The proliferation of P2P file sharing networks on the Internet makes it very tempting and easy for someone to get themselves into a lot of trouble with the Recording Industry Association of America. The increasing sophistication of technology has made it much easier for the RIAA to track who is illegally making songs available for download and the people who are downloading them.
Very recently a student of Utah State University was sued by the RIAA for doing just that. The RIAA is negotiating a settlement of about $3,000 dollars. In another case a 12 year old child was prosecuted for file sharing and the case was settled for $2,000. I'll outline a solution for acquiring legal free music downloads for iPods below which will keep you in good graces with the RIAA.
There are a number of Internet sites that offer free music that's legal to download to your iPod. Accessing these services will prevent law suits against you for illegally acquiring downloads from P2P file sharing networks. Additionally, a number of the file sharing networks will bombard you with popup ads and the files can include a number of viruses and trojans.
The Dilemma
A number of sites like Yahoo Music and iTunes offer music downloads at a per download fee of 99 cents. These sites are certainly legal and will keep you out of trouble with the RIAA. The only drawback about these sites is the songs are coded with DRM and will no longer play on your computer if you discontinue your membership with them. The aforementioned sites are two of the top music download sites available with iTunes being number one.
Another site that's ranked second only to iTunes is eMusic. Their advantage is all their songs are DRM free, in MP3 format and will play on any platform. They offer a monthly subscription which allows a limited number of downloads. But the drawback is they specialize in independent or "indie" music artists. Although you own the music you download, their selection of the major recording labels and music artists is very limited.
The Top Solution
A more economical solution for acquiring unlimited iPod music downloads of the major recording labels without the hassle of per download fees, is to sign up for a membership with one of the numerous iPod music download services. These services typically advertise free music downloads and for all intents and purposes that's true in most cases.
Because, for the most part, they offer a lifetime membership for around $35 to $45 dollars. This one time fee includes unlimited downloads of iPod tunes and the fee is basically to offset administration costs, customer service and to keep their server computers online.
The iPod music download sites typically offer more than just music downloads. Your membership generally includes access to music videos, TV shows, movies, iPod games and cheats, conversion software and other related software. Some require you to download free software you would use to access the music, movies and other downloads. And some offer a rich assortment of incentive software like DVD burners and the Google free software package.
In Summary
The very nominal one time fee required for a lifetime membership is really a no brainer compared to the major sites charging you about a dollar per download. Because, the cost of 35 songs with one of them, would pay for a lifetime membership, with unlimited iPod downloads of not only music but all the aforementioned files. The download speeds are very good, there's no DRM hassle and your tunes continue to play on your computer even if you discontinue your membership. Best of all, you won't get into trouble with the RIAA.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Download Legal Free Music For Ipod
Many websites have been popping up that promise you can download legal free music for ipods. But is it true?
Well, I have to tell you that you can find many songs on the web that are free to download. But the downloads from these sites are most certainly illegal and you could find yourself in a lot of hot water if you download them.
I'm sure you've heard of the thousands of lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against people who downloaded copyrighted songs or movies to their computer or ipod. These people have been forced to pay thousands of dollars in fines just because they wanted to grab a few songs for free.
You don't want to end up in court over some silly song do you?
Fortunately, there is a way to download legal free music for ipods. Well, almost free.
A paid membership site lets you download as many songs and videos your ipod can hold for just one small fee. That's a lot better than paying 99 cents for every song you want to download from other sites.
Think about it. The typical paid membership site charges around $39 for a lifetime membership which includes unlimited downloads. You could easily find and download 500 of your favorite songs while still only paying $39.
Compare that to other sites that charge per song. Five hundred songs at 99 cents each would cost you $495! Ouch!
It's obvious that a paid membership site is a much better deal.
Plus, they have a massive selection of music in every genre you could name, they offer technical assistance if you have a hard time downloading a song, and you can download free legal music for ipods with a clear conscience and no fear of lawsuits and legal bills.
If you're downloading free ipod downloads, you may be breaking the law and you could face serious fines or even jail time. Is it worth the risk? Instead join a membership site that charges one small fee for all the downloads you can handle.
Well, I have to tell you that you can find many songs on the web that are free to download. But the downloads from these sites are most certainly illegal and you could find yourself in a lot of hot water if you download them.
I'm sure you've heard of the thousands of lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against people who downloaded copyrighted songs or movies to their computer or ipod. These people have been forced to pay thousands of dollars in fines just because they wanted to grab a few songs for free.
You don't want to end up in court over some silly song do you?
Fortunately, there is a way to download legal free music for ipods. Well, almost free.
A paid membership site lets you download as many songs and videos your ipod can hold for just one small fee. That's a lot better than paying 99 cents for every song you want to download from other sites.
Think about it. The typical paid membership site charges around $39 for a lifetime membership which includes unlimited downloads. You could easily find and download 500 of your favorite songs while still only paying $39.
Compare that to other sites that charge per song. Five hundred songs at 99 cents each would cost you $495! Ouch!
It's obvious that a paid membership site is a much better deal.
Plus, they have a massive selection of music in every genre you could name, they offer technical assistance if you have a hard time downloading a song, and you can download free legal music for ipods with a clear conscience and no fear of lawsuits and legal bills.
If you're downloading free ipod downloads, you may be breaking the law and you could face serious fines or even jail time. Is it worth the risk? Instead join a membership site that charges one small fee for all the downloads you can handle.
Free Legal Music Downloads For iPods
eMusic is a major player in the iPod music downloads business. They are one of the pioneers and rank second only to iTunes. They have a diverse catalogue of primarily independent music labels. All their music is in MP3 format and works on any platform. They also have very extensive editorial content, archived shows and events.
eMusic’s Advantages
One of their greatest advantages is all their music downloads are in MP3 format and DRM free! That means, unlike Apple.com iTunes, Yahoo Music and so many others, you not only own your music, but it continues to play when you discontinue your membership with eMusic. And you can play your tunes on any portable PDA or your computer.
The sad fact about copy protecting music with DRM is the version varies from one company to the next. For instance, you can only play your DRM protected iTunes on your iPod, iPhone or your desktop with the iTunes player installed.
