Why Does the iPod Continue to Kill the Competition

Since the first generation iPod was released in 2001, the sexy little digital audio players have continued to lead the market. But what is it that these particular mp3 players offer that the competition obviously lacks?

• Style – there are literally hundreds of words just itching to be used in the description of iPods; sexy, sleek, stylish, unobtrusive, cute, cool, hip…the list could go on forever but you get the idea. Each subsequent generation has gotten smaller, and thinner and even more appealing to consumers and it goes without saying that future generations will carry on this trend.
• A household name – Apple was a contender in the electronics industry well before it released the first iPods and so it has a name that associate with quality. Apple and its products can therefore be trusted and as a result the iPod has built up quite a fan club. Loyalty counts for a lot in such a competitive industry.
• Quality product – iPods are synonymous with great sounding music and have been voted top mp3 player in a multitude of polls and questionnaires since their conception. They are also durable, reliable and available in a choice of models.
• Simplicity - iPods are incredibly easy to use as pretty much everything is controlled with the unique clickwheel. Millions of children and weekend drinkers would definitely agree with this last point!
• Additional functions – the iPod is more than just an mp3 player. Depending on which one you buy you could have photo storage, video playback, world clocks, contact lists, a stopwatch, e-mail lists, colour cover art and even the option to use your iPod as a flash memory pen. With each new generation the range of features grows and so does their popularity.
• Marketing – Apple have been marketing quality products for so long that they are literally masters of the art. A good marketing strategy can promote a new and little known product straight to the top.
• Accessories and peripherals – the choice of accessories and plug-in peripherals for the iPod range make it a product just waiting to be individuated. You can protect it with tattoo skins or brightly coloured socks. You can convert it into a voice recorder or even a flashlight; the options are endless.
• Memory – compared to some of their competitors Apple have gone all out on the memory capacity of their new iPods, especially the iPod video which is available as 40GB or 60GB. That is enough storage room for 15,000 songs! The added bonus is that Apple’s prices are still in the same region as that of their inferior competitors.
• Choice – there are now a number of iPod model to chose from so even the pickiest people shouldn’t have a problem finding one to suit their needs.
• iTunes – one of the major pluses for iPod users is the iTunes Music Store. Here you can download individual songs or entire albums legally. At present there are over 1 million songs to choose from in addition to photos and podcasts. What more could you ask for?

Apple are continuously coming up with improvements, extra functions and new ideas regarding their iPods and providing they continue to do this they should have no problem staying at the top of the league.

For more information, tips and reviews about the iPod, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, iPod accessories and iTunes, visit Timothy Michell's website iMegaWorld.com, the complete online reference guide for anything you want to know about the iPod.

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Top iPod Problems and How You Can Fix Them

Most say the small shape of the iPod is an advantage, while others argue that the increased mobility just increases the chances of an accidents happening.

The most common accident the iPod faces is simply being dropped. This kind of accident can happen anywhere at any time, and if it happens to drop outside on concrete you might be in trouble. The least that can happen is a minor scratch, which can easily just be ignored or buffed out. If you start experiencing hard drive problems because of the drop, you'll know something bad has happend. Although many prefer to send their iPods off to specialists for repair, some owners prefer to do it themselves.

If you're a do it yourselfer, or you just like to experiment, try buying your own parts to fix your iPod. This might be a good alternative to having it repaired, especially if you dread the time you have to wait for repairs to be completed. You can purchase broken iPods with workable parts, or buy individual screens, batteries, and harddrives on websites like eBay.

If you've owned your iPod for a year or longer, you might see signs of battery weakness. When this happens, you'll know that it's life is coming up short. A battery replacement would be a good investment in this case, and will solve the problem nicely.

Be careful if you keep your iPod in your back pocket. If you aren't careful with your iPod while it's in your jacket, pants, or pocket, it can be prone to bending and cracking. It's important to remember that the iPod isn't made out of steel, and can sometimes be a fragile device, especially the LCD screen. Unfortunately there's no fix for a cracked LCD screen - you'll have to repair it and get the screen replaced. If you obtain the proper parts and equipment, repairing your own iPod is within your grasp.

