*Official* iPod thread - all iPod discussion in here

[Taka]

I'm a fan of PodUtil for copying stuff from the iPod to a Mac or PC. Doesn't mess with the file system at all and can reside on the iPod or on a machine.

Update for the iPod touch announced this evening for ?13 where you can get Mail, Maps, Notes, Stocks, and weather. Bit cheeky considering new iPod touch buyers get the update for free and the device has only been out a short while!

[jimtendo]

I'm looking to get an iPod Shuffle... so it might be blatantly obvious (not to me though) but how do you know when the thing is gonna run out of battery? apart from tell-tell sign #1 when it stops working.
Since there's no LCD screen indicator like the other iPods have.

Just so i know when to charge the thing.

[bignige]

The old shuffle used to have a battery light on the back - green - full charge, amber - half, red - dead! I would imagine this has the same?

[IanE]

I bought the iPod touch update, because the functionality would be invaluable to me. But, the programmes aren't coming up? WHY?!

[neverevertrevor]

It does, but when you add them to your itunes library, everything is normal on there! Also when you are copying it does tell you what kind of file it is, so I assume it would say which files were pictures!

[Taka]

I'm looking to get an iPod Shuffle... so it might be blatantly obvious (not to me though) but how do you know when the thing is gonna run out of battery? apart from tell-tell sign #1 when it stops working.
Since there's no LCD screen indicator like the other iPods have.

Just so i know when to charge the thing.

There's a physical on-off switch on the bottom of the shuffle along with a shuffle/ordered play switch. When you first turn the shuffle on, the light will either be green, yellow, red, or white I think (mine's never reached anything below yellow).

[Dogg Thang]

I'm not sure just how much use these new Touch apps are. I guess if there was wifi access everywhere, they'd be quite useful. But not sure I'd be enough places and need email so badly as to want an app for it. Google maps, again, I can only see me actually needing something like that when I'm lost somewhere and, then, I'm unlikely to be able to connect.

No idea what one of the apps does.

So I'm not really sure what this offers for $20.


On backing up libraries:

Trouble is, doesn't iTunes convert them and do all sorts of nonsense with the files?

Yeah, this is the issue I had when I considered doing it manually. And even using a good prgramme, I'm not sure I can arrange them in a way that I can read if the apocalypse happens and there is no such thing as iTunes any more.

[ChrisF]

$20 for the apps is a total con. Just use the ones from the 1.1.2 iPhone on a 1.1.2 jailbroken Touch

I've used the mail app down the pub (to email the wife back at home!) before thanks to the hotel opposite having free wifi.

[Morcerf]

I find the maps really useful, as if you pull the map up whilst at home, even if you're not connected then you can still see the last map along with your bookmarks. Not sure how much it keeps for offline viewing, but it is handy.

Plus its well integrated with contacts, so you can add locations to people in your address book and then with a simple touch call up their location in maps.

The mail is handy for composing stuff offline - will send as soon as you're connected. Plus I've often used it when showing people photos on my touch - really easy if they want a copy to touch a button and have it emailed to them (as soon as you're connected).

Well worth the 12.99 I reckon

(I had a jailbroken touch before, but figure it's a lot easier to go the official route than trying to stay ahead of the updates - esp. with the SDK being launch and new apps inevitably on the way)

[mackemansj1]

What a rip this update is, theres noway im paying for what should be free. All new ipods come with them installed why should people who got the touch for xmas have to now pay more money for email etc when you can jailbreak it for free.

[Myth]

Yea it's a rip off I'll be staying on the Jailbroken route.

[ChrisF]

Lot of talk on various forums saying that Apple are going to back-track and make it free soon anyway, so I wouldn't rush to give them any money.

[Myth]

I've read that the apps are built into the firmware and all the £13 does is unlock them bit of a con if you ask me.

[ChrisF]

Btw, if any one reads any comments (i.e. in Engadget) about the Weather app only having London in the UK, then that's simply not true. I have Coventry and Lichfield working fine on mine. It's the same widget as you get on OSX.

[IanE]

What a rip this update is, theres noway im paying for what should be free. All new ipods come with them installed why should people who got the touch for xmas have to now pay more money for email etc when you can jailbreak it for free.

Do you complain about this when they update the operating system on Macs too? You can pirate OSX extremely easily, that doesn't make it right.

I could have jailbroken my iPod touch, but I couldn't be arsed when the official route is hardly difficult.