iTunes required with an iPod?

[delfuhd]

I'm thinking about joining everyone else on this planet and getting an iPod. I have a 256meg player but that holds max 70 songs, which frankly doesn't really work for me... One gripe though, is that I want nothing to do with iTunes. WMP works just fine for me playing music. So do I Need iTunes if I get an iPod? Can I just use a USB cord to transfer the music? None of my friends know enough about computers to answer this question. Thanks for any help!

[delfuhd]

I'm thinking about joining everyone else on this planet and getting an iPod. I have a 256meg player but that holds max 70 songs, which frankly doesn't really work for me... One gripe though, is that I want nothing to do with iTunes. WMP works just fine for me playing music. So do I Need iTunes if I get an iPod? Can I just use a USB cord to transfer the music? None of my friends know enough about computers to answer this question. Thanks for any help!

[tanalasta]

You don't necessarily require iTunes to work with your iPod. However, it is recommended (and once you get used to it, it's not a bad interface).

I'm not aware of a plug-in that allows you to transfer music over with WMP. It isn't possible.

However, there are plug-ins that allow you to sync with your iPod using winamp. Search google or better yet, www.ipodlounge.com has everything you ever want to know about using an iPod.

The problem with transfering music using only the USB cable is that you'll be transferring the files to the iPod HDD but that the iPod won't read them. The iPod stores, sorts and reads music in it's own structured, hidden folders, which are accessed via the plugins or iTunes. The easiest way to navigate through music is to use iTunes to correctly tag, organise and transfer your songs.

Now, you do realise ... you can do exactly what I do. Use iTunes to transfer/sort music onto your iPod. And WMP to play anything on your desktop/laptop. You can have both at the same time.

[Kowalski]

yes, you can transfer files and use the ipod as an external harddrive, but in a limited way.
you have to use itunes to copy mp3 files and listen them. you cant listen a mp3 file if you just copy the file from the computer to the device directly

[delfuhd]

Thanks for the replies. My current mp3 player comes with a program for transfering files, but it's just a complete mess. You've gotten me to warm up to iTunes, and i like the idea of simply using it to transfer songs. Just another quick question though, is iTunes one of those messy programs? By that I mean is it like Real 1 Player, that floods itself with ads and is just annoying to deal with?

[emuelle1]

I don't think iTunes is bloatware. You're right about Real Player. A friend of mine referred me to Real Alternative, which served me well on my last Windows install. I'll have to find it again, I believe it's on Sourceforge.

[Janak Parekh]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

you have to use itunes to copy mp3 files and listen them.

No, you do not. It is correct to say you need a program to copy the file over and update the iPod's DB, but there are third-party programs that do this as well. ephPod, Anapod Explorer, ml_ipod for Winamp, etc. Of the three, if you want an Explorer-like drag-and-drop experience, Anapod will provide the closest, but it's not free.

Originally Posted by delfuhd

You've gotten me to warm up to iTunes, and i like the idea of simply using it to transfer songs. Just another quick question though, is iTunes one of those messy programs? By that I mean is it like Real 1 Player, that floods itself with ads and is just annoying to deal with?

It's certainly a large program, but I wouldn't call it bloated. In fact, I find I like it as my jukebox program, so I've stopped using WMP or Winamp. (Ironically, RealPlayer is much much cleaner now than it used to be, and it supports iPod management too, but I don't think I'd ever use it for that.)

Do note that the iPod only works with MP3, AAC and a few other formats, but not WMA. If you have a huge investment in WMA, you'll either have to convert it (iTunes can convert non-DRMed WMA automatically) or consider a different player. Some other players support playing from arbitrary folders that are dragged-and-dropped from Explorer. If you feel strongly about that, you might want to take a look at iRiver's products for example; they've got some very cool devices.

Me, I like the automatic management iTunes provides. Here's one killer feature: if you need to correct the title on a track, you just do so in iTunes (it supports ID3 editing), plug the iPod in, and if it's set to automatic sync (configurable if you don't want it), it will update, automatically, just that one track. You don't need to keep track of which files to copy or not; it just handles it for you. I was very much a "manual file management" person, but iTunes has converted me. You can even configure iTunes to keep your folders organized, which I do. (I do believe that feature is turned off by default.)

(One last suggestion: you can download iTunes and play with it for free, even if you don't have an iPod, if you want to see how it works. Obviously, you won't see the syncing features.)

--janak

[Sven]

Nobody else brought it up, so I will. What's wrong with your 2215 and a 1 or 2G CF card and maybe a battery extension of some sort?

[delfuhd]

Originally Posted by Sven

Nobody else brought it up, so I will. What's wrong with your 2215 and a 1 or 2G CF card and maybe a battery extension of some sort?

I actually do have a program that emulates an iPod on my h2215, and I have a 1 gig CF Card. It's a great novelty, but I can't really imagine myself carrying my 2215 around wherever I go, and having to keep the whole display screen exposed so I can change the songs. I usually use it if I'm in a relaxed area, like riding in a car or doing something not involving much activity.

Do note that the iPod only works with MP3, AAC and a few other formats, but not WMA. If you have a huge investment in WMA, you'll either have to convert it

My only investment in windows media player is it's ability to play. I try to stay away fromt he wma format as a matter of fact, as it's quite lossy and even the "lossless" wma format isn't the best format. My only gripe is having yet another large program installed to do a simple task. I think first I will try a third party app like anapod or ml_ipod, and if that doesn't work I will bite the bullet and go with iTunes. That is, if I end up purchasing an iPod (which will pretty much be the case).

[Kowalski]

Originally Posted by Sven

Nobody else brought it up, so I will. What's wrong with your 2215 and a 1 or 2G CF card and maybe a battery extension of some sort?

i totally agree with you, with the same money, you can buy a 4 GB CF card, and have an awesome mp3 player. ipod is a very nice device, the ability to use the device as an external harddrive is very nice, and this is the reason we are using ipod in our company, but a pda with a large memory card is a better alternative IMO

[Janak Parekh]

Originally Posted by delfuhd

I actually do have a program that emulates an iPod on my h2215, and I have a 1 gig CF Card. It's a great novelty, but I can't really imagine myself carrying my 2215 around wherever I go, and having to keep the whole display screen exposed so I can change the songs. I usually use it if I'm in a relaxed area, like riding in a car or doing something not involving much activity.

This was also part of my motivation to get the iPod. There's the remote control capability; you don't have to whip it out and open the case every time, which makes for awkward operation. Of course, it depends on how much one listens to music. I think the Pocket PC is great for casual listening, but I use my iPod two or three times a day, every day, during my commute, and it serves well for that.

My only investment in windows media player is it's ability to play. I try to stay away fromt he wma format as a matter of fact, as it's quite lossy and even the "lossless" wma format isn't the best format. My only gripe is having yet another large program installed to do a simple task. I think first I will try a third party app like anapod or ml_ipod, and if that doesn't work I will bite the bullet and go with iTunes. That is, if I end up purchasing an iPod (which will pretty much be the case).

Your call -- certainly take a look at the programs and see what works. I think Anapod has a trial if you really want the Explorer drag-and-drop. iTunes is certainly not a small program, but in the modern day and age of computers it's not exactly going to fill up a hard drive either.

As for lossy formats, WMA is generally considered a little better than MP3, so unless you're using WAV or somesuch, I wouldn't use that as a criterion for format choice. I can understand not using WMA (or AAC) from a lock-in perspective, though.

--janak