According to The New York Times:
“A major difference between eMusic's service and other online music stores is that the tracks are delivered in the unprotected MP3 format, which means… that the songs will play on all portable music players, including the Apple iPod®”
Another advantage of eMusic is the music is totally legal to download, unlike the prevalent P2P file sharing sites. Don’t get me wrong, many of the top unlimited music download sites are definitely legal, to a certain respect.
One of the things I really like about eMusic is they let you download 25 songs free before you have to pay the minimum $9.99 per month for 30 songs. So the 25 free ones is almost like a month’s worth of downloads for nothing.Not to mention the 33 cents per song blows away MSN and iTunes 99 cents per song. And it’s even less with the other levels with 50 and 75 songs per month at $14.99 and $19.99 respectively!
One slight disadvantage with eMusic is although they offer millions of music tracks; they’re primarily "indie" or independent artists. But, all their music is legitimately licensed from independent record labels so you don’t have to be concerned about downloading illegal files.
They do have some major labels like Johnny Cash, The White Stripes, The Prodigy and Mobi. And they’re continually increasing them regularly as the DRM free movement is spreading. America is behind the Europeans in that regard.
eMusic’s Interface
So like I mentioned, eMusic only has MP3s, encoded at a variable bit rate (VBR). So you won’t have a problem transferring your tunes to your iPod, your CD burner or any portable player. All the tunes are accessed through your Web browser or with the free Download Manager.
One note of caution is if you download from your Web browser you’ll need to disable eMusic’s Download Manager from your account preferences. Then you’ll have to change the file extensions to .mp3 because the file will be downloaded with an unknown file extension. That’s easy to do, just right click the file and choose “Rename” and change the extension to mp3.
Summary
On the eMusic site, you can search for tunes by the artist’s name, album, track, label, or composer. Their 12 genres include Alternative, Punk, Country, Folk, Electronic and Jazz. As previously mentioned, the bulk of their tunes are from independent artists but you’ll find quite a few from the major record labels.
They have around 2.8 million high quality MP3 files from over 13,00 independent music labels. And you won’t find a lot of them on competing download sites or music stores.
eMusic’s online interface is ridiculously easy to use. It allows you to download entire albums at a time. There is a review section and a star rating for each file. Their FAQs are well written and they respond very quickly to emails for support.
They offer a 2 week trial allowing you to download 25 tunes for starters before you have to pay the tiny monthly fee. One tip though when you start your membership, is to be sure you download ALL your allotted songs for the month because you can’t carry them over to the next month!
eMusic’s Advantages
One of their greatest advantages is all their music downloads are in MP3 format and DRM free! That means, unlike Apple.com iTunes, Yahoo Music and so many others, you not only own your music, but it continues to play when you discontinue your membership with eMusic. And you can play your tunes on any portable PDA or your computer.
The sad fact about copy protecting music with DRM is the version varies from one company to the next. For instance, you can only play your DRM protected iTunes on your iPod, iPhone or your desktop with the iTunes player installed.
According to The New York Times:
“A major difference between eMusic's service and other online music stores is that the tracks are delivered in the unprotected MP3 format, which means… that the songs will play on all portable music players, including the Apple iPod®”
Another advantage of eMusic is the music is totally legal to download, unlike the prevalent P2P file sharing sites. Don’t get me wrong, many of the top unlimited music download sites are definitely legal, to a certain respect.
One of the things I really like about eMusic is they let you download 25 songs free before you have to pay the minimum $9.99 per month for 30 songs. So the 25 free ones is almost like a month’s worth of downloads for nothing.Not to mention the 33 cents per song blows away MSN and iTunes 99 cents per song. And it’s even less with the other levels with 50 and 75 songs per month at $14.99 and $19.99 respectively!
One slight disadvantage with eMusic is although they offer millions of music tracks; they’re primarily "indie" or independent artists. But, all their music is legitimately licensed from independent record labels so you don’t have to be concerned about downloading illegal files.
They do have some major labels like Johnny Cash, The White Stripes, The Prodigy and Mobi. And they’re continually increasing them regularly as the DRM free movement is spreading. America is behind the Europeans in that regard.
eMusic’s Interface
So like I mentioned, eMusic only has MP3s, encoded at a variable bit rate (VBR). So you won’t have a problem transferring your tunes to your iPod, your CD burner or any portable player. All the tunes are accessed through your Web browser or with the free Download Manager.
One note of caution is if you download from your Web browser you’ll need to disable eMusic’s Download Manager from your account preferences. Then you’ll have to change the file extensions to .mp3 because the file will be downloaded with an unknown file extension. That’s easy to do, just right click the file and choose “Rename” and change the extension to mp3.
Summary
On the eMusic site, you can search for tunes by the artist’s name, album, track, label, or composer. Their 12 genres include Alternative, Punk, Country, Folk, Electronic and Jazz. As previously mentioned, the bulk of their tunes are from independent artists but you’ll find quite a few from the major record labels.
They have around 2.8 million high quality MP3 files from over 13,00 independent music labels. And you won’t find a lot of them on competing download sites or music stores.
eMusic’s online interface is ridiculously easy to use. It allows you to download entire albums at a time. There is a review section and a star rating for each file. Their FAQs are well written and they respond very quickly to emails for support.
They offer a 2 week trial allowing you to download 25 tunes for starters before you have to pay the tiny monthly fee. One tip though when you start your membership, is to be sure you download ALL your allotted songs for the month because you can’t carry them over to the next month!
How To Connect Your iPod To Your Home Entertainment System?
Music fans everywhere are tuning in to iPods. To get going with an iPod is not difficult. After you purchase one you can download off the computer, your favorite tunes, right onto the iPod. The flexibility of song choices and its small compact size make the iPod great for those seeking portability. Just like the Walkman’s of old iPods can be used for exercising, walking, waiting in lines, simply clip it on and plug in your headphones or ear buds and go.
