pPod: iPod "Clone" For Your Pocket PC

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=110866' target='_blank'>http://www.handango.com/brainstore/...roductId=110866</a><br /><br /></div>Here's an interesting piece of software: a MP3 player that makes the touchscreen look like (and act like!) an iPod, and that's designed to be thumbable.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040220-pPod.gif" /><br /><br />I'm not sure how long Apple will allow to stay this on the market, or quite frankly how well it works, but I have to say the iPod's thumbwheel is a great design and if they can mirror some of its functionality it might be neat. On the other hand, this is apt to get your screen covered with fingerprints. [Affiliate]

[Steven Cedrone]

Hmm... I'm not sure if a 3 day trial is long enough. Maybe I'll give it a shot this weekend (provided, of course, that the SW hasn't been pulled by then :wink: )

There have been 49 downloads, hopefully by at least one person here! I would be curious to hear opinions on this one!

Steve

[JonnoB]

If it played the iMusic (aac?) downloads... then, it would be worth as much as being charged. IMHO

[Sparkomatic]

I completely agree with JonnoB. I was so excited when I saw this because I thought since it's an iPOD player for PPC, it would play all my iTunes music. Bummer that it doesn't cause I've been looking everywhere for a PPC player that will play acc files.

[jkendrick]

$35???? 8O

[Zack Mahdavi]

I've been wondering why it's taking so long for one of the Pocket PC mp3 players to support the AAC format. It's not even proprietary, like how WMA is. I have tons of iTunes Music Store songs that I'd love to play on my Pocket PC. Right now, I resort to burning the music, and then re-ripping.

[dma1965]

$35 for what essentially amounts to a fancy skin! I don't think so.

[jkendrick]

I've been wondering why it's taking so long for one of the Pocket PC mp3 players to support the AAC format. It's not even proprietary, like how WMA is. I have tons of iTunes Music Store songs that I'd love to play on my Pocket PC. Right now, I resort to burning the music, and then re-ripping.

Even though the AAC format is not proprietary Apple's DRM is and I don't think we'll ever see that working on non-ipods.

[Zack Mahdavi]

Even though the AAC format is not proprietary Apple's DRM is and I don't think we'll ever see that working on non-ipods.

Good point. Didn't even think about that!

[Steven Cedrone]

If the skin had the functionality built in (thumbwheel worked exactly like the iPod), I think this would be a really cool app! I don't mind that it can't play my acc files, for the most part, my library is made up of mp3's.

Like I said, I'll try it this weekend and let you guys/gals know!

[lisantica]

I went ahead and bought it. I recently sold my iPod and started missing it, so this gave me that same look/feel. Probably more psychological than anything, but oh well.
Price is $35 minus 15% Subscriber discount found on discount page...total was $29.75

[drop]

Looks palm-ish :lol: .

Interesting.

lisantica, let us know how you feel about it.

[jngold_me]

No .ogg or .wma playback? :(

[Jimmy Dodd]

I've not actually used an iPod...what's with the thumbwheel? How does it work?

[T-Will]

Sorta off-topic: Hmm...wow I'm really outta the loop...iTunes using AAC format? I thought it was MP3...well there goes any chance of me ever using iTunes... :? Could someone give the main +'s and -'s of AAC format?

[brece]

I don't think i'd pay $5 for this. I can do the same thing with something that's free. Nice idea but it's just pretty lights. Do people really have enough money out there to justify the $35 or even the discounted price? If you do I am taking contributuions.... I'd be willing to download and install free software on your handheld and charge you $35

[Partita]

I've not actually used an iPod...what's with the thumbwheel? How does it work?

It's just like a scroll bar, except it's round.

[koro]

I just installed the trial, so I'm looking at my Ipaq sitting in it's cradle with an IPod on the screen.

I think it's great. However, is it great enough to pay US$35? I think not.

