Tricks keep Apple iPod in tune on Windows PC

[DigitalX]

Apple's iPod and iPod Mini digital music players make playing your favorite tunes on the go more intuitive than perhaps any other player on the market. Perhaps that's why Apple says it sold 4.5 million of them during the holidays.

 

But connecting the iPod to your computer to transfer tunes and manage your music library isn't always simple - especially if your computer runs Windows.

 

Older versions of Windows are incompatible with the iPod, and there are some peculiar default settings that could wipe out your music collection. Luckily, there are solutions for every problem, and we have four to share.

 

1. Use a recent version of Windows.

 

ITunes, Apple's free software that transfers music to the iPod from your computer, only works with Windows XP and 2000.

 

But Windows 98SE and ME owners can use their iPod through third-party software. XPlay (www.mediafour.com; $30) and Anapod Explorer (www.redchairsoftware.com; $25) are two programs that transfer music files to iPods - and they'll do it using the 98SE and ME version of Windows.

 

XPlay requires a FireWire port, which is often missing on Windows computers. So you'll have to buy and install one. FireWire cards start at $20. Anapod Explorer can transfer music to your iPod using either a USB or FireWire port.

 

If your Windows system is older than 98SE, your out of luck.

 

2. Build a music library.

 

Your songs and albums must be copied - or ripped - to your computer before you can transfer them to an iPod. You can add music in three formats: MP3, AAC (Apple's preferred format) and WAV.

 

Unless you are using Windows 98SE or ME, forget third-party software and stick with iTunes to convert your music files to the proper format. When importing music, iTunes lets you change the format and amount of compression it uses. To do this within iTunes, click Edit, Preferences and select the Importing tab.

 

To get music from a CD onto your hard drive, insert the CD into your computer. ITunes will look up the CD title and song information from an online database and display it. Remove the check next to any song you don't want and click the Import button.

 

If online information is not available, enter the information manually. Click the track. Then select File, Get Info and click on the Info tab. Enter the title, artist and other information. Clear the boxes for tracks you do not want.

 

You also can buy music through the iTunes Music Store. Click on Music Store under Source. Singles cost 99 cents. Often, you can save a few bucks by buying an entire album. The iTunes Music Store, like the iTunes jukebox, requires Windows XP and 2000.

 

3. Organize your tunes.

 

Depending on the size of your iPod's hard drive and the amount of compression, you could end up with thousands of songs.

 

To help you find your favorite tunes quickly, create playlists in iTunes. Use them to organize songs by theme, genre or any other category.

 

To create a playlist, select File, New Playlist. Type a name for the playlist under Source. Click Library to view your song files. Drag any song onto the playlist. Select multiple songs by holding the Control or Shift key while clicking.

 

4. Transfer tunes to your iPod.

 

With iTunes open, connect your iPod to your computer. ITunes automatically will transfer songs and playlists to your iPod.

 

But be careful. Anything on the iPod that's not in iTunes, too, will be erased. To avoid this, set iTunes to only transfer certain songs. Or, you can manually drag and drop music files onto your iPod.

 

To change the settings, open iTunes and select Edit, Preferences. Click the iPod tab. Click the Music tab and make sure "Automatically update all songs and playlists" is selected. Then click the Advanced tab and select the "Only update checked songs" checkbox.

 

To manually transfer songs, choose Edit, Preferences and click the iPod tab. Click the Music tab and select "Manually manage songs and playlists." Then drag songs from your library or playlist to iPod in the Source list.

[Ziggy]

There's also Sveta Portable Audio or something like that from dbpoweramp.com. It's pretty nice.

[Cleric xtx]

An iPod is a waste of money imo.

Apparently, a 40Gb iPod will hold 10,000 songs, which makes a 20Gb hold 5,000 and a 60Gb hold 15,000. Going by 45 songs per Gb that'd be 2700 albums in a 60Gb iPod (or 900 in a 20Gb).

 

Raise your hand if you can honeslty say you have 2700 albums (or even 900) that you listen to on a regular basis.

Edited January 27, 2005 by Cleric xtx

[DigitalX]

my 512MB one does me fine ... dont need nothing special but i have software for win 98 if i had it.... and it has basic USB 1.1 which isnt awsome but does the job

[Ziggy]

I have 11GB of music (and growing), 8GB of which I listen to on a regular basis.

 

I would have to say that an iPod is worth my money.

[DigitalX]

i got like 13 GB of music but only listen to about 200 songs mainly my 512MB holds about 120-200 songs depending on size.