Who Else Wants To Know What All the Excitement is About Ipods and MP3s

4 Reasons Why People Love These Portable Music Devices in the 21st Century

During the course of the past couple of years, there's been a real demand, a real buyer’s craze for Ipods and MP3s. Music lovers from different parts of the world have been scrambling to find the latest when it comes to these types of portable music players.

There are a number reasons why there has been so much excitement about both the Ipod and the MP3. Indeed, there are four significant reasons why people around the world, why music lovers of all ages, have become so excited about Ipods and MP3s.

1. The most basic reason why so many music lovers are thrilled about Ipods and MP3s is based on the fact that these devices allow you the ability to carry with you your favorite music no matter where you are at any given point in time. With people being so mobile in this day and age, these devices provide a perfect way through which you can have music and entertainment no matter where you happen to be at any given point in time. For example, many people in many cities around the world are forced to make long commutes to and from work. Therefore, these devices allow such a person the ability to keep entertained and occupied as they travel back and forth from work.

2. The next reason why so many people have become so excited about the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that the cost associated with these pieces of equipment has dropped significantly in recent times. Of course, when these music devices first entered the market place some time ago, they were actually rather pricey. However, as with so many high tech devices, over time the costs associated with these devices dropped. Indeed, by doing a bit of shopping around, you will be able to find these devices being sold for discounted prices. Therefore, by shopping around in the brick and mortar world and on the Internet and World Wide Web you will be able to find merchants that sell Ipods and MP3s at reduced prices.

3. Another reason that so many people have found themselves drawn to the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that they are easy pieces of equipment to operate. While many people like to have high tech equipment, they shy away from these types of devices because, in some instances, they are difficult to operate. When it comes to Ipods and MP3s, there music players are really easy to operate and upkeep. It is very easy to upload music to these devices -- even a technical novice can readily stock his or her Ipod or MP3 with music of his or her choosing with ease.

4. Finally, one of the primary reasons why so many music lovers are singing the praises of the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that they are so durable. Because these units are designed to be used on the go, you naturally will want to make sure that any portable device that you use is durable. Both of these devices are well designed and completely durable. Even if you end up accidentally dropping your device, you will find that it is very resilient.

In the final analysis, if you are interested in having a device for portable music, you will want to take a close look at either an Ipod or a MP3. Either one of these players are perfect choices for a person who likes to take his or her music wherever he or she happens to travel throughout the course of a given day. These devices absolutely are perfect for people on the go.

By following the tips and suggestions outlined in this article, you will be well on your way to owning a portable music device that will serve you well. Additionally, as suggested in this article, by shopping around you will be able to find a device that is priced within your budget. Finally, by selecting an Ipod or a MP3 player, you will have a music device that will be around for a long time -- or at least until you decide to upgrade.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Who_Else_Wants_To_Know_What_All_the_Excitement_is_.html

Which iPod Is Right for Your Lifestyle?

Before you go out and spend a chunk of your hard earned cash on an ipod you need to take the time to think about what it is that you really need in yours. I mean, there are so many different kinds out there now, it is not the same selection that you had a few years ago. Back then there was only the video ipod and sure you had a few options as far as how many songs it would hold, but that was it. Now our options are vast, each kind of ipod comes with different song capacities and this will affect not only how many of your cds will fit on it but also how much you have to pay for your new ipod.

When it comes to buying an ipod for your kids you need to look at a couple of different things. First of all, consider where the kid is going to be packing this new handy dandy toy. If they are going to be walking all over the world with it you may want to stick with the cheaper ipod shuffle. It is a rough world out there and thousands and tens of thousands of kids have been robbed for their ipods probably this year alone. If, on the other hand, your son or daughter is a very responsible child and they know when to take it with them and when not to then you may want to upgrade your purchase to one of the other more expensive models of ipod. You know your child best of all, just take the time to think about your decision before you spend the money.

If your ipod shopping is all about you and what you need out of this player then you want to look at some of the same things and some different things as ell. Kids are not the only ones who get robbed for their ipods you know, so you will need to be careful too. If you just like to have some tunes to accompany you on the way to work on the subway or the bus then an ipod nano is probably a perfectly fine way to go. If you would like to use your ipod to catch up on the latest TV shows that you missed, then you are going to have to go with the classic ipod. This is the only one that has video capabilities.

When it comes right down to it all of the ipods are amazing, and they are all worth every penny that they cost. It is just a matter of choosing the one ipod that suits you best.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Which_iPod_Is_Right_for_Your_Lifestyle.html

The New iPod Nano - More Than Just Music-To-Go

Let’s talk music! Let’s talk podcasts!
1,000 songs, non-skip, digital quality, portability - the pencil thin iPod Nano is just the ticket. Jogging, walking or toughing it out on a treadmill life just got a whole lot easier with the addition of the rugged, little iPod that holds either 500 (2GB) or 1000 (4GB) songs. That’s 14 hours of sounds that will go with you everywhere.

So what have I done with mine?
I work two hours from home via the public bus and regional rail lines. I get up at 5:00AM, catch a 6:35AM train, after a jostling pushing bus-ride, coffee on the regional rails, then another jostling, jolting bus ride to get to work by 8AM. I couldn’t do it without music – and I couldn’t make it without my rugged little iPod. It holds my sounds, a few photos of my feline, furry buddies sound asleep at home, a couple audiobooks and my podcasts of various things that interest me.

Portability in the extreme What makes this tiny 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.27 inch stand out? It’s thin, weighs only 3.5 ounces, yet it backs quite a punch. Using the Click Wheel, you have access to your music, photos, podcasts, extras like a calendar and contacts, a World Clock and many extras On-the-go Options where you can create custom playlists personalized to exactly the songs you want to listen to at that moment.

Photos of the cool cats
I only have a few photos of family, friends and my many felines, but the Nano can actually hold up to 25,000 photos. Now that’s a lot of picnics, baby showwers and weddings to pass around the office! You can also set it up show a slideshow of your favorite shots.

Easy Sync with iTunes
Through iTunes, the premiere iPod syncing software that works on Mac or PC, you import a CD easily, buy songs or podcasts from the iTunes store sync or upload it to your iPod. iTunes starts syncing automatically after hooking up your iPod. Instant music to go, as well as news and commentary on any subject you like. I like the Audiobooks section for those long rides which has over 11,000 titles. Prices start at just $2.95 per title, Songs are only 99 cents. Syncing is blindingly easy and you can start building your own library of audiobooks — a number of them available exclusively at the iTunes Music Store including the all six Harry Potter audiobooks.

Let’s Accessorize!
With all new things comes the upgrades and gizmos to customize the new toy to perfectly fit your tastes and preferences. iPod Nano is no different offering a wide-variety of earphone choices, many colored skins to make you Nano uniquely yours. I prefer the powder-blue skin myself, and the In-Ear Headphones for maximum sound quality and bass resonance.

You car is a stereo on the roll!
Many of the newer cars come iPod capable with the hookups necessary, but since I have an older model vehicle I’ve done the conventional iTrip and plug-in car Monster option. Either way, it allows you to take you music with you on the road with seamless integration between you car and your iPod.” In other words, fabulous sounds while you drive.

Imagine this scenario.
You stumble out of your bed in the dark, take care of personal business. Now you’re dressed and ready to go. It’s still dark. Out you go, heading towards the local bus stop, still near-comatose. You take out your earbuds, turn on the Nano and wham, music fills your world or the latest Battlestar Galactica podcast about the last gripping episode fills your consciousness. You begin to wake up, ready to face the day on your terms with kick-ass background music or scintillating commentary to make your trip to consciousness just a little bit easier.

You don't like my scenario? Dream up your own. Just make sure you have music in it, because everything moves, slides, walks, and treads better to a beat – whatever your beat – whether it’s classical, new age or rock and roll. It's gone digital, all wrapped up in a cute, little box that takes your songs to the next level and beyond. When you think music, think iPod Nano.

About the Author
udith Brandy is a writer, science fiction fan and breast cancer survivor who runs The Science Fiction Buzz which covers what’s going on in the science fiction genre, conveying the information in a fun and inspiring fashion. Science fiction is about hope, encouragement and the future. It is pure escapism, a window into imagination and fantasy. In a time when our world is super-serious, where diseases abound and terror is delivered with the evening news, The Science Fiction Buzz is a haven. We encourage you to leave your cares behind, and for a few moments, dwell in the astounding.

The New Apple iPod with Video Playback, You Can't Beat this mp3 Player

Apple has done it again. Not even two months after they revolutionized the mp3 player market with the iPod nano, and changed the way we think about flash mp3 players, they’ve done it again with the new iPod with video playback.

This new mp3 player is THE must have player for this holiday shopping season.

In With the New

With this player Apple has added a dual color option, so if white just isn’t for you, the iPod Video also comes in a sleek black color. The new design is also super thin, coming in at a full 50% thinner than the original iPod. And of course, to get full function out of the picture viewing and video playing capabilities, the iPod video comes with a new and improved 2.5 inch color screen, 0.5 inches larger than previous models. The new LCD screen is also covered by a hard clear resin, instead of the standard plastic cover. This will protect the screen from scratches and provide a clearer picture view.

The Sizes

With 30GB and 60GB file capacities you can store your entire music collection and have plenty of room to spare! Store all your pictures, download TV shows straight from iTunes and watch them on your commute. With this player you’ll never be wishing you just had some more space for your files”.

