iPods and MP3 files?

[fergus]

Hi. If I have a load of GBs of MP3, is it possible to convert these to run on an iPod? Apologies if this question is unbelievably dumb to those in the know!

[Baconbonce]

No need to convert them - iPod's will play .mp3 files no problem, just use iTunes to add them into your library.

You can configure iTunes to rip music into .mp3 format as well rather than it's own default standard.

[Bodo]

The files an ipod will not play are
- songs bought in competing online music stores to iTunes
- songs compressed with free codecs like Ogg Vorbis or FLAC

This is a shame, because iPod users will have no choice in buying online music, once they are looking for an alternative to iTunes.

iTunes' Digital Right Management "FairPlay" is the best example for exploiting DRM technology for benefit of proprietary interests, rather than serving musicians or providing the most convenient solution for consumers.

The best theoretical solution for consumers is:

• keep buying CDs and rip them to your computer/music player, rather than supporting misapplied DRM technology

• use music players that don't need software on your PC to connect to. Best choice is a player that pops up like an USB stick in the file explorer. One advantage is, you can copy our music from and to all computers without having to install software.

• use free compression codecs. MP3 are most used, however not the best in terms of licence, cost and technology. Ogg Vorbis (.ogg) is a free and unrestricted codec, which is now supported by a large number of players.

[fidgits]

isnt there a 'free' downloadable software that you can use instead of itunes to connect to Ipods that dont have the same restrictions?

[Plotloss]

There are literally hundreds of iPod hacks.

There are linux distros that will run on an iPod which obviates all the DRM nonsense.

[Bodo]

Plotloss said:

There are literally hundreds of iPod hacks.

There are linux distros that will run on an iPod which obviates all the DRM nonsense.

There's even one which can be installed on the iPod µclinux
However, you'd need some well fitting sandals to go down that route

[thepassenger]

The ipod can and will play MP3's with the greatest of ease. I go through no special conversion nor run anything other than itunes and simply create a playlist and dump the files in to it. Works on both the 3G and Video units.

As far as buying music from competing music stores goes. Yes you will encounter problems with putting the music on to your ipod. This is what happens when competing Digital Rights Managment (DRM) schemes interact... something goes bang. It's easy enough to remove if your a wee bit technical and can figure out how to use Google's Search box.

For a lot of my music download needs I used to use allofmp3 which operates in a different country to most of the UK and US suppliers; whilst this is a legal grey area... they do provide MP3 files with no DRM on them which is loverly

[percy flage]

fidgits said:

isnt there a 'free' downloadable software that you can use instead of itunes to connect to Ipods that dont have the same restrictions?

Google for Sharepod. My daughter uses it for her ipod and it's pretty good.

[TonyHetherington]

thepassenger said:

The ipod can and will play MP3's with the greatest of ease. I go through no special conversion nor run anything other than itunes and simply create a playlist and dump the files in to it. Works on both the 3G and Video units.

exactly what I do on my 30gb video

[fergus]

thanks for all the replies guys!