Obligated to start a thread about my new ipod

[kenstyle]

Brief intro:
-Bought a new 3G 30 gigger for the price of the new 20 gigger
-First time owning an Apple product (pc user)
-Growing hatred for MusicMatch (HORRIBLE HORRIBLE program)

Overall, I am very impressed with this product. It does still feel weird scrolling in a circle-like fashion with your thumb, but I'll have to get used to it in due time.

The experience (as I'm sure most of you agree with me) I had when I first opened the box was simply amazing. The design layout of the package was just breathtaking. When I opened that right flap and saw the iPod sitting in all its glory on its styrofoam throne, I had to fight the urge to make sweet sweet love to this gorgeously crafted masterpiece right there on the spot. Everything was just, perfect. Kudos to Apple on their aesthetics.

However, the process of transferring my 12 gigs of music killed the moment. The fact that MusicMatch is such a primitive program compared to the rest of today's software made it even worse, but after sitting in front of my computer for more than 3 hours, I finally transferred all of my music into the jukebox. Organized into playlists and everything. :)

My question, however, is whether if there is a faster way in transfering music albums to the iPod? Figuring out how to use MusicMatch took a while, but I still suspect there has to be a more efficient way in transferring music albums. The way I upload my albums is by this method:

1) open all the files
2) save all those files into a playlist
3) drag playlist(s) into ipod

The process seems simple, but could there possibly be a faster way? What if I already have all of my albums/playlists organized into Winamp? Could I do anything with Winamp and MusicCrap?

Anyway, if you're still reading, I give you my token of appreciation. :) I've already orderd my white exo iSkin as well as the obligated iTrip, so I'm anxiously waiting for them to arrive.

One last thing, is it horrible to charge the iPod 24/7? I've heard numerous stories where sometimes it's actually better to let rechargable items die out before charging them because this would prolong the battery life. I put my cell phone in the charger everytime I come back home, and over the 2 years I've had the phone its battery lifespan has dwindled CONSIDERABLY. Fortunately, cell phone batteries are replaceable, but in regards to the iPod, this could pose a problem. Any suggestions?

[DaveL]

I believe the iPod battery isn't the kind that you need to run down (forget the actual names of the different types) - you can keep it charging (or docked) 24/7 and it will be fine :)

I'm not really familiar with Music Match (or any PC music app) but it sounds like you did it right (please, anyone correct me if i'm talking crap). Getting your whole library into a playlist doesn't take a sec, so the time-consuming bit is the copying across part - which i'm assuming was done via firewire as you haven't mentioned the USB adaptor which you'd have to have bought seperatly - and can't really be done any quicker.

The good news is, you've done the main chunk of your library now by the sounds of it - so any further albums you want to copy across will be alot quicker if you're only adding a few at a time :)

The organising of your songs into various playlists can take a while depending on who many you want to do, but if you had already a load set up on your PC, i think you could have copied these across to the iPod too, thus saving time (you can in iTunes anyway) so again, this bit that's taken quite a while is something you can't really get around doing as far as i know, and even if you'd had a load set up on your PC - you would have spent the same time doing them over various points in time.

Congratulations on the purchase - i felt very similarly when i got mine a month or two back :D

[markp99]

Hey kenstyle!

Congrats on your new iPod!

I too used MMJB (long time user), but recently switched over to MediaCenter 9 (using beta version 9.1.256) when I purchased my iPod.

There is a short learning curve for MC9 as there are just so many (too many?) feature/functions. Once you find the core you need to support your MP3 library & iPod, you'll be very happy. Auto Smartlists in MC9 are very cool and totally configurable.

I still use MMJB for AutoTagging lookups but that's about it...

Good luck!

[ashawley]

You can read all about your options in the Software Compendium (http://ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2286), most of us around here don't use MMJB for the reasons you mentioned. It is by far the worst of the options.

I second markp99's recommendation on MC9. The most features for the iPod....

Adam

[yo$$arian]

For transferring to the iPod, try vPod (http://www.vonnieda.org/vPod/). It is easy to use and it is free. I don't hate MMJB nearly as much as most people here, I still use it to play music on my PC. But I do agree it's garbage when transferring files.

The iPod was my first Apple purchase too.

[an0therdumbsn]

the best free program imo is ephpod.
although i now use xplay which cost $20 due to having some playlist issues with ephpod