The iPod Gold Standard

Remember, this is an iPod first and foremost. So the picture is superb. The sound is excellent, and has even been improved slightly in this new generation. The navigation is easy and intuitive with the amazing clickwheel. And the organization control is unmatched. Plus you have all the regular extras like calendar, organizer, games, alarm, a newly added lap timer, photo slideshows, and more.

Support for Video Playback

Apple hasn’t just added video capabilities to their player and left it at that. They’ve incorporated new video downloading services into their iTunes store. Download music videos straight to your iPod, or even last weeks episodes of Lost or Desperate Housewives. Hook the iPod up to your TV and play the video files on a larger screen. The transfer quality is even pretty good. Videophiles might want more, but for most of us the display will be just fine. The player even boasts a much improved 20 hour battery life for the 60GB version(15 hours for the 30GB).

Price and Accessories

Sure iPods are more expensive than other mp3 players. But the new 30GB iPod can be purchased for the same price the old 20GB iPod used to be sold for. And this player comes with video and photo support! This is a huge step forward for Apple in making the best mp3 players more accessible to most of us. The only noticeable drawbacks of this player are the lack of some of the usual accessories that come standard with iPods, including the need to purchase an extra AV cable to hook the player up to your television. But these drawbacks are minimal when compared to all the great advancements of this player.

Conclusion

The days when mp3 players only played music files are a thing of the past. The consumer has spoken, and we want our players to not only PLAY music, but to STORE ALL our music. But this isn’t enough either. We want to store and listen to audio books. Store and view our photo albums, and now we want to be able to watch videos. Be it music videos, TV shows, or movies. We want it all, and Apple has delivered. The new Apple iPod video is a must have for anyone in the market for a new mp3 player, and will make an excellent present this holiday season. But if you’re looking for something a little smaller and cheaper, the iPod nano may be a great alternative. Tiny and sleek, this player is great for working out or smaller music collections, for those who want the signature iPod quality.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_New_Apple_iPod_with_Video_Playback_You_Can.html

The New iPod Nano

Let’s talk music! Let’s talk podcasts!

1,000 songs, non-skip, digital quality, portability - the pencil thin iPod Nano is just the ticket. Jogging, walking or toughing it out on a treadmill life just got a whole lot easier with the addition of the rugged, little iPod that holds either 500 (2GB) or 1000 (4GB) songs. That’s 14 hours of sounds that will go with you everywhere.

So what do you do with all those sounds?

I work two hours from home via the public bus and regional rail lines. I get up at 5:00AM, catch a 6:35AM train, after a jostling pushing bus-ride, coffee on the regional rails, then another jostling, jolting bus ride to get to work by 8AM. I couldn’t do it without music – and I couldn’t make it without my rugged little iPod. It holds my sounds, a few photos of my feline, furry buddies sound asleep at home, a couple audiobooks and my podcasts of various things that interest me.

Portability in the extreme

What makes this tiny 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.27 inch stand out? It’s thin, weighs only 3.5 ounces, yet it backs quite a punch. Using the Click Wheel, you have access to your music, photos, podcasts, extras like a calendar and contacts, a World Clock and many extras On-the-go Options where you can create custom playlists personalized to exactly the songs you want to listen to at that moment.

Photos of the cool cats

I only have a few photos of family, friends and my many felines, but the Nano can actually hold up to 25,000 photos. Now that’s a lot of picnics, baby showwers and weddings to pass around the office! You can also set it up show a slideshow of your favorite shots on the full-color screen.

Easy Sync with iTunes

Through iTunes, the premiere iPod syncing software that works on Mac or PC, you can import a CD easily, buy songs or podcasts from the iTunes store sync or upload it to your iPod. iTunes starts syncing automatically after hooking up your iPod. Instant music to go, as well as news and commentary on any subject you like. I like the Audiobooks section for those long rides. It has over 11,000 titles. Prices start at just $2.95 per title, Songs are only 99 cents. Syncing is blindingly easy and you can start building your own library of audiobooks — a number of them available exclusively at the iTunes Music Store including all six Harry Potter audiobooks.

Let’s Accessorize!

With all new things comes the upgrades and gizmos to customize the new toy to perfectly fit your tastes and preferences. iPod Nano is no different offering a wide-variety of earphone choices, many colored skins to make you Nano uniquely yours. I prefer the powder-blue skin myself, and the In-Ear Headphones for maximum sound quality and bass resonance.

You car is a stereo on the roll!

Many of the newer cars come iPod capable with the hookups necessary, but since I have an older model vehicle I’ve done the conventional iTrip and plug-in car Monster option. Either way, it allows you to take you music with you on the road with "seamless integration between you car and your iPod." In other words, fabulous sounds while you drive.

Imagine this scenario.

You stumble out of your bed in the dark, take care of personal business. Now you’re dressed and ready to go. It’s still dark. Out you go, heading towards the local bus stop, still near-comatose. You take out your earbuds, turn on the Nano and wham, music fills your world or the latest Battlestar Galactica podcast about the last gripping episode fills your consciousness. You begin to wake up, ready to face the day on your terms with kick-ass background music or scintillating commentary to make your trip to consciousness and work just a little bit easier.

You don't like my scenario? Dream up your own. Just make sure you have include music, because everything moves, slides, walks, and treads better to a beat – whatever your beat – whether it’s classical, new age or rock and roll. It's gone digital, all wrapped up in a cute, little box that takes your songs to the next level and beyond. When you think music, think iPod Nano.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_New_iPod_Nano.html

The History Of King Kong: From The Big Screen To The iPod Screen

King Kong is a fictional giant gorilla who stars in books, tv shows, video games and movies that bear his name. Though many know him because of his latest 2005 remake – King Kong’s groundbreaking film came to the screen in 1933 with the first remake being released in 1976.

Let’s take a stroll through the history of King Kong and reveal the awesome legacy he has built.

"King Kong" - 1933

The original groundbreaking classic was highly acclaimed for its use of special effects using stop-motion models. Yet it was widely criticized for its depiction of the Skull Island tribes people. This movie was inspired by the success of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World," about an expedition to a plateau filled with prehistoric animals. The film went down in history as one of the great film adventures to be produced in that time period, and is considered a classic today.

"Son of Kong" - 1933

After Kong has wrecked New York and sent producer Carl Denham into financial ruin, Denham flees back to Skull Island in search of treasure and discovers King Kong’s albino son. This sequel was considered mediocre at best.

King Kong vs. Godzilla" - 1962

Kong is discovered on Farou Island and brought back to Japan. Godzilla, long thought destroyed, breaks free for an iceberg and heads for Japan. The authorities plan to bring Kong to Mt. Fuji where he will encounter, and, hopefully, destroy Godzilla. However the use of suitmation for King Kong aroused bitter hatred from fans of King Kong towards the horrid look and the fact that Kong had been brought to life in this manner.

"King Kong" The TV Series" - 1966-69

This was a popular ABC Saturday morning TV show based on the famous 1930's monster movie. In this version, Kong lives peacefully on an island with the Bond family and fights various villains. It didn’t follow the premise of the movie at all.

King Kong Escapes" - 1967

Another Toho film (following King Kong vs Godzilla). A jungle expedition is attacked by a dinosaur. They are rescued by King Kong who takes a liking to the prettiest female member of the expedition. Dr. Hu. She, however, turns out to be an evil scientist with plans to take over the world by building a huge "Mechni-Kong," a robot designed to kill the real Kong.

"King Kong" - 1976

Prior to the 2005 release, this is probably the most remembered film in the King Kong series. An expedition goes exploring for oil. A shipwrecked woman, is captured by the natives and offered as a sacrifice to King Kong who falls in love with her. The woman is rescued and Kong is captured. He is taken to the US and used for exhibition. Kong escapes captivity to elope with the model and wreaks havoc on the city.

"King Kong Lives" - 1986

This sequel is by the same production company as the 1976 film. Kong survives his fall from the sky and is kept at a university research center outside Atlanta in a coma where it is discovered he requires a heart transplant. A female Kong is found in the jungles of Borneo and is transported to the research center for a transfusion that will enable King Kong to have his operation. Romance blooms between the two Kongs and they make an escape from the research center.

King Kong” – 2005

A Universal Pictures remake of the original by New Zealand director Peter Jackson, best known for directing the The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The most recent incarnation of Kong is also the longest, running three hours and seven minutes.

The King Kong film character was the inspiration for several video games including:

* 1981 Donkey Kong and subsequent spin-offs

* The Rampage games by Atari/Midway

* Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game Of The Movie published by Ubisoft.

* War of the Monsters is a 3D fighting game developed by Incognito Entertainment for Sony PlayStation 2

The fascination with King Kong can continue with the launch of the fifth generation Apple iPod with video capabilities and digital entertainment companies like iVideoBlast.com. Thanks to them you can now enjoy the King Kong vs Godzilla movie on your iPod.

As you can see, although King Kong is being celebrated in the 2005 remake, he has become quite the phenomenon over the years. From scary to funny (though not meant to be). From thrilling to thought-provoking.

King Kong will continue to fascinate audiences for many years to come. Long live Kong.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_History_Of_King_Kong_From_The_Big_Screen_To_T.html

The Gift of ADD: Gremlin Or Ipod

Through out the online ADD Community there is some what of an on going debate about whether ADD is a gift. ADD expert Edward Hallowell describes ADD as a gift that needs to be unwrapped. I like to think of ADD more like one of those gifts that I have unwrapped but just have no idea what to do with. It's also like one of those gifts that I did not ask for but somebody just felt the need to give to me.

