Comments on: Nightmare with Apple iPod Shuffle http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html like a friend telling you about money ... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:31:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: ronxrony http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-6245 ronxrony Sat, 19 Mar 2011 08:33:15 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-6245 i have decided to buy a apple ipod shuffle,but now i am shocked after read some of your comments,please can anyone inform me better idea about apple ipod and creative zen,and which is best. . . ? my email id - ronxrony at gmail dot com or you are also welcome in ronx.rony/facebook.com i have decided to buy a apple ipod shuffle,but now i am shocked after read some of your comments,please can anyone inform me better idea about apple ipod and creative zen,and which is best. . . ? my email id – ronxrony at gmail dot com or you are also welcome in ronx.rony/facebook.com

]]> By: Carolyn Sorensen http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2527 Carolyn Sorensen Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:21:54 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2527 The ipod can also be configured with PortableApps (available from Sourceforge or http://portableapps.com/apps/music_video). This lets you choose among several open source music players, all of which let you use more than 1 computer to store your music. I haven't tried this myself since I am OK with iTunes for now, but if you search around PortableApps you will find a number of messages/tutorials describing how to do this. The ipod can also be configured with PortableApps (available from Sourceforge or http://portableapps.com/apps/music_video). This lets you choose among several open source music players, all of which let you use more than 1 computer to store your music. I haven’t tried this myself since I am OK with iTunes for now, but if you search around PortableApps you will find a number of messages/tutorials describing how to do this.

]]> By: TFB http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2525 TFB Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:25:45 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2525 Paul - You have to add the mp3's to iTunes first (File -> Add Folder to Library ...). Then add the album or tracks to the device (click on Library, then drag the album or tracks to the device). Paul – You have to add the mp3′s to iTunes first (File -> Add Folder to Library …). Then add the album or tracks to the device (click on Library, then drag the album or tracks to the device).

]]> By: Paul http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2524 Paul Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:54:51 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2524 I can't even figure out how to get mine to playback. Does iTunes even let you add MP3's from your computer onto the device? I can't seem to find the media management function within iTunes anywhere. Useless device/Software. Very dissapointed. I can’t even figure out how to get mine to playback. Does iTunes even let you add MP3′s from your computer onto the device? I can’t seem to find the media management function within iTunes anywhere. Useless device/Software. Very dissapointed.

]]> By: Texan with anMP3 http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2061 Texan with anMP3 Mon, 18 May 2009 22:02:06 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2061 I bought the Creative Zen 8 GB because it was cheaper than Apple products AND it gets radio. HOWEVER - the website does NOT give you explicit instructions on how to download a podcast. I know, it's called a "Zencast" with this product, but whatever. And when you load their software on your comptuer it takes you to their website so you download their stuff. I had just assumed I could plug in my MP3 to a USB drive on my computer then do a save - as feature to save radio shows and things onto it. I guess because that has been my experience with thumb drives and it seemed to make sense. I had to do a bunch of internet research to figure out how to get audio files saved onto my Zen. It wasn't a Zen experience! I now use the Zencast software and once a week have it download to my PC all my favorite NPR shows. Then I plug in the MP3 and transfer the ones I want. The Zencast software does provide me with good descriptions of the shows (This American Life, etc.) so I can decide which ones to download onto my player. Unfortunately the makers of MP3s do not gear their websites toward those of us middle aged working folks who didn't grow up with this stuff. I bought the Creative Zen 8 GB because it was cheaper than Apple products AND it gets radio.

HOWEVER – the website does NOT give you explicit instructions on how to download a podcast. I know, it’s called a “Zencast” with this product, but whatever. And when you load their software on your comptuer it takes you to their website so you download their stuff.

I had just assumed I could plug in my MP3 to a USB drive on my computer then do a save – as feature to save radio shows and things onto it. I guess because that has been my experience with thumb drives and it seemed to make sense.

I had to do a bunch of internet research to figure out how to get audio files saved onto my Zen. It wasn’t a Zen experience!

I now use the Zencast software and once a week have it download to my PC all my favorite NPR shows. Then I plug in the MP3 and transfer the ones I want. The Zencast software does provide me with good descriptions of the shows (This American Life, etc.) so I can decide which ones to download onto my player.

Unfortunately the makers of MP3s do not gear their websites toward those of us middle aged working folks who didn’t grow up with this stuff.

]]> By: jc http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2055 jc Sun, 17 May 2009 17:27:52 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2055 If you want to look at other players, check out the Creative Zen. I have 2 8GB models and they're great! Dell sometimes has a very good price. The Creative software isn't that great, but I use MediaMonkey which is. Hope that helps! If you want to look at other players, check out the Creative Zen. I have 2 8GB models and they’re great! Dell sometimes has a very good price. The Creative software isn’t that great, but I use MediaMonkey which is.