Now that you have taken all the time to search, find, and sort your own personal top 100 or so tunes wouldn’t it be nice if you could use your iPod to play them on your supersonic, surround sound home stereo system? Or, if you are planning on throwing a party and have prepared a special song mix for it, you can simply download those tunes to your iPod and play them on your home system. Using some cables and a dock you could be on your way to enjoying your iPod tune selections at home as well.
Using the headphone jack on your iPod you can connect it to your home stereo. Visit a local electronics stores such a Radio Shack, and purchase a 3.5 mm RCA adapter cable. This is the same size as a standard headphone jack. Now you can connect your iPod to the amplifier’s sound input. When you try this for the first time you should make sure your iPod’s volume is set below its half way point. You will be using the stereo’s control to adjust the volume. You don’t want to blow your stereo’s amplifier speakers by having your iPod volume cranked. If you need to you can always adjust your iPod volume after you have determined that it is necessary.
Curious about universal docking? The universal dock works with multiple electronics devices, just like a universal remote. You can use a universal dock to connect your iPod to your computer. A cable should have come with your iPod when you purchased it for this purpose. When you put your iPod in this you are able to sync and charge it. When you plug your dock into an electrical outlet with your iPod Power Adapter you can also charge the battery. You can also dock your iPod to your stereo or speakers using an iPod AV cable or an audio cable from the stereo and now play music using your iPod. If you want to get really fancy you can control your iPod from a distance using an Apple remote control.
If your iPod has video capabilities or a color display you can connect it to your TV and view photos or watch videos. You can do this by using the iPod’s AV cable or a S-video cable.
You can also connect your iPod to your car’s stereo system using the auxiliary input on your car’s stereo. Take a 3.5 mm cable with stereo connectors on each end and plug it into the auxiliary input. If your car’s system lacks an input jack you can use a cassette adapter.
So, while an iPod with its ability to store your personal favorite tunes, may simply seem like an improvement on the old Walkman it has many more functions that you only need a few cables to utilize.
Now that you have taken all the time to search, find, and sort your own personal top 100 or so tunes wouldn’t it be nice if you could use your iPod to play them on your supersonic, surround sound home stereo system? Or, if you are planning on throwing a party and have prepared a special song mix for it, you can simply download those tunes to your iPod and play them on your home system. Using some cables and a dock you could be on your way to enjoying your iPod tune selections at home as well.
Using the headphone jack on your iPod you can connect it to your home stereo. Visit a local electronics stores such a Radio Shack, and purchase a 3.5 mm RCA adapter cable. This is the same size as a standard headphone jack. Now you can connect your iPod to the amplifier’s sound input. When you try this for the first time you should make sure your iPod’s volume is set below its half way point. You will be using the stereo’s control to adjust the volume. You don’t want to blow your stereo’s amplifier speakers by having your iPod volume cranked. If you need to you can always adjust your iPod volume after you have determined that it is necessary.
Curious about universal docking? The universal dock works with multiple electronics devices, just like a universal remote. You can use a universal dock to connect your iPod to your computer. A cable should have come with your iPod when you purchased it for this purpose. When you put your iPod in this you are able to sync and charge it. When you plug your dock into an electrical outlet with your iPod Power Adapter you can also charge the battery. You can also dock your iPod to your stereo or speakers using an iPod AV cable or an audio cable from the stereo and now play music using your iPod. If you want to get really fancy you can control your iPod from a distance using an Apple remote control.
If your iPod has video capabilities or a color display you can connect it to your TV and view photos or watch videos. You can do this by using the iPod’s AV cable or a S-video cable.
You can also connect your iPod to your car’s stereo system using the auxiliary input on your car’s stereo. Take a 3.5 mm cable with stereo connectors on each end and plug it into the auxiliary input. If your car’s system lacks an input jack you can use a cassette adapter.
So, while an iPod with its ability to store your personal favorite tunes, may simply seem like an improvement on the old Walkman it has many more functions that you only need a few cables to utilize.
How To Download Ipod Games
Before I wrote this article I was sitting on my porch, enjoying the afternoon sun while playing Me and My Katmari on my Ipod. Now I love downloading Ipod games but until recently I didn’t even know you could download games onto your Ipod until my friend John showed me how.
It’s quite easy to download Ipod games. Most sites provide the converter you need in order to put the Ipod software downloads onto your Ipod.
Once you’ve downloaded the games of your choice, you can play them directly on your Ipod Mini, Ipod Nano or video Ipod.
There are so many different games you can download to your Ipod; sports, action, strategy, puzzles, driving, adventure, simulations and role-playing. Some of the most popular games at the moment are action games such as Persuit Force, Daxter and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. Popular shooter games include Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Essentials. A popular arcade/puzzle game is Me and My Katmari. Two popular fighting games are Fight Night: Round 3 and Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai.
These games are just the tip of the iceberg. With so many Ipod games to download, you’re spoiled for choice. Of course, you could always download ALL the Ipod games. That’s sure to keep you busy for a while!
There are so many Ipod software downloads out there though. It can be very time consuming surfing from site to site trying to find the particular games you want to download. Wouldn’t it be great if you could download hundreds of Ipod games from the one site?
Well, I’ve just found such a site. It has hundreds of Ipod games to download and the game database is updated daily. I’m in Ipod game heaven! Want to join me?
It’s quite easy to download Ipod games. Most sites provide the converter you need in order to put the Ipod software downloads onto your Ipod.
Once you’ve downloaded the games of your choice, you can play them directly on your Ipod Mini, Ipod Nano or video Ipod.
There are so many different games you can download to your Ipod; sports, action, strategy, puzzles, driving, adventure, simulations and role-playing. Some of the most popular games at the moment are action games such as Persuit Force, Daxter and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. Popular shooter games include Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Essentials. A popular arcade/puzzle game is Me and My Katmari. Two popular fighting games are Fight Night: Round 3 and Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai.
These games are just the tip of the iceberg. With so many Ipod games to download, you’re spoiled for choice. Of course, you could always download ALL the Ipod games. That’s sure to keep you busy for a while!
There are so many Ipod software downloads out there though. It can be very time consuming surfing from site to site trying to find the particular games you want to download. Wouldn’t it be great if you could download hundreds of Ipod games from the one site?
