17-07: iPhone Questions, Apple TV Stereo Connections, Car Stereos with USB ports, Now Playing screen on TV, Locating playlists a song belongs to, Playing podcasts sequentially

12-29-06: Charging iPod video with old AC adapter, Identifying iPod generations, Preventing iTunes from accessing the store, Accessing and playing video with DLO HomeDock Deluxe, Nike+iPod Sport Kit compatibility

12-14-06: Searching the comment field in iTunes, Buying an aux-in cable for the car, Making a recent top 25 playlist, Multiple genres per song, Radio Charts in iTunes

12-9-06: Gifting specific items from the iTunes Store, Linking to photos from the iPod's Notes feature, Properly listening to iPod music in loud places, Using Mac-formatted iPods with an XBOX 360

12-1-06: iTunes visualizers, Programs stored on iPod, Converting music en masse, Charging second-generation iPod shuffle, Adding chapter markers to videos

11-23-06: iPod deals, Continuously playing videos on iPod, Getting replacement iPod manuals, Finding size and playtime of a group of tracks, Fixing podcasts that reset iPod

11-16-06: Extracting audio from videos, Transferring albums to iPod easily, Using iTunes Store gift cards, Dealing with a scratched iPod backing, Recovering contacts from iPod

11-10-06: Volume limit on iPod shuffle, Preserving On-The-Go playlists between syncs, Storing Audiobooks in proper iTunes library, Apple Lossless on iPod shuffle

11-3-06: iTunes Store displayed in foreign language, All tracks begin where they were last stopped, Converting tracks to mono in iTunes, iPod wakes up and plays tunes on its own, Greatest Hits album won't show on iPod

10-26-06: Loading TiVo/DVR TV Shows on iPod, Accessing iTunes music with a Media Center PC, Leaving an iPod in the car, iPod Hi-Fi remote control, Tagging tracks just added to the library

10-20-06: Disc capacity & song quality tradeoff, iPod sleep behavior explained, Ordering albums by year on iPod, Using an iPod while charging via USB, Restoring a deleted playlist in iTunes

10-12-06: Displaying singles in iPod's Artists menu, Party Shuffle not advancing tracks, Two+ iPods on one computer - revisited, Finding songs not in any playlist, Returning to beginning of iPod shuffle playlist

10-5-06: Only one song plays at a time in iTunes, Playing interactive booklets, Resetting iPod's language, Shuffle anywhere on iPod, Isolating MP3 songs from AAC

9-28-06: Suppressing 'Explicit' tags in iTunes Library, Restoring the 'Purchased' playlist, Differentiating 5G 30GB models, Album Artist on iPod, Just for You in iTunes 7

9-21-06: Splitting "hidden" tracks from other songs, Multiple iTunes libraries, Movie trailers in the iTunes Store, iTunes-fetched artwork on iPod, Isolating Music Videos from songs in iTunes

9-13-06: iTunes 7 issues: Preserving library upon upgrade, Authorizing games for iPod, Audio severely distorted with static, Album artwork retrieval problems, Enhanced podcasts menu

9-7-06: Reverting to former iPod software updaters, iPod crashes and loses library, iPod not storing advertised song capacity, Cleaning out one's iTunes Library safely, Deleting Album Artwork en masse

8-30-06: Unchecked songs in smart playlist, Connecting iPod to car Aux-In jack, Deleting songs from iTunes, Filling iPods completely, Playing only one song in iTunes

8-25-06: Quickly erasing duplicate songs, Replacing iPod's front panel, Excluding videos from playlists, Using albums in smart playlists, Album art missing from iPod

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Comments

1

i wish to connect my ipod classic to my in car dvd player and whilst playing my music would like to see my coverflow and song info on the dvds monitor.Is this possible and if so how is it done?

Posted by craig duncan on September 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM (PDT)

2

I have my itunes on an external drive and have recently upgraded from the “ipod shuffle” to the iphone 3G. Now, when I sync up the iphone, it only transfers 30 of the 160 songs from my playlist. Can you give me some idea why it would work with the ipod and not the iphone. Thanks

Posted by marie on September 5, 2008 at 9:30 PM (PDT)

3

Regarding the question about the task/list apps that display a red badge on the home page, the latest version of iProcrastinate Mobile does. In the settings menu you can pick whether the badge displays the number of tasks for the day, the week, etc. The app is pretty simple, but I think it’s easily the best of the free ones.

Posted by Angela W on September 6, 2008 at 2:21 AM (PDT)

4

I use my iPod for audio books and music. How can I organize the multiple sections of a book so they are displayed and play in the correct order? Ex: I just downloaded Atlas Shrugged from Audible.com and it has 7 sections. Imagine trying to find section 3 while driving down the road. Not safe, not fun. Is there an answer for my problem?

Posted by Chuck Harden on September 6, 2008 at 6:35 PM (PDT)

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