iPod - a Portable Hard Drive

Your iPod hard drive can serve as a portable disk to move your documents, spreadsheets, presentations, or other files from one computer to another.

Step 1 - Plug your Pod into the computer.
Step 2 - When the iPod icon shows up in the list, click on it and then click on the summary tab in the main iTunes window.
Step 3 - Checkmark the checkbox next to “Enable disk use” in the options area of the summary screen.
Step 4 - In the lower-right corner of the iTunes window, click the apply button. If you forget, iTunes reminds you that you modified an iPod setting and prompts you to “OK” the change.Now once you turn your iPod into an external hard drive, you have to treat it like one by ejecting the drive using iTunes before you disconnect the iPod from the computer’s USB port (click the eject icon next to the iPod’s name in the iTunes source list).

The iPod now shows up in the “My Computer” area of Windows or on your Mac desktop. You can drag files on and off the iPod just like you would with any other drive connected to the computer. Delete files by dragging them to the Trash or Windows Recycle Bin.Your iPod music, movies, and other iTunes items are kept in a special, invisible place on the iPod so copying regular computer files onto the iPod doesn’t affect them.

Apple iPod nano 8 GB Pink (4th Generation) - PINK

Apple has announced a pink version of the iPod Nano Phatty, which is truly a phatty in my own humble opinion, which is well within my budget. To May, you’ve got yourself a pretty hot “I care about your happiness” gift. Just don’t strain your lovely eyes watching the old Charlie’s Angels TV show.

See more...at Best deal iPod

The new 4th generation from Apple - Best player ever!

By Simon Drivdal "simdrivdal"

The new 4th generation from Apple is awesome - once I turned it on and heard the first song it was like coming into another world. So clear and good sound that you forget you even have your headphones on.

This new generation has an accelerometer as well as the iPod Touch and iPhone which means you can rotate the iPod 90 degrees to get coverflow view on your albums. Also let's say you find a random song that is in the middle of an album you have you can easily turn on to coverflow, push the center button and browse through every song on that album.

Some says that the coverflow gets in the way for easy volume changes, and that is in one way correct, but the reason why I'm still at five stars is because it's not worth making a big deal out of it. If you have it vertically in your pocket it's no problem. Volume adjustments works immediately. If the player somehow is horizontally, it's just to reposition it, wait for 1-2 second and you can adjust volume. I won't call this a problem.

Shake to shuffle is also a really cool thing they have built in, and it works great. Note that if you are on a running trip and may be running in a steep downhill that may turn the shake-to-shuffle on unwanted you can of course turn it of in the setting menu.

Video playback is better that expected on such a small screen, and you don't need large resolution to get stunning pictures on it. Choose if the image should fit the screen or not, what TV standard (PAL or NTSC) along with other settings. TV shows are automatically presented horizontally. Be sure to have the correct encoding on the movies of TV shows if the battery should hold 4 hours. On a Mac which I use you can encode the movies by export them from Quick Time Pro. There is a preset called Movie to iPod. Then it's just to open the video in iTunes and sync the iPod. Video playlists are also automatically created.

Hope this helps who ever read it!

Updated iPod Touch Delivers Nice New Features

By Stephen Hall "books911"

The iPod Touch debuted only one year ago, and this is the first update. I was excited to pick up the new iPod Touch at the Apple Store because I had never owned a first generation, though I do own iPhones.

I want to concentrate primarily on the new features:

First, physical volume buttons are now placed on the side of the iPod Touch as they are on the iPhone. This is very convenient. It allows you to adjust the volume of your music, without having to pull the entire device out of your pocket and activate the screen. A time saver.

Second, many people requested a built-in speaker for the iPod Touch like is available on the iPhone. Apple listened. However, there is one important point to make on this! The iPod Touch is incredibly small, and Apple is forced to put an incredibly small speaker. The speaker in the iPod Touch sounds worst than the speaker in the iPhone. I have compared it side by side, and it's fairly significant, and the iPhone speaker isn't that great to begin with. However, in a quiet room, the speaker is still useful for previewing a song you might want to buy, or for playing games. However, still, if you want great sound, you need to connect your headphones.

