Apple i-Pod's...

Grimster74

Man, I'm in love with this thing. I received the 80 gig version i-Pod for X-mas and have been coping CD's since and can't seem to fill this thing up. So far I have like 1100 songs on this thing and it's only showing that I've used like 3 gigs of space. Anyone else like/dislike their i-Pods?

bobman1235

I have an old 10 gig one, and have the opposite problem - filled it up too fast

Other than that, I definitely love it. It's like having my entire music catalog in my car with me, or with me when I travel. Sure sound quality isn't great, but neither is my car stereo, or headphones on a plane.

AudioVideo

I bought a iPod Nano and started recording all of my CDs in iTunes. Then I came across something called a SqueezeBox 3 made by SlimDevices (Logitech bought them). I hooked the SB3 up to my main system and it gives me wireless access to all my iTunes on my computer. I can play them from my Yamaha RX-V4600 and Polk RTi speakers. I can also pick any number of internet radio stations to listen to at my main system. I have a 400 disc CD Changer but it takes too long to change CDs for random mix.

Anyway, although I bought the iPod I am now really using the iTunes library of my imported CDs mainly with my SqueezeBox.

I am going to buy another SB and hook it up to the Polk iSonic radio I just bought for my bedroom. The Squeeze Box is awesome. The DACs in the SB 3 are very good quality.

Holydoc

AudioVideo,

Does the Squeezebox play protected AAC that is purchased from Itunes? Does the Squeezebox play video?

I am just wondering why you would spend so much for the Squeezebox instead of $30 for an apple dock that would allow you to play anything including movies off your Ipod or slideshows onto the TV?

I ask this because currently I have a dock for my Ipod on my HT system that allows me to just plug it in and control it using my Harmony remote.

AudioVideo

No Video and no Protected AAC. I only do Video from DVD or Cable and I have three HiDef TVs. All Sony of course.

In my case I have all the CDs for my music. I imported nearly 300 CDs into iTunes so far and still more to go.... If you buy a lot of stuff from iTunes then SB would not be a good option because it will not play music purchased from iTunes. I only purchased about ten songs on iTunes.

I thought about the iPod dock option but I decided to go with the Squeeze Box mainly for sound quality and the ability to play Internet Radio on my HT system.

Since discovering the Squeeze Box I now plan on using Apple Lossless to re-record my CDs in the future which would fill up an iPod in short time because of the size. The SB gives me the ability to connect to a central NAS in my home to serve up all my music. You can also use it as a wireless bridge.

The iPod itself can not reproduce the music as well as a Squeeze Box.

I agree, if you buy alot of music or videos from iTunes SB would not be a good option.

Lsi9

The xbox 360 does the samething as the squeezbox, I use it while I play the games

AudioVideo

XBox 360 does do the same thing for iTunes. XBox does not do Internet Radio. I have a XBox 360 in my office and use it the same way as you do for iTunes.

Right now I use the XBox 360 in my office and Squeeze Box in the living room.

Like I said earlier, I plan to get another Squeeze Box for my bedroom to hook up with my Polk I-Sonic Radio.

On the Squeeze Box you can set up different alarms for everyday of the week for different times. This would work out good for me since I get up earlier on Mon, Wed, and Friday to work out. I never want an alarm on Saturday or Sunday. I can't help it... =/ I like electronic gadgets.

Ern Dog

Grimster74 wrote:

Man, I'm in love with this thing. I received the 80 gig version i-Pod for X-mas and have been coping CD's since and can't seem to fill this thing up. So far I have like 1100 songs on this thing and it's only showing that I've used like 3 gigs of space. Anyone else like/dislike their i-Pods?

Grim- You scored for Christmas w/the 80 gig Pod- What format have you been encoding your songs on? AAC, MP3, Apple lossless? What do you think about SQ?

pblanc

If you want to be able to play protected AAC files, convert the to unprotected AAC files. Lets say you buy 10 songs from the iTunes music store. Make a new playlist in iTunes with these ten songs. Burn this playlist onto a CD-R as an audio disc. Import the audio disc back into iTunes. You will now have 2 AAC copies of each disc, one protected and one not.
I have found that the quality of the playback device dictates the best audio codec. If you are just using the Apple earbuds or a small portable speaker system AAC files at 128 kb are fine. If you are going to play the files back over a high-quality stereo/speaker system, you will probably be able to hear the limitations imposed by compression. In this case you might want to stick with a lossless format. I have a good quality 2 channel rig in my office with an integrated tube amp, high quality monitors and a small Velodyne spl subwoofer. I also have a Bose Acoustimass 5.1 system that I basically use as computer speakers (their size works for my limited space). Ironically, I would rather listen to mp3 or AAC files under 256 kb on the Bose set up. On good speakers the limitations of the compressed formats become apparent and annoying. You feel like you ought to get up and get the CD or LP and stop wasting your time.
I think the iPod is an incredibly convenient device. You can load it with play lists and use it in your car on a long drive, put it in a portable speaker system and listen to it if you are working somewhere where there is no sound system, etc. I frequently listen to audio books (downloaded from audible.com) on it. I have also bought a lot more songs from the iTunes music store than I thought I would. Every so often I hear a track from some one-hit wonder or an oldie I have not heard for years and think "I really like that song". Last one was "Secret Agent Man" by Johnny Rivers. More often than not, you can buy the single track for $.99 at the iTunes store.

