Formate the iPod the first time?

[moppe]

Hello.
Well, I had an iPod but sold it a while ago so I could update to the newest version and get an bigger iPod, hopefully it will come the next couple of days.

I have read alot of questions of formating (I'm not sure if this is the correct word for it) it the first time and I wonder, just to be sure if I need to do this? Will everything on the iPod go away (firmware) so I need to install the 2.1 updater?

How does the auto-sync with iTunes work? Will it move over all my music the first time? And if I delete a song from my iPod, will it delete the song from the iTunes library or just transfer the song over again?

And can somebody tell me about the Anapod Explorer software? I have thougt over buying this but will it crash with iTunes? Is it possible to transfer whole directories to the iPod thrugh Anapod?

[ashawley]

When you get your iPod it will come with an Install CD. Just run this. It will format your iPod for Windows and you'll be set. When it gets to the part where it installs MMJB, just cancel out of that.

Then, download and install the 2.1 Updater (http://www.apple.com/ipod/download). Run that and click on the "Update" button. Your iPod will then have the latest firmware.

Regarding iTunes. It's a media management software. Forget about how you manage your music today (i.e. in folders etc) The iPod is all about tags, so import your tunes into iTunes, they will then be organized based on the tags for Artist, Album, Genre, Song, Track# etc.

If you turn on Auto Sync, the iPod will be kept in sync w/what's in your iTunes library. As you add new tunes to iTunes those tunes will get added to the iPod (upon your next sync), if you delete, they'll get deleted.

There are different options as to how you sync. You can choose to sync your entire library, only "checked" songs or only songs that are on certain smartlists or playlists that you make.

Anapod is just a faux-explorer front end to accessing the iPod. If you use it you'll miss a number of the enhanced features that the iPod has to offer, such as Playcounts, Ratings, Lastplayed Dates and the ability to have Dynamic Smartlists on your iPod.

Read around--you'll see more of what I mean.

Adam

[moppe]

Well, my iPod is factory-fresh from last week so I think that the latest firmware installed? And doesn't the new iPod come with iTunes instead of musicmatch? Are you sure that it is only to cancel because I dont want to reinstall iTunes so I lose all my playlists.

Is there anyway to turn auto-sync off before getting my iPod? I just want to transfer my playlists.

[monkedsel]

I got my iPod a couple weeks ago, and it had the old firmware and the old software (with MMJB and not iTunes) so don't assume anything. Yours will probably be old too... and yes it's safe to cancel when it starts installing MMJB, it will just pick up where it left off with the normal Apple stuff.

I don't remember how to turn off auto-sync...

[ashawley]

Mondedsel's got it right--you probably won't have an iPod with the new firmware and and iTunes disk. You'll be able to tell, during the setup process it will say: "installing MMJB", just cancel then.

When you first connect your iPod to your PC, iTunes will start, a dialog will come up asking if you want iTunes to automatically update this iPod, uncheck the box to auto-update.

After that you can change the settings around by click on the iPod icon that will show up in the lower right when you have the iPod selected in iTunes.

Adam

[jhansman]

My iPod is only a week old, and it came with the 2.01 firmware and MMJB on the CD. I have held off on updating to 2.1 because of the battery meter problems people are reporting, and rely soley on iTunes to manage my iPod, which it does quite well. My advice: keep it simple. Find a program you like that does what you need, and stick with it. Give iTunes a fair shot; my needs are simple, so it takes care of them nicely.