Question for ppl w/ Ipods or other mp3 players...

[Skarr]

I have a b-day coming up and I need a mp3 player desperately, so I'm trying to decide which one to get.

I really like the Ipod, but here's my question:

Let's say I dload some mp3's from the net, by an "unauthorized" method (of course this is all hypothetical, I would NEVER do such a thing)...can those songs be put onto an Ipod? I have heard that with their licensing you cannot. You can only put on mp3s from your own cd catalog, or ones paid for at Itunes.

Can someone give me the 411 on this?

[Iri]

I have an MP3 player, but not an Ipod (it is one of the new creative labs mini ones). However from watching G4TechTV all the time I think what you have to do is convert your MP3 flims to some sort of special Ipod format to use them. Not sure how this is done or anything, but I think that is what is required.

[Illbleed]

You should be able to play unauthorized MP3 files on your IPOD. You will have trouble with .WMA files(Windows Media Audio) as these have digital rights management tags and are not supported by the IPOD.

I have found that I have to limit my trips to Itunes store to once a month. It's like crack .


ILL

[Skarr]

good info so far


anyone else got any info/comments/suggestions?

[Jabe Adaks]

I posted a thread just like this a while back, you probably should have bumped it (just kidding man ). I am really torn on this subject right now as well. I really like Ipod but I don't see them as the ideal solution. I don't want digital rights management (DRM) affecting how I listen to music.

I realize that I really don't even want a portable music device. I just want a car stereo I can dump my mp3's on to. Gimme a car stereo with wireless G and 20 gigs of space. And without DRM.

Jabe

[Skarr]

okay maybe someone could also explain DRM and how it affects mp3 players/computers/etc...

[Jabe Adaks]

okay maybe someone could also explain DRM and how it affects mp3 players/computers/etc...

DRM is just the various schemed they use to keep you from copying music, etc.. Like if you bu something on the iPod store you will never really be able to take it off your iPod and copy it endlessly cause its locked with Apple's proprietary DRM.

Jabe

[KirtViza]

Theres nice little program that can allow you to place and remove any format on and off the Ipod I only know this cause my friend does it.

[Shadowpaw]

I realize that I really don't even want a portable music device. I just want a car stereo I can dump my mp3's on to.

Jabe

You can buy CD players that play MP3s. They are a little more expensive, but if all you want is something for the car then that's the way to go. If you make a CD with the songs all in some form of MP3, a CD player with that capability should play everything. You can put hundreds of songs onto one CD and you're good to go!

[X'an Shin]

okay maybe someone could also explain DRM and how it affects mp3 players/computers/etc...

DRM is just the various schemed they use to keep you from copying music, etc.. Like if you bu something on the iPod store you will never really be able to take it off your iPod and copy it endlessly cause its locked with Apple's proprietary DRM.

Not quite. The Apple DRM allows you to have it on five machines. FIVE.

I have my downloaded songs on three (home, work, and iPod), and I'm tapped out.

Here's the skinny with the iPod, Skarr:

It's overpriced, but performs brilliantly. I have the smallest 4th gen (known as 4G which is really confusing because that's not the drive size) one and it weighs in at 20G. I've got every song I care to listen to on it and I haven't even gone over 2Gs yet.

I bought a Belkin FM Transmitter and now I Podcast my iPod onto my car stereo on my drives into work. The iPod interface makes it VERY easy to navigate menus while driving and I don't feel like I'm about to cause an accident. Also, it's super easy to just say "shuffle all songs" right as you start driving, and just skip a song you don't like.

I've heard some compelling arguments about 3rd party .mp3 players (costing less), and DRMs, but to be honest, you can't beat the iTunes/iPod combo platter. It makes it SO easy, and the majority of my music collection are ripped songs from someone else's collection at work.

I haven't had so much as a single bad issue with the whole shebang.

Later this year I'm going to buy the link cable that allows you to have your iPod play directly through your factory car stereo. Go to www.mp3mycar.com or something to see if they support your Pontiac. If that's not the right link, just google "BMW iPod" and one of those links is the guys who made the cable for the BMWs, and now they make them for nearly every other manufacturer as well.

[dillion]

I picked up a Iriver. It's got 20 Gigs of space and allows pretty much all file formats of audio including ogg vorbis. It's comparatively cheaper than the Ipod and has got a lot of good reviews.

I use mine for mountain biking, it's very good so far for this and when I got hit by a car last year it didn't skip. While when I was instore testing the Ipod just a little shaking could cause it to skip. Not good for biking. I have to say I'm very fond of mine as it's a tough little trooper.

When holding a Ipod it didn't feel very solid. Iriver's casing is metal, not plastic. When I was looking into both Ipod had a heavy recall because the audio mini jack was burning out on their standard and, at the time brand new, Ipod mini.

www.iriver.com

[Iri]

PC Gamer just gave the MP3 player I have a 92%...the Creative Zen Micro. 5GB of harddrive space, great sound, 3.3 inches high by 2 inches across, backlit touchpad, the ability to play MP3s, WMAs, and WAVs, a built in microphone to record voice files, a personal organizer, and an FM tuner. The ripping software it comes with is easy to use and best of all, it comes in like 8 fun colours. I enjoy it.