Multiple iPods use single iTunes appolication?

October 14, 2005 4:47 PM

I have an iPod shuffle. Next week my wife will have one. We share a single computer that has one user account and hence one iTunes application. Will we both be able to use BOTH our ipod's with one itunes application or will I have to create a new user account?
posted by Brandon Blatcher to computers & internet (10 comments total)

Yes, you can use both iPods with one user account. iTunes will identify them individually and allow you to manage files on them separately within a single instance of iTunes running under one user account. No problem.
posted by ldenneau at 4:51 PM on October 14, 2005

You can use both, but to prevent iTunes from putting exactly the same songs on both Shuffles as soon as you connect them, you should disable 'Automatically update songs and playlists' in the iPod section of iTunes preferences.

Also, if you're using a PC, don't plug both Shuffles in at the same time and expect iTunes to cope with it. It probably won't.
posted by armoured-ant at 4:53 PM on October 14, 2005

PS - Disabling 'Automatically update songs and playlists' will mean that you'll need to drag and drop songs, albums, artists or genres to your iPod in iTunes. That's all.
posted by armoured-ant at 4:54 PM on October 14, 2005

Thanks folks, you've helped keep this marriage happy and strong!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:57 PM on October 14, 2005

I'm not sure you even have to disable the auto-update thing. Each iPod you plug in causes iTunes to prompt for a name. Once you give it a name, you can set the auto-update option individually for each named iPod. This is the way my sister and I have it set up. She has a regular iPod, doesn't auto-update, and I have a Shuffle that I purchased later and I do auto-update (albeit with only a few select playlists).

As far as I can tell, I haven't had to do anything special to prevent any confusing screw-ups.
posted by odinsdream at 5:13 PM on October 14, 2005

Same situation here - no problem having both iPods auto-update. When you plug your iPod in, go to Preferences/iPod and just pick a different play list to update from.
posted by magwich at 5:43 PM on October 14, 2005

The shuffle is a really bad deal, IMO. There are a lot of flash players that have displays in the same price-range.
posted by delmoi at 6:53 PM on October 14, 2005

It was a gift, and I rather enjoy it. Also, there was an audio analysis done by some crazily-expert-type guy who determined that of all the available iPods, and several other brands of MP3 players, the Shuffle was the best at reproducing the original sound with the least degredation. Not that... I'm an audio nut, or anything. Personally I'd get the Nano, if I were buying today.
posted by odinsdream at 7:18 PM on October 14, 2005

Display would be nice, but it's not a deal breaker for ME. It's well designed for what it has, works with iTunes and a joy to use. It's doing just fine.

I strongly dislike the Nano- it's TOO thin, and too expensive for the amount of space it holds. I'd get a used Mini much quicker.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:14 AM on October 15, 2005

You can setup ITunes for multiple IPods. First set up the playlists. 250 songs is the limit you can store in a playlist.

Then set-up Preference|IPod|Music for each IPod to automatically update selected playlists only, then manually select the playlists you want for that IPod.
posted by lola at 11:27 AM on October 15, 2005