ADD reminds me of the movie Gremlins. If I remember correctly Gizmo was a cute fun little guy but had to be cared for by following very specific directions. If those directions were not followed to the T” all hell broke loose. I supposed the same could be said about a person with ADD. With proper care and feeding people with ADD can thrive. With out proper care and feeding the life of those with ADD can resemble the movie Gremlins.

Maybe ADD really is a gift that we did not ask for but have no choice but to keep. Maybe all we need is somebody who actually knows what to do with it and can teach us how to use it. Just think about a gift like an Ipod, if somebody did not know what it was or how to use, it would just seem like a weird piece of metal. However once somebody explains what it’s for and all of the uses it becomes so much more.

I’m not saying that ADD is really truly like a Gremlin or an iPod but there are some similarities to both of them. I guess depending on what each person does to manage his or her own ADD, he or she can compare it to another type of gift too.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Gift_of_ADD_Gremlin_Or_Ipod.html

The Powerful and Ultra Compact Ipod Nano

You may have heard about something called the iPod Nano; or you may have just bought one (or received one as a gift…how nice!). Because at the time of this writing the iPod Nano is so new, we want to take a closer look at it here.

Chances are, most readers will want to know more about this latest creation from the thinkers at Apple.

The iPod Nano is very tiny. In fact, it’s about the size of a portable flash drive (those little memory sticks that people walk around with and plug into their laptops).

The iPod Nano has all of the features of the iPod mini, with the real differences being size, storage capacity, and technical scalability (we’ll look at this in a second).

Similar to the mini, the nano also has a color screen, and the beloved grey wheel that must be depressed in order to work (which, as noted, is a feature that Apple added based on feedback from early iPod consumers).

The iPod Nano weighs – get this – an ounce, which MacWorld equates to the heaviness of 6 credit cards.

Since most of us carry about a dozen cards in our wallet or purse – everything from library cards to gas cards to a driver’s license and more – it’s really quite amazing that something so technologically advanced could be so light!

Other remarkable features of the iPod nano include the fact that it has a stop watch, which can record lap times (which is great for those who listen to their iPod nano as they jog!).

The iPod nano also has a world clock, which is perfect for travelers, and has 22 preset listening modes.

We noted the iPod nano’s technical scalability, and this is something that many people are quite pleased with.

To enhance the functionality of this tiny little creation – and, of course, to boost sales! – Apple has enabled the iPod nano to play songs wirelessly through any home theater, via Bluetooth technology.

This is a very significant feature that many iPod nano users are extremely happy about. In seconds (even less!), they can listen to their tunes through a state-of-the-art home entertainment system: no wires, no fuss, just sitting back and hearing their favorite songs sound as good as a live concert; in some cases, even better.

While most of the publicity about the iPod Nano has been overwhelmingly positive, there is some negative feedback also. The color screen is prone to scratching, which can make reading the menus difficult.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Powerful_and_Ultra_Compact_Ipod_Nano.html

Things to consider before you buy an Mp3 player

Portable mp3 player has changed the way people use and listen to music. Because of new technological innovations both in software and hardware has kept this field fresh and exciting and a bit confusing for any first time purchaser.

Today there are many portable mp3 players available in the market and it might seem difficult to choose the right mp3 player for you. So you need to gather some information about the mp3 players available and their price range and then compare their features and decide which one shall suit you the best. This is because if you are a music lover you would always wish to have an in built FM tuner or if you love to play games then you would ask for something else. There are different accessories and lots of add-ons available.

The major criteria for mp3 player comparison would include its music store download system, its capacity in gigabytes, music storage in hours, music formats supported, video formats supported, image formats supported, built-in FM tuner, built in microphone, accessories included, other third party accessories available, navigation, dimensions, weight and price.

Open and closed systems

The primary factor that differentiates between players is that whether they form a part of a closed download music store system or an open one. Closed systems have all elements such as online music store, PC music store, portable software and portable player that are fully integrated to work together. An example of closed system company is the Apple ipod that operates iTunes.

Open system provides you a selection of music stores and portable players from different companies and because they share the same music file format you can easily mix and match players and services. Microsoft’s windows media audio is the largest such open system.

It is also important that the terms closed system” and open system” describe the online music store to software to portable player relationship and the copy protection their respective formats use. You can download and play mp3 files from other kinds of internet websites such as band websites and pod casters. You can also import music from your personal CD’s to your computer and then transfer the songs to your portable player in your preferred format of mp3.

For further information, visit our recommended website freedownloadmp3song.info

Keywords: free download mp3 song, free mp3 player song, download free mp3 music song, free karaoke mp3 song, free legal mp3 song, free mp3 music song,

About the Author

Olivia Andrews is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects pertaining to finance, entertainment, music, women health, mobile phone, education and apparels.

The iPod And How It Conquered the Mp3 Player

I’d imagine it’s pretty likely that you have heard plenty about the Apple iPod in the media. If you’ve got kids then they probably wanted one for Christmas and if you work in marketing or the music business then you have probably already had an iPod for years. Since its release in 2001 the Apple iPod has become synonymous with the term Mp3 player. Apple pretty much created the market for Mp3 players and they also totally dominate it.

Why has the iPod been such a huge success?

Apple cleverly spotted the rise of digital music and the lack of a suitable piece of hardware. For this reason they developed a hard drive based MP3 player and released this in late 2001. As with their recent computer models Apple did something very clever in the way they marketed and designed their product. Right from the start the iPod was given a sleek and sexy look and was marketed at young, style continuos, music enthusiasts. Apple created a fantastic brand with the all white look, with the white earphones being featured prominently in adverts. The white iPod earphones have actually become so recognisable that they have actually been blamed for increased numbers of street robberies.

Even the original iPod could store a fairly significant amount of music as it used a 5GB hard drive. It was a success from the start, but the fact that it was only Mac compatible held back sales slightly, although Apple did actually see an increase in sales of Apple Macs due to people wanting to be able to use the iPods.

The real explosion for the iPod when they released the 3rd generation iPod in 2003 that came bundled with Apple’s own iTunes software that was compatible on both Macs and Windows PCs. This has opened up a new market as they could now tap into the Windows users. Apple now has a huge 90% market share of the hard drive based Mp3 player market, and 70% share of the MP3 player market as a whole. Very impressive I’m sure you will agree.

Apple has managed to keep their grip on the mp3 player market by releasing several different versions of the iPod. The main iPod is now in its 5th generation and although the design is largely similar to the original, it has been made more compact and available with much large storage capacities. The latest models can display colour photos and movies.

iPod mini- Apple’s first iPod spin off was the iPod mini. This mp3 player was fairly similar to the original although smaller in size. It was the first iPod to be available in different colours and was designed to target a slightly different market.

iPod nano - Apple decided to discontinue the mini in 2005, to replace it with the ultra small iPod nano. These are 62% smaller than the mini players and feature coloured screens. Apple has come under some criticism though for the screens on the nano as many users have complained that they damage too easily.

iPod shuffle – This is another ultra small iPod and was the first flash drive based iPod. They only have a limited capacity of 512MB or 1GB and do not have a display screen. Users can either listen to the songs on the player in a random order or set a playlist in iTunes.

The dominance of the iPod in the mp3 player market can be seen in other industries. Cars are now being designed with docking ports to make integrating iPods to the in car system easier. Clothes manufacturers are making clothes with special pockets to hold iPods. All manner of other iPod accessories are being created by various electronics companies.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the iPod was the only mp3 player available, well it isn’t. There are many other players out there, that some will tell you are actually a lot better than the iPods, just maybe not as fashionable.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_iPod_And_How_It_Conquered_the_Mp3_Player.html

Toolbars, Desktop Search and Mac Users

These days, it seems everyone is releasing a Toolbar and Desktop search, from Google and MSN to Search Engine Optimization companies and Internet Service Providers. As none of these are being released for the Mac platform, it has left many of us Mac users wondering why.

Contrary to popular opinion, most software today does release a Mac version. With Apple’s launch of the iPod and iTunes music store, and the significant drop in computer prices, many people are switching to the Mac platform. Mac users are on the rise and most software companies recognize this and are meeting the Apple community’s needs. So, why hasn’t Google, MSN, Yahoo! and all the other Toolbar pushers released a Mac version?

It’s really quite simple. Since about 1997, with the release of Apple’s Sherlock, we’ve had all the functions of these toolbars and desktop search programs built-in to the operating system. With the exception of a Google PageRank checker, everything you can do with your Toolbar or Desktop search of choice, you can do with the software that comes built-in on your Mac. And now there’s even a way to check the PageRank of every site you visit with any browser in Mac OS X. I’d even go so far as to say us Mac users have it better. Shall we take a closer look?

Desktop Search software by Google offers 3 main features: search the files on your hard drive, search through your email, and search the web. All of these features have long been a part of the Macintosh Operating System.

Searching through the files on your hard drive has always been a snap for Apple users. The Finder is even named for it. In every finder window there is a quick search field (http://www.abalone.ca/images/finder1.jpg" target=new>fig. 1) for a simple search of your hard drive. This search is a keyword search of the names of every last file on your drive, including your web history or SiteCache (http://www.abalone.ca/images/finder2.jpg" target=new>fig. 2). You will also notice there are mailboxes in the returned search results in http://www.abalone.ca/images/finder2.jpg" target=new>Figure 2. This is just a name search though, so only mailboxes with the keyword you wish to find in the name will be returned as search results using this quick search.

