Tech: Media player help request

Subject: Tech: Media player help request
From: Kampervan
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 05:37 AM

Hi there, can anyone help. My music collection is currently held within i-tunes on my computer. I want to move away from i-tunes and was thinking of installing GOMplayer.

My question is - Can I import all of my collection from i-tunes into GOMplayer electronically or do I have to reload it all from the original CDs. Also what happens to tracks that I've purchased from the i-tunes store?

Also can I load music from GOMplayer onto my i-pod?

Thanks in advance

K/van

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Kampervan
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 05:49 AM

Or would Winamp be better for a mainly music lover (rather than lots of dvds/videos)?

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 05:58 AM

snip

iTunes automatically encrypts their music files using a protected AAC format. The iTunes software allows you to convert your files to other formats. However, you cannot convert music purchased from the Music Store, or play them on most 3rd party software.

cnet forum

good luck

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 08:35 PM

I thought they stopped doing that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Kampervan
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 03:44 AM

Seems like I got suckered by i-tunes then. All the music that I've bought legitimately from their store has to stay on their players, either within my computer or on an i-pod.

And as I've changed my computer twice now, I've only got three changes left then I lose all the music that I bought cos you're only allowed to authorise four machines after the one used to buy the tracks!

I'll stick to buying CDs in future.

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 05:12 AM

I think there are hacks but I don't know what they are and they will be illegal.

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Kampervan
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 07:03 AM

Yes Richard, I'm sure that there are, but, as you say, they'll be illegal and I do try to stay on the right side of the law.
But I can understand why some people don't!

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: gnomad
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 07:44 AM

Would it be possible to make your final move to a hard disc that you can keep with you as you move from one machine to the next? It sounds as though that is ruled out.

Maybe on the next change of machine you could keep the old one and strip it of everything except the music files and player software, freeing extra storage space and producing a dedicated machine. If you keep a backup image in an external drive that should cover most eventualities.

I've never dealt with iTunes, but that restriction sounds like a good reason never to do so.

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Kampervan
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:18 AM

Not a bad idea; thanks gnomad. It certainly can't hurt, so I'll give that a go.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: oldhippie
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 08:55 PM

I believe you can convert a store purchased iTunes AAC format to a mp3, using the "advanced" menu. Then you can save the mp3 file to a folder outside of iTunes.
Also, you can burn the purchased tunes to CDR, which play fine in home and car players.

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 09:01 PM

Yes, I always back up any Itune purchases to CD.

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Kampervan
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 04:02 AM

That's great thank you. It seems that not all is lost!

regards

K/van

Subject: RE: Tech: Media player help request
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 05:10 AM

Technically however unless there is a licence term so permitting there is no "format shift right" as such in UK copyright law and the existence of a "backup right" is hedged about with technicality.