[Janak Parekh]

Sorta off-topic: Hmm...wow I'm really outta the loop...iTunes using AAC format? I thought it was MP3...well there goes any chance of me ever using iTunes... :? Could someone give the main +'s and -'s of AAC format?
iTunes (and the iPod) support both MP3 and AAC. AAC is like WMA in that it sounds better at a given bitrate. iTunes can even rip in AAC or MP3. Only the iTunes Music Store is AAC-only.

--janak

[Spiral]

can you play the "guess the song" game? that's lots of fun on the ipod.

[FrankO]

That is a great software app. A $35 iPod, and it works.

:D

[jngold_me]

If this what all the "hoopla" is about having an Ipod, I'll think I'll pass! Having to access a playlist by going thru 3 or 4 levels of menu just ain't making it!

Paying $35 for this piece of junk is highway robbery! Especially since there are better mp3/ogg/wma players for less or even free!

[jeffmd]

$35, hah, take a picture of an ipod, put it into conduits pocket player.. boom.. a cheaper pPod with better functionality

[foebea]

definately NOT worth 35 bucks.. no way.. no how.. the thumbwheel is nice, but not THAT nice.. ill stick with conduits myself..

and yes, you CAN play the guess that song game, if by that you mean some songs show up with the following text:

Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

. . instead of the more traditional:

Song Title
Album
Group

And by some songs, I'd say about half of mine.. i dont feel like fixing that many id3 tages when Conduits Pocket Player has no problem telling me what song its playing :)

but the thumbwheel is a neat thing. im willing to bet the novelty will wear off well before the trial is over though.

[jffcurt]

It Works! I thought there would be problems with the scroll wheel & touchscreen, but it's very responsive. I'll keep playing with it and see how it goes. If you don't want to put your fingers on the touchscreen you can use the stylus.

[dean_shan]

$35 bucks is way too much. The thumb wheel wouldn't be worth getting all that finger grease on the screen.

[ctmagnus]

Someone should do an iPod WMP theme. Only problem would be that WMP themes don't work with the scroll wheel thing, only buttons and sliders.

[Macguy59]

Slick looking front end but like others $35 is way too much. BTW If you create a CD with iTunes you can rip it back down and convert to whatever format you choose.

[Skit]

Anyone got a copy of the trail they can share?

[hamishmacdonald]

I tried this thing and it's crap. A very basic MP3 player -- there are far better freeware ones out there -- and the iPod hardware button design just doesn't work on a flat touchscreen. I don't know who these folk were trying to fool with this thing, selling it at such a price.

I bought Conduits' Pocket Player a while back, and I've since uninstalled it. Every time I use a third-party app, I find myself having a new appreciation for the built-in apps.

[wifi4milez]

I just saw a video of this application on youtube, and I want it! The company seems to be out of business and the download links are all dead. Does anyone know where I can get this??

[jlp]

Following the link from the very first post, it leads to a page that now says:
pBop by Starbrite Solutions Limited

Unfortunately when you check their homepage it's being occupied by a cyber squatter!!

Tho the price is now $20 it won't be any good to try to buy it as I doubt you would get any code back.

I haven't tried, but I won't care risking anything on it.

And even $20 is too much for this. $10 maybe...

[jlp]

Do you have a link to the Youtube video?

I searched their site but found nothing about this app.

[wifi4milez]

Here is the link. It looks pretty cool in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWClnacPKRM

[victore]

Here's another link to the video from Lifehacker: http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/ipod/the-ipod-phone-mda--ppod-187596.php. If you follow the links, you'll find a copy of the software.

[sweb3028]

Pocket Music (by Pocket Mind Software) does have an AAC plug-in for iTunes. However, I have not tried it. I only use Pocket Music for WMA and MP3.

[salem]

this software doesn't support international coding system. It's not a probleml to most english users, but i still want my player to display Chinese, Japanese and Korean names of songs. And i'm also wondering if anyone pays $19 for this? It's crazy.

[victore]

Just follow the links from the Lifehacker article. You'll find the software much cheaper than $19.

[ppodder]

Does anyone knwo if I can get the source code for this thing? I would love to develop it myself!

If anybody can get me this source code, I will give you a million dollars... well probably not. :?