Written by Kori Smith. Find the latest portable media articles, news, and more at PocketSynch the Portable Media Gadget Blog.

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How To Download Music Video To iPod With 3 Easy To Use Software Programs

After so many years of consumer speculation and anticipation iPods are now a reality for music, movie and games lovers alike. This is why so many people are asking how to download music video to iPod. Apple’s iPod does much more than just play music and display photos.

The new Video iPod plays videos and not only that, it also allows you to output video into your TV or your computer very easily using custom software.

Along with updating iTunes and the iTunes Music Store, Apple has made video content available for purchase and download. Now, how to download music video to iPods with the latest hits has never been easier.

But what about the video you already have? Files such as iMovies, DVDs that you own, TV shows that you’ve recorded with a Mac-based digital video recorder (DVR), what do you do with them? Can you play them back on the new iPod? The simple answer is yes. And converting them is so easy to do these days.

Below are some of the top three iPod video software that allows you to rip DVD's into your iPod and how to download music video to iPods.

#1 Cucusoft PSP/iPod Video Converter + DVD to PSP/iPod Converter Suite

Its name is a mouthful, that’s for sure, but all of it is true. Widely considered as perhaps the best iPod converter around, Cucusoft’s iPod Converter Suite is actually four programs bundled together to form an all-in-one video conversion package when looking how to download music video to iPod.

With this Suite, you can convert all your favorite DVDs from your collection and almost all other types of video files you have stored, then play them on your new Video iPod or even a PSP (Playstation Portable). Now, you can bring your favorite movies along with you and watch them through iPod whenever, wherever.

It’s an excellent program for beginners. You don’t need to have any media know-how to get this thing started. If you’re trying to rip movies from a DVD, just pop in the disc into your computer and launch the Cucusoft iPod Converter Suite. The program will automatically load the disc, allowing you to select the file format to play on your iPod.

And the software can support almost all types of media files out there, such as, AVI, DivX, Xvid, MP43, MPEG1, MPEG2, .asf, .wmv, .mov, .rm, .rmvb, Video DVD disc, .VOB, .IFO, VCD, and SVCD. In addition, for people who are looking to do more with their movies, the Converter Suite supports various iPod video sizes including H.264 video (up to 768 kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 kbps, 48 khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats), MPEG-4 video (up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec, Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 kbps, 48 khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats).

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• Windows 9x/2000/NT/XP/2003 server

• DirectX 8.0 or later (this is most likely already on your system, but can be downloaded for free from Microsoft if not)

• Minimum MMX-enhanced CPU

• Minimum 32 MB RAM or more

• Any VGA card

#2 Lenogo DVD Movie to iPod Video Converter

If you want a fast, solid, and stable converter that delivers time after time without crashing, then look for the Lenogo DVD Movie to iPod Video Converter. With a user-friendly design and an interface that’s straightforward, even beginners will find it easy to operate. Just one note though: If you’re a first-time user, now is probably a good time to start learning the basics about media files if you are asking how to download music video to iPod. Lenogo DVD Movie to iPod Video Converter is a professional DVD to iPod converter software, the one of the fastest iPod converters known.

Convert all kinds of DVD to iPod video (mp4) format with a conversion speed that is far faster than real-time. Now, you can convert an entire DVD movie in half an hour on a high-end computer. Of course, there are many factors that could affect the actual conversion speed, factors like the following:

• DVD to iPod conversion process is closely related to hardware. Conversion speed is subject to the quality of DVD discs and speed of hard drivers.

• The speed figures depicted in Lenogo website’s diagram are test data which may differ from computers.

• Unregistered version is slower than the registered one because each frame in the former version is noted with “Unregistered version” which wastes time.

#3 PQ DVD to iPod Video Converter

With the PQ DVD to iPod Video Converter, converting videos with “just one click” is more than just a figure of speech. It’s as real as it’s going to get. And what’s more, it can do it fast, too!

