mp3 players and i-pods?

Subject: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 07:22 AM

I know its a dumb question but whats the difference and what are the advantages.

And could i upload Blues rags and Hollers 1 and 2 and The Blues project album with Ian Buchanan etc from somewhere, if I got one or either of these devices.

sorry if this is a silly question asked and answered many times before.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 08:45 AM

Definition of Mp3
MP3, short for MPEG-1 Layer 3, is an audio compression format common on the Net these days. It can take larger audio recordings and shrink them down to a fraction of their size while losing little if any fidelity of the sound. It is a very common format with a lot of free players available online.


ipod

A portable hard disk drive produced by the Apple Computer corporation. It is typically used to store music files such as MP3s but can also be used for storing other files such as images or other data.

Definition of Mp3 Player
A MP3 player is an electronic device that can play digital audio files. The term 'MP3 player' is a misnomer, as most players play more than the MP3 file format. A more accurate, but less utilized term is DAP (Digital Audio Player).

Since the MP3 format is widely used, almost all players can play that format. In addition, there are many other digital audio formats. Some formats are proprietary, such as MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA), and Advanced Audio Codec (AAC). Some of these formats also may incorporate digital rights management (DRM), such as WMA DRM, which are often part of paid download sites. Other formats are patent-free or otherwise open, such as Vorbis, FLAC, and Speex (all part of the Ogg open multimedia project).

Well-known MP3 players include:

Rio Players by Rio Audio
iPod by Apple Computer
Dell DJ by Dell (this is actually a rebranded Creative Nomad)
Creative Nomad by Creative Labs
Many models of player by iRiver


All in all Al, its the same old problem of Apple/IBM (Compatible) issue with Computers.

Basically Al, if you have a CD and put it in your CD player of your computer and plug your MP3 player into the computer, you can copy the music straight across from your CD to MP3 player.

Memory is one of the big issues. The more memory the more songs on the MP3.

You really have to go to a decent shop and get them to demonstrate the plus ponts of each MP3 player.

I hope thats a starter for you and helpful without being confusing.

Les

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 08:50 AM

Thanks les.

they both play songs though? does one do more than the other and what would you recommend?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:05 AM

Yep they both play songs.

My daughter has an MP3 player with 512mb memory. She can store about a hundred or so numbers on it.
The beauty of it is that it is small and slips into your pocket and you use headphones to listen to it.

Remember the old Sony Walkmans. Its a bit like that really.

>>does one do more than the other and what would you recommend? <<

Yes they do, and it all depends on price. I wouldnt dare recommend any particular model. The product most in demand is the Ipod and is expensive. I personnally think there are equally as good products on the market other than Ipod, and cheaper.

Just like buying a computer, you need to ask yourself, exactly what the purpose of your requirements are. Armed with that info, go to somewhere like PC World and get one of their techie guys to give you advice (plus/minus) points on their models. Don't buy immediately, go away and consider what you have been told.

Once you have got a few models that might suit your requirements, search for them on the Internet, to find the cheapest supplier.

EBay has a lot of of MP3's but you need to buy from a reputable UK supplier, not soembody from Hong Kong etc.
Some will offer a cheap model and then charge you twice as much as the unit itself for delivery. You need to add all the costs together to work the final cost out. One of the problems with suppliers from Hong Kong etc is long delivery time, with very high dleivery costs, and people who are so far away.
Only buy from top rated dealers, or you may never see your MP3 delivered.

Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:09 AM

One otehr ting Al.

If all you want to do is put your music on the computer and create a libray of all your music, then their is little point buying an MP3.

However if you want to be able to listen to your music on the move without disturbing other people then an MP3 is the way to go.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,bflat
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:27 AM

I'm listening to library music now while I rip and load my schuffle ipod. I think it is better to get a player that allows for folders where you can load by genre, artist, CD title, etc. It is just amazing and totally fun.

Ellen

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Amos
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:37 AM

The iPod IS an MP3 player. That is it stores and plays back songs in MP3 format.

I love mine. It also serves as a storage for data files and phtos.

And sexy, too. Who could ask for more?


A

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:39 AM

Yes that is a very valid point Ellen, Its exactly the same as organising your work on PC.
If you dont bother, it becomes a big mess.