With a swift keystroke combination [Apple F] or a selection from the File menu in the Finder, a search window opens up with seemingly limitless parameters (http://www.abalone.ca/images/finder3.jpg" target=new>fig. 3). With this find function, you can search by name, content, date modified, date created, kind (i.e.. audio, video, text, etc), label, size, extension, whether or not it is a visible file, type, and creator (http://www.abalone.ca/images/finder4.jpg" target=new>fig. 4). You can also search using a combination of these things by clicking the button.

There are endless combinations of search criteria and locations. By using the "Search in:" drop-down menu, you can search in any specified location. Your home folder, your music folder and your entire hard drive are a few examples. Finder search is powerful, easy, quick and has been able to out-search any Desktop search tool since the 90s.

The quick search has also been included in Apple's e-mail client, Mail. Search through messages and mailboxes for content, keywords, sender, recipient, subject and attachments. As the owner of a web-based company, I receive more email than anyone would consider decent, so you can imagine how much use I get out of this particular function (http://www.abalone.ca/images/mail1.jpg" target=new>fig. 5). It's absolutely invaluable.

So, what does that leave us with? Searching the web. Enter Apple's magnificent Sherlock. Here's where I turn into a total nerd.

Sherlock, released for the first time in 1997, is Apple's way of organizing the web. Organized into channels, you can search many different services. Sherlock Channels include and are not even close to being limited to:
• About.com
• Best Site 1st
• Looksmart
• Lycos
• Overture
• Google web search
• Google directory search
• Google groups search
• Google news search
• Picture search - search for images on the web
• Lycos Stock search - Search for a stock, it's symbol, it's last trade and news from the company it represents.
• Dictionary.com - Look up words in a dictionary or thesaurus.
• Systran translation - translate anything into a dozen languages.
• AppleCare - search the AppleCare knowledge base for Mac tech support.
• Movies! - This is my personal favorite. Powered by Moviefone, search for movies, their show times at theaters near you, a description of the movie, the movie poster and play the quicktime movie trailer, right there in Sherlock! http://www.abalone.ca/images/sherlock1.jpg" target=new>See fig. 6.
• Project Gutenberg e-text search - find electronic books.
• Heise online - search tech news from heise online.
• NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day - use the APOD viewer to browse through NASA's latest pictures of the day - some of these are absolutely breathtaking.
• USGS Earthquake Hazards - this lists the latest seismic activity, no matter how small, from around the entire globe. In the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunamis, this one can be a little frightening.
• Ebay - Search for items and track them.
• Phonebook - search for phone numbers, addresses and get directions to every search result.
• Japanese news from Mainichi Shimbun
• Above California - search maps for campgrounds, ranger stations, lakes, trails and much more.
• Wedlock - plan your wedding in Sherlock.

Sherlock also features an RSS feeder, localized searching and web cams, and the ability to create and manage your own channel for just about anything within the possibilities of the world wide web. All of this, every last point, can be done without opening a web browser, but if you are within the Apple built-in Safari web browser, in the upper right hand corner of every window, there is a Google search field (http://www.abalone.ca/images/safari.jpg" target=new>fig. 7). So you say your Desktop search can search Google from your desktop? That might have impressed me in 1996, but I've been using those functions for years now. 'bout time you kids caught up.

So, between the Finder and Sherlock, I'd say Mac users have Desktop search more than covered. Next up? The Toolbar. The most popular toolbars offer some really useful features, such as a web search, pop-up blocking, check PageRank, autofill, and the ability to search within a web page. Every one of these features, with the exception of a PageRank checker, is built-in to Safari. We already covered the Google search in the top right hand corner (http://www.abalone.ca/images/safari.jpg" target=new>fig. 7), so let's jump ahead to the others.

Since it's first release in 2003, Safari has offered a pop-up blocking option (http://www.abalone.ca/images/safari2.jpg" target=new>fig. 8). I'm on all the Apple newsletters and visit the site at least once a day. Needless to say, I had Safari almost the very second it was available to the public. In all my time using this browser, I have never once seen a pop-up. It's a virtual brick wall that I am eternally thankful for - I don't think I could do my job if I had to look at the myriad of products and services advertised within the wretched pop-up.

Autofill is also a feature that is available with Safari. Using your personal or business contact information from Apple's Address Book, Safari will finish names, e-mail addresses, countries, states, provinces, phone and fax numbers, web site addresses, street addresses, etc as you begin to type them. Also included in this feature is the Safari autofill button in the address bar (http://www.abalone.ca/images/safari3.jpg" target=new>fig. 9). One click of this button and the form on the open page is filled in. You can even have it automatically fill in your user name and password for any account on any site, but I would only suggest doing this if you are the sole user of this account and it is unlikely no one else will be using your computer.

Finding keywords within a web page is something that is available in every application within the Macintosh Operating System, much like Windows (http://www.abalone.ca/images/safari4.jpg" target=new>fig. 10). The Apple key and the F key at the same time will bring up a search field and any instances of these keywords will be highlighted within the web page, the text document or the e-mail you are searching. You can also search within an entire site, by typing into the Google search field in the Safari window site:www.abalone.ca tsunami - this will search within the domain name abalone.ca for the term 'tsunami'.

Now we're only left with one thing. A PageRank checker. This has been my biggest issue with the Toolbars not being released for the Mac platform. I have written many, many, many letters to the developers at Google. It was of no use. They kept telling me to interpret the green lines under every link in the google Directory. Sure, Google, that's not time consuming or anything. I searched and searched and searched and I found several web sites that checked PageRank after you entered a specific URL, but that wasn't good enough. As an SEO company owner, I needed something that checked the PR of every site I visited without me having to do a thing.

After months of frustration, my brother finally came across the solution at konfabulator.com - widgets. Konfabulator is a small piece of software that allows you to run tiny programs called widgets. You can paste these widgets to your desktop, allow them to float above all other open windows or only bring them to the front when you need them. One such widget is a long-awaited PageRank checker for Mac (http://www.abalone.ca/images/safari5.jpg" target=new>fig. 11). Once installed, it will check and show you the PageRank of any site you visit with any browser, automatically.

If you visit widgetgallery.com you can find more than 850 other widgets that do various things such as giving you the weather forecast, desktop search for almost every single search engine, bring you your favorite RSS feed, news, stock info, even plant a character of some kind on your desktop with whom you can interact. Konfabulator is available for Windows as well. These widgets are so useful that Apple has included them in the next release of OS X (Tiger) under the name Dashboard.

So, you can see, as a Mac user, I am outfitted perfectly with everything the Toolbar and Desktop search has to offer and more. Perhaps one day your toolbars and desktop search software will include some of the more advanced features we have, such as downloading and viewing movie trailers, checking flights and earthquake risks, etc. Until then, anything your PC can do, my Mac can do. Perhaps even better.

About the Author

Courtney Heard is the founder of Abalone Designs, an Internet Marketing and SEO company in Vancouver, Canada. She has been involved in web development and marketing since 1995 and has helped start several businesses since then in the Vancouver area. More of Courtney's articles are available at www.abalone.ca/resources/

The Secret to the Apple Ipod 's Success: The Look and Feel

A big reason for iPod sales goes beyond its incredible functionality (which we’ll look at further in this book). Apple has been known for its aesthetics since it entered the personal computer market decades ago.

In fact, one of the reasons that Apple Macintoshes (now referred to as iMacs) have found such a loyal following among artistic professionals is its relentless commitment to how things look, in addition to what things do. It was no surprise, therefore, that the iPod followed this legacy perfectly.

The iPod is about the size of a deck of cards, while the iPod mini is about half that size. They’re both a kind of creamy white, which is Apple’s signature color for the devices.

The iPod works through a grey click wheel that is rotated and pressed/depressed at the same time. This allows listeners to navigate through various songs – skipping tracks, scanning, repeating, and pausing.

A nice new feature of the latest iPod versions is that this wheel must be depressed by the listener in order for the song navigation to occur.

Apple added this little feature after some negative feedback on early versions. Those models didn’t require the wheel to be depressed, and therefore some listeners complained that it was being accidentally hit or bumped.

Also, take heart if you want to have a more unique-looking iPod to add to your sense of personal style. It looks like there are special edition” iPods in the works, such as:

• the Ashley Simpson iPod
• the New York Yankees iPod
• the Eminem iPod
• the Madonna iPod• …and more!

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Secret_to_the_Apple_Ipod_s_Success_The_Look.html

The Power of iTunes With the iPod

So, you know about iPods and the various ways that you can enjoy them – including as you drive. Yet there’s a very big subject that we want to cover, because this is the biggest reason that people buy this neat little device: iTunes.

It’s not difficult to understand what iTunes is, and why people are somewhat addicted to it (in the good way, of course!). Look at it this way: the iPod is the hardware, and iTunes is the software. Or if you’d prefer a different analogy – one that isn’t so technical – imagine that the iPod is the radio itself, and iTunes are the music stations.

iTunes is the name of an online music store that sells countless numbers of audio tracks that include music, but also include books and other material, too.

While there are a number of websites that legally sell music, iTunes is unarguably the most popular and the most well-known; and that trend doesn’t appear to be stopped whatsoever!

As of the end of the second quarter of 2004, iTunes had sold 70 million songs in its first year and offered 700,000 tracks. Both of these numbers have grown substantially since then, and analysts are busy tallying up the numbers for the rest of 2004, and now into 2005.

