Monday, August 27, 2007

iPod Video Converters

The iPod video has been on the market for a while now, through several different incarnations and improvements over time. One of the most important tasks for this device is the conversion of video files from the usual formats to one that the iPod can understand and play.

The official solution is to use QuickTime 7 Pro, a commercial media editing and playback program created by Apple. QuickTime 7 Pro supports a wide variety of media file formats, and it can easily convert these formats to the proper iPod-supported format. QuickTime 7 Pro will make it an easy task to create audio podcasts as well as video podcasts, and in general can take care of most of your iPod media editing and conversion needs.

This software is not free, however. Upgrading to QuickTime 7 Pro will cost you $29.99, which is not a hefty price, coming in at just “8 cents a day for a year”, as the Apple webpage puts it. QuickTime 7 Pro is also available for almost all current operating systems from Apple’s own Mac OS X to the various versions of Windows.

There are other commercial programs and software available for the purpose of converting video to the iPod Video’s supported format. Looking at the capabilities of Quicktime 7 Pro though, it would seem that there would be no reason not to get the official media software from Apple, instead. These other commercial programs are priced at around the same range (thirty dollars) anyway, so why settle for third party programs when you can get the official program supported by the manufacturers?

One of the things missing from Quicktime 7 Pro is support for ASF and WMV, or Windows Media format videos. One of the third party competitors, Xilisoft, has come out with a program called the Xilisoft iPod Video Converter which supports conversion from almost all popular video formats such as AVI, MPEG, MOV, and (most importantly) ASF and WMV. So if you are looking to convert videos that are in ASF or WMV format, third party software may be the only solution, as QuickTime does not support these partly proprietary formats from Microsoft.

Yet another program that offers a solution is Videora iPod Converter. This program has the main advantage over the competition of being available free of charge. However, documentation for this program is scarce, although it purportedly supports the conversion of MPEG and AVI files. This program is actually meant more as a companion or extension of Videora, which is a program for intelligently downloading videos from the internet, rather than a standalone product.

A plethora of other programs would pop up on a search engine query, and in this and other similar cases, it would take a lot of testing to find the program best suited for your particular needs.


http://www.frozenipod.com/2007/ipod-video-converters/#more-35

iPod Freezing- How to Fix

IPod freezing is a very common problem amongst iPod users and it can be fixed within minutes.
For iPod’s with a click wheel:

1. Turn the hold switch on and off (located at the top of your iPod)

2. Press the Menu and Centre button and hold for up to 10 seconds until the apple logo appears.
If these two steps did not work, try them again. If nothing happens again try the steps but with your iPod plugged into a power source (USB or wall outlet)
For iPod Shuffles
1. Turn the switch on the back of the unit to the off position (located at the top of second generation)
2. Wait for 5-10 seconds.
3. Move the switch to either play or shuffle.
Your iPod should now be reset. If these two steps did not work, try them again. If nothing happens again try the steps but with your iPod plugged into a power source (USB or wall outlet)
If these instructions did not work for you, any of these steps could bring your iPod back to a stable condition:
1. Update your iPod (should happen automatically when you open iTunes with your iPod connected)
2. Clear all the data off your iPod and reload it, some of the files may be unstable.
3. Report the problem to apple support.



http://www.frozenipod.com/2007/ipod-freezing-how-to-fix/#more-4

Ipod Freezing Prevention

Proper care of a personal item is a must most especially items of great value. Most of the time, a person has a tendency to value an object if it is important to him. This is why many people who own an Ipod are so serious in preventing possible damages to their units. A great way to manage this kind of procedure is to know Ipod freezing prevention.

Ipod is relatively popular in today’s generation of music lovers. Because of the versatility of the item, many people are opting to buy one for their own use. This has lead to the increasing demand of Ipod mp3 players in the market. Many individuals are finding it more practical to own an electronic gadget from a trusted manufacturer. However, no matter how high the credibility is, these gadgets are still susceptible to damages and error concerns. Sometimes, the built it program freezes.

There are various available ways to prevent Ipod Freeze-ups. As a matter of fact, these procedures are so easy to do. Even a new user can easily incorporate ways to prevent future damages. All it takes is to know the proper way of taking care of the unit.

The first procedure is to check regularly for the integrity of the music file one plans to download. The user should be able to identify if the mp3 computer file has a virus infection or corrupt. Like many downloadable files, a corrupt music entry can cause the Ipod to freeze while playing the music. Certain aspects of bad data intrusions may be transferred to the Ipod unit.

Another possible prevention method is to keep the Ipod unit away from items that have electromagnets or radiation. Some of the most common electronic items that have these components are television units, radio cassette and even cellular phones. There are some properties of radio waves that can cause the Ipod software to freeze. The electronic signals processed in the microchips of the Ipods are sensitive to external energy waves.

The last thing to do for Ipod freezing prevention is to always check the main parts of the unit. An owner can first check the batteries, the connection cords and the sockets for possible physical damages. Clearly, a damaged part may also cause some disturbances in electronic processing inside the Ipod unit. Thus, the user might experience freeze-ups. Valuing one’s property is the best way to make the most out of money’s worth. Buying an Ipod unit requires a considerable amount of money, the owner should always bear in mind that proper use is always necessary. Following these Ipod freezing prevention measures can prolong the lifespan of the unit.


http://www.frozenipod.com/2007/ipod-freezing-prevention/#more-5

The Right iPod for Your Budget

If it's not wireless, it's from the dark ages. Wireless technology have given us everything from remote controls to cell phones. Now wireless had taken over our entertainment systems. As if wireless technology wasn't enough, the size of electronic gadgets has decreased dramatically too. All these factors have made Apple iPods extremely popular and very lucrative for Apple.

The iPod's popularity is mostly due to it's small size which makes it a portable entertainment center more powerful than the televisions and stereos of the 's combined. And it fits in your pocket or purse! Entire collections of CD's and DVD's can be stored in a device you can carry with you wherever you go. But the convenience of an iPod does not carry a small price tag. As a matter of fact, the iPod's price tag is the main reason why many people don't own one. But if you really want one, there's got to be a way.

Certainly the iPod is a luxury item and not as necessary as a cellphone might be. A cellphone can get you out of a find if you get a flat tire in a remote area and need to call for help. But an iPod is still a nice thing to have for entertainment purposes.

Apple iPods are more affordable than many consumers realize. With so many verions of the iPod, there's sure to be one that fits into your budget. It's just a matter of wading through the myriad of choices and finding the iPod for you.

The 512 MB iPod shuffle is the most affordable iPod available. When it comes to storing music, the iPod Shuffle is no slouch. It can hold up to 8 hours of music which is about 120 songs. Do you really need an iPod that can hold 96 hours of music? songs should be plenty for most people. The Apple iPod shuffle costs about dollars as opposed to + for the latest model video iPod.

The price you pay for an iPod will be related to it's storage capacity. While there are more subtle differences, the big one is the amount of storage space.

Consider moving up to the 1GB iPod Shuffle if 8 hours of music isn't enough. The extra storage space is worth the small price increase. Now your iPod will be able to hold 16 hours of music - that's 240 4 minute songs. So by spending about % more, you can store % more music. That's a sound investment.

The bottom line is this. If you know how to find a budget Apple iPod, can enjoy the benefits of ownership at a fraction of the cost. And now you know how to find a budge iPod.


http://www.articlejoe.com/Article/The-Right-iPod-for-Your-Budget/33384