However it all boils down to how much money you can afford at the end of the day.

Les

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:43 AM

My daughters MP3 does the same job Amos, after all it no more than a flash drive.

Its a question of cost. I paid £35 for my daughters MP3. That is as much as I was prepared to pay. She is dead chuffed as well.

How much did your IPod cost.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:50 AM

This link may help

http://uk.bizrate.com/buy/browse__cat_id--499,prerd--1.html

Les

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Amos
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 09:55 AM

AN iPod is a bit more than a flash drive; the sound is very carefully engineered to work well despite small earbuds. It also has a slick interface which I enjoy. I don't know how much it cost -- perhaps $100 -- but then I have had it for some time, a couple of years.

The thing is to enjoy 'em. I just got an FM transmitter I can stick in mine to get it to play over a car or other radio. Kewl.

A

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 10:09 AM

I bought it in the spring and it cost about $150 US; now it sells for $129 for 1GB; the nano is $199 for 2 GB;$249 for 4 GB; $299 for 30 GB and $399 for 60 GB. My son-in-law has the big one and has over 500 pictures that he plays on a 55" TV with music and the pictures are schuffled. Great fun to see the babies like that.

I do agree that without files it is like a messy PC. I use my ipod while exercising mostly and I like the randomness as it keeps me stimulated.

My son works in Manhatten and uses his ipod to block out the cell phone users and the city noise while he commutes. He feels it helps him arrive more calmly.

Ellen

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 10:41 AM

Thankyou all very much for all your help. I am a little further down the road on this matter now.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 10:47 AM

For the most part, you pay more to get more memory. Ipod is one of the more expensive brands. If a company makes several models and comes out with a new model, you can often get the older one cheaper. Roam the web to look at features vs price. Select a model and then check prices on the web.

I got a 6 gig Creative Labs Zen Micro to take to the gym. It holds about 2000 songs, as advertised, in wma format (about half the size of a n mp3 file, most players handle both). It weighs 3 oz and does not hold all of my CDs at once, but you can shuffle songs in and out of the device from a music library on your computer. Dick just got a bigger Creative Labs Zen Touch 40 gig, which weighs 8 oz and did not cost much more than mine, because a new model had come out.

If you want snazzy cases and accessories, there are more for Ipods than for the others.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 10:52 AM

It would seem that prices in the USA are cheaper than over here in the UK.

Amos
I know its a bit more than a flash drive. In the UK an IPod is like buying a top range car. Not everybody can afford to buy one.
It really has to do with what you want out of the thing.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From:
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 11:19 AM

I bought my MP3 player in October while we were in America. It was $70 and considerabley cheaper than if I had bought a similar model in the UK. I wouldn't be without mine now. It is so simple to use. I have downloaded my CD's onto my computer and transfered them to the MPs player. I recommend getting one!

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: NormanD
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 12:30 PM

Sorry to be the ghost at the wedding, but one word of warning about Apple iPods: they're very attractive to theft. The head phones are immediately recognisable (they're bright white), and while you're bopping along you might be less aware of your street surroundings. So, be careful about the risk of street robbery.

Take the word of one who knows, I got mine stolen off me after about a month.

I got a replacement and now use inconspicuous (i.e. black) head phones. The Apple ones are rubbish, anyway.

And following Weelittledrummer's suggestion, I'm gonna load Blues Rags & Hollers on it and bop away to that now.

norman

London, SE6 (high crime district)

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Terry K
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 01:05 PM

I really don't know, but I think iPod is bigger in capacity than a lot of the cheaper options. I have the 20 gig model and have loaded all of my CDs, many of my tapes and some of my LPs and it's still only just over half full.

The original headphones fitted very nicely in my bin, because that seemed to be the right place for them. The sound through my surround-ears Sennheisers is simply fantastic. I have just got the in-car device to play the iPod through the car stereo (not the cassette device that Belkin do - that doesn't work properly - be warned!).

I also have the Bose dock which I take camping. It means I can carry my whole collection wherever I want to go and however I want to travel (Panasonic sound reducing headset is useful for aeroplanes).

All brands have their fans and knockers - just get one that's big enough and enjoy the hell out of it. It's the future and it's happening right now!