Well, I’ve just found such a site. It has hundreds of Ipod games to download and the game database is updated daily. I’m in Ipod game heaven! Want to join me?
How To Fix An Ipod With Sad Face Icon
If you own an iPod, more than likely you have enjoyed the many hours of music listened to on this great piece of technology. However, you may lose the enjoyment if the sad face appears on your iPod. It might be easy to panic, but before you do and go out a buy a new one, there are a few things that you can do to hopefully get rid of the sad face on your iPod.
Usually the sad face will come up on your iPod if there is a problem with retrieving data. There can be a variety of things that will cause this to happen. If you drop your iPod, this may cause a problem that results in the sad face. If you have a sad face, and try to hook your iPod into your computer and nothing comes up, then more than likely you will have to restore the iPod.
Before you restore your iPod there are some things you can try first. You need to make sure that you computer supports your iPod and be sure that you have updated to the current software that is needed. If you do not have the newest software for your iPod, try downloading it online and then trying out your iPod with your computer again. If you are using an older Mac computer, then you can use an iPod dock connector to get your iPod connected into your computer. Once you get the iPod symbol to come up on your computer you should be able to restore it.
There are a few ways that will help you get your iPod to go into the disk mode. First of all you need to connect your iPod to a power adaptor and plug it in to start resetting an iPod with a scroll or touch wheel. Then you will want to take the hold switch and turn it on and then off. After that press the play button and the menu button for a few seconds until you can see the Apple log. You can repeat this if it doesn’t work the first time.
If you have an iPod that has a click wheel you will have to do things a bit differently. First of all you will want to turn the hold switch on and then off. Then you will press the menu and select button for a few seconds until the Apple log appears so you can see it on the screen. If this does not work and you are still having a problem, then put the iPod on something that is flat, then press the select button and be sure not to touch the click wheel while doing so.
If you do have to totally restore your iPod remember that you will lose everything that was on the iPod before. You should always make sure that you backup the files you have on the iPod. If none of the troubleshooting tips help you out, you may have to take it to someone who can service it. If you have to do this check your warranty to see if your iPod is still covered. If you still have coverage you may be able to get a new one for free.
Usually the sad face will come up on your iPod if there is a problem with retrieving data. There can be a variety of things that will cause this to happen. If you drop your iPod, this may cause a problem that results in the sad face. If you have a sad face, and try to hook your iPod into your computer and nothing comes up, then more than likely you will have to restore the iPod.
Before you restore your iPod there are some things you can try first. You need to make sure that you computer supports your iPod and be sure that you have updated to the current software that is needed. If you do not have the newest software for your iPod, try downloading it online and then trying out your iPod with your computer again. If you are using an older Mac computer, then you can use an iPod dock connector to get your iPod connected into your computer. Once you get the iPod symbol to come up on your computer you should be able to restore it.
There are a few ways that will help you get your iPod to go into the disk mode. First of all you need to connect your iPod to a power adaptor and plug it in to start resetting an iPod with a scroll or touch wheel. Then you will want to take the hold switch and turn it on and then off. After that press the play button and the menu button for a few seconds until you can see the Apple log. You can repeat this if it doesn’t work the first time.
If you have an iPod that has a click wheel you will have to do things a bit differently. First of all you will want to turn the hold switch on and then off. Then you will press the menu and select button for a few seconds until the Apple log appears so you can see it on the screen. If this does not work and you are still having a problem, then put the iPod on something that is flat, then press the select button and be sure not to touch the click wheel while doing so.
If you do have to totally restore your iPod remember that you will lose everything that was on the iPod before. You should always make sure that you backup the files you have on the iPod. If none of the troubleshooting tips help you out, you may have to take it to someone who can service it. If you have to do this check your warranty to see if your iPod is still covered. If you still have coverage you may be able to get a new one for free.
iPod Music Downloads - Top 3 Key Tips Enabling Positive Experiences
iPod music downloads can be a very positive experience if you know the rules of the game. With the enormous number of "unlimited music downloads" sites on the Internet, you can be overwhelmed or confused as to which one is right for you. I'll outline 3 primary things to consider as a minimum while you make up your mind about them.
Scam Sites
The first and foremost thing to consider is whether the site you're at is just there to take your money. Sad to say, but in the real world, there are a huge number of scam sites on the Internet. In the case of iPod music downloads, you may want to do your homework and thoroughly research a site before you reach for your credit card.
One site in particular is very attractive and shows they offer movies, games, TV shows, almost anything you want. But when you click the "Register" link to sign up, a credit card selection page appears showing a grayed out disclaimer on the bottom. If you left click and drag to highlight the paragraph you'll find out they DO NOT host iPod downloads of any sort! In fact they're only selling you, for $37, a list of other sites that DO offer a download service.
The disclaimer reads as follows,
"Disclaimer: This website is a database (ie: an index) to other websites that host downloads. This website does not facilitate in the download process in any way. This website is not affiliated with, nor has control over any of the websites it links to ..."
It seems to me you can get what they have to offer for free using a Google or Yahoo! search for iPod music downloads like I did. So it's best to thoroughly research the site you're interested in before you spend your money. A Google search with the site's name and the word scam would be a good place to start.
Quantity of Music/Video Files
The top download sites have millions of multi-media files; movies, videos, games, songs. The ones I use claim to have access to about 100 million files. Be certain to look on each site for the number of download files available in their database. You can also search the related iPod or music download forums for info on the site. If others are satisfied with their service, chances you will be too.
My account with one of the sites requires you to download a free utility which will search for songs based on the title or the artist's name. The search results sometimes include several hundred results. Naturally a number of the results are the same song, but there is a star rating system indicating the quality of each file. The majority of the files are mp3 format but some are in WMA format.
Price
Your options for quality iPod music downloads are numerous. But if the site passed the first two tests above then you should consider the long term cost. Prominent sites like Yahoo and MSN can be very expensive. For instance a Yahoo music account will cost around $70 per year and MSN charges about a dollar per song. So your typical "unlimited music downloads" site is a bargain, since they mostly offer a lifetime membership in the 35 to $50 range.
