Not sure if this is in the right forum but here goes. I'm thinking of getting an Ipod. The question is how do I get the music from my CDs to the Ipod? Yes I know it's a dumb question! I've got a laptop with a CD drive so I guess this is "ripping" the tracks to the hard drive? Do I need some s/w to do this? The easy bit seems to be getting the files from the PC to Ipod which I'm assuming is just drag and drop. Any Ipod websites for beginners you could recommend?
The iPod comes with (or you can download it F.O.C.) iTunes, which is like a jukebox application. You insert a CD, it assigns tracknames, and downloads the tracks to your computer.
Then, the next time you plug in your iPod, it automatically opens iTunes, and "updates" your iPod to match iTunes exactly, as far as songs etc. go. So there's not even a need for drag and drop, it's all automatic! Unless you want to do it manually of course.
iTunes/iPod also encode tracks as AACs (Advanced Audio Codec) which is better quality than, but still the same size as, mp3s, so it sounds great!
As others have pointed out, you will be using the freely downloadable iTunes, which works with both Mac and PC (also comes with the ipod) www.apple.com/itunes , which will be used to "rip" CDs to your computer, which will be copied to the ipod whenever you connect it to the computer, or you can do it manually, just copying each songs. You can download and play with iTunes now if you'd like, and see how you like it, it probably is the best music program out there, if you ended up not getting the iPod, you can use iTunes to play music on your computer still.
One thing to keep in mind though, is that if your computer don't have a Firewire or iLink port, you'll need another USB cable from apple, and that only works if your computer have USB2.0,
Last edited by bobbagum; Jan 28th, 2004 at 08:25 PM.
Reason: Correccted the broken link
This link is for the iTunes, but they have generic iPod forums for Windows, e.g. General info, etc. If you don't like MusicMatch or iTunes, there's also Ephpod which I used for awhile, until switching to iTunes.
It will work, but typically the laptop versions of IEEE 1394 (aka FireWire) has its power leads disabled, which helps to lower its power consumption. If you plug your iPod into a desktop FireWire port, it will charge in addition to allowing you to synch...just so you know.
With the laptop, to charge you'll have to use the wall AC adapter.
Another question - if I was to buy an Ipod on a trip to the US (given the favourable exchange rate) would I have problems using it in the UK? I'm assuming the Ipod will tolerate mains voltage differences and therefore it's just the AC adaptor I would need to change?
the mains adaptor you get with the IPOD allows different PLUG heads to be slid on and off the main base. i assume this deals with the power management. Apple sell a world travel kit with all the plugs, which is pricey tho. if u buy in the states u get the 2 pin plug in the box to slot on, if u buy in the uk u get the 3 pin plug to slot in. as simple as that. i dont think theres any issues caused by voltage diffs.
The only difference I'm aware of between a US iPod and a UK (or was it EU) one (beside plugs / voltages - which should be AC adapter only) is that the US ones are louder (our's go to 11). Some regulation over there that limits maximum volume.
At least, I remember reading that on one of the iPod sites. Perhaps it was an urban legend.
the 3G iPods are being dissed for their lower battery life, esp. the 30GB and higher models that I have. I'm only able to get 4-5 hrs out of the charge, barely enough for the transatlantic flight (counting waiting time).
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