So…just how far reaching is iTunes popularity? Well, in England, it seems to be the favorite destination – in fact the # 1 destination of people who are looking to purchase digital music. iTunes’ market share in the UK is 54% while Napster has only 10%.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Power_of_iTunes_With_the_iPod.html

The Sold Out iPod Shuffle; Product Review

The iPod Shuffle is the one to get, but they are sold out for now, but do not despair more are on their way and should arrive in by January 15-20 they say. The iPod Shuffle, which holds 240 songs, is compact, easy to use and extremely popular with all ages. The Christmas Rush had the Official Apple Website completely sold out on the third day and even Best Buy knew they would not last. Target sold out as well, as a matter of fact if you can find any left you are doing well and a lucky duck.

The iPod Shuffle is preferable to most folks because it has a one-gig hard drive, but Apple says it is also coming out with a smaller version of the iPod Shuffle soon too. Your other choices are to buy the iPod 512 Megabyte model which is a little less expensive and still holds over 120 songs which should be plenty for most people.

Best Buy and other large electronic box stores indicated that since the iPod Shuffle sold out and they will be replenishing supplies in mid January they noticed a 10% rise in over all store gift certificates, as parents were quick to use the gift certificate option so their kids could still get the iPod Shuttle, the version of choice after the Holidays were over.

Apple admits it did not realize the incredible trend it had started until after it placed all the orders, now the factories producing the iPod Shuttle are running full tilt just to make sure they do not run completely out for a second time. The iPod Shuttle; you need this for 2006.


http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/The_Sold_Out_iPod_Shuffle_Product_Review.html

Building Business With Audio: 10 Examples of Marketing With iPods and MP3 Players

Recently a Christian and an Atheist were bantering back and forth at a local Starbucks and their debate about creationism was becoming louder and louder and quite heated over the Jazz Type elevator music in the coffee shop. On one hand the atheist claimed that the Christian’s fanatical psychotic invisible friend behavior was causing him to live his life in such a way that he was not accomplishing anything worthy of mention and that his life would soon be over and he would merely die a worthless old man with little if anything to show for his labors during his life experience. All this while the Christian claimed that the atheist had no moral judgment as he had no base line or any code of conduct to live by. The debate was getting to the point that it appeared that swear words we going to be issued to the atheist via his Christian rival and probably something to the affect; ...Burn in hell” salutation upon departure.

Luckily I was listening to all this meaningless sound and fury and actually laughing inside. I noticed they both had iPods with those earbud things draped around their necks. Seeing this commonality, I thought I would have the last laugh. So I said;

"Oh, by the way, there is no god. iPod is god; play with the letters a bit you will see. You humans just don't get it do you? It is all right in front of you, but you are blinded by your own fog of war; sound and fury to confuse and control the masses and you know what; you deserve it."

They both did a double take of their iPods and I stuck my iPod’s earbuds into my ears and walked out singing and having a nice rest of my day, knowing by the look on their faces that I took the wind right out of both of their sails. Maybe iPod really is god? There is a lot of vibrational energy going on with all those sound waves and gigabytes of songs. Think on this in 2006.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Building_Business_With_Audio_10_Examples_of_Marke.html

Beverly Hillbillies On Your iPod : New Technology - Same Great Hillbilly Humor

The Beverly Hillbillies was an instant hit comedy and ranked as the number-one program on television during its first two seasons. The show attracted as many as 60 million viewers per episode and rose to #1 in the ratings faster than any other show.

The unique slapstick humor centered around the Clampett family who struck it rich when an oil well was discovered on their land and they moved to a Beverly Hills mansion. The Beverly Hillbillies was one of CBS' longest-running comedies.

They deposited their first $25 million in Milburn Drysdale's Commerce Bank. As Drysdale's biggest depositors, they received special treatment including Mr. Drysdale moving them into the mansion next door in hopes of helping them become more civilized.

Jed was the clan’s patriarch. He was a widower with much more common sense than anyone gave him credit for. Jed's mother-in-law, Granny, spent most of her time concocting potions for medicinal purposes” and trying to find a husband for Elly May. Elly May was a gorgeous young woman who loved "critters" (everything from cats and dogs to skunks and deer). Cousin Jethro was a husky man who was as stupid as he was strong. The Clampetts' encounters with corrupt politics, unfamiliar fashions, indoor plumbing, and the other trappings of modern life provided hilarious for years of classic comedy.

It entertained audiences for nine years in prime time but was finally canceled because its ratings declined gradually and its audience was too heavily concentrated in rural areas to suit Madison Avenue advertisers. Thanks to the launch of the fifth generation Apple iPod with video capabilities and digital entertainment companies like iVideoBlast.com you can still enjoy antics of Jed and all his clan on your iPod.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Beverly_Hillbillies_On_Your_iPod_New_Technology.html

Betty Boop on Your iPod : The Romance Continues

Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character originally seen in cartoons produced by Max Fleischer beginning in August 1930. She was the symbol for female sexuality and has been extremely popular with theater-goers since the beginning. Despite having been tamed” in the mid 1930s by having to be shown with a longer miniskirt and higher neckline, she still remains popular today for this portrayal of sexuality.

Betty Boop has historical significance for being the first cartoon character to completely represent a sexual woman. Betty Boop reveled in her sexuality. She wore short dresses and a garter belt. Her breasts were renowned, and she regularly showed her cleavage. Other characters in her cartoons are often seen trying to watch her while she's changing.

The adult sensibilities of Betty's cartoons made her a hit, and a wave of merchandising soon swept the world. To this day, Betty Boop merchandise is a hot seller item online and offline.

The Betty Boop series continues to be a favorite of many critics, and the 1933 film Snow White was selected for preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress in the National Film Registry in 1994.

The romance with Betty Boop can continue with the launch of the fifth generation Apple iPod with video capabilities and digital entertainment companies like iVideoBlast.com. Thanks to them you can now enjoy Betty Boop's Snow White animated cartoon and others on your iPod.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Betty_Boop_on_Your_iPod_The_Romance_Continues.html

Is An IPod The Best mp3 Player Choice?

Apple is incredibly dominant in the mp3 player market - it has over 80% of the US market for example. Why is this?

Firstly because iPods still lead the way for music playing capabilities - they just sound great. Secondly, the iTunes is the best music management software. On top of that, the iTunes music store is the easiest to use and has the greatest choice.

And last but certainly not least iPods are just such amazingly sexy devices!

There are currently 3 iPods in the model range.

iPod The latest iPod is often called the 5G (standing for 5th generation). It is a lighter, thinner design (10 percent thinner than the fourth-generation 30GB iPod), available in white or black.

It comes with a choice of 30GB or 60GB of internal disk storage. This means you can keep about 7,000 or 15,000 songs respectively, plus up to 150 hours of video (on the 60GB iPod).

The 5G iPod has strengthened its support for photos and video with its 320 x 240-pixel, 2.5-inch QVGA color display. You can use the optional iPod A/V cable to play videos and photo slideshows with music on your TV.

You can also use the new Apple Remote with an optional iPod Universal Dock to control your music, videos and slideshows. There is of course a huge range of third party accessories with similar capabilities to the Apple ones - sometimes even better than Apple's and often at lower prices.

In summary the iPod is still better than the competition, but its video capabilities are not yet complete. For example it is slow at transferring photos directly from a camera and it is not yet a fully capable portable video player.

You cannot convert your own video content for iPod playback - iTunes gives you an unhelpful error message if you try this. To get videos ready for the iPod, Apple says you need to buy an add on called QuickTime 7 Pro, although free software to do this is now starting to appear.

iPod nano Apple's tagline for the nano is "impossibly small" and it certainly is incredibly small and light. It is currently available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB sizes, which hold about 240, 500 and 1,000 songs respectively.

The nano has a 1.5-inch colour display, so you can view album art as you play your music, or browse up to 25,000 photos on the 4GB model.

Because it is so small and light, Apple emphasises the nano's wearability. You can easily wear it around your neck or keep it on an armband.

iPod shuffle The shuffle is the entry level iPod model and is even smaller than the iPod nano - about the size of a pack of gum and weighs less than a car key.

The shuffle doesn't have a display so its playlist control is fairly basic - play, pause, skip, repeat, hold and shuffle (random).

It is easy to hook up to a computer - just plug it directly into a USB 1.1 or 2.0 port, or use an optional Dock. You can sync a specific iTunes Playlist, or drag and drop individual songs or albums from iTunes into the iPod shuffle. The shuffle also automatically charges during syncing.

Summary Apple still holds a clear lead over other mp3 music player vendors. The iPods sets the pace in most aspects - storage, packaging and even price. There is a huge 3rd party add on market that gives the iPod owner a wide choice of accessories.

Apple has now made a strategic move into video and it looks like it will also dominate in that space.

Really, from the position it now has, Apple has to make big mistakes or just get complacent to lose its #1 market position.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Is_An_IPod_The_Best_mp3_Player_Choice.html

iPod Workout Playlist for Exercise Motivation

If you’re like most people, you probably have a favorite band, artist or type of music that inspires you to move your body. It’s as if some songs become a part of you and next thing you know, you’re tapping your feet, drumming your fingers on the table or swaying your head from side to side. Good music makes you want to move. In fact, it’s almost out of your control. If you’re looking for exercise motivation, why not use this phenomenon in your favor. You can easily create your very own, personalized workout playlist.