Genius - This new feature is really surprisingly good. When you're listening to a song you enjoy, select the genius option. It will create a playlist for you, with songs that go together nicely with the one you started with. It helps you rediscover great music from your collection with a playlist suited to the mood you're in. I didn't think it would do a good job compiling this list, but it has been quite impressive.

Applications - It's great to have the ability to buy (or get some free) applications right on the iPod Touch. Furthermore, with the software update this new iPod Touch comes with, the Application installation process is so much smoother than it had been even on my iPhone. It now works how you want it to, seamlessly. I like having a weather application that includes doppler radar images, and that is free. I also have several games on it. There is a great variety of applications available from hundreds of third-parties right on the iPod itself, so you are certain to find something that interests you. I really like the new release of Spore, for the iPod Touch and iPhone. Apple is really pushing the games and quietly suggest they are challenging Nintendo and Sony. They are innovative and interesting games, but I think they have a ways to go, to challenge those game makers.

Nike + is now built in too, so if you have the shoes and the puck, the iPod Touch is ready to receive the data from it. Battery life is improved to 36 hours audio and 6 hours video according to Apple. I find the audio number fairly accurate if you don't light up the display much, but the video number is a slight bit harder to achieve.

Of course, the new ipod Touch does look and feel even better than the first generation, from my small experiences with the previous one. I also think it feels cooler than my iPhones, but obviously your interpretation may very. I like the metal back on the iPod Touch. It looks classy, though it is prone to scratches.

One of my favorite features continues to be, when in my home on Wi-Fi, to reach down for the Touch, use Safari web browser and look something up. It's great.

Overall, it was a solid update for the iPod Touch. I wish the speaker could be better on it, but I believe that is due to the physical restrictions of the small device. I could have knocked it to four stars for that, but I think most people realize a built in speaker isn't the way you want to listen to most audio on an iPod to begin with. I'm impressed by the second generation iPod Touch, and I think with the third party applications getting better and becoming more popular, more people will consider the Touch.

Apple iPod classic 120 GB Silver (6th Generation)

The updated iPod Classic was probably the least exciting of the new iPods announced in the September 2008 update, but that does not mean it should be dismissed. I own the 160 GB iPod Classic that has now been discontinued, but there are few differences (perhaps the biggest being the much slimmer shape of this 120 model), and I did get to check this updated 120 GB version out at the store, when picking up the new nano and touch. Firstly, the 120 GB version is again smaller than the largest capacity available last year, but it is a single platter hard drive, which allows it to maintain the slim shape of the 80 GB version from last year. More storage, a hundred dollars less, and just as small. That is progress despite calls from others that the classic isn't exciting. It still serves its purpose as the original iPod idea. Big capacity in a simple to use device. Next, the software has been slightly updated on the iPod Classic. It now includes Genius, like iTunes and the other new iPods. This allows you, when on a song you enjoy, to select the genius feature. The iPod will then compile a list of songs (playlist), which goes together with the original song you were listening to. This helps you rediscover music in your library, with a playlist to fit your mood at the time. I have been using the genius feature for a few days now, and it is impressive the way it compiles these playlists. I was skeptical, but overall, it does a good job. Furthermore, as another review mentioned, the iPod does seem more responsive with this update from what I saw at the store compared to my original 160 GB iPod Classic. Some speculation has been that the older iPod Classics will receive the software update of this new one, but I'm not holding my breath on that. Overall, the original iPod concept was so good, and that is why the iPod Classic is still a solid choice for a music and media player. It will hold thousands and thousands of songs (up to 30,000 according to Apple at 128 bitrate). I also backup some important files to my iPod Classic, in disk mode, so that I have that additional extra copy of my most vital files. When you have such a large iPod, you can do that. It shouldn't be forgotten either that while the display of the iPod Classic isn't as good as the iPod Touch or iPhone, it is still quite good and you can play music videos, TV shows, and movies purchased on the iTunes Store. Battery life for this new 120 GB model improved over the 80GB model from last year. Apple now estimates it at 36 hours audio and 6 hours video. I'd recommend the iPod Classic without hesitation, to those who have more than 8 or 16 GBs of music in their iTunes library and want to carry their entire collection. Furthermore, if you have videos and video podcasts you want to always carry with you, again, you can't beat the storage. I have the lower capacity flash devices as well, but the big hard drive based iPod Classic continues to play an important role in my iPod Collection.