AudioVideo

pblanc,

Thanks for the info on unprotecting purchased AAC's. I agree the iPod is as convenient as it gets for on the road, taking walks, etc.

Are Audio Books protected? What format do they come in? I am wondering if I could play them from the Squeeze Box?

audiobliss

I also got an 80GB iPod for xmas. So far I have 2730 songs on it taking up 23.25GB, all ripped as MP3's @ 320kbps.

You're right, the iPod is a very awesome, convenient item. I can't even begin to describe how awesome it is to shuffle through 2730 songs, 2618 of which you haven't heard in the last month, 2500 of which you haven't heard in the last 6 months, and 2000 of which you don't remember hearing, lol. It really is great.

ledhed

I've had mine (originally a 20GB B&W, was stolen by either an Apple or DHL employee upon return shipping in order for it to be fixed, replaced with 30GB Video) for about 2 1/2 years, I love it. I got an adapter to hook it up to my car's HU last x-mas and it is one of the best gifts I have ever received.

Now, I leave my iPod in the car unless I want to sync it.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I currently rip into 160kbps AAC but have all kinds of filetypes in my library

opus

My daughter loves hers but she is currently on her third one since last xmas. (*Battery problems*)

ledhed

opus wrote:

My daughter loves hers but she is currently on her third one since last xmas. (*Battery problems*)

Something I recommend for every iPod owner is the applecare extended warranty. I have had my iPod replaced twice already as has my best friend. If yours messes up after only 6 months, you have to pay 30 bucks to ship it to them and the warranty is only $60 for an extra year and a half of service and two years of phone support.

Fireman32

I got the 30gb iPod and I love it. Listen to it every night while at work. I also subscibe to alot of audio and video podcasts. It is one of my best purchases I have made recently.

disneyjoe7

Tell you what I love Apple Loseless got a 30gig IPOD love it.

pblanc

If you get audio books from audible.com they come as .aa files (I believe it stands for audible audio). I don't know if the files are protected or not. You can probably find out from Audible's website. They are typically monophonic and highly compressed (eg. 64 kbs or less) but perfectly adequate for spoken word.

Holydoc

pblanc wrote:

If you get audio books from audible.com they come as .aa files (I believe it stands for audible audio). I don't know if the files are protected or not. You can probably find out from Audible's website. They are typically monophonic and highly compressed (eg. 64 kbs or less) but perfectly adequate for spoken word.

Audible will drop the books in any format you want so that they are compatible with any player. I have mine downloaded as MP3's as well as AAs so that I can also place them on my Nuvi 660 GPS system.

dgt2n

pblanc wrote:

If you want to be able to play protected AAC files, convert the to unprotected AAC files. Lets say you buy 10 songs from the iTunes music store. Make a new playlist in iTunes with these ten songs. Burn this playlist onto a CD-R as an audio disc. Import the audio disc back into iTunes. You will now have 2 AAC copies of each disc, one protected and one not.

This ruins the quality of the file....converting from lossy to an audio file and then back to lossy makes the 2nd unprotected AAC file MUCH MUCH worse than the original. I really suggest people don't do this.

The same thing goes if you burn a music CD from mp3's, and then give it to a friend to import into their iTunes. Just give them an mp3 cd.

disneyjoe7

But it's FREE don't forget.


Always Price Price Price

dgt2n

I understand, but there are other free ways to unprotect aac files.

or, alternatively, just download the apple lossless files, and convert those.

audiobliss

I've been noticing that my iPod is somewhat glitchy, meaning it hangs up sometimes. Like when I'm listening to a song and then push menu several times to get back to the main menu and go somewhere else, the iPod can't keep up with me. It pauses on each screen. Same thing if I just push the middle button while listening to a song to change place in the track or rate it; sometimes it's fine, but others it's really slow.

You think it's ok or what?

bobman1235

It's relatively fine - the biggest complaint I've heard about iPods is their firmware sucks and is flaky, and I think you're just seeing the same thing everyone else is seeing. If it actually hangs or crashes often on you I would worry, but a little slowness between menus is kind of status quo.

dgt2n

audiobliss wrote:

I've been noticing that my iPod is somewhat glitchy, meaning it hangs up sometimes. Like when I'm listening to a song and then push menu several times to get back to the main menu and go somewhere else, the iPod can't keep up with me. It pauses on each screen. Same thing if I just push the middle button while listening to a song to change place in the track or rate it; sometimes it's fine, but others it's really slow.

