Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with ipods

Help me pick a flash-based mp3 player for my mom.

needs more cowbell — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 08:33:23 -0800

Please help me choose a flash-based mp3 player that will be easy (and loud enough) for my almost-62-year old mom to use while exercising. My mom isn't tech-phobic, but she's not of the younger, tech-saavy generation, and I don't want to get her something that will end up being too confusing and end up sitting in a drawer, unused.

I have a Zen Nano, which I like, but when I've lent it to her to use for a day she tends to forget how to find things/navigate to anything besides the podcast I've set up for her to listen to. Also, she's not hard of hearing, but she said my Zen Nano didn't get loud enough (though it's possible that was a headphone issue.)

I've been considering an ipod nano, but I've never actually used one. How does that compare to what else is available? Any better suggestions? Anything to avoid? Something with an FM radio is a plus, but not absolutely necessary. Size (physical and storage) isn't that important either.

Thanks!

iTunes playlist as text?

ellebee — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:49:51 -0800

iTunes filter: I'm trying to get a text file of a playlist in itunes...any way to do this? Got my friend an iPod and pre-loaded it with her favorite tunes and shipped it to her. Her iTunes was set to auto-update and she lost all the tunes I had put on it, so now I'm sending her cds of the music. I want to include a list of all the songs. Is it possible to do what I want? I'm willing to download a program to do so if necessary.

Which sound system iPod Hifi or Bose Sounddock?

jeremias — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 18:18:32 -0800

Which sound system: iPod Hifi or Bose Sounddock? Small apartment, no stereo system. The iPod Hifi is purty expensive at $350, the Bose Sounddock is also expensive at $299 but I might be able to get a discount to bring it down to $250. So is the iPod Hifi worth the extra $100?

Why do I let Apple own me?

ebeeb — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 19:25:12 -0800

Have you used ipodmods? My ipod's hard drive just kicked the bucket and the apple "genius" told me ipodmods could replace it...but I'm not exactly comfortable putting my iPod in a box and mailing it out into the unknown. At least if I keep it I can get 10% off a new one...

It's a 40 GB 4th generation, just over 1yr old, warrenty just up, and I'd much rather pay $150 to replace my hard drive then shell out for a new one.

Boy, this sounds like a story I've heard over, and over, and over...

Does freeipods.com actually work?

anathema — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:09:32 -0800

Does anyone have any personal experience with freeipods.com? My brother wants in. I'm more than sceptical. I read this and a bunch of comments on other sites. I understand the concept, but how long can this type of system sustain itself? For what it's worth, some people have definetely received free ipods.

How can I get Apple's iPod Mini to talk to the PC using FireWire?

nickmark — Thu, 12 Aug 2004 12:08:46 -0800

iPod Mini question: I've checked AskMe archives and asked this on Apple's discussion board, to no avail. How can I get the Mini to talk to the PC using FireWire? [MI] I recently got a new home computer and a new iPod mini. I also have a 20 GB touch-wheel iPod. iTunes seems unable to recognize the Mini when I connect it with the FireWire port; there's also occasional system-wide weirdness when I do that (can't access the mini through Windows Explorer ("I/O device error", I think), occasional crashes, and iPod Updater gets all kinds of confused and hangs and stuff). The 20 GB iPod works just fine with the FireWire. The Mini also works fine -- if I plug it into a USB2 port. I'm on XP Service Pack 1, I've installed the FireWire patch, and I've updated both iPods using iPod Updater 7-15-2004.

It's not a huge stresser, since I can use both iPods -- but what with everything being brand new, I feel like the Mini should be able to talk to the FireWire. I shouldn't have to use one on FireWire and one on USB2, y'know? I've reinstalled iTunes (4.6) several times, and followed the other tips I could find around here. Since the 20GB works, I'm pretty sure the FireWire card is OK... is there something different about how the Mini does things, or some trick to getting the Mini to talk with FireWire?

iPod and accessories travel kit

grabbingsand — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 05:13:53 -0800

We've had several "need a bag/pouch/case" questions, but I don't believe we've had exactly this one ... My newish employer smiles on the idea of music while you work, so I need a means of carrying my iPod and all of its accessories (headphones, iTrip, AC adapter) back and forth to work. Right now, kit and kaboodle is in a Royal Crown-esque drawstring bag, but it is showing wear & tear quicker than I'd like and it is no safeguard against banging around. Ideas?

Are there external wifi-receiver devices I can plug into an iPod?

timyang — Tue, 01 Jun 2004 22:53:31 -0800

Are there external wifi-receiver devices I can plug into an iPod? If so, can you please direct me to some choices?

Did refrigerator magnets hurt my iPod?

matteo — Tue, 11 May 2004 18:44:42 -0800

iPods and refrigerator magnets don't mix. Or do they? I (accidentally) put an iPod in the same small backpack where, among books and other stuff, there was also (I didn't know that) an envelope with three small refrigerator magnets inside. the iPod seems to work fine. more inside it's still under warranty, but should I ask Apple to check it out? is the magnetic field of the 3 small magnets strong enough to do damage?
thanks

ipods in Europe

grumblebee — Sat, 01 May 2004 08:50:57 -0800

Can I take my American iPod to England and (with nothing but an an adaptor to correctly plug into a British socket) plug it into the wall for recharging? Will it accept UK power? Will it blow up? I want to listen to music while I'm there, but I don't want to break an expensive piece of equipment. I tried Google and Apple.com, but I couldn't find anything about this.

IPod issues

Peter H — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 12:06:56 -0800

Help/Advice requested: My beloved Ipod is actin' peculiar and unstable [more inside] Here's the sad story of my current drama: I got it in December and have had three months of perfect perfect Ipod enjoyment. The other day I plugged it into to update the playlist, and then when I unplugged it from the firewire cable (properly ejected from itunes) well, the touchpad started completely freaking out, or the screen started freaking out like the touchpad was being wildly spun. The sound of the clicking made it sound like a geiger counter. Very strange. The only way I could stop the clicking was to engage the hold-button - but that makes it really difficult to use. (play a song, then press hold, etc)

Worst off, it would start clicking during playback and randomly pause or start a song like it was possessed. Anyway, long story made shorter: I ended up wiping the drive with the Ipod software but it still is screwed up! Now it intermittently crashes or freezes. I desperately want to love my Ipod as much as I do but this is really disappointing, ya know?

Question is: Has anyone had this happen? Do I have a ghost messing with my Ipod, or living within it? (that's a joke question) Do you know a good maintenance tool for it? (that's a serious question) thanks for the help!