In Summary
As with anything in life, if it looks too good to be true a lot of times it is. But in this case, the nominal fee for joining one of these unlimited music download services can be well worth it. Because, the real fact is many of them use a P2P file sharing utility similar to the one I was required to download.
The iPod music download services that use it are basically charging you the same price as the utility's owner. So effectively, you're getting their customer service for free. Some of them offer additional free software incentives, game downloads, and movie and video downloads included in the membership fee.
Most of the services I looked at also include free iPod music conversion software. I'm happy with my account and I download several tunes everyday. But I did my homework and researched the sites for authenticity, file quantity, customer satisfaction and price before I spent my money.
Scam Sites
The first and foremost thing to consider is whether the site you're at is just there to take your money. Sad to say, but in the real world, there are a huge number of scam sites on the Internet. In the case of iPod music downloads, you may want to do your homework and thoroughly research a site before you reach for your credit card.
One site in particular is very attractive and shows they offer movies, games, TV shows, almost anything you want. But when you click the "Register" link to sign up, a credit card selection page appears showing a grayed out disclaimer on the bottom. If you left click and drag to highlight the paragraph you'll find out they DO NOT host iPod downloads of any sort! In fact they're only selling you, for $37, a list of other sites that DO offer a download service.
The disclaimer reads as follows,
"Disclaimer: This website is a database (ie: an index) to other websites that host downloads. This website does not facilitate in the download process in any way. This website is not affiliated with, nor has control over any of the websites it links to ..."
It seems to me you can get what they have to offer for free using a Google or Yahoo! search for iPod music downloads like I did. So it's best to thoroughly research the site you're interested in before you spend your money. A Google search with the site's name and the word scam would be a good place to start.
Quantity of Music/Video Files
The top download sites have millions of multi-media files; movies, videos, games, songs. The ones I use claim to have access to about 100 million files. Be certain to look on each site for the number of download files available in their database. You can also search the related iPod or music download forums for info on the site. If others are satisfied with their service, chances you will be too.
My account with one of the sites requires you to download a free utility which will search for songs based on the title or the artist's name. The search results sometimes include several hundred results. Naturally a number of the results are the same song, but there is a star rating system indicating the quality of each file. The majority of the files are mp3 format but some are in WMA format.
Price
Your options for quality iPod music downloads are numerous. But if the site passed the first two tests above then you should consider the long term cost. Prominent sites like Yahoo and MSN can be very expensive. For instance a Yahoo music account will cost around $70 per year and MSN charges about a dollar per song. So your typical "unlimited music downloads" site is a bargain, since they mostly offer a lifetime membership in the 35 to $50 range.
In Summary
As with anything in life, if it looks too good to be true a lot of times it is. But in this case, the nominal fee for joining one of these unlimited music download services can be well worth it. Because, the real fact is many of them use a P2P file sharing utility similar to the one I was required to download.
The iPod music download services that use it are basically charging you the same price as the utility's owner. So effectively, you're getting their customer service for free. Some of them offer additional free software incentives, game downloads, and movie and video downloads included in the membership fee.
Most of the services I looked at also include free iPod music conversion software. I'm happy with my account and I download several tunes everyday. But I did my homework and researched the sites for authenticity, file quantity, customer satisfaction and price before I spent my money.
The Life And Times Of The Ipod Battery
When you purchase an iPOD, what do you think about? Are you imagining what songs you’ll put on it? Do you think about all the accessories and kits that you’ll get for your iPOD? Can you picture in your mind all the places you’ll take your iPOD? Of course you’re thinking about all those things. Are you also thinking about the lithium iPOD battery that powers your device, and how it works? Probably not.
The iPOD is a remarkable device that has changed how people transfer and enjoy music and information, but little is paid attention to what makes an iPOD work. We know how it works, and what it can do, but what enables it to do all those cool things? The answer is a small but powerful lithium iPOD Nano battery.
Lithium iPOD batteries are more powerful than standard nickel-cadmium batteries. Because of this, lithium batteries last longer and don’t require to be charged as regular batteries. This allows you to max-out the times you need to change your iPOD battery. Now, with any form of battery – lithium-ion or otherwise – you will eventually need to purchase an iPOD or to simply replace the iPOD battery itself. After all, it won’t last forever, but it’s sure close!
A lithium-ion iPOD Nano battery works better for two reasons:
1. Lithium is lighter than nickel
2. Lithium batteries have smart “fast-charge” technology
Let’s focus on point number one. Because lithium-ion is lighter than crystal, which means that your iPOD doesn’t have to work as hard to charge a light material vs. a heavy material. So, your iPOD battery uses less power to fully charge up. That’s good for you, because having lithium iPOD batteries gets your device charged up faster. It also saves you the expense of having to frequently purchase iPOD Nanos.
On the second point, iPOD batteries are smart charging. Now, you can’t use your iPOD Nano battery to help study for a test! Rather, they’re smart because they can tell the charger when they’re almost full. When your iPOD is charging, it charges up to 80% capacity in no time flat. Then, the iPOD battery tells the charger to slow down, so the charging process goes from warp speed to snail’s pace. This ensures that the battery doesn’t overcharge, and makes certain that you’re spending your time with your music, and not spending your cash on iPOD batteries.
With any battery, every time you charge it, it loses a bit of its performance and power. Over time, that battery will die, and after you give it a proper funeral, you’ll have to change it. The same is true with your iPOD. Eventually, you will have to replace the iPOD battery. You can either change the iPOD battery itself or purchase a new iPOD Nano . But, because your iPOD battery is a lithium-ion beast, you won’t need to worry about that for a while!
The iPOD is a remarkable device that has changed how people transfer and enjoy music and information, but little is paid attention to what makes an iPOD work. We know how it works, and what it can do, but what enables it to do all those cool things? The answer is a small but powerful lithium iPOD Nano battery.
Lithium iPOD batteries are more powerful than standard nickel-cadmium batteries. Because of this, lithium batteries last longer and don’t require to be charged as regular batteries. This allows you to max-out the times you need to change your iPOD battery. Now, with any form of battery – lithium-ion or otherwise – you will eventually need to purchase an iPOD or to simply replace the iPOD battery itself. After all, it won’t last forever, but it’s sure close!
