MP3 Player experts?

[Subarubrat]

I just picked one up as a solution to timeshifting radio and other stuff to my commute. I can also watch all sorts of great flight training videos and such while sitting around. I have zero experience with these so I am starting from square 1.

So far I have copied my MP3s (DRM free). I have also downloaded Anapod as an alternative to that iTunes business I don't want on my machine.

I do have a few things I would like to do, and if you know how please fill me in.

1. Is there a way to lock the ipod, or directories. For example I want to leave it on my desk at work and not have to worry about someone picking it up and messing with it or seeing some song title they don't like and pitching a fit.

2. I download a few radio show captures from the newsgroups, O&A Ron/Fez and want to have them appear in the podcast area of the iPod. I can copy the MP3s but they get listed as songs, any way to directly copy to ipod folders?

3. I can copy the movie part of a DVD to ipod via converting it to mp4, but what about a whole DVD functionality with the menus and all, anything like that being done?

4. Ipod mame and such, any good EMUs out there or any must do software?

[miner2049er]

1. Is there a way to lock the ipod, or directories. For example I want to leave it on my desk at work and not have to worry about someone picking it up and messing with it or seeing some song title they don't like and pitching a fit.

Yes, there is a lock in the menu somewhere, I don't have mine with me to be exact, but it works like a 4 figure safe combination lock.

2. I download a few radio show captures from the newsgroups, O&A Ron/Fez and want to have them appear in the podcast area of the iPod. I can copy the MP3s but they get listed as songs, any way to directly copy to ipod folders?

Not with the current version of Anapod. Movies always show up as Music Videos too. It is on the todo list for Anapod.
If you look in Windows Explorer once you have your iPod connected, and show all hidden and system files, you can see the firmware and database files etc, but I wouldn't recommend too much experimentation with them. See the link below.

3. I can copy the movie part of a DVD to ipod via converting it to mp4, but what about a whole DVD functionality with the menus and all, anything like that being done?

Not so far as I'm aware. Film only.

4. Ipod mame and such, any good EMUs out there or any must do software?

I don't think (though I don't know) that you can run them on the Apple firmware. For MAME I think you have to install Linux, and there are alternate firmwares made by Rockbox. Rockbox have instructions for reverting to the Apple firmware once you're done though.

Rockbox

[Subarubrat]

Thanks, combined with your input and allot of experimentation and reading I have found a few solutions and come up against a few new problems. The ipod experience reminds me of the mac video out a few years ago where you feel like you are boxing with the computer. The ipod has an easy and intuitive interface as long as you use the limited and limiting functionality exactly as they intend.

The unit being database driven creates solutions and problems. For example, all I want to do is have 2 or 3 mp3 files that I can drag into a specific "folder" or catagory on the ipod and have it appear in that catagory when I use the unit. However if you drag and drop these into a given area they appear in the music area under unknown. In order to get them into the right catagory you have to edit the mp3 tag. Fine if you have a long term keeper but for a daily thing it is annoying. What I want to do is drag and drop, then grab and go as I head out the door for work. If I am running a bit late I don't want to sit there editing mp3 tags. Open to suggestions on how to do this one.

For video, I converted a movie to mp4 and dropped it on and it worked. Then using the same app I converted 25 video files from a commercial pilot training course and dropped them on, blank screen when I try to play them. I imagine this is a matter of fine tuning as it says the format is invalid due to some reason, perhaps some encoding option I have to deal with, anyone a whiz at converting video for ipod?


I found the lock function, got that set up but it doesn't lock after a few min of not touching the controls as it indicated, I will have to do some more digging.

All things considered it is a solution to my problem (assuming I get the video working) but I would love to make it work a bit better. The sync option is useless if it moves things to the wrong directory, why can't I just indicate which heading I want it under when it syncs from a specific folder? That would fix everything. Looks like I have allot more fiddling ahead.

Oh yeah, anyone ever used Avex DVD to iPod Video Suite 4.0 ? How about ImTOO DVD ?

[miner2049er]

PM me an email address where I can send you attachments and I will either send you a couple of apps or host them for you to grab depending on size when I get home.

They are what I use to quickly edit tags of podcasts that Juice grabs for me, and what I use for conversion to ipod video from either DVD disc or video file.

I like you bought the ipod as the quickest and easiest way to listen to stuff in various places. I get in the car and use an itrip, I get home and either use a dock or a set of speakers, I get to work and use speakers. I also have the video output connector so i can watch videos on a TV.

Great for those rainy days on holiday stuck inside. The picture quality of the video even blown up to a tv screen is amazing. I was honestly very surprised.

IMO it's worth editing a couple of tags to have the ease of use on the go. I hear the peeps on here saying the Sansa's drag n drop is the bomb, but I got sick of putting batteries in my fm transmitter when I used a Creative player, and my car has no line in, so the itrip is the answer to my prayers.

Gotta love the higher price of Apple addons though.

One thing you may look at in the meantime is Anapod's playlist option. When you add new content every day as you do, it will tell you that it has successfully copied over and asks you if you want to create playlists for the newly added material.

If you select yes, it is real easy on the move to find those playlists, just hit the top option on a couple of menus and you're there, then once you delete the content the next day, those playlists should also go.

[miner2049er]

The quick tag editing is no problem with the app I use.

Juice downloads my podcasts for me into a subfolder of My Documents, with each show being a subfolder of that. I then run my tag editor which is a quick executable, set it to browse subfolders, then point it at the juice download folder.

All the shows are then listed and I tick a box to change all artists, albums and genres to "Podcasts" and click save.

Now right click on the Juice folder and on the "Send to" menu, select ipod and they all go over.

On the ipod, each show will now be listed under both Artists, Albums and Genres as Podcasts, and will retain their original tag name, or you can edit that too before or after sending if you like.

[Flare]

I have a question.

I want to download podcasts to my computer, but at the same time I'd like that to sync with an MP3 player I have connected on the computer; so that I don't have to manually move files from this folder into the player.

I use Juice as my podcast catcher, but it there's no sync option that I can see, it only lets me select a download location which I can set up to be either the folder on my PC, or the MP3 player.

Any suggestions? Maybe another podcast catcher? Maybe advice on how to sync a folder to an external drive?

[miner2049er]

I have a question.

I want to download podcasts to my computer, but at the same time I'd like that to sync with an MP3 player I have connected on the computer; so that I don't have to manually move files from this folder into the player.

I use Juice as my podcast catcher, but it there's no sync option that I can see, it only lets me select a download location which I can set up to be either the folder on my PC, or the MP3 player.

Any suggestions? Maybe another podcast catcher? Maybe advice on how to sync a folder to an external drive?

Is the player seen as a drive letter in Windows? If so I have a batch file I wrote that would do it.

You would just need to edit the filepaths.

It gives you a running commentary and a summary of what it has done when it's finished.

[Flare]

That would be good. Please share.

I hear iTunes does some sort of sync, where all the files on the iPod are automatically copied to the computer so when you create or delete anything in any location, the counterpart gets the same effect.

But I choose not to use Apple software

[Shane R. Monroe]

There are tools that do automatic folder synchronization in the background. Sounds like what you're looking for.

[Subarubrat]

Oh dude trust me, if I knew then what I know now. I am running all third party apps. Mainly Anapod, I can move what I please on and off the iPod. Apple polishes their units (not puns or double meanings intended) and I refuse to pay for a whole downline of products or services I don't need or want. $3,500 for a $1,500 computer, no thanks. But I have almost 2 years service from my iPod with no complaints and tons of usage.