The beauty of the iPod is the ability to create multiple playlists. Thanks to playlists, you can carry music to fit all your moods and activities in a package smaller than a cassette tape (anyone remember those?) Not only that, you can access each playlist individually so you can find a mood and stick with it as long as you want.

That said, let’s start creating your iPod workout playlist. I won’t go into every minute detail of creating a playlist here, that’s a whole other article. You can easily find workout playlist information by going to Google, and typing in ‘workout playlist.’

Once you’re ready, make a playlist. Call it workout” or any other name that suits your style. Make it a goal to select at least 20 songs either currently in your music library or at the iTunes music store. Find songs that make you want to tap your feet and shake your hips. Look specifically for music that pumps you up, motivates you and makes you want to move your body.

Of course we all have different musical tastes so there’s no right or wrong genre or type of song to put on the playlist. In fact, I currently have 70’s funk, 80’s punk, hip hop, rap, electronica and drum and bass on my list. The main criterion for songs on your list is that they all motivate you to move your body. Here are a couple of points to consider when choosing the songs:

1. Listen for a Consistent Beat - Make sure the songs have a steady beat throughout the entire track. Songs that have a fast beat then a slow beat then a fast beat again might cause you to get out of rhythm. This can become discouraging rather than motivating. The BPM (Beats Per Minute) on your tracks should also be somewhat consistent. This will help you maintain momentum. If you don’t follow this guideline, it’s okay. When a song comes up that’s too slow or fast for the pace you’re at you can always forward to the next song.

2. Listen for Positive, Inspiring Lyrics - Choose songs with lyrics that inspire you or make you feel positive. If the song is about negative events or troubled times, it might slow you down. Choose songs that make you feel like I can do this, I won’t quit, This feels great, I am alive!” With songs like this, you’ll be so motivated by the music that you might even forget you’re exercising.

Keep in mind that if you have more songs in your music library than your iPod can hold, you’ll need to specify in your iPod options that you want your workout playlist to be on your iPod at all times. When your iPod is connected to the computer and iTunes is open, simply right-click on the picture of your iPod and choose ‘iPod Options.’ In the iPod / Music tab you’ll have the opportunity to pick and choose which playlists to have on your iPod.

Once you complete these steps, you’ll have workout motivation that you can keep with you at all times. Therefore, regardless of your travel schedule, traffic hang ups, late nights at the office or unforeseen interruptions, you can put on some comfy shoes, turn on your workout playlist and start moving. In fact, since the iPod is so portable, you might want to mix up your workout by dancing in your living room or going outdoors for a walk or a bike ride. Take various routes around your neighborhood and explore new ground. Get inspired by your neighbor’s landscaping or say hi to local business people just to keep things interesting. The possibilities are endless.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/iPod_Workout_Playlist_for_Exercise_Motivation.html

New Alternative for iPod and MP3 Player Users - No More Ripping Your CDs Yourself

MP3s are becoming more common everyday. Everything from new cars to new stereos are utilizing this incredible digital technology. Imagine having your entire music library at your fingertips whether you are in your car, at work or even at the gym without having to lug around you entire CD library.

iPods and MP3 players are big business and many people simply don't have the time or resources to sit at their computers for weeks and convert their entire library. A recent Fortune Magazine article said:

"Under the best of circumstances...it takes six to ten minutes to convert (rip) each music CD into compressed audio files suitable for storing on a computer, a portable digital music player, or if you're a digital dandy, a home media server. And then there's the time it takes to tag, or "groom," the files, making sure that all the information about the CD-- artist, album, song title, composer, genre, and so on--is accurate. Grooming can take longer than the ripping itself."

So what is a iPod or MP3 player owner supposed to do?

In comes the CD to MP3 business. Pickled productions will do it for you. The process is fast and painless. Everything from shipping your CDs to loading your players is just so easy. Pickled Productions offers today's busy consumer with a service that will finally unleash your MP3 Player.

Pickled Productions offers fast and affordable digital conversion services for all your music needs.

Check it out for yourself!

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/New_Alternative_for_iPod_and_MP3_Player_Users_-_.html

Just What is the iPod ?

If you ask 10 people to explain what an iPod is, you’ll likely receive 10 different answers; and all of them will likely contain some element of fact and logic. Introduced by Apple Computers in 2001, the iPod is technically defined as a portable music player; and even this doesn’t do it justice.

As you’ll see (or perhaps know already from your own experience), the iPod is so much more than a mere convenient way for you to listen to music while on the go.

These things SELL!

The iPod is the #1 seller of legal digital music and digital music devices.

And just what does it take to be #1 in the highly competitive personal entertaining business? Well, since its launch in 2001, over 3 million iPods have been sold; and counting.

In fact, in a 3 month period from April to June 2004, almost over 850,000 iPod and iPod minis were sold. To put that into some kind of perspective, that’s almost 10,000 iPods/iPod minis per day. And if that doesn’t make you go WOW, that’s 398 per hour, or just under 7 per minute – of every hour, of every day, for 3 months!

It’s no wonder, given these awesome sales total, that the question most people ask these days isn’t: are you getting an iPod, but rather: where is your iPod?

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Just_What_is_the_iPod_.html

More Advantages of the iPod

Have you every bought something, like a new car or new kitchen device, and months (or even years later), someone comes by and introduces you to a feature that you never knew existed?

Well, if this has ever happened to you; take heed: you aren’t alone! There are so many features and gadgets and settings on today’s modern devices, that it sometimes feels that you need to take a school course in gadgetology just to ensure that you’re enjoying your item to its fullest capacity.

So, in an effort to ensure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of your iPod (whether you own it now, or are in the market to buy one).

Some of these advantages may seem very straightforward to you, while others might be an eye opener.

Remember, too: you may not use a particular feature or advantage right now, but that doesn’t mean the opportunity won’t arise in the future for you to enjoy something new.

Here are some advantages of the iPod:

--> Size Does Matter!

While you’re obviously aware that your iPod can store your music for you while you’re on the go, you might not be aware of just how much space there is to some of the new 4th generation iPods on the market right now.

Current versions offer 20 gigabyte and 40 gigabyte storage capacities, which is enormous for most audiophiles. Of added convenience, the new iPods also offer a new music menu, and support for multiple playlists.

--> The Shuffle Feature

iPod’s shuffle feature allows you to listen to music you’ve selected yourself, such as listening to a radio station that plays only the music you like. That’s why Apple added the Shuffle Songs” feature – this saves you from having to activate the shuffle in the iPod’s settings menu and then browse through several levels just so you can select songs.

--> Not Just for Music…

The iPod was originally marketed as a device for listening to music; and this made sense, since that wonderful teenage demographic spends more than the other groups put together! Yet as the iPod has matured, so has its target market.

The educational market has now caught on to the advantages offered by the iPod; and this is a driving reason why many people who might not otherwise buy an iPod are finding one in their pocket.

For example, take the case of Duke University in North Carolina. University officials provided 1,650 of the 20 GB iPods to freshmen. These sets of iPods came pre-loaded with campus information, orientation notes, and an academic calendar.

And here’s the most interesting part: the Duke iPods adopted the format of the iTunes store so students can purchase academic materials, course outlines, language lessons, and yes of course: music. We look specifically at iTunes in the fourth section of this book.

In addition, there’s also the thriving audiobook market. We’ve come a long, long way from a binder full of tapes! Now, entire books can be downloaded onto an iPod, and enjoyed on the go.

These audiobooks include everything from young fiction to romance, from business books to self-help, and everything in between.

So if you’re currently using your iPod just for music – or that’s what you plan to do when you buy one – remember that it can indeed be used for so much more.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/More_Advantages_of_the_iPod.html

Low Price Mobile Phones, Ipods & Computers with the Online Shopping Revolution

There's a revolution going on, but you won't be hearing the shouting in the streets, unless it's over the great deal that your neighbour got on his new home cinema. More and more UK consumers are doing their shopping for mobile phones, computers, cheap ipod accessories and ipods and home cinema equipment online. What kind of low prices can you expect when you let your fingers do the shopping on your keyboard?

How about the 4GB Nokia N91 Chromium mobile phone, a veritable jukebox that can carry along all of your favourite tunes and beats for a mere £387, a savings of nearly £100 off retail? Or the top rated Sony Ericsson at £129, a 30% savings off the manufacturer's list price? Those are just a couple of examples of the sort of deals that you'll find if you're looking for low price mobile phones online.

If you're shopping for computers, the discounts can cut even deeper. Computer manufacturers and discounting web sites are playing a game of 'how low can you go' with computer prices. By shopping online and comparing prices, you can find deals as low as £360 for a full desktop system with all the bells and whistles you need to do your basic computing and online puttering. If you want to get really fancy, though, you can do some hardcore shopping for the sort of accessories that make computers into one of a kind gaming machines.

How about an Ipod Shuffle for less than £50? A 30GB Ipod for less than £200? Shop online and you'll find dozens of offers at prices that low, some with free postage and 1-2 day delivery. There's virtually nothing you won't be able to buy online, and for far less than you'll pay at your local stores. Even home cinema equipment is priced at a bargain - and if you shop the right sites, they'll even deliver it and set it up for you to be sure it's all working right.

But is it safe to buy high value items like computers, Ipods and home cinema equipment online? According to no less an authority than Consumer Reports, a long time consumer watchdog keeping an eye on issues of product safety and consumer satisfaction, it's not only safe, it may be better than shopping in a bricks and mortar store. In a recent survey, the well known magazine found that its' readers were more satisfied with their experiences shopping online for consumer electronics like mobile phones, digital cameras and computers than they were with the same products bought in a local store.

