Software Compendium - Mac & Windows

[ashawley]

Originally posted by Kurt (c.c.r.) from the old Forums:

I wanted to try and collect all the info about the various iPod apps in one spot.

If you would like to reply to this thread, please do. However, please only post replies that add to the information here or add new programs. Also try to stick to the format. Let's keep discussion of the pros and cons of these programs in other threads and keep this one just for the compilation and cataloging of programs.

Cheers!

MusicMatch Jukebox (MMJB)(www.musicmatch.com)
The CD that comes with a Windows-formatted iPod contains a special edition of MMJB v7.1 and a "Portables" plugin. This is the method that Apple has decided will be best for you, as a Windows user, to enjoy your iPod.

MMJB falls into the "iPod Management" and "Music Management" categories; With this version of MMJB, you can:
- Rip CDs into MP3s.
- Edit your MP3 tag information.
- Create custom playlists on your local machine.
- Manage your iPod's music database (with Apple's version of MMJB only):
- Send/synch your MMJB playlists and files to/with your iPod.
- Create and manage playlists on your iPod.
- Delete songs from your iPod.
- Rename your iPod.

iPod for Windows
The CD that comes with a Windows-formatted iPod also contains this software package. It includes two pieces of software:
- iPodwatcher: A small utility that runs in the system tray and monitors your iPod's mounted/unmounted state, as well as its connected/disconnected state.
- iPod Software 1.2 Updater: A very important utility that lets you restore or update an iPod's firmware to Windows v1.2 or later. This program is highly sought-after because it will allow you to convert a MacPod into a WinniePod.

Media Center 9(iPod Management, Music Management)

http://www.jrmediacenter.com

- 30-day trial version, $39.95 to license.

- MC9 is currently the only Windows program that supports full synchronization of the iPod's Ratings, Playcounts and Last Played information. What this means is that if you change a Rating on a song on the iPod, when you sync with MC9, that rating change will be reflected in MC9s library. And any smartlists you have based on Ratings will be updated accordingly. Same with the Playcounts and Last Played date.

Essentially, your iPod listening habits are now fully sync'd with MC9's library and all smartlists will be updated accordingly. This is new for windows users of the iPod. You can check out this thread for more information.

- Serves as your default media player

• Rip CDs, internet lookup via YADB, encode to/playback from mp3, ogg, ape, etc.
• Excellent tagging features, including tag from filename, and tab-based rename.
• Great database; tracking of play counts, ratings, import dates, and more.
• Create/manage playlists and smartlists on your local machine.
• Other features include TV and PVR functions, CD burner, internet radio, image and video support, and "Hairstyle," an under construction competitor to Windows Media Center.

- Manage your iPod's music database:

• Send/synch your MJ smartlists, playlists and files to/with your iPod.
• Create and manage playlists on your iPod.
• Delete songs from your iPod.
• Safety convert function that will convert your music to mp3 during transfer. Good if you want to hear your .ogg and .ape on your iPod but don't want to have two copies of each file.

Finally, the PC has a media player that has the potential to live up to the "iTunes experience" with an iPod. Smartlist synching has arrived! Play count updates may be in the immediate future! Composer tag support is also a strong possibility.

Ephpod(www.ephpod.com)
Ephpod was originally designed to be used in conjunction with Macdrive or Macopener (programs that let you read HFS-formatted disks on a Windows PC), and thusly, to allow someone to use a MacPod on a PC. Since the advent of WinniePods, the iPod community has discovered that Ephpod can be used to manage an iPod with zero additional software.

The current version of Ephpod (2.57) falls into the "iPod Management" and "iPod PDA Management" categories, allowing you to:
- Send/synch local files, folders, and .m3u playlists to/with your iPod.
- Create and manage playlists on your iPod.
- Delete songs from your iPod.
- Rename your iPod.
- Export contacts from Microsoft Outlook and send them to your iPod.
- Create basic appointments and send them to your iPod.
- Perform a host of other utilitarian and maintenance functions on your iPod.

XPlay(www.mediafour.com/products/xplay)
The current version of XPlay (v1.0.3) works with both MacPods and WinniePods.

XPlay is geared to work differently than most other programs. Rather than giving you a program that you run everytime you want to interface with your pod, it runs as a system service and integrates your iPod's music database into Windows Explorer. You can configure your iPod by right-clicking it in My Computer. XPlay also provides a condiut for Windows Media Player 8 and 9, in effect giving WMP the same functionality that MMJB (above) provides.