A lithium-ion iPOD Nano battery works better for two reasons:
1. Lithium is lighter than nickel
2. Lithium batteries have smart “fast-charge” technology
Let’s focus on point number one. Because lithium-ion is lighter than crystal, which means that your iPOD doesn’t have to work as hard to charge a light material vs. a heavy material. So, your iPOD battery uses less power to fully charge up. That’s good for you, because having lithium iPOD batteries gets your device charged up faster. It also saves you the expense of having to frequently purchase iPOD Nanos.
On the second point, iPOD batteries are smart charging. Now, you can’t use your iPOD Nano battery to help study for a test! Rather, they’re smart because they can tell the charger when they’re almost full. When your iPOD is charging, it charges up to 80% capacity in no time flat. Then, the iPOD battery tells the charger to slow down, so the charging process goes from warp speed to snail’s pace. This ensures that the battery doesn’t overcharge, and makes certain that you’re spending your time with your music, and not spending your cash on iPOD batteries.
With any battery, every time you charge it, it loses a bit of its performance and power. Over time, that battery will die, and after you give it a proper funeral, you’ll have to change it. The same is true with your iPOD. Eventually, you will have to replace the iPOD battery. You can either change the iPOD battery itself or purchase a new iPOD Nano . But, because your iPOD battery is a lithium-ion beast, you won’t need to worry about that for a while!
The True Value Of The Ipod
“If music be the food of love, play on.” Ah, that William Shakespeare – he really nailed it with that line when it comes to the world’s love affair with music. We need it, as it is the essence of our very survival, and we, as humans, can never get enough of it. Our appetite and desire for music will never be satisfied, so why bother fighting the urge? Give us more, and we will ingest and enjoy it gleefully.
Now, when Shakespeare coined that phrase, he was probably referring to someone playing a lute, and not listening to ye old iPod. However, if there is a common thread between Shakespeare’s declaration that we all require music and the world’s favorite portable MP3 player, it is that the iPod, because of its incredibly convenient design, can constantly feed the world of its hunger for tunes.
Anyone who is on a quest for new and excellent music knows how valuable the iPod is for reaching that goal. Download something you’ve always wanted to hear onto your iPod, and an instant discovery has been made. A new band that you’ve always wanted to check out is now in your iPod and waiting for you. To link it back to the opening line of this article, if you find it pleasing, you ask for, and seek out more. And if you find the taste of that particular band unpalatable, you simply reject it and move on to the next item on the music buffet line. Either way, the hunger is always there, and the iPod is always ready, willing and more than able to attempt to satisfy it.
More than just feeding from the computer, the iPod also shares its music goodies through community. If you are an iPod owner, and you locate another iPod owner, chances are, if you ask that iPod owner for a listen of what’s on his or her iPod, that iPod owner would be more than happy to share his audio bounty with you. There is a common bond between iPod users that directs them to share their music with other iPod users. Now, while contained in a local neighborhood, the selection of songs my be stale, the international and universal appeal of the iPod presents an unlimited feast for the ears and the soul. If you ever find yourself in another country with your iPod and locate a local with their iPod, ask to exchange songs. They may be more than willing to do so, and you will enjoy an instant sampling of the local music cuisine!
Shakespeare was dead-on (as usual), about his definition of our need for music. Eating the same food over and over again, while providing the necessities of life, does not deliver the joys of it. Listening to the same music over and over again will eventually tire out the soul and the ears. We need to try, and listen to new things, and the iPod is the perfect international restaurant located on our computers to go for a sampling!
Now, when Shakespeare coined that phrase, he was probably referring to someone playing a lute, and not listening to ye old iPod. However, if there is a common thread between Shakespeare’s declaration that we all require music and the world’s favorite portable MP3 player, it is that the iPod, because of its incredibly convenient design, can constantly feed the world of its hunger for tunes.
Anyone who is on a quest for new and excellent music knows how valuable the iPod is for reaching that goal. Download something you’ve always wanted to hear onto your iPod, and an instant discovery has been made. A new band that you’ve always wanted to check out is now in your iPod and waiting for you. To link it back to the opening line of this article, if you find it pleasing, you ask for, and seek out more. And if you find the taste of that particular band unpalatable, you simply reject it and move on to the next item on the music buffet line. Either way, the hunger is always there, and the iPod is always ready, willing and more than able to attempt to satisfy it.
More than just feeding from the computer, the iPod also shares its music goodies through community. If you are an iPod owner, and you locate another iPod owner, chances are, if you ask that iPod owner for a listen of what’s on his or her iPod, that iPod owner would be more than happy to share his audio bounty with you. There is a common bond between iPod users that directs them to share their music with other iPod users. Now, while contained in a local neighborhood, the selection of songs my be stale, the international and universal appeal of the iPod presents an unlimited feast for the ears and the soul. If you ever find yourself in another country with your iPod and locate a local with their iPod, ask to exchange songs. They may be more than willing to do so, and you will enjoy an instant sampling of the local music cuisine!
Shakespeare was dead-on (as usual), about his definition of our need for music. Eating the same food over and over again, while providing the necessities of life, does not deliver the joys of it. Listening to the same music over and over again will eventually tire out the soul and the ears. We need to try, and listen to new things, and the iPod is the perfect international restaurant located on our computers to go for a sampling!
Top 25 Transfer Music From Ipod To Computer Links
Transferring music from your iPod to your computer is easy to do if you have the tools. Unfortunately, the iPod is designed to prevent us from sharing our music. Which is understandable, because the music industry is reeling from the technology which allows us to copy music CDs, and reducing their profits.
But the problem is longstanding, ever since the old cassette tape players were used to record music, straight from the radio.
So, what should you do if your computer with all your iTunes goes on the bum, or even worse, just breaks. You're stuck, without any way to transfer your tunes to your new computer.
Until now!