Apple iPod touch 32 GB

Apple iPod touch 32 GB

Features

- Includes five software applications: e-mail, maps, weather, stocks, and notes

- 32 GB flash memory stores up to 7,000 songs, 40 hours of video, or 25,000 photos

- Built-in Wi-Fi capability allows direct access to the Internet via Safari, YouTube videos, and the iTunes wireless store

- Includes earphones, USB 2.0 cable, universal dock adapter, polishing cloth, iPod touch stand, and quick start guide

- 1-Year Limited Warranty, 90-Day Single Incident Phone Support

Customer Reviews


By A. Stagg (Virgnia, USA)

I had never wanted an iPod until I received my Touch. It's a great device. It's an excellent MP3 and video player, but I've been MOST impressed with the WiFi internet browser and email utility. For the first time, Apple has produced a highly user-friendly and stable ultra-portable internet device. The best part about the Touch is that its an "instant on" device. If I'm watching television or having a discussion and want to look up a reference, I push the button and I'm immediately able to access my home wireless network. The touch screen use of gestures to zoom in and out means that I can read the text, even though I wear glasses. My use of my home computer has dropped noticeably since I started using this device.

The 32GB size is perfect and will be more than sufficient for most people. Actually, for the majority of people, I think the 16GB version will suffice, but 32GB will leave you plenty of room to grow as the number of applications available to the device continues to grow.

If it were about 1.5x larger, it would be perfect as a portable internet tool. The touchscreen keyboard function works great, but its just a little too small for adult fingers. However, it's a perfect size for a portable media player. The other feature missing is a flash player for the internet browser, but rumor says that one will be released soon. The 32GB iPod Touch is well worth purchasing and I can't wait to see the continued evolution of this product!

JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (Black)

JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (Black)

Product Description

JBuds are the perfect companion for your iPod, mp3 player, laptop, portable DVD, MD, radio, or other audio devices, combining sleek design, premium sound quality, noise reduction, and maximum comfort. The soft silicone earbuds fit perfectly inside your ears, allowing you to comfortably enjoy your music non-stop while blocking outside noise. The new JBuds give you a high-intensity listening experience with crisp, clear sound and powerful bass. Includes 3 pairs of silicone earbud tips in small, medium, and large to assure the perfect fit! Generous 4.5ft wire with standard Y-formation to the earbuds. Available in white, black, or pink. One-year full warranty.


Product Details

• Color: Black
• Brand: JLAB
• Model: JBDB
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 1.00" w x 1.00" l, .4 pounds

Features

• Premium sound quality, Compact size, and Sleek design
• Soft silicone ear buds provide a super comfortable, noise reducing fit
• High intensity listening experience with crisp, clear sound and deep bass
• Works with every iPod, mp3 player, CD, portable DVD, PSP, MD, and Laptop
• Goldplated 3.5 mm audio jack for premium, no-loss sound connection to your audio device.

Apple iPod touch 16 GB without Software Updates

Apple iPod touch 16 GB without Software Updates

This is a fabulous piece of technology and integrates very smoothly with my Imac and Itunes. Others have already covered many Pros/Cons but there are a few things that are worth considering before purchasing.

1. PRICE--Others have "complained" about the price. This IS NOT food, water or shelter; it is a discretionary purchase. It represents excellent value IMHO in comparison to other similar devices.

2. INTERNET--The wireless internet is surprisingly functional once you are used to some of the quirks and limitations. For example, you can currently only watch video from internet sites supported by Quicktime. Some sites (like AOL) don't seem to load very efficiently and navigating sites with crowded page content can be trying.

3. USEFULNESS--This is NOT a PDA though it can serve as one in a limited capacity with some creative thinking. For example you can create "notes" in Ical or you can (assuming a wireless conection is available) send yourself an e-mail if you need to type something in so you remember it. If you NEED a PDA, get the Iphone instead.

