Questions on my new iPod

[roomwithamoose]

So I picked up an iPod today at work for a hundred bucks. Pretty good deal, it's a 3rd gen 15gigs. We had like 10 returns and they wanted to get rid of them so my manager was giving them to employees for $100. Couldn't resist.

Now, on reading through the manual while the thing charges, it say that it requires Musicmatch Jukebox. Will I be able to put all my WMA files on the the iPod, or do I have to convert them to something else? I know that I can't burn my WMA files onto a cdrom because of the protection (haven't figured that one out yet!), so is the protection an issue while putting WMA onto a mp3 player?

I hope I didn't screw myself over with this. I don't think I did, but you never know with compulsive spending!

[Jaggannath]

Mate, at that price I really don't think you can go wrong
And I tihnk you can play WMA's with it, but hopefully someone who knows will answer you

[Yuanji]

i think Itunes automatically converts WMA and MP3 files into thier AAC files which take up less space

[ZeratulsAvenger]

The iPod supports "AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF, Audible"

Since WMA is not on the list I assume you have to convert it, which iTunes can do I am prety sure, assuming it can play the files. If not you could always get a program like CDex to do it.

[roomwithamoose]

Cool guys, thanks. I'm about to go out and get a FireWire card. I thought my mobo had onboard FireWire, but I guess it doesn't. Then I'll be able to play around with it and see what I can make this thing do! I ordered an adapter last night so I can plug it into my car stereo, which is the whole reason I got the iPod.

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Oh ya, I would suggest iTunes over MusicMatch for use with the iPod as it works seamlessly... Can't speak for MusicMatch, but iTunes is completely free, easy to use, and sync's with the iPod as easily as plugging it in.

[Yuanji]

Cool guys, thanks. I'm about to go out and get a FireWire card. I thought my mobo had onboard FireWire, but I guess it doesn't. Then I'll be able to play around with it and see what I can make this thing do! I ordered an adapter last night so I can plug it into my car stereo, which is the whole reason I got the iPod.
actually, get a USB adapter for the Ipod. its a lot easier then installing a firewire card

[roomwithamoose]

Thanks for the advice. I'm in the middle of converting ALL my music into MP3. I figure I'll convert them to mp3, then delete all the WMA files. I figure that'll make things easier in the future.

I'll fiddle around with MusicMatch. I don't think I like the user interface on it. But we'll see what happens.

Now, does the iPod charge when plugged into the PC via FireWire? I know it does on Macs, and the manual says that it doesn't (which is why it has a charger). But I have the iPod plugged into my computer right now and the battery sign is saying it's charging.

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Well I know it won't go dead when connected to the computer, and I am pretty sure it would charge... that seems to be logical.

[Yuanji]

yes it charges. try to see if Itunes plays WMA files first. It is a much better software for the Ipod then musicmatch

[Mac Medic]

It will charge with a 6pin firewire plug, not a 4 pin.

Musicmatch was shipped with windows ipods before itunes for windows was available. Now you would just use itunes. itunes is free, musicmatch is free but crippled until you pay the $20 reg. fee.

itunes will convert your WMA's to AAC automatically when you add them to the itunes library.

[roomwithamoose]

Okay, so Musicmatch stinks. I donwnloaded iTunes, and it works much much better with the iPod. Got all my music converted to mp3, and put those files onto the iPod. Works and sounds fine. Now, with having my music in mp3 instead of wma, it'll be easier to burn mp3 cds, since I couldn't get Nero to burn wma files to a cd.

In the process of converting from wma to mp3 (I use Goldwave, did a great job), Goldwave came up with an error pertaining to wma files that I bought with WMP10. It told me that the protected license wouldn't allow these songs to be converted to mp3. I checked out the license info, and it said nothing about not allowing conversion. Any one else had this problem?

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Converting them removes the DRM as far as I know, and thus would be prohibited. I know with the AAC protected files from iTunes you can burn to an audio CD and then import as MP3's and that works, not sure if that would work for you though.

[Yuanji]

just try opening the files in Itunes to convert to your Ipod. WMA cannot be burned to a music cd so i presume so it won't let you convert.