As technology goes, there are always folks who will find a way to beat the system, and this article will outline 25 options for transferring your tunes from your beloved iPod to your computer. Some are either freeware or shareware and the others of course, come with a nominal price tag.
A couple of the links are actually for transferring photos from your iPod to your computer so I included the link below as an extra. It allows you to transfer tunes and videos between iPods. Lots of folks have more than one iPod and would like to simply copy thier favorites from one iPod to the other or thier friend's iPod.
iPod 2 iPod
http://www.topshareware.com/iPod-2-iPod-download-39933.htm
Many people own more than one iPod. iPod 2 iPod is an application that allows you to transfer your music and video between them.
Macintosh Operating System
iLinkPod
http://www.ilinkpod.com/
iLinkPod is first of all a unique tool that creates a permanent and direct access from your Desktop (and your iPod or wherever you want) to the hidden folders in which iPod stores your audio files. So you don't need iLinkPod or any other utility to access your hidden audio files on the iPod, you'll have access to them through a common folder on your Desktop (and iPod too).
iPod Viewer 3.0.1
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/15864
Transfer songs to and from your iPod.
Expod0.3
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30994
With Expod you can copy any or all of your songs (or videos) off your iPod, using whatever file naming convention you like.
PodView 1.5
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/29287
Play music, movies, photos at full screen and import content from your iPod.
iPodDisk
http://ipoddisk.ourbiti.com/index.php/download/
iPodDisk is a tool designed to make it easy and intuitive to copy music from your iPod. You copy music off your iPod in the Finder, like a regular disk drive.
Senuti
http://www.fadingred.org/senuti/
Get music off of your iPod onto any computer.
PodUp 1.0.0
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/31475
PodUp is an application which copies all your music files from your iPod to a folder of your choosing, without having anything to do with iTunes.
Mac and Windows Operating System
iPodRip
http://www.thelittleappfactory.com/application.php?app=iPodRip
iPodRip supports recovering your songs and playlists, playback of audio files and much more. iPodRip is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2 and later, and Windows XP and 2000. Trial version available.
Music Rescue (Upgrade to the previously called PodUtil)
http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/software/podutil.php
Music Rescue is a shareware utility for copying songs from your iPod to your computer. PodUtil is compatible with Mac OS X and 9.x, and Windows XP and 2000.
iPod Music Liberator
http://www.zeleksoftware.com/products.htm
The iPod Music Liberator allows you to copy music, playlists, and ratings from your iPod to any computer, filling in a missing feature of iTunes. It supports Mac OS X and Windows XP, 2000, NT and 98.
TuneRanger 0.9.5 Build 270
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32865
TuneRanger connects iTunes-running computers over a network, allowing music, video, and playlists to be merged from one iTunes library to another seamlessly.
iPod Access Photo 1.2
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32383
iPod Access Photo allows you to select individual photos and albums to be moved back onto your Mac computer or an external hard drive.
iPod Access
http://www.ipodaccess.com/ipodaccess/upgradeofferWin.html
The premier application for copying music, videos and playlists from your iPod back to your Windows PC.
Microsoft Windows PC
Microsoft Windows PC
iPodCopy
http://www.topshareware.com/iPodCopy-download-42821.htm
iPodCopy allows you to copy music, video, podcasts and photos from your iPod back into iTunes or onto your PC hard disk. Also can copy playlists, artwork, ratings and play counts from your iPod into iTunes.
xPort
http://www.topshareware.com/xPort-transfer-19893.htm
xPort is the ultimate backup tool for your iPod. It enables you to easily transfer your all your songs from your iPod to your PC and it enables you to download lyrics, list your songs, create m3p playlists%u2026
CopyTrans (formerly CopyPod)
http://www.copytrans.net/
CopyTransTM is the ultimate backup and recovery tool for your iPod songs. It requires Windows XP or 2000.
CopyTrans Photo
http://www.topshareware.com/CopyPod-Photo-download-39841.htm
CopyTrans Photo allows you to transfer, backup, copy or download your photos from your iPod to your PC effortlessly.
xPodClone
http://www.topshareware.com/xPodClone-download-37702.htm
xPodClone is the ultimate backup tool for all your devices, it clone easily folders, dvds, cds, directories, ipod. You only have to drag and drop your files into the xPodclone window.
Xplay 2
http://www.mediafour.com/products/xplay/
XPlay makes it possible to not only add music to your iPod but copy music back off the iPod. With XPlay you can use both Mac and PC formatted iPods.
iGadget (formerly iPod Agent)
http://www.ipodsoft.com/index.php?/software/ipodagent
You'll be able to transfer all kinds of data to your iPod, including driving directions, contacts, appointments, email, notes, tasks, podcasts, RSS news feeds, weather forecasts, daily horoscopes, movie show times, gas prices and more! You will have the tools necessary to copy songs off your iPod and back onto your computer.
Tansee iPod to PC Transfer
http://www.topshareware.com/Tansee-iPod-to-PC-Transfer-download-45653.htm
Transfer music from iPod to computer.
Tansee iPod Photo Transfer
http://www.topshareware.com/Tansee-iPod-Photo-Transfer-download-45654.htm
Backup/transfer photos from iPod to computer.
Tansee iPod video to PC Transfer
http://www.topshareware.com/Tansee-iPod-video-to-PC-Transfer-download-45655.htm
Transfer video audio from iPod to computer.
iBack
http://www.topshareware.com/iBack-download-49338.htm
Copy your songs & videos from your iPod to any computer.
Kandalu X Cube
http://tc.versiontracker.com/product/redir/lid/1007753/sendform.php3
Kandalu X Cube is a user friendly utility that quickly and easily allows the transfer of music files from your iPod to the computer.
In Summary
There you have it, all the resources you need to get your tunes and pictures off your iPod. There are other more expensive options available, but these are a very good starting point, especially since most are either free or have a very nominal fee attached.
If I had to pick only one, I'd pick the iGadget because it's a full featured utility with so many other useful functions in addition to the file transfer function.
But the problem is longstanding, ever since the old cassette tape players were used to record music, straight from the radio.
So, what should you do if your computer with all your iTunes goes on the bum, or even worse, just breaks. You're stuck, without any way to transfer your tunes to your new computer.