4. ITOUCH vs IPHONE--I opted for this because I don't need a PDA and my current cell plan fits my needs. Remember the IPHONE is a touch device and I'm guessing most people don't wash their hands every time prior to use. Now you are putting those germs right up to your ear. Think about using an IPHONE after shaking hands with "Joe" who doesn't wash his hands after...well, you get the idea.

5. SIZE--It's thin, but not small. If you primarily listen to music, stick with the Nano. Once it is in sleep mode you can't change settings without activating it. I use my Nano for walks and I can adjust it right in my pocket (volume especially).

So far, I love it--I'll post an update if things change!!

Want to Make a Good Ipod Purchase? Stop here!

The 2rd generation of the Ipod Shuffle has to be one of the best purchases that I have ever made, period. Although I will admit that there is just one down side that I see in comparison to say the 80 gig classic Ipod, which I also own. But lets focus on the positive first.

Running at least 8.5 miles a day, 5 times a week the Shuffle is great to have! The controls are easy to use, it gets loud enough to drown out all of the people at the gym and the battery life is out of this world. I love that it can handle hours of music, also that is so small that I forget that I am wearing it on my arm. I also wrote a review one of the Shuffle arm bands that I highly suggest. I know that a lot of people love their new Ipod Touches, but I think that the Shuffle could be the most valuable Ipod because of all of the people I see at the gym using one. It makes time fly and I go a couple of weeks without having to charge it.

The one down side is the sound quality when you compare it to full size Ipod. You can really tell the difference between them. But that is just one of those trade offs for size and convinence that you are going to have to live with with the Shuffle. The rest of the unit is great to use. I know that other reviewers state that it is a little pricey compared to other small MP-3 players, and that is true, it is. But when a product works like the Ipod Shuffle 2rd generation it is worth the little extra money for the long term benefits that the product is going to deliver.

iPOD Nano vs. iPhone

I have both the iPod Nano and the iphone.



First, here is my review of the iPod Nano.



The pictures don't do justice to this tiny technological marvel. It is very thin (thickness of 2 quarters) and less than a quarter size of my average sized hand. If you are looking for a smallest MP3 player with a screen, I would look no further than than Nano.

It not only plays music well, but it plays videos reasonably well on its high definition screen. You can watch an entire movie on this device. How cool is that?



Couple of pointers:



1)Because ipod showcases the album covers and others bits of information about each song, each AAC track takes little more space on its flash drive. Only about 3.6GB of 4GB are usuable for music/video storage (the rest is used primarily by the OS). This is only sufficient for about 1000-1500 (depending on the bits) songs and a few videos. If you have more than 1000 songs in your iTunes, I suggest purchasing the 8GB version.



2)The Operating System of this device does crash occassionally. You can reboot the device by simultaneously pressing on the middle button and the menu button for about 5 seconds (you will need this info so save this review =) ).



3)Contrary to a popular belief, the sound quality is primarily determined by the quality of the headphones and not the MP3 player. The iPod headphones are of the bare minimum quality (but far superior to those used in Sony Walkmans of the 1980s). If you are an audiophile and have some extra money, I recommend getting a good earphone from Shure (E310, E410, E510).



iPod Nano vs iPhone



1)Sound quality: the sound quality of both devices are identifical. iPhone, however, has an annoying non-standard earphone plug-in which requires an adapter for the third party earphones.



2)User Interface: iPhone has possibly the greatest user interface created by Man. It is not only functional but fun to use. Flipping through the albums in the iPhone's ipod is one of most beautiful GUIs ever developed. The Nano has a typical iPod user interface that use the iPod buttons to navigate through music.



3)Battery Life: Nano has the edge here. iPhone, although posessing a reasonably good battery life, is a natural battery hog. The prime reason is its beautiful touch screen. It is basically a small computer. Listening to music while having the cell phone turned will drain the iphone's battery in about 3.5-4 hours. The Nano will last about 6.5 hours.



4)Functionality: iPhone clearly has the edge, even its the music player is more usable. iPhone has a cell phone, web browser (EDGE and WiFi), IPOD, camera, eMail, and a calendar. The Nano is principally a music player. iPhone's IPOD user interface, however, far trumps Nano's touchwheel.