XPlay falls solely into the "iPod Management" category, allowing you (via Windows Explorer and Windows Media Player) to:
- Send/Synch local files, folders, and .m3u playlists to/with your iPod.
- Create and manage playlists on your iPod.
- Delete songs from your iPod.
- Rename your iPod.

EAC/LAME, CDEx
These programs have nothing at all to do with the iPod, per se. They are, however, excellent freeware tools that you can use to create MP3's on your hard drive. These programs fit into the "Music Management" category.
- EAC, or Exact Audio Copy, is arguably the best utility to dump (or "rip") CD audio to .wav. (http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/)
- LAME is often used in conjunction with EAC, and is arguably the best utility to encode .wav to .mp3. (http://www.mp3dev.org/mp3/)
- CDEx is an outstanding freeware program that rips CD audio to .wav and encodes .wav to .mp3. (http://www.cdex.n3.net/)

Dr. Tag, Tag & Rename, Remamer
These programs also have zero to do with your iPod. However, they are very useful for managing your mp3 collection. You see, the iPod displays songs based on their id3 tags. If your tags aren't set properly, then your songs won't be displayed properly on your iPod. So, you can use these programs to properly tag your files. They also fall squarely into the "Music Management" category.
- Tag & Rename link: http://www.softpointer.com/tr.htm
- Dr. Tag link: http://www.drtag.de/en/
- Renamer (freeware) link: http://www.albert.nu/programs/renamer/

Originally posted by Adlopa from the old forums
ID3-TagIT (MP3 management)

http://www.id3-tagit.de (freeware)

* Individual and multiple Tag editing
* Tag removal
* Tag to filename/filename to tag
* v1/v2 tag transfer
* File organisation (folder management based on tags)
* Tag case conversion

Another excellent ID3 tagging program, not quite as slick as Tag&Rename but a little more versatile (IMO) and it's freeware!

Be sure to click the British flag to get to the English pages.

iPodRemove (iPod System Utility)

Updated (10/08/05) link for this software for downloading zip file:
http://www.pautinka.com/downloads/iPodRemove1_0.zip

These links are no longer being used:
http://www.singnet.com.sg/~kyrandia/iPodRemove1_0.zip or
http://pimpin-seattle.d2g.com/files/iPodRemove1_0.zip

FREEWARE

iPodRemove is program created by iPodlounger LeftFieldSG. It is a simple .exe that, when run, will unmount your iPod so you can safely unplug it. No more clicking on the little "Safely Remove Hardware" icon at your system tray. iPodRemove works independently of any other program, so no matter HOW you use your WinniePod, this program will successfully unmount it.

Since it's a standalone .exe, you can use it in some very creative ways:

• Create a shortcut on your quick-launch toolbar, Start menu, or desktop for easy access
• Create a shortcut and assign a CTRL-ALT-key hotkey to it
• Assign it to a key on your multimedia keyboard, if supported (I have mine assigned to the "calculator" key of my Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro)
• Call it via command-line, script, or batch file
• Set up a command in Girder and dismount your iPod via remote control

That's all I can think of now, but you can begin to see how incredibly versatile this program is.

Outpod
Outpod is a freeware program, created and supported solely by the author, that falls into the "iPod PDA Management" category. It is, in my experience, the very best way to mass-export your Outlook contacts and appointments to your iPod. Definately worth a look. (www.stoer.de/ipod/ipod_en.htm)

Also see this location for a list of free and shareware 3rd party programs that will also transfer from the iPod contents back to your computer including videos and podcasts:
http://forums.ipodlounge.com/showthr...855#post414855

Please also see the iPodlounge Downloads page for more Windows software.

Edit - updated dead links.

[MOCKBA]

MediaChest
For all who needs iPod uploader program on platforms where iTunes doesn't work, for example Win 9x/ME and Linux. Besides base iPod database manipulation, this program supports:
- Smart playlists
- On-the-go playlists
- ID3 tagging/renaming
- Playlists export to XML, CSV, or WPL (Window Media Player formats)
- Correct support national characters in file names and tags with flexible encoding selection
- Share iPod content between different machines and platforms

http://mediachest.sourceforge.net

[EsspeN]

euPOD VolumeBoost
To boost the volumne on EU Capped iPods

http://www.ringom.no/espen/ipod

[pierugg]

katapult

It is a program which will start the program(s) of your choice when you connect your iPod to your computer. I think the iPod Manager of the Gen3 iPods does this already, so it's mostly for Gen 1&2 owners.