You can find the best deals on mobile phones, computers, Ipod and Ipod accessories and home cinema equipment online where you can compare prices and offers to get the absolute best, lowest price on all your home and entertainment electronics needs.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/Low_Price_Mobile_Phones_Ipods_Computers_with_th.html

iPods- Which Rock the World

Wondering why people are becoming crazy about this miniature audio device? I Pods offer excellent quality of digital music. The success of I Pod is due to its features like:

• I Pod is able to deliver extremely rich quality of digital music.
• It comes in attractive small sizes and thus tends to be very handy and compact.
• They come with in-built media library software, called as the I Tunes media library software. This feature enables the user to manage the music files efficiently.
• The most attractive feature which made I Pod the best seller is the attribute which allows the device to be connected to the users’ computer.
• Thus by enabling connection with the users’ computer, the I Pod prove to serve as efficient storage devices.
• I Pods sport a display, which makes the gadget more users friendly.
• Improvised I Pods also had PDA's (Personal Digital Assistants).
• Apple, the creators of I Pod kept on improvising it, and thus many models of I Pod have rocked the market.

The models of I Pod categorized according to the chronological order.

First Generation I Pods:
Initially the I Pods were released with 5GB hard drive, but then later Apple increased their hard drive capacity to 10GB. These I Pods have a scroll wheel with a select button in the middle. This device was a huge hit in the commercial market, but now they rarely exist due to the release of new models.

Second generation I Pods:
These devices had a thicker body and they supported 20 GB hard drive. They were the first gadgets, which were compatible with the windows. They also sported cases and wired remotes.

Third generation I Pods:
These I Pods were thinner than the original versions; the 30 pin dock connector was introduced with this series. They also had touch sensitive buttons this attracted the masses to a great extent. And it did not have buttons surrounding the wheels and hanging parts.

Fourth generation I Pods:
The only difference, the fourth generation I Pods had over the others is the introduction of click wheels. They also sported the same monochrome screen. But it enabled the battery to be charged through the USB connection.

Color I Pods:
As the name suggests these devices had a color screen and the ability to store and display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG images. They supported 65,536 colors. They possessed the photo library and released accessories like I Pod camera connector.

Fifth generation I Pods:
They were developed to reduce minor audio effects so that the head phone does not deliver hard drive noise. They came in a wide variety of sizes, colors and hard drive capacities. They also supported features like the World Clock, Stopwatch, and Screen Lock applications. In addition, the earphones plugs were smaller.

I Pod mini:
The mini had a smaller structure and it resembled the earlier versions in its features. But it did not support third party accessories. They introduced micro-drive hard drive as the storage medium. The minis were further improvised as the first generation and second generation devices. It had rich case colors and was a big hit in the market.

I Pod shuffle:
Flash memory was introduced through these gadgets, but they did not have a screen so navigation of music files was a little difficult. But it has been reviewed as the best sounding audio device in comparison with the other models.

I Pod nano:
I Pod nano also had the flash memory but it came with a color display. It also included a number of features like world clock, stop watch and screen lock options.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/iPods-_Which_Rock_the_World.html

iPods and Podcasting for Learning and Sales Enablement

The Corporate Podcast Push

What do Duke University, IBM, Capital One, Newsweek and Barenaked Ladies all have in common? Answer: they are all reaching out to staff, students, and customers with a new and powerful tool – podcasting. You may have heard about podcasting from your kids or on the news, but podcasting is much more than some phenomenon started by the rock and roll or techy crowd. Podcasting is a powerful communication tool being used to reach global and mobile audiences, save people time and, most importantly, really connect with their audiences in news ways – in today’s communication/message glut. But let’s take a look at what podcasting is, who is using and why it is so effective for both business and individuals.

First, we’ll look at the size and scale of the podcasting phenomenon…

-- A recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that more than 22 million American adults own Ipods or and MP3 player and 29% of them have downloaded podcasts or listened to podcast that have been pushed” to them. That equates to 6 million people listening to podcasts. Market researchers and analysts continue to buoy up podcasting's future with latest figures suggesting a US audience alone of 56 million by 2010.

-- Jupiter Research recently predicted that US digital music player sales would grow to 56 million by 2010, up from 16.2 million in 2004 and by 2010, three- quarters of all people who own portable digital music players will listen to podcasts, a growth from less than 15% last year.

What is podcasting?

Whether you describe it as the greatest communication tool since email, or as an RSS feed for audio, podcasting is a way to push” audio content to subscribers for virtually zero cost. Podcasting allows anyone (me, you, IBM, or NBC) to post audio content that gets pushed to any subscriber’s desktop and then directly to their iPod or MP3 player. This is global. Anyone, anywhere can tune in” to your podcast and learn what you have to offer or say. You don’t need to be NBC with a global distribution infrastructure. Now people can subscribe” to a podcast and have new content pushed” out to them without them having to surf the web, download MP3s or burn CD’s.

Ideas/Stories/Voices ? Audio/MP3’s ? Internet ? PC ? MP3 player

All the arrows go in one direction. Once someone has subscribe to your podcast, your content get pushed” out to them. There is no turning in to stations with podcasting. You don’t have to visit a website to find streaming podcasting. Podcasts show up (pushed) when new content is produced. If you are a subscriber, you get the podcast right then. All you need is an Ipod or MP3 player of any kind for listening, thus the word podcasting.

The term "Podcasting" is derived from the iPod (Apple Computer’s popular device for playing compressed audio files) and "broadcasting." Podcasting allows for audio files that would have been previously downloaded and played on a personal computer to be automatically downloaded and listened to on portable music playing devices (such as the iPod and other MP3 players).

Having originated in the world of blogging, some have even referred to podcasting as "audio blogging." For many, podcasting is a logical next step from blogging. As Business Week Senior Writer Stephen Baker observes, "The heart of the podcasting movement is in the world of blogs, those millions of personal Web pages that have become a global sensation. In a blogosphere that has grown largely on the written word, podcasts add a soundtrack."

Now that you know what a podcast is, let’s look at where they come from: who is producing the pushed audio content.”

Who is producing podcasts?

The answer is wide ranging. Teenagers, techies and rock musicians were early adopters. Today you see the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Business Week, ESPN and news programs of all types producing, distribution and marketing podcasts. The number of podcasts available is growing at a very rapid pace. In late 2004, there were close to 500 podcasts available. Today there are over 10,000 different podcasts to choose from.

Now that podcasting has becoming more mainstream, corporate and non-corporate organizations are getting into the act, using podcasting to connect with customers, students, staff and partners. Here are some examples:

-- Duke University handed out iPods to their entire 2005 freshman class so they could receive podcasts that included university news, class work and social content.
-- Capital One University has handed out over 3000 iPods to support corporate training and communications. This includes, leadership training, sales, customer service and other topics.
-- IBM has created podcasts to show their thought leadership to customers investors and prospects.

-- Keane Inc. has handed out over 100 ipods to their global sales force to share training, customers’ stories and organizational content.

Why have these and other organizations gotten into podcasting? They have gotten into it because they know their audience (whether internal or external) is inundated with text-based content: emails, articles, the web portals, and marketing messages. Podcasting allows them a unique medium to reach and connect with their audience.

iPods will be part of Duke University’s new Duke Digital Initiative (DDI). "We've been focusing on iPods and other mobile computing, but our wider goal is to integrate technology broadly into the teaching and learning process,” said Peter Lange, Peter Lange, the university's provost and senior academic officer. The iPods have helped jump-start this process, and we plan to keep pushing ahead."

Listeners love podcasting because it delivers rich content directly to them, in a form that allows them to save time, control what they hear and listen to while commuting, working or whenever it works for them. No longer is learning tied to a book, PC screen or web portal.

Content is still king in any communication, especially recorded podcasts. Podcasting is the delivery tool. Compelling content ensures continuous listening and not a flip of the power switch or turn of the dial.

Should you podcast?

Podcasting is not answer to all your learning and communication problems. As great as audio is, like any medium, it has its limits. While audio allows users to multi task, it is not easily scanned – which means you consider the listeners needs very carefully. You must provide value.

Corporate podcasting is different that individuals or media podcasting. The standard for a corporate podcast is much higher than for individual or media. Your staff and customers expect certain from your communication with them. You can’t just offer long-winded rants, self serving commercials or cute content. It is all about value. When producing that value, ask yourself; who and how will you produce your podcast? Who will review it and how? Will you get it transcribed? There are legal issues to consider as well.

Despite these issues podcasting can be simple. Once you have determined your format and established a process the whole process gets much easier. Still podcasting takes a proactive effort, a planned approach, creative development and the courage to try new things. But if you have the courage, and are willing to put the front-end work into it podcasting and mobile audio can provide huge benefits. If you would like to:

-- Reach a global audience
-- Connect with that audience in a new and effective ways
-- Save your audience time
-- Share the passion, experience and stories of your business

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/iPods_and_Podcasting_for_Learning_and_Sales_Enable.html

iPods & Theft, Of Body Fat That Is

Twenty years ago we used cassette players, ten years ago it was portable CD players, five years ago we were burning our own CD’s and since then it has been the onslaught of the ever popular iPod and other related MP3 players. Our world has changed so drastically in such a short time period. This new revolution has been so big, that I am now crediting these iPod’s and MP3 players with literally tons of weight lost during exercising. For those us who exercise regularly, these devices have become the norm in our workout routines. Glance at any runner, walker or people working out at a gym in your area and you will see what I am talking about (as if you have been living in a cave). The percentages are much higher today than in the past. Have we become antisocial towards other people? Maybe, but maybe we are just in the iZone”. We love these things so much and for so many reasons.

