Listening to iPod at work

[Daisyhead]

Stupid Newbie question here. I was wondering what accessories, etc., I would need to listen to my iPod on my computer at work (do I need the dock, or can I use a certain cable?). Is there a way to "plug" it in so that I can access my music and do I need iTunes installed to do it?

Thanks in advance for any help!
Daisyhead
:)

[GhostFace]

All you need is iTune installed and the USB cable that comes with your ipod.

[a6equj5]

If you can, get some in-ear headphones. I listen to my iPod all day at work. I have a headset on one ear and one earphone in the other. It starts to become irritating to listen just in one ear, but you get used to it.

Or you could always get one of those docks with speakers or a Monster Cable speaker if you can't install iTunes.

[Daisyhead]

All you need is iTune installed and the USB cable that comes with your ipod.

I swear my hubby said that my iPod (10GB) didn't come with a USB cable. I'm also trying to hook it up to my computer so that I can transfer my Palm contacts over to my iPod as well and can't do that because I don't have a USB cable.

I suppose the logical thing to do would be to buy a USB cable, eh? ;)

Thanks for all the help!

-Daisyhead

[Shadow]

The 4G (the new ones) iPods come with a USB cable as well as Firewire. The older ones only came with Firewire but there is a USB/Firewire combo cable you can buy from Apple for the 3G iPods. The even older 1G and 2G iPods are strictly firewire only (USB is not available).

[Daisyhead]

The 4G (the new ones) iPods come with a USB cable as well as Firewire. The older ones only came with Firewire but there is a USB/Firewire combo cable you can buy from Apple for the 3G iPods. The even older 1G and 2G iPods are strictly firewire only (USB is not available).

Okay, this should be the last dumb question, how do I tell what "generation" my iPod is? I have a 10GB that I bought last Christmas. I'm kind of worried now that my iPod isn't USB compatible which will reallly upset me if I can't use it with my laptop or my computer at work.

Is there any connector that will convert Firewire to USB that I can use?

Thank you for your patience with all my questions. I REALLY appreciate it!

-Daisyhead
:)

[Madkins007]

There are really three seperate issues here:

1. Do you want/need to connect to the computer? If so, how- USB or Firewire?



2. Do you want to plug in the speakers or headphones through the dock connector, headphone jack, or computer?

2a. Headphone jack works, but the dock or computer offer better sound.

2b. You can certainly buy a set of powered speakers and plug them into the dock and wall outlet if you want. It is what I do and keeps me from having to tap into the computer at all.

2c. You can use your iPod as a 'line in' device and use your computer speakers to broadcast the sound.



3. How will you power the iPod?

3a. Internal battery or battery extender- works but is not the optimal solution.

3b. USB cord to computer- slow charge and requres that you attach to the computer- impossible or against policy in many places.

3c. Firewire to computer- see 3b, but charges faster.

3d. Firewire to AC adaptor- fast charge, and avoids connection to the computer.



Personally, I have a spare set of powered computer speakers plugged into my iPod dock, and a Firewire to AC adaptor for the power source- simple (I can leave the speakers turned on all the time if I want so all I have to do is drop the iPod in the dock for instant music), cheap, safe, and easy to pack up to take home if I want.

[GhostFace]

Originally posted by Daisyhead
I swear my hubby said that my iPod (10GB) didn't come with a USB cable. I'm also trying to hook it up to my computer so that I can transfer my Palm contacts over to my iPod as well and can't do that because I don't have a USB cable.

I suppose the logical thing to do would be to buy a USB cable, eh? ;)

Thanks for all the help!

-Daisyhead

Look here at the top and tell me which ipod you have:
http://www.everythingipod.com/index.tpl?command=showpage&cart=zoi109458027725982748

[punk]

well it looks like you already have an anwser

[Daisyhead]

Look here at the top and tell me which ipod you have:
http://www.everythingipod.com/index...458027725982748

Mine looks like the 3rd one from the left, except mine is a 10GB. The hubby checked again and we have no USB cable. The only ports I have on my iPod are at the bottom where the AC adapter plugs in and on top where the firewire adapter can go.

As far as listening to my iPod at work, I thought there was just a way I could hook my iPod up with a cable and listen to it through my computer and it's speakers. I know I would have to have iTunes installed to do it that way, which isn't a problem, it's just trying to figure out what kind of connector I need and how to get it to work with my iPod. If all I have is a firewire port, then how do I use a USB cord? Some kind of firewire to USB connector cable?

I guess the one thing I never thought of was to check and see if my computer at work, (a relatively newer Dell) even has a firewire adapter. If it does, then I guess that would solve that problem. If it doesn't I'm back at square one. I could buy a dock and external speakers, but that's not a viable solution right now as that takes moola.

So the only option I can see is to connect through the computer with my iPod which the IT guys won't mind. I just need to figure out if I can do it with my firewire or if I need a USB cable and again I'll have to figure out how to use a USB cable on my iPod if all I have is a firewire port.

The world be a much simpler place if we all used Macs, no? ;)

Again, muchas gracias for all the help!
-Daisyhead (a confused female)

[Daisyhead]

I've been doing some research online and it looks like this cable (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009KO0D/102-6496683-6976111?v=glance) might be the cable I need to at least get my iPod hooked up to my laptop so that I can transfer my contacts over. It looks like it should also work if I wanted to listen to music through my computer at work, actually using my computer and iTunes.

Am I right?

Thanks,
Daisyhead

[GhostFace]

Yup

You got it. If you buy that cable you will have the best of both worlds (USB and Fireware). Just use the USB. It will make life easy. I am almost shure the dell has USB on it. Just load Itunes and the software that came with you Ipod and you are all set. Just a reminder. Make sure you do a manual sync method. If you dont you will loose all of you music when you connect you Ipod with Itunes with an empty library so i have been told. If you have any other question post here or give me a pm. Hope everything works out !

[Daisyhead]

Thanks Ghost, I may just take you up on your offer!

-Daisyhead

[puckles]

hehe, if you got it for xmas, definately not a 4g. probably 3g.

the best way to do it (if you're lucky and have firewire in your work computer) is by hooking up to the computer with the firewire cable and running it in manual mode through itunes - then your play counts reflect all that listening time at work...

and you don't have to travel with the AC adapter, or worse - buy two or risk running down your battery

[sbono13]

I also have the 3G ipod that you have, and the split firewire+USB cable is the one you would need to connect to your work computer. You might also want to buy a second power adapter-- it drains your iPod's battery pretty fast to be connected to the computer.

Just for emphasis, in order to play off your ipod thru iTunes on a second computer, you must be in manual sync mode.