Do U Have To Use I tunes

[MonkeyMan9700]

:confused: i dont have a ipod yet and i was thinking about buying one i was wondering if u have to use itunes with the ipod to put music or if i could just transfer them directly:confused:

[SpideyPod]

You need a software interfact to transfer music but no it doesn't necessarily have to be iTunes. It just happens to be one of the simpler methods of doing so.

[Squibbles]

There's also EphPod, XPlay, Media Center 9, or MusicMatch.

Sigh.. if only Drag and Drop was an option.

[MonkeyMan9700]

why is drag and drop not an option?

[MOCKBA]

Actually software list much bigger, only around 20 programs for Windows, 10 for Unix and Linux. There is also number of utilities for calendar, address book, and notes management. I think iPod is most lucky device. And sure d&d supported by 75% of all programs and can be an option as well.

[ashawley]

Originally posted by MonkeyMan9700
why is drag and drop not an option?

Because the iPod is a database-driven player. As such, each time a song is copied to the iPod it's internal database needs to be updated. Simply dragging and dropping a file to the iPod wouldn't accomplish this.

Also note, because the iPod is a database driven player all of the song info it gets is based off of the tags on your songs. File names don't mean a thing to the iPod.

This database model allows the iPod to do a number of things a standard directory based player wouldn't be able to do--like keep track of playcounts, last played dates and ratings. Also, the organization is much better (and done for you!).

There are a couple of programs that make it look like you're dragging and dropping to the iPod: Xplay and Anapod, but that's just their UIs that look like they are an Explorer interface, you're not truly dragging and dropping.

And for a comprehensive list of Software tools, see our Software Compendium (http://ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2286).



Adam

[Chelce]

Have you ever tried iTunes? I was really skeptical to use it, but as soon as I downloaded it, I was in love. Now I use it for playing my music and I will use it for transferring when I get my iPod. If you haven't tried it, I at least recommend that you just try it first (it's free anyway!).

[prtoni]

But Adam: What is the best way to go, software-wise?

[ashawley]

Really depends on your style and the size of your library. I personally use MC9, it works for me and I love the capabilities of their smartlists.

But I'm a tinkerer, and MC9 allows for that. If you want something that just works and you don't have to think about it much and you don't need a ton of features--then iTunes is the best option.

Adam

[jhansman]

I tried the big 3 - MC9, Musicmatch, and iTunes. I settled on iTunes because it made the most sense to me and did what I wanted most painlessly. The others may do the same for you; check 'em out.

[Mario]

I really think anapod should be included more, is it the price that puts people off? You've just spent hundreds on an ipod, why ruin it.

[SpideyPod]

Originally posted by Mario
I really think anapod should be included more, is it the price that puts people off? You've just spent hundreds on an ipod, why ruin it.

I used the trial of Anapod and didn't find anything special about it. I thought it was on the same level of Ephpod except for the fact that Ephpod didn't cost a thing.

And it doesn't even begin to compare to MC9 which is the software I thought it was really fair to compare it to as it is the only other one in that group you have to pay for.

[prtoni]

Mario: What about Anapod that you like?

All: Although I think I know the answer, please indulge me with this additional question: Can you run more than one interface with the Ipod? For example, Itunes and MC9?

Second question, I have just started ripping my CDs using Itunes but before I go further, is there enough difference in audio quality between these programs for ripping that I should postponne my ripping until I make a software decision?

[ashawley]

I'll second the issue here. Anapod is "old hat". It's Xplay for half the price--what's so great about that?

It doesn't support the iPod's playcounts, ratings, or last played data and it's not a Media Library management tool.

I've always thought it was doomed from the start personally because it was released days before iTunes came out and offers little in the way of functionality (other than drag and drop).

Adam