The PQ DVD to iPod Video Converter converts DVD to iPod Video in one click, as well as Tivo2Go, DivX and other popular video files (such as MPEG, WMV, AVI, and RealMedia) to iPod. Super fast conversion speed with high quality plus advanced video editing features give you everything you need to turn iPod into a portable media center. Watch TVs, movies, home videos on the go and experience a new lifestyle with the PQ DVD to iPod Video Converter.

The software is great for beginners on how to download music videos to iPod. There’s very little you have to figure out by yourself since you’ll be prompted all the way. It so simple anyone can do it.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:

• PC (Microsoft Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP

With these top three iPod video converters your question should now be answered on how to download music to iPods.

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Download iPod Movie Video With 2 Simple Clicks of The Mouse

You can now have video and TV on the go with your iPod. To download iPod movie video has never been easier. Many people are asking how to download music video to iPods. It's easier than you may think. It only takes a couple clicks of your mouse!

Physical updates aside, the biggest feature of this new iPod model is that it now plays video. What? Yes, you can download iPod movie videos.

Does this new iPod do something radical with video playback to put PSP and other similar devices to shame?

Well, not exactly. The new iPod plays videos, and that’s about it. There is nothing remotely revolutionary about the way it plays video. Ah, but when you take the ease of use of getting videos onto those portable devices into account when you go to download iPod movie video, that’s where the new Video iPod truly shines.

For all of PSP’s widescreen glory, you cannot yet output that video to an external display. The new iPod however makes video output seem like the easiest thing to do. What’s more, you can even hook up your iPod to your PC, open an Apple video store, and upload last night’s episode of your favorite TV show with one or two clicks of your mouse. It’s that simple.

For the new video content, there is a new “Videos” menu available on the iPod, and under that are options for “Video playlists,” “Music Videos,” “Movies,” “TV Shows,” and “Video Podcasts.”

As another plus to this nifty device, Apple has made the interface for playing movies extremely similar to playing music. Just click the middle wheel once and you control the volume with the scroll wheel. Click it a second time and you’re surfing through video.

What It Can Play?

Here are the new iPod’s supported video formats to consider when you download iPod music videos.

• H.264 video: up to 768 kbps, 320x240, 30 frames per sec, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 kbps, 48 khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

• MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480x480, 30 frames per sec, Simple Profile with AAC-LC p to 160 kbps, 48 khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats

Apple advertised 14 hours of battery life for the 30 GB model. That’s for music, of course. That and provided that you play it at about ¼ volume.

At ¾ volume, the new iPod can be trusted to play and play for six hours straight without any problems before it gets into the “red” colored section of the battery indicator. That’s far from what has been advertised but for most people, that seems to be enough. For what it’s worth, the 60 GB model is rated by Apple for 20 hours of life. That’s 3 hours worth of video playback.

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How To Download Music To My iPod From iTunes With These Simple Steps

Here are many very helpful tips when asking how to download music to my ipod that will make your life much easier for downloading music from iTunes and many other useful tips

This is how you can download iTunes onto your computer. It’s really very simple. Put music onto iTunes. Plug in your iPod into the computer using the USB cord it came with, and follow the instructions that pop up.

If you have already put music onto your ipod, the only way to get music off is by plugging it into the computer and either un-checking the song, or deleting it from your iTunes library.

It can be plugged into a different computer than the original one, but I do NOT recommend it, because it will take off all the songs you already have and put the songs the new computer has on it.

You can connect your ipod to the computer using a USB port. If you don’t know what a USB port is then just find a place on the comp where the plug fits and it will probably work.

Once the ipod is connected to the comp and you are on itunes, it should automatically take the songs from your play list and put it on the ipod. You could read the little manual that comes with the ipod too. How to download music to my ipod is a question that can be answered pretty quickly.

One of the things with how to download music to my ipod and getting music from itunes is after a while it gets a bit expensive, so your probably better off getting music from friends cds.

To get music from a cd to your ipod you have to first insert the cd and it should come up in your itunes browser. Just select the cd then click import. It will then go to your library where you can then put it on your ipod.

From a CD: When you insert a CD into your disk drive, a screen should come up in iTunes that lists the track names. In the upper right-hand corner of the screen will be a button that says "Import CD." You're iPod should automatically sync with your iTunes when you connect it to the computer.

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