For more info see:

http://itextwin.free.fr/katapult/index.html

[pierugg]

iText


iText is a free windows application to display notes on your iPod(gen 1&2). It enables you to put notes of any length in a single contact. It can be downloaded at http://itextwin.free.fr

[grimmet]

ok i know, there still is a Windows Software Compendium, but in the meantime a few new progs arrived , which ought be summarized now:

vPOD homepage
download
-a small utily for sync your ipod

PODutil homepage
download
-a small utily for sync your ipod

MyPOD homepage
download
-a small utily for sync your ipod, java based , system independent

euPOD homepage
download
-nearly everybody knows this one. a "workaround" to increase the volume on european ipods

googleget homepage
download
-a prog which downloads the headlines of "news.google.(many languages implemented)" to your ipod

weather for me homepage
download
-a prog which downloads a 10 day weatherforecast to your ipod (you chose the city)

eyepod homepage
download
-allows you to browse the files on the ipod , and to play music even when he is connected. nice interface

ipodexport homepage
download
-small macro for outlokk to export things you want...

starlist
only downloadlink
-a command line client for to create playlists out of the starrates or playcounts. (imho out of date since iTunes arrived - but should be named)

sry, my english is not as good as it should be; to give a little comprehension for all progs, is to hard for my brain so, check the progs out... greetings grimmet

[northernlights]

iPodLibrary
Get ebooks onto your iPod

http://sturm.net.nz/website.php?Sect...ge=iPodLibrary

Edit - link updated.

[ashawley]

Guys, I'm merging this. I know that you want a sepearate compendium, but we gotta keep things in one place for consistencies sake.

I'll remove some of the extraneous posts.


IMPORTANT
If you want to add new software here follow the format exactly. Other wise your posts will be deleted. And if you have a question about a particular piece of software, don't post here about it. Start a new thread.

Posts here will be deleted w/o warning if they 1) don't follow the format and 2) are not announcing new iPod Software products.

Thanks,

Adam

[grimmet]

RSSPod download
a RSS interpreter for the ipod. requires .net framework (from microsoft)

[_zero_]

SharePod - easiest and quickest way to share music with your friends. For windows only.

Also doubles as a tool for sharing music straight from your iPod over a network!

http://sturm.net.nz/website.php?Sect...&Page=SharePod

Edit - link updated.

[Sparky_92]

dBpowerAMP

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

Not specifically an ipod program, but a fantastic resource for converting virtually ANY format to mp3 or mp4 (aac) for your ipod.

The converter is also 100% free.

Here's a list of all of the codecs supported:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central.htm

[iPod-guider]

And you forgot this one Tag and M3U(music tagging tool and playlist manager)
http://www.777soft.com/download/tagm3u.zip

[EvilDude]

MyPodPlayer

Get it from the Software section at
http://www.iPodSoft.com/

A program to play your music on the iPod from anywhere. Just install the program on your system, and then Extras --> Copy to iPod. Now you can find and play your music anywhere. Plug your iPod in, run MyPodPlayer, and your music database is there ready to be played.

The program actually reads your iPod database so it knows all the information, and the inbuilt player can play mp3's, wav's and aifs, but not aac yet which is why support for external/default players is included.

[Dane]

I would like to see a summary from one of the moderators on Anapod.

[enjoilax]

iGadget
http://www.ipodsoft.com/index.php?/software/ipodagent
Does:
Transfers songs from your iPod to your PC
Transfers Outlook mail to your iPod
Transfers Outlook appointments to your iPod
Transfers Outlook contacts to your iPod
Transfers Outlook tasks to your iPod
Transfers Outlook notes to your iPod
Fetches weather forecasts from the web and puts it on your iPod
Fetches RSS news feeds from the internet and makes them available on your iPod
Copy any text file to your iPod - iPod Agent will automatically break these up into 4k size pages if necesasry (the iPod has a limit of 4k size notes).
Create listings of the songs on your iPod in plain text, HTML or CSV formats

Edit: Formally known as iPod Agent



iStory Creator
http://www.ipodsoft.com/index.php?/software/istory
Does:
Custom text adventure games on the iPod. Does all the linking coding, etc for you.

Both require .Net Framework

Googleget does not require .Net Framework

Also Googleget is now an iPodSoft program... (i think...)

Edit -NO LONGER EXISTS