You think it's ok or what?

Try resetting it, (Apple's term for reboot). It's helped me take care of a variety of little issues.

landry_p2000

30gig 4 me for Christmas. I love it. I just started playing around with it this weekend, and have only 564 songs, four music videos, and two movies (The Incredibles and Cars). I am amazed at the capabilities this thing has, and I am looking foward to getting more iTunes cards to fill this baby up. I like the podcast movie trailers for the new Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man 3 movies. I don't have as much music as you guys, but I don't put the whole album in iTunes, just the songs I like. Best gift I got in a while.

Holydoc

audiobliss wrote:

I've been noticing that my iPod is somewhat glitchy, meaning it hangs up sometimes. Like when I'm listening to a song and then push menu several times to get back to the main menu and go somewhere else, the iPod can't keep up with me. It pauses on each screen. Same thing if I just push the middle button while listening to a song to change place in the track or rate it; sometimes it's fine, but others it's really slow.

You think it's ok or what?

Do you have the latest firmware loaded? For instance with the latest firmware 1.2.1, you do not have to press the menu several times to get to the main menu. You merely hold the menu button down and it will pop you to the main menu.

Holydoc

bobman1235 wrote:

It's relatively fine - the biggest complaint I've heard about iPods is their firmware sucks and is flaky, and I think you're just seeing the same thing everyone else is seeing. If it actually hangs or crashes often on you I would worry, but a little slowness between menus is kind of status quo.

Everyone else is seeing that that the firmware sucks? I cannot believe the most popular portable music player firmware in the world should be termed as sucks in any way. I read and participate quite avidly in the Ilounge and Apple forums. Most of the complaints you hear are from those people that want to do a very specific thing that is not built into the Ipod or those people who want to go around using Itunes and such to load the Ipod and are upset when their music or movies do not work right. I applaud their innovation in trying to "trick" the ipod into doing something it was not made to do (heck even I use some DVD-to-Ipod programs myself), but just because your project gets trashed with a new IPOD firmware upgrade does not mean it sucks. Just frustrating.

I think a better terminology would be that the firmware is not very user-modifiable (its a word. I used it!) or very customizable. Sucks is just a bit too strong for the most popular portable music player.

bobman1235

iLounge and Apple forums are filled with Apple fanboys who wouldn't outright criticize ANYTHING if it has the Apple name in front of it.

Regardless, you can argue teh semantics of my use of the word "sucks" all you want. The biggest complaint I've heard among iPod owners is random crashes and the firmware freezing up, requiring a "reboot" or a "restore". The biggest criticism I've heard about Apple in general is their shoddy firmware. I'm not talking about their interface, which is intuitive and smart. I'm talking about their firmware being BUGGY. And it is.

Saying something's popular doesn't mean much by me, by the way. You said like six times that it was the most popular music player. Big effin deal. Sony is the most popular receiver in the world, find one person on this or any other respectable A/V forum who will defend Sony's non-ES line of receivers.

Holydoc

Bob,

Didn't mean to offend you with my comments. It is just that the word "sucks" seems to be a bit strong.

As for my choice of forums to learn about the IPOD if you have links to some better sites that will give me better information about the IPOD, its firmware, and Itunes capabilities than the two I listed, please share them. I would love to enjoy them too.

Again I did not mean to offend it is just that the vast majority of people who own and use their IPODS have very little problems with them and love the interface, capabilities, convenience, and peripherals available for it. I guess instead of saying how popular it is , I should have said it is one piece of electronics that if a person's IPOD went out today, you could almost guarantee that that same person would purchase another one to replace it without thinking twice.

bobman1235

How about, rather than "the firmware sucks", I'll say "the firmware is the most criticized component." I actually agree with you, considering how much complaining there is about products nowadays, the satisfaction rating for iPods is pretty damned high, especially for something so expensive. But their BIGGEST flaw has historically been flaky firmware. It obviously hasn't affected their sales or satisfaction much, but for audiobliss, saying his iPod is acting flaky with regards to menu speed, I'm saying he's not alone and it has been a prevalent complaint.

And obviously those websites are the best sites for iPod news and products, which is what you're there for, but they're not the best sites to hear criticism... not that anyone WANTS to hear criticism, I'm just saying, it's not an unbiased opinion.

ledhed

I will say that the firmware sucks. After about 6-7 months of use, the past two iPods I have had became unusable: they would skip time in tracks, skip whole tracks and just freeze up. Hopefully, the video one is better but the jury is still out on this one.