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 01:14 PM

I think Villain's posts have been on target. I was given an iPOD and had to give it back because I was going to throw it through a window. Overpriced and overpraised. Currently use an inexpensive model called MuVo that does almost everything I want including some things a ME-Pod can't without additional investment.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 01:27 PM

"Overpriced and overpraised."

And they look wimpy too! :-P

Sony HD-MD recorder all the way baby!

"I have the 20 gig model and have loaded all of my CDs, many of my tapes and some of my LPs and it's still only just over half full."

Wow... what a miniscule music collection you have...

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Lester
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 02:19 PM

Clinton said - Sony HD-MD recorder all the way baby!
But only if you want the most crap software you have ever loaded on your PC. Sonic Stage and its predcessors just srew you around I had to regularly remove it and reinstall it just to get it to recognise my MD. Plus any system that wont let you erase discs except via its interface software should never have left the factory.

I have a number of Ipods around for me amnd mind and they are wonderful and the software ITunes is idiot proof

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Amos
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 03:15 PM

Well, I guess everyone chooses according to their lights. I am delighted with my iPod anfd have never had a moment's trouble with it. I know some folks who had problems with early batteries, and the recent nanos had a screen fragility issue, both generously remedied and put right by the manufacturer with minimal fuss.

iPods also work very well with iTunes, which is a big plus.

You can coordinate your whole hard disk worth of music through it.

All very easy and a delight to listen to when on walks, in boring meetings, lying on the beach, or sunbathing in the back yard. :D

Oh, sorry....forgot about the winter thing.

A

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Tootler
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 04:22 PM

I agree with Lester about the Sonic stage software. It's crap. It won't let you do anything and all because Sony are paranoid about DRM, IMO.

I use mine for recording and the recorder itself and the mic I bought for it is fine. However, you have to upload the recordings to the PC via the line out/line in as Sonic stage will allow you to upload your own recordings just once and you cannot edit them once you have them on the PC as they upload in Sony's proprietary atrac format. Intensely frustrating.

Maybe less of a problem if you want to use the MD player as a media player, but it limits is functionality as a recorder.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: podman
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 04:58 PM

I started an earlier thread over my problems with an iPOD. Since then I've come to hate them even more, and when I talk to people about them it turns out most of them have the same reactions as I do logically speaking. But they are a hot item regardless.

I know a family that had problems with two of them. They were told that Apple would do nothing for the one that was over a year old and now useless, but for the other one would replace it with a used iPOD of similar vintage for the perceived difference in price.

My iTUNES software repeatedly bombed my system because I was unfortunate enough to use a computer that wasn't a MAC.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 06:28 PM

I recently bought an iRiver H340 on eBay. Cost just over £200, and it's excellent. Has a 40 gb hard drive, a built in mike and also a plug in mike - does fine recordings. It's multiformat so it can handle many file types. Will display jpeg photo files.
I wouldn't buy any mp3 player that doesn't make live recordings - eg iPod.
Ray

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 08:27 PM

I kind of was UN impressed when i-pods offered a special version done in U2 colors and it only cost an extra hundred bucks.

But did it come pre-loaded with U2 songs? NAH.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 10:26 PM

Hey I have had MP3s and other digital juke boxs other than Apple but the I Pod is still going to be the best overall.
Yes I Tunes can try to take over a non Mac system but what software dosent.   When loading any software check out how to load it first so that it affects the least amount of programs before you load it.
I do alot travel by air and this does keep you relaxed on those over packed flights and keeps the nut case in the seat next to you from trying to talk to you.
I Pod or MP3? I have had 2 to 3 of each and the next will be Apple.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 02:57 AM

Well, SonicStage is FAR from ones only option....

D'uh

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Terry K
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 04:16 AM

"Wow... what a miniscule music collection you have... " - Clinton

yeah but maybe my dick is bigger than yours. See, I can do childish as well....

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Herge
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 05:38 AM

What sites have a good selection of folk / trad for downloading - I use Napster but its somewhat restricted in relation to traditional music - I dont mind paying.

Any suggestions?

