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Thursday
Matching the iPod and Windows
Matching the iPod and Windows
Although Apple's iPod and iPod mini has a huge fan base, using it is not an entirely glitch-free Windows experience. Older versions of Windows are incompatible and there are some peculiar default settings that could wipe out your music collection. But for every problem, there is a work-around.
Here are four tips and tricks for using your iPod.
1. Have the right Windows version. iTunes, the program that transfers music to the iPod from your computer, only runs on Windows XP and 2000.
But Windows 98SE and ME owners can still use their iPod through third- party software. XPlay (http://www.mediafour.com; $30) and Anapod Explorer (http://www.redchairsoftware.com; $25) are two better-known programs that transfer music files onto iPods.
XPlay requires a FireWire port, which is often missing on Windows computers. So, you'll have to buy and install one. FireWire cards start at $20. Anapod Explorer can transfer music to your iPod using either a USB or FireWire port.
You're out of luck if your Windows is older than Windows 98SE.
2. Get the music. Your music files must be on your computer before they can be transferred to your iPod. And the files must be in the proper format. The iPod plays many different formats, including AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), MP3 and WAV.
Unless you are using Windows 98SE or ME, forget third-party software and stick with iTunes to get your music files into the proper format. iTunes lets you change the format and amount of compression it uses when importing music. To do this within iTunes, click Edit>>Preferences and select the Importing tab.
To get music from a CD onto your hard drive, insert the CD in your computer. iTunes will look up the CD title and song information through an online database and display it. Remove the check next to any song you don't want and click the Import button.
If online information is not available, enter the information manually. Click the track. Then select File>>Get Info and click on the Info tab. Enter the title, artist and other information. Clear the boxes for tracks you do not want.
You also can purchase music through the iTunes Music Store. Click on Music Store under Source. Singles cost 99 cents. Often you can save a few bucks by purchasing an entire album. The iTunes Music Store, like the iTunes jukebox, requires Windows XP and 2000.
3. Organize it. Depending on the size of your iPod's hard drive and the amount of compression, you could end up with thousands of songs.
So, create playlists. Use them to organize songs by theme, genre or any other category.
To create a playlist, select File>>New Playlist. Type a name for the playlist under Source. Click Library to view your song files. Drag any song onto the playlist. Select multiple songs by holding the Control or Shift key while clicking.
4. Transfer it. With iTunes open, connect your iPod to your computer. iTunes will automatically transfer songs and playlists to your iPod.
But be careful. Anything on the iPod, but not in iTunes, will be erased. To avoid that, set iTunes to only transfer certain songs. Or, you can manually drag and drop music files onto your iPod.
To change the settings, open iTunes and select Edit>>Preferences. Click the iPod tab. Click the Music tab and make sure "Automatically update all songs and playlists" is selected. Then click the Advanced tab and select the "Only update checked songs" checkbox.
To manually transfer songs, choose Edit>>Preferences and click the iPod tab. Click the Music tab and select "Manually manage songs and playlists." Then drag songs from your library or playlist to iPod in the Source list.