5)Size: Nano is about 1/8 size of the iPhone (by weight and volume). iPhone isn't bulky, but Nano is a very small device.

Apple iPod touch 8 GB without Software Updates

New Software Applications Not Included on This iPod touch

This version of the iPod touch does not ship with the new software applications announced at MacWorld 2008, including e-mail and maps as well as handy widgets for weather, notes, and stocks. The new iPod touch also features a customizable home screen that lets you rearrange buttons and create your own Web Clips. These software upgrades are available via the online Apple store for $20, or you can order the 8 GB or 16 GB iPod touch that includes the software applications.

iPod Touch 8 GB Review

Well, let me start by saying that I ordered the Touch on a lark. Got it direct from Apple with free engraving on the back. I must say that this is a really fun toy, at 8GB its just big enough to hold my music collection (6GB), a couple of videos and still have space to cache some video streams, barely! As mentioned elsewhere, the interface is quite cute and innovative. I love a touch screen and I love how big the screen is. Ok, here's the things I love about the Touch so far:

1) Big beautiful screen

2) Touch screen interface

3) Wifi connectivity with Safari, iTunes and YouTube built right into the main screen.

4) Changeable background, finally!

5) Sleek form factor slides nicely into my pocket.

6) Don't have to use it as a cell phone.

7) Flips back and forth from landscape to portrait modes depending on how you hold it or what you are viewing.

8) Power button, thank you Apple for finally deigning to put a power button on an iPod!

9) Automatic brightness adjustment, absolute genius!

10) Seems to remember where you left off on every video on the unit, awesome feature I love it!

11) iTunes: for any iPod you have to count the flawless relationship with iTunes as a big plus, you just can't beat it for reliability, ease of use and great features (and believe me I've tried!)

12) Great Now Playing music page, the album art fills the whole screen and by tapping the middle you get immediate access to repeat and shuffle buttons. Now you can now easily shuffle just a playlist, a feature that has been hard to find on previous iPods.

13) Like any other iPod, accessories abound and are easily purchased just about anywhere!

14) Apple customer service is good imo, they stand behind their product and will replace without much hassle as I know from experience.

15) For only $20 you can get extra stuff like Notes, Weather, Calculator, and stuff like that.

But of course, nothing is perfect. I give this a 5 stars because it is such a great innovation for Apple and a great product, but that doesn't mean that its without flaws and here's the ones I've noticed so far:

1) Touch screen can be a bit frustrating, often doesn't feel me and often I miss the button I'm aiming for with my fat fingers (they feel fat when trying to hit keyboard buttons on that screen anyway!). I understand that this is a "Capacitance" screen which means you can't use a stylus or your fingernail, you have to register firm contact with your flesh on the screen.

2) Screen flipping: although this is a cool concept it can be annoying sometimes. Occasionally the screen flips as I'm moving around and I didn't want it to. So I sit there twisting the thing to and from trying to get the alignment I want. Wouldn't it be nice if you could lock it into the perspective you want and it would just stay there (is anybody at Apple listening?)

3) Hard to operate "blind", as I walk around I like to be able to pause/play or adjust volume without having to look at the screen. Very easy to do on my 5.5Gen iPod, almost impossible on the Touch. I have to pull it out of my pocket almost every time I want to pause or adjust the volume.

4) Sound quality is not quite as good as my 5.5Gen Video iPod or my Archos 605, I've tried it on speakers and headphones and the Video has just a little bit cleaner smoother sound especially at high volume.

5) No built in USB port!