Herge

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 07:17 AM

I've a Sony MD-HD and am happy with it as it does what I want (at the moment) but some of its features are frustrating: like if you use one pc to down load to a disc you can't up load it to another computer; you can't fast forward through a track etc, but it was cheaper than an IPod when I got it.

Just a word or warning though, my neice got one of those adaptors to broadcast your IPod to your car radio for Christmas but they are (I'm told) illegal in the UK as they come under the broadcasting legislation and you'd need a licence!

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Shiplap Structure3
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 11:55 AM

Probably one of the most important points to consider in selecting a mp3 player is how easy is it to thread the attachment cord through the eyelets. It seems strange that the latest cutting edge technology needs a length of 3 amp fuse wire to get it set up Only on mudcat will anyone remember 3 amp fuse wire

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Lester
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 01:44 PM

Clintron - Well, SonicStage is FAR from ones only option....

Then why do Sony supply the bug ridden package with their equipment?

Dazbo - Yes they are illegal as you are setting up a pirate radio station, never stopped me though!

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Tootler
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 05:33 PM

Well, SonicStage is FAR from ones only option....

Elaborate, please. If "FAR" is meant to be a hint, I haven't got it so please be less cryptic.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 09:28 PM

If your car is old enough to have a cassette player, all you need to play an MP-3 player through the car radio is one of those little cassette adapters they sell for more-conventional (read old-fashioned)
CD players. No broadcasting a-tall.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Terry K
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 03:57 AM

I tried the cassette adapter route but got bad "feedback" from the engine's electronics. I was going to go the radio route but the reproduction can only be as good as an FM radio station, with associated interference etc. So I now have the permanent wired connection into the car stereo just like new cars are being supplied with. It's the same as having a lead to connect the iPod to the main hifi system at home.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 04:10 PM

"...go to somewhere like PC World and get one of their techie guys to give you advice..."

That's not my experience with PC world, I'm afraid. Generally speaking, they may have the jargon, but they don't have the know how. That's if you can find one of them in the first place.

So I'd sooner get my advice here.

My son gave me a nice little MP3 player for my birthday, a Matsunichi326. Very small, beautiful sound. I've been using it to hold stuff from CDs, and also for live recording in sessions - I'm not really interested in downloading from the net, except where the music is only available that way.

What I've been doing is make MP3 files from CDs and store them on my computer, and load and unload them on the palyer as and when I feel like it, from the store on the PC, or on CD-Rs where I've put them to save hard drive space.

Now I'm looking into the options for something reasonably cheap that can hold more music (or speech) at a time. The one I've got has 256MB, so a bit more memory would be handy. However the only way of finding tracks is to scroll through them, and that would be a bit of a pain if I had significantly more memory to play with, so it'd be good to be able to be able to store the tunes or the chapters in accessible folders.

So if anyone out there could do better than the PC "techies" on this, I'd be grateful.

While I'm about it - for turning CD tracks into MP3 files I've been using a program called FreeRIP (sounds a bit like a cut-rate Murder Inc...) which does a great job, but takes its time about it. Takes round an hour to process a CD. Anyone know a good one that's significantly faster?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 07:46 PM

we use one of those cassette adapters in our vehicle with our Iriver FP750 player.

(advantages over Ipod = builtin fm tuner, recorder can be set for the builtin mic, or use a stereo line-in (up to 44khz so the quality is good), Ive used it to record from lps, tapes etc, and convert it to mp3 which apple doesnt let you do as far as I know) the iriveruses regular AA batteries (I just use rechargables), apple may have solved the battery problems but as far as I know, after a couple of years when the rechargable battery wears out you have to send it in for replacement.)

.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 08:03 PM

Just to chip in. I have an ipod and a couple of other mp3 players. Ipod wins hands down. Saying that, i'm a Mac user, so it runs flawlessly with itunes software. Idiot proof and totally reliable. (Not sure if the PC versions are as smooth though)

Regarding folk music downloads.
Go to www.wovenwheatwhispers.co.uk

A wide range of folk / acoustic / roots music with 10+ albums being added every week

Cheers
LL

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: woodsie
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 04:26 AM

Ipod video = excellence in design, performance and versatility. Worth every penny.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: mooman
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 04:35 AM

I bought my daughter an iPod Mini a year or so ago and it never leaves her side. It integrates perfectly with the iTunes on my home computer, sorts by folders of artists, is totally reliable given the hammering it gets (as mentioned by Lancashire Lad above) and has an excellent sound.

