IPODS are fine for listening to music on the go, but sometimes people want to cast headsets aside and hear their playlists piped through the living room by a sound system.
Manufacturers offer dozens of devices that do this: the iPod pops into a docking station in an updated version of a boom box, and can be flicked on from the sofa by remote control. But the quality of the music will depend in part on the system that amplifies the signal from the iPod.
Now, to create the special rich sound that audiophiles love, manufacturers are selling docking stations for iPods and MP3 players with amplifiers based on an old but resilient technology: vacuum tubes.
Most people think of vacuum tubes as relics, long replaced by transistors. But a pocket of audio enthusiasts still values the tubes’ warm tones. Guitar heroes favor vacuum tube amplifiers in their instruments, many recording engineers tend to use vacuum-tube equipment in their studios, and some listeners pay thousands of dollars for high-end tube-based stereo systems and CD players.
Now Roth Audio, a company based in Reading, England, is appealing to the inner audiophile of iPod users with its Cocoon MC4, a compact docking station and amplifier topped by four vacuum tubes that glow when the power is on. Pop an iPod into the dock, and you have an odd couple: The iPod, apotheosis of the slim, portable and digital, and the flanking vacuum tubes that are fat, stationary and utterly analog.
Despite the retro look of the tubes, their audio characteristics may give iPod-stored music an additional, welcome dimension. That’s because most people store their music in compressed formats rather than in “lossless” formats, where data is not removed. Given these limitations, said Mark Schubin, an engineer and media technology consultant, “a vacuum tube can deal with the degradation in a potentially better and more pleasant way than a non-vacuum-tube amplifier.”
To enjoy a full range of sound, it’s still better to use lossless formats — vacuum tubes can’t restore data that’s been stripped away. But regardless of the storage format, “if you put an iPod into a docking station with good pre-amplification, it’s going to sound a lot better than putting it into a cheap one,” said David Chesky, a composer and co-owner of Chesky Records in Manhattan, which uses vacuum-tube-based recording equipment.
The Cocoon isn’t cheap: it will sell for $649, said James A. Roth, managing director of Roth Audio. But in the costly world of high-end vacuum-tube audio equipment, that’s a relatively modest price. After the tubes in the Cocoon do the pre-amplification, the audio signal goes to a solid state amplifier for additional power.
The Cocoon has audio inputs at the back for a CD player or a generic MP3 player. The docking station handles all types of iPods except the Shuffle. The units began shipping this month, Mr. Roth said.
He has already introduced another brand of vacuum-tube amplifier to the United States market: the Fatman iTube ($649), distributed by Bluebird Music in Toronto. The Fatman has a different look than the Cocoon.
“The Cocoon goes well on a desktop,” Mr. Roth said. “The Fatman is more for the living room.”
The Fatman comes in two parts: an amplifier and a separate docking station. The vacuum tubes are covered by a grill that can be removed for an elegant look