So, what’s the big difference? Whether its twenty years ago or today, we are still listening to music. Why are we so addicted to these machines and what about them puts us in this iZone”. The differences are obvious. First comes size. Those old clunky cassette players and CD players were just too big. Although you could strap it to your waist or arm, it just was not that appealing to have it weighting you down, besides the fact that the CD’s often skipped and the cassettes needed to be flipped. The newest players are as small as a pack of gum or even smaller and we have an abundance of accessories that aid us in forgetting that we are wearing them.

Second, we can store a near infinite number of songs on our little white gems. Regardless of size we can choose from somewhere around 100 songs to tens of thousands. WOW! That just blows those old fossils out of the water. Imagine a new MP3 player on sale at your local electronics store that holds a whopping 15 songs! Huh? Doesn’t sound like such a hot buy? Well in the 80’s and 90’s our cassette players and CD players held just around that many.

Now lets talk about ease of use. We didn’t mind recording tapes and CD’s that much, but boy was it time consuming. We now use our computers with USB or Firewire cables and boy it is an absolute snap. We save time and picking songs is simple also. No more loading cassettes and then fast-forwarding to find a spot. CD’s may have been a little bit easier, but they still required the right equipment and time.

Those are the obvious differences, but not the leading reason for our lust. We are in love with the individuality and diversity that these machines afford us. The words individuality and diversity have been etched in our vocabulary over the past ten years and that is exactly what iPod’s and MP3 players deliver for us. With the ease of use and song storing capacity we gain an immense amount of power. We stuff these creations chock full of diversity. Everyday in our lives we have many moods. Maybe we just had a bad night or maybe we just got some great news. Without worrying about any extra time or thought, we can go to the gym and scroll through artist after artist and pick what our mood demands. We almost never have a loss for music that appeals to us. It could be a brand new hit single or some song from the past that gets us psyched and ready to go. The primitive ancestors we were accustomed to just couldn’t deliver this remarkable feature. Imagine being instantly motivated because of a library that seems endless. That is exactly what the creators of these modern marvels have done for us.

We hear stories about the obesity epidemic in America almost everyday. So how can my claim be substantiated? Regardless of any other factors, we have a large amount of people in this country who workout on a regular basis. Gym memberships have increased over the past decade. Of those people exercising, a significant percentage of them are utilizing our newest technologies to their advantage. iPod’s and MP3 players give us a chance to get out of our bodies and minds for that workout period and can actually make time seem to go faster. Instead of thinking about every step you take, your mind is focused on that song that is geared for a specific mood. You have an almost out of body experience. This iZone” creates a new place for us. This place allows us to perform at an optimal level regardless of where we are and who is around us. So keep those batteries charged and those song lists fresh and America’s weight loss will continue on its current hot streak for those of us who are committed to staying healthy.

If you haven’t begun yet, this is such a great way to get started and make a difference in your life. Pick up an iPod or take that one you have off your desk and start working out. Join the revolution. It can be as simple as a short walk here or there or you can renew that old gym membership. Any place can be a starting point to a new lifetime commitment. Update that song list and give it a try. Let those songs release your minds grip over your body. It can change the way you think about exercising. I guarantee you will experience the iZone” for yourself. Good Luck and what the heck, sing out loud while you run down the block!

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/iPods_Theft_Of_Body_Fat_That_Is.html

iPods Cases For iPods

iPods have cornered the market in terms of trendy mp3 players and the latest, third generation, versions offer photograph and video options too. Then there is the 'iPod nano' and the 'iPod mini' and the 'iPod shuffle' too! These gadgets have remained popular for some time now and alongside the sale of iPods an industry has grown in accessories.

The biggest advantage of an iPod is its size and therefore the ability to take it with you wherever you go. However, this can cause problems as they are also quite delicate and the screen and case are prone to scratching, even during normal usage. Therefore there is a whole market out there offering cases to protect your iPod from damage and to make it possible for you to take it literally anywhere. Most cases now come with a variety of options for straps and clips to make sure your iPod never leaves your side until you are ready to put it away.

IPod Case Type 1: Socks

Yes really! This is just a pocket that your iPod slips into and it can be made out of sock material, usually cotton or wool. It's easy to make them fit all the different shapes and sizes of iPods and they can be made in a variety of materials and colors. You can get iPod socks from Apple but there are lots of other places to choose from offering all sorts of styles and colors. But why buy one when they are so easy to make. I used a pair of men's thick sports socks. I cut off the foot then sewed up the end where the foot would have been. That's all there is to it and you get two iPod cases for the price of a pair of socks.

IPod Case Type 2: Fabric and Skins

I'm not sure whether the fabric cases here shouldn't come under the 'socks' label, but having looked at various websites, there are some really wacky cases for iPods available, at a cost. The options should suit all tastes from pink and fluffy to textured and to practical plain "Hotromz" make the cases to fit all types of iPod available. More expensive than a sock but they do make an individual statement about the owner!

If you don't want an iPod case that issues a fashion statement then you can try something a little simpler like a wallet covered with tweed or other fabric. The problem with the wallet approach though is that you have to remove the player from the iPod case in order to use it. I think that's a bit inconvenient.

If standing out from the crowd is not your style, there are other fabric options available, such as tweed covered wallets that the iPod just slides into. However, if you wish to change anything, or look at the screen, you need to take the player out of the iPod case.

The 'Moshi' pouch is like a cross between fabric and skins. Made of a special fabric called 'Terahedron'. Inside the iPod case there are microscopic filaments that help to clean the iPod of fingerprints and smears. The iPod case is also resistant to water and dirt. With a handy pocket for storing earphones, this iPod case is not expensive and proving quite popular.

Skins are made from silicone rubber or orca-skin neoprene. The silicone variety provides a translucent skin so that you can still see the iPod inside. They have clear screen protectors too, so there is no need to remove the player from the iPod case to use it. Neoprene covers are best for those people who like to take their iPods when they are taking part in outdoor activities. Tough and strong, they are made to protect the iPod regardless of where you are. They still offer a clear view of the screen, but the cases often have shaped grips on the sides for easy handling. Some have a lid to protect the front and a pocket to store earphones.

IPod Case Type 3: Leather

Leather cases for iPods are the most expensive option there is, but not always the most practical, leather iPod cases offer a very smart alternative to the brightly coloured neoprene or silicone skin, or the fabric versions. Some manufacturers offer the opportunity for you to have your initials printed on the iPod case, just to make sure no-one mistakes whose case it is. Leather iPod cases come in several different styles, such as one that looks like a notebook with a front flap, or there is one that has a flap that fixes over the top, like a purse. The ultimate and possibly the most expensive iPod case available is one made from ostrich leather!

IPod Case Type 4: Sports Cases and Armbands

The ultimate in portable cases for iPods with elasticised straps that have neoprene cases attached, ready for you to strap on your upper arm. This turns your iPod into the ideal partner to take to the gym where you can exercise whilst listening to your favourite music or other download.

If you are not too keen on wearing it on your upper arm, a new variation is a case that slips on to your hand, which is easy to access if you wish to change whatever you are listening to. This style is most suited for those who want to exercise outdoors such as joggers or walkers.

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/iPods_Cases_For_iPods.html

How to Transfer Movies to Your iPod in 3 Easy Steps

There’s a very easy and quick way any iPod Video owner can use to get their favorite movies into their iPod Video. But first, we have to know what video formats the iPod works with. There are various types of video formats:

- DVD
- AVI
- DivX
- XviD
- WMV
- ASF
- RM
- RMVB
- Mpg/Mpeg

They appear as an extension after the file name of your video… such as ‘The Longest Yard.avi’…So to feed your iPod with videos, all we have to do is convert these formats into the MP4 video format, which the iPod only allows. The MP4 format is very compressed and saves a lot of space on your iPod hard drive.

Here is what you need as basics:

- A Video-to-iPod Converter. There is software that converts any video format to the iPod MP4 format.

- A DVD Player installed on your computer. You can use iTunes to preview videos before they get put into your iPod.

- A DVD Ripper installed in your computer if you want to transfer DVD into your iPod. Also, there is a software which converts any video format plus the DVD format to the iPod MP4 video format.

- iTunes, which is free for download at the Apple website.

- And your Video iPod with its USB Cable.

Here is the Basic 3 Step Method:

1. Use your Video-to-iPod converter to locate the video you want to convert into the iPod MP4 format in your hard drive… and click select/convert. Remember in the Output Settings”, select DivX 6.0 codec” for the optimum output.

2. If you want to copy DVD movies into your iPod, you need to use a DVD ripper to rip the DVD file out of the DVD…use the DVD ripper to select the movie you want to transfer to your iPod and click extract/rip.

3. Find the files that have been converted, DVD or Non-DVD using the iTunes Library. Make sure they appear in iTunes and test if they work. Load the MP4 files to your iPod by clicking Update iPod” under File” in iTunes.

There you go, a simple method to enjoy your movies – whatever you want, wherever you want and whenever you want!

http://www.ipodresourcecenter.com/How_to_Transfer_Movies_to_Your_iPod_in_3_Easy_St.html