I agree with NormanD though about the theft issue. My daughter (then 17) and 5'2" was mugged last summer in the city centre by a bunch of four yobbos who snatched her iPod and ran off. Being rendered totally incandescent, her normally shy disposition turned to one of a raging bull and she ran after them and caught up and snatched it back. The torrent of high-speed and high-volume abuse and personal deprecation they were then subjected to caused these big brave lads to turn tail and run off empty-handed. Whilst being intensely proud of my "have-a-go" newly-feisty daughter it does, however, illustrate an important personal security risk of wearing such a fashionable device.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:01 AM

You'd think there'd be a market niche for deliberately unfashionable stuff. Except of course that'd just become fashionable, the way scruffy and torn clobber becomes fashionable. Or at the other extreme, Burberry became so fashionable it got banned in some places.

iPod - the drawback to them, as I understand it, aside from price, is the way they use a built-in battery, and when it wears out it's a problem getting it replaced. They seem pretty well made.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:25 AM

Blimey Moo, she was very brave, however you are lucky to have a daughter still.
I can understand her wanting to get it back, but when you consider what these idiots are capable of these days, she took her life into her own hands.

I have told my daughter, that if anybody tries to steal anything of hers, then just let them take it.
You can always buy another one, but you only have one life.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: mooman
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:34 AM

I agree Villan! But these things happen on the spur of the moment and some people just do "have a go" without thinking. I can imagine Lady McMoo doing the same (with the miscreants being severely eviscerated!). You're absolutely right though...

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: mooman
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:39 AM

P.S. (off topic alert) Lady McMoo (5'1") is possibly the only person in the UK caught on camera (way back when in the 70s) famously giving the enormous Geoff Capes a resounding whack round the chops on Grandstand after he hoisted her over his head for a laugh at an athletics meeting at Crytal Palace!

Perhaps it runs in the genes or maternal inherited mitochodria!

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Grab
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 08:40 AM

Just acquired an iRiver T30 from Amazon for £61. 512MB is plenty enough for me, plus it's Flash rather than hard-drive so it'll last forever. Battery-wise it's a single AAA so no problems with needing a special charger or anything. And sound quality can only be described as perfect - there's less noise from it than from my hi-fi CD player!

The main reason I got that rather than another was that it has a built-in mic *and* a line-in connector. So we can use it as a dictaphone for notes on songs, or for practising songs on our own, and we can also hook it up to a mixer to record performance. Most MP3 players only have either a mic *or* a line-in connection.

Graham.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 11:52 AM

the Iriver wins hands down for me, compared to the Ipod its less expensive, uses simple AA batteries -not some builtin rechargable that you have to send in after it wears out. It also has a number of functions such as recording ability, and builtin fm tuner that the Ipod doesnt.

(I can record music from lps, tape etc to the iriver and play it as mp3
something that my friends with ipods arent able to do )

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Lester
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 03:36 PM

GUEST, petr
(I can record music from lps, tape etc to the iriver and play it as mp3
something that my friends with ipods arent able to do )

Guess your feinds need to read the iTUNES help files then. iPODs will do all that easily.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 04:44 PM

Any advice on that other point I raised, about a quicker way of turning the content of CDs into compact music files, such as MP3s ? Via the PC.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:07 PM

Not something to be terribly alarmed about, but at ZD Editor Larry Seltzer's "Security Blog" Creative Worm:

"F-Secure is reporting that Creative has shipped a Windows worm on some of their MP3 players in Japan. Users would have to browse the player on their PC and launch the infected file. Oops.

posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 1:54 PM"

Just a reminder that anything that can connect to and can exchange information with your PC (or Mac) must be considered a possible source of malware. Sound files and images can contain worms that - so far as reported thus far - won't disable your "player" but can be transmitted to your computer. Cell phones have been attacked in a few cases. The Creative worm is, for most, just a "proof of concept" example that shows that mp3 players can be infected. Instant Messaging (IM) messages currently are a very active infection route, and some "pocket devices" can receive them for later transfer to your computer.