Until now!
As technology goes, there are always folks who will find a way to beat the system, and this article will outline 25 options for transferring your tunes from your beloved iPod to your computer. Some are either freeware or shareware and the others of course, come with a nominal price tag.
A couple of the links are actually for transferring photos from your iPod to your computer so I included the link below as an extra. It allows you to transfer tunes and videos between iPods. Lots of folks have more than one iPod and would like to simply copy thier favorites from one iPod to the other or thier friend's iPod.
iPod 2 iPod
http://www.topshareware.com/iPod-2-iPod-download-39933.htm
Many people own more than one iPod. iPod 2 iPod is an application that allows you to transfer your music and video between them.
Macintosh Operating System
iLinkPod
http://www.ilinkpod.com/
iLinkPod is first of all a unique tool that creates a permanent and direct access from your Desktop (and your iPod or wherever you want) to the hidden folders in which iPod stores your audio files. So you don't need iLinkPod or any other utility to access your hidden audio files on the iPod, you'll have access to them through a common folder on your Desktop (and iPod too).
iPod Viewer 3.0.1
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/15864
Transfer songs to and from your iPod.
Expod0.3
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30994
With Expod you can copy any or all of your songs (or videos) off your iPod, using whatever file naming convention you like.
PodView 1.5
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/29287
Play music, movies, photos at full screen and import content from your iPod.
iPodDisk
http://ipoddisk.ourbiti.com/index.php/download/
iPodDisk is a tool designed to make it easy and intuitive to copy music from your iPod. You copy music off your iPod in the Finder, like a regular disk drive.
Senuti
http://www.fadingred.org/senuti/
Get music off of your iPod onto any computer.
PodUp 1.0.0
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/31475
PodUp is an application which copies all your music files from your iPod to a folder of your choosing, without having anything to do with iTunes.
Mac and Windows Operating System
iPodRip
http://www.thelittleappfactory.com/application.php?app=iPodRip
iPodRip supports recovering your songs and playlists, playback of audio files and much more. iPodRip is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2 and later, and Windows XP and 2000. Trial version available.
Music Rescue (Upgrade to the previously called PodUtil)
http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/software/podutil.php
Music Rescue is a shareware utility for copying songs from your iPod to your computer. PodUtil is compatible with Mac OS X and 9.x, and Windows XP and 2000.
iPod Music Liberator
http://www.zeleksoftware.com/products.htm
The iPod Music Liberator allows you to copy music, playlists, and ratings from your iPod to any computer, filling in a missing feature of iTunes. It supports Mac OS X and Windows XP, 2000, NT and 98.
TuneRanger 0.9.5 Build 270
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32865
TuneRanger connects iTunes-running computers over a network, allowing music, video, and playlists to be merged from one iTunes library to another seamlessly.
iPod Access Photo 1.2
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32383
iPod Access Photo allows you to select individual photos and albums to be moved back onto your Mac computer or an external hard drive.
iPod Access
http://www.ipodaccess.com/ipodaccess/upgradeofferWin.html
The premier application for copying music, videos and playlists from your iPod back to your Windows PC.
Microsoft Windows PC
Microsoft Windows PC
iPodCopy
http://www.topshareware.com/iPodCopy-download-42821.htm
iPodCopy allows you to copy music, video, podcasts and photos from your iPod back into iTunes or onto your PC hard disk. Also can copy playlists, artwork, ratings and play counts from your iPod into iTunes.
xPort
http://www.topshareware.com/xPort-transfer-19893.htm
xPort is the ultimate backup tool for your iPod. It enables you to easily transfer your all your songs from your iPod to your PC and it enables you to download lyrics, list your songs, create m3p playlists%u2026
CopyTrans (formerly CopyPod)
http://www.copytrans.net/
CopyTransTM is the ultimate backup and recovery tool for your iPod songs. It requires Windows XP or 2000.
CopyTrans Photo
http://www.topshareware.com/CopyPod-Photo-download-39841.htm
CopyTrans Photo allows you to transfer, backup, copy or download your photos from your iPod to your PC effortlessly.
xPodClone
http://www.topshareware.com/xPodClone-download-37702.htm
xPodClone is the ultimate backup tool for all your devices, it clone easily folders, dvds, cds, directories, ipod. You only have to drag and drop your files into the xPodclone window.
Xplay 2
http://www.mediafour.com/products/xplay/
XPlay makes it possible to not only add music to your iPod but copy music back off the iPod. With XPlay you can use both Mac and PC formatted iPods.
iGadget (formerly iPod Agent)
http://www.ipodsoft.com/index.php?/software/ipodagent
You'll be able to transfer all kinds of data to your iPod, including driving directions, contacts, appointments, email, notes, tasks, podcasts, RSS news feeds, weather forecasts, daily horoscopes, movie show times, gas prices and more! You will have the tools necessary to copy songs off your iPod and back onto your computer.
Tansee iPod to PC Transfer
http://www.topshareware.com/Tansee-iPod-to-PC-Transfer-download-45653.htm
Transfer music from iPod to computer.
Tansee iPod Photo Transfer
http://www.topshareware.com/Tansee-iPod-Photo-Transfer-download-45654.htm
Backup/transfer photos from iPod to computer.
Tansee iPod video to PC Transfer
http://www.topshareware.com/Tansee-iPod-video-to-PC-Transfer-download-45655.htm
Transfer video audio from iPod to computer.
iBack
http://www.topshareware.com/iBack-download-49338.htm
Copy your songs & videos from your iPod to any computer.
Kandalu X Cube
http://tc.versiontracker.com/product/redir/lid/1007753/sendform.php3
Kandalu X Cube is a user friendly utility that quickly and easily allows the transfer of music files from your iPod to the computer.
In Summary
There you have it, all the resources you need to get your tunes and pictures off your iPod. There are other more expensive options available, but these are a very good starting point, especially since most are either free or have a very nominal fee attached.
If I had to pick only one, I'd pick the iGadget because it's a full featured utility with so many other useful functions in addition to the file transfer function.
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