Hope that helps!

]]> By: Carolyn http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2053 Carolyn Sat, 16 May 2009 16:37:44 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2053 I love my iPod. I have 60 gb of music in iTunes on my work PC (we often work with headphones). I can recharge with my laptop and don't need the hassle of a 2nd 'music' machine. You should try their new Genius feature. They use data-mining techniques to build great playlists of "songs that go great together". You pick a tune of yours, they crunch through lists they've downloaded from users and build a playlist of your own music. It sounds dodgy I know but the playlists are so much better than the old boring ones I built myself. http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/09/12/itunes-genius-feature-is-pure-genius/ I'm a Unix fan. Better Apple than Microsoft.... I love my iPod. I have 60 gb of music in iTunes on my work PC (we often work with headphones). I can recharge with my laptop and don’t need the hassle of a 2nd ‘music’ machine.

You should try their new Genius feature. They use data-mining techniques to build great playlists of “songs that go great together”. You pick a tune of yours, they crunch through lists they’ve downloaded from users and build a playlist of your own music. It sounds dodgy I know but the playlists are so much better than the old boring ones I built myself.

http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/09/12/itunes-genius-feature-is-pure-genius/

I’m a Unix fan. Better Apple than Microsoft….

]]> By: TIE http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2051 TIE Sat, 16 May 2009 02:33:38 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2051 TFB, Re: Two-sided markets. I can't answer your question. I am fairly new to the concept myself. I have some reading up to do on it. Both the Wikipedia entry and a paper I have on my desk (but haven't read yet) say two-sided markets apply to health insurance: patients and providers, with the insurer in the middle. But here, again, who is subsidizing whom? When I read that paper I may have more insight as to how to think about cases that are less obvious than, say, broadcast TV, paid by advertisers, free to viewers. My speculation is that with the iPod the up-front cost of the device to the consumer (you and me) is subsidized by the revenue from the content. Apple is willing to charge less for the device because it expects to make more from selling songs. On the other hand, the device is quite pricey, perhaps because one gets access to iTunes. So, I really don't know for sure how it goes. TFB,

Re: Two-sided markets. I can’t answer your question. I am fairly new to the concept myself. I have some reading up to do on it.

Both the Wikipedia entry and a paper I have on my desk (but haven’t read yet) say two-sided markets apply to health insurance: patients and providers, with the insurer in the middle. But here, again, who is subsidizing whom? When I read that paper I may have more insight as to how to think about cases that are less obvious than, say, broadcast TV, paid by advertisers, free to viewers.

My speculation is that with the iPod the up-front cost of the device to the consumer (you and me) is subsidized by the revenue from the content. Apple is willing to charge less for the device because it expects to make more from selling songs. On the other hand, the device is quite pricey, perhaps because one gets access to iTunes. So, I really don’t know for sure how it goes.

]]> By: Dave http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2050 Dave Fri, 15 May 2009 23:33:13 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2050 Try MediaMonkey - www.mediamonkey.com - I've been using an iPod Classic 160gb for about 18 months and have opened iTunes exactly 1 time and was not impressed. MM is free (there is an upgraded version that costs $20 for a lifetime license) that gives you all the flexibility one could ever want, including autmatically downloading your favorite podcasts and syncing them according to whatever preferences you choose. Good stuff! Try MediaMonkey – http://www.mediamonkey.com – I’ve been using an iPod Classic 160gb for about 18 months and have opened iTunes exactly 1 time and was not impressed. MM is free (there is an upgraded version that costs $20 for a lifetime license) that gives you all the flexibility one could ever want, including autmatically downloading your favorite podcasts and syncing them according to whatever preferences you choose. Good stuff!

]]> By: geoff http://thefinancebuff.com/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2048 geoff Fri, 15 May 2009 19:13:09 +0000 http://thefinancebuff.com/2009/05/bad-experience-with-apple-ipod-shuffle.html#comment-2048 I respectfully disagree with a lot of the above comments. Call me an apple fanboy if you'd like, but I've had zero problems on any of my apple products. Of course, ipods/itunes run much better on my Mac, but they run fine on my PC. TFB- I think you should give it some time and it will grow on you. I was slow to come around to iTunes as well, but ultimately it's made life much easier. I respectfully disagree with a lot of the above comments. Call me an apple fanboy if you’d like, but I’ve had zero problems on any of my apple products. Of course, ipods/itunes run much better on my Mac, but they run fine on my PC.

TFB- I think you should give it some time and it will grow on you. I was slow to come around to iTunes as well, but ultimately it’s made life much easier.

]]>