Especially if you are inclined to download from less than first-line web sources, or might be tempted to click on "too good to be true free offers," keep your AV and AS systems up and current when exchanging data between your computer and "innocent" accessory devices.

John

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,lester
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:08 PM

so I assume the ipod has a line-in? with which you can record from an lp or tape. If you have to go through a computer its definitely not easier than the iriver.

(but hey if you are happy with it, great. I use mine to record sessions
and I know Id need add-ons to do it with an Ipod so its not for me)

the itunes site notes the following- which is definitely not an issue with iriver..
'Synchronization occurs only in one direction, from your computer to your iPod. This means you cannot transfer music, automatically or manually, from your iPod to a computer, and you cannot use iPod to copy a music library from one computer to another. But, if you legally are allowed to copy music files, you can configure your iPod as a hard disk to move music files.'

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:09 PM

sorry that was from me.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 05:40 PM

I don't get that - "you cannot transfer music, automatically or manually, from your iPod to a computer" but "you can configure your iPod as a hard disk to move music files." How can both those statements be true? Where else would you be moving the music files but to the computer?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:15 PM

McGrath of Harlow - I use Real Player (free version) to copy tracks from a CD to my iRiver (v. similar to an iPod). You can set it up to convert to mp3 and copy, does a CD in 10-12 minutes on my 5 year old machine, (speed 750 MHz, ie fairly slow these days).
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Amos
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:44 PM

With iTUnes, you drag the track list of the CD into your iTunes collection and the computer transfers them. You can drag them onto the iPod if it is connected.

A

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Terry K
Date: 14 Jan 06 - 05:26 AM

McGrath, - I recommend iTunes for converting your CDs, absolutely brilliant, very quick (and free!) - I don't think there's any difference between Mac and PC (I have PC). You simply stick the CD in, click download and it all happens before your very eyes. I suspect all of the similar programs do it but I love the way the track numbers, names, time, genre boxes all fill in automatically (there's an auto-access route to some master database).

Though I haven't needed to do it, when you attach your iPod to the USB it comes up as an E: drive in My Computer, then you can do what you like. Allegedly.

On the battery front, I guess it depends how much you use the beast. I go on the principle that technology moves so fast that my iPod will probably be well redundant by the time the battery expires.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Grab
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 02:11 PM

Terry, that's an approach I don't get.

I avoided getting MP3 players early because they didn't do what I wanted (record voice and line-in), and/or they didn't have enough capacity for a reasonable amount of stuff (several hours of music), and/or they were too expensive, and/or they were too clunky.

These days though, you can pretty much get whatever you want to fit any of those niches. OK, you can guarantee that it'll have more capacity or be cheaper this time next year, but you'll still have it. Unless you change how you use it (if you want to store files as well, or if you decide that actually you *do* want to rip every CD in your collection to your MP3 player), then your decision will still be valid, and your player should still keep working for you. I guess my point is that unless you've had to make some big compromise in the player you're buying today, you shouldn't *need* another until your first one breaks.

And that's where Apple can go swivel on a splintery stick, as far as I'm concerned (and all the others with built-in batteries). No way am I spending all that on an iPod, just to have the damn thing die because it was badly designed in the first place. That's also why I'd rather not have a hard-drive one, because they just aren't as durable as Flash ones.

Graham.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Lester
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 04:51 PM

Graham

You are oviously not a "gadget boy". No one waits until a gadget has failed before buying a new one. When something different/better/shineyer comes out you just buy it. I have 3 ipods of various vintages but I will buy the next on that takes my fancy as well. Its probably why I have 7 melodeons and another on on order.

Join gadgetdom buy shiney consumer durables wether you need them or not :-)

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 07:04 PM

If it ain't broke don't fix it - and don't replace it either, if it still does the business.

When they do break down, of course, with most gadgets it turns out there's no one around who can fix them, and if they could it'd cost more than buying a replacement. Sad.

That's one reason traditional musical instruments are better objects of desire.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Grab
Date: 15 Jan 06 - 07:46 PM

Oh no, I'm definitely into my shinies too! :-) That's why instrument-wise I've currently clocked up 5 acoustic guitars, 1 electric, 2 octave mandolins and 1 fiddle, plus my wife's electric piano too.