Apple 80 GB iPod classic (Black)

I've owned and loved my 30 gig video iPod for almost 2 years, and aside from a periodic problem where it won't power off until I've reset it, it's worked fine. I have noticed that screen changes (for example, clicking on "Music" in the main menu and waiting for the music screen to appear) had become sluggish as I added more songs and passed the 20 GB mark, but it still worked. However, it was obvious that I would exceed the 30 GB capacity before Apple comes out with its next generation of iPods, so I started looking at the current crop to see what would work best. Like just about everyone, I want an iPhone, but not the first generation and (hopefully) not being stuck with AT&T as my cell carrier. So that ruled out the iPhone, at least for now. I was dazzled by the cool interface of the iPod Touch, but I don't have wall-to-wall WiFi coverage in my area and wasn't willing to make the compromise on capacity. I wanted the capacity that the Classic offered, but had read conflicting reviews, even from people who are normally big Apple fans. I was especially concerned to read so many people complaining that the performance was actually worse than the video iPod. Reviewers also complained that the new interface was not responsive and didn't represent an improvement over the interface on the video iPod. However, after playing with one at a local retailer, I found the new interface to be a significant improvement and it seemed to work just as fast as my current video iPod. I opted for the 80 GB model, since my laptop's hard drive is only 160 GB and it didn't make sense to get an iPod with more space than my hard drive. So far, I'm very pleased with the Classic. After spending some time with the new interface, I have found it to be much better than the old one. OK, so it's not a touch screen, but that's the trade-off for the larger capacity (at least in this generation of iPods). Unlike many users, I have had no trouble at all with the cover flow feature, and I like the way it works. If I scroll very quickly, I may have to wait a couple seconds for the cover art to appear, but it's not a big deal at all, at least for me. The titles appear no matter how fast I go, and I greatly prefer being able to browse my collection this way compared to scrolling through a long list. I have not had any trouble with the click-wheel and have not noticed that it's less sensitive or less responsive than the previous model. When you scroll very quickly through a list, a large letter appears on the screen to show you what letter of the alphabet you're in, an intelligent and convenient feature that helps to keep you from scrolling too far in one direction. I also like that the Playlist menu now shows the number of songs for each playlist, and most of the other music menus have enhancements, too (showing album art at the left of the entry if appropriate, for instance). I like the way the calendar works better than on my iPod video, and also like being able to manage alarms for calendar events more easily. (Maybe I didn't look hard enough, but I don't think I even had calendar event alarms on the 30 GB iPod). The Classic connected and synched with my Vista PC with no problems, except for a repetitious request to register the iPod every time I connect, a problem I haven't yet solved. It took about 15 minutes to synch 20 GB of songs, which is actually faster than my previous iPod. As for sound, it seems clearer and more balanced than the 30 GB iPod, and also a bit louder. I had found that I had to turn up the volume on my older iPod just to have it at a listenable level, and I haven't had to do that on my new one. I don't often use my iPod for video, but I like the new games better than the ones on my older iPod. Overall, the Classic represents a significant upgrade over my previous iPod because of added capacity, better sound, and a better interface.

Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (3rd Generation)

This is my third iPod, but my first flash-based one. I really like the form factor of the new iPod Nano. While some people have complained about it being fatter than the previous gen Nano, it's still wonderfully small, thin, and light. The new Nano is also shorter, which personally I think makes it a better fit for small places like the coin pocket of your jeans w/o sticking out and jabbing you. I had previously held out on getting a flash-based iPod because the storage capacity wasn't quite enough to hold my iTunes library (currently ~12GB in size). I was disappointed that the new Nano still has the same 8GB capacity as the 2nd gen Nano, but I just couldn't wait any longer. Too many cool features to resist, I would just have to trim down my playlists a little. BTW, an "8GB" iPod Nano actually only has 7.41GB of usable storage space. Presumably some of that missing storage is due to formatting, the iPod operating system, and other what not. The new Nano's fatter body allows for a wider screen suitable for watching videos and some new user interface features, most notably the Cover Flow view. iTunes has had Cover Flow view for a while. Now it's available on the iPod. Albums w/ missing cover artwork are displayed as annoying white music notes on a gray background. (WARNING: Some individuals, like me unfortunately, may be susceptible to getting an uncontrollable urge to want to fill in all the missing cover art. I spent an entire Saturday tracking down missing cover art on the web, and even dug up a couple dozen original CDs to scan in the cover art myself for those last few albums...) I really like the additional info displayed in the various lists. For example, the album list displays the album name, the artist beneath, and a tiny thumbnail of the album cover; the old interface displayed only the album name. As another example, the song list displays the song name with the artist name underneath; the old interface displayed just the song name, which can be confusing when you have different songs with the same name.