Itunes and IPOD's

[Motherland]

One of the major problems with Ipods is that they prefer a .mp4 format which can pretty much only be got via itunes, you'll realize that all the music files that's on your computer is imported to itunes, well, during that they convert it to a .mp4, so unfortunatly, your choices are very limited. That's why I prefer Zen. My Zen V Plus has lasted years, and is compatable with nearly every file type, and those it's not, it converts.

I don't have a single mp4 on my iPod and everything sounds fine. The only things that need to be converted are .flac's.

The only reason Limewire is so "bad" (use FrostWire instead, btw) is because people are retarded enough to download ZIP and RAR files.

Or you could use a real bittorrent client...

[OOZ662]

I use FrostWire and uTorrent. Those bonus of Lime/Frostwire is the network they connect to, especially with all of the torrent sites (especially the trackers) being shut down.

[ACE]

Limewire.

[eagl]

If you have time, you can strip DRM from your music pretty easily.  Just burn it to CD, then re-rip it as mp3 without DRM.  Yea you lose a little quality but most can't tell the difference.

[tapakeg]

By the time you install any of the limewire, bearshare, kazzaa, whatever, it is too late.  It is not that the stuff you will download will be a virus,,,,,,,,,,,,they are darn near a virus.  They not only install the Peer to Peer software, but a TON other programs.  Suddenly you have quite a bit more icons in the lower right of your computer and you will have about 10 new startup programs...........gee is the computer running slower?

[OOZ662]

FrostWire won't. And I suppose I kinda take the fact that I maintain my computer for granted...sorry. (no sarcasm intended)

[-tronski-]

Use media monkey for an organiser...its IPOD compatible

 Tronsky

[zack1234]

The Beatles were the first boyband!

[VonMessa]

With over 500,000 mp3 files (about 500 Gb (+/-) , Itunes is a pain in my arse.  (I am a mobile Disc Jockey in case you wondered why I have or needed so many, and no I will never use them all, but this is what I have after almost 20 years)

No that I am trashing it, I just prefer to organize and put my own Id3 tags on my music.  The generic classifications of certain songs do not cut it for me.  I also tags songs for different uses (such as cutting the cake at a wedding, etc)  When I am running an event and need to change gears and pick different music in the blink of an eye, I do not need Itunes arguing about how the music should be tagged or organized so it stays off of the "work" laptop.

On the other hand, I find it really cool when my daughter plugs her IPod into the supplied port in my wrangler and the screen reads Jeep !   

[RTHolmes]

I just prefer to organize and put my own Id3 tags on my music.  The generic classifications of certain songs do not cut it for me.  I also tags songs for different uses (such as cutting the cake at a wedding, etc)  When I am running an event and need to change gears and pick different music in the blink of an eye, I do not need Itunes arguing about how the music should be tagged or organized so it stays off of the "work" laptop.

Wow - with 500,000 tracks I'd let Gracenote CDDB do the initial tagging. I dont think anyone uses the "genre" tag, I always disable it in views. iTunes works brilliantly wrt tagging - use the "Grouping" tag and put your keywords in there, you can then set up smart playlists with "Grouping contains xxxx".

[VonMessa]

Wow - with 500,000 tracks I'd let Gracenote CDDB do the initial tagging. I dont think anyone uses the "genre" tag, I always disable it in views. iTunes works brilliantly wrt tagging - use the "Grouping" tag and put your keywords in there, you can then set up smart playlists with "Grouping contains xxxx".

I use genre for stuff like ECS (East Coast Swing), WCS (West Coast), Shag, Cha Cha, 2-Step, Processional, Recessional, etc.  Some songs work for certain dances, that were never meant for it.  Think "Crazy Train" for a quick-step (ala Dancing with the stars)

It helps for those "brain fart" moments when I need a certain song for a certain situation.  I can sort by genre.  It also helps the guys that work for me that haven't been doing this for as long.

[RTHolmes]

ah I see what u mean - iTunes can overwrite the "Genre" tag when it checks CDDB, thats why the "Grouping" tag is better - never gets overwritten by iTunes but you can still sort/browse and playlist it like the "Genre" tag. Theres a few good ID3 tag apps out there which should make it easy to copy all your "Genre" tags over to "Grouping" if you want to try it.

[VonMessa]

ah I see what u mean - iTunes can overwrite the "Genre" tag when it checks CDDB, thats why the "Grouping" tag is better - never gets overwritten by iTunes but you can still sort/browse and playlist it like the "Genre" tag. Theres a few good ID3 tag apps out there which should make it easy to copy all your "Genre" tags over to "Grouping" if you want to try it.

Nice, I'll check it out.   

[Reschke]

iTunes totally messed up all my son's songs that he had on his Zune. In the Zune software it allowed at least I think an easier way to tag music and edit the artist and album names and tracks without having to jump through hoops. At least that is my experience so far with him only having his iPod Touch for about a month. We had all his Guns N' Roses songs edited and labeled to be just like the band name; now they are screwed up.

[VonMessa]

I don't think it is ITunes as much as it is the CDDB (CD DataBase) that it gets its tagging info from.