But I'd rather get *different* shinies and have a range of stuff to play with, instead of spending money upgrading stuff that I don't really need to. That means I make sure the first one I buy is one that'll last. Unless I'm consciously just buying something to get me by, of course, in which case I'll buy an average one and upgrade when it no longer does what I want.

McGrath, for ripping CDs to MP3, I thoroughly recommend CDEX (free software). Simple, and does the job well.

Graham.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Terry K
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 03:37 AM

I guess it comes down to how you want to use it. My 20 gig iPod is for my whole collection so all the CDs, tapes, LPs can stay in the loft. And my whole music library is managed on the laptop, so for example if a particular song is being discussed on Mudcat, you can find and play all the versions you own instantly.

I see above that people like the iRiver, but it's only got 1 gig so is definitely only suitable for keeping a few selected tracks.

And the cost difference is just that - £80 for 1 gig versus £200 for 20 gig.

regards, Terry

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: alison
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 05:54 AM

OK, slightly off topic.... I was using an ITrip to play songs through my car radio, worked realyy weel for a while, now appears to have died.

has anyone else tried any transmitters that they recommend, or am I doomed to the "via the cassette" way?

thanks

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 12:37 PM

actually the iriver comes with a 20gig hard disk as well

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 12:44 PM

I got my 40 Gb iRiver H340 for 220 pounds on eBay
Superb piece of kit.
Ray

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 03:34 PM

thanks everyone for your help.

I finally settled on an MP3 player that cost £25. It has over a thousand MB so if Les got a hundred songs on his daughjters 550mb job, I should be able to get 3 or 4 albums no trouble.

Now can I upload that old Blues project Album from anywhere - the one with Koerner, Ray and Glover and Mark Spoloestra and Dave Van Ronk?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rasener
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 03:47 PM

Always got to go one better eh Al :-)

Hope you don't listen to it whilst you do your Spotlight Guest performance at Market Rasen Folk Club :-)

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Jan 06 - 04:40 PM

I've got the Maze at Nottingham before then Les - god alone know how I'm going to fill THAT room - no bugger's ever heard of me. What happened was, that I got this really good review for the album in Maverick magazine. I think on the strength of that, I got the gig at The Maze.......and fair enough it was a better review than jackson Browne or Christy moore got in the same issue - you know, really detailed song by song - still it doesn't alter the fact that no bugger's ever heard of me.

I think if I survive the Maze experience - MarkeT Rasen will come as light relief! One good thing, The Maze have given me No Fixed Abode as a support act and Tony and Una have got some sort of a following - so who knows......watch this space and see Whittle go mad......to the music on his mp3!

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 07:01 AM

nobody knows about The Blues project then?

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Scrump
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 05:17 AM

Just seen this thread. I'm interested in getting an mp3 player, mainly for listening to music while on the train etc., but if it would record as well that would be good. Using SD cards or similar would be my preference, if such a player exists? Physical size isn't the most important factor to me, but the capacity in terms of memory size is (if you can use SD-type cards you should be able to swap them in and out anyway (?)).

Also I gather that if you use ipods you get locked into itunes in some way (?) I'm not interested in downloading software from the web (not normally anyway) - I mainly want to create mp3s from CDs or vinyl records I already own (I can do all this so I don't need advice on that, thanks).

I just thought that things might have moved on since the above thread was last updated in Jan this year, and wonder if anyone has any current recommendations? With the festive season approaching, I might drop a few appropriate hints ;-)

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 06:37 AM

Maplin have a really cheap Mp3 player (£9.98) that comes with an 128Mb SD card!

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Scrump
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 06:46 AM

Thanks manitas. That sounds pretty good! I use SD cards in my camera anyway, so it would be handy to be able to use the cards for either purpose. I'll check it out.

Subject: RE: mp3 players and i-pods?
From: Rockhen
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 12:15 PM

Whoops, WLD, just read the last posts on here after PM-ing you about mp3 players, sorry. You got one and I hadn't read that! I've got 2 albums of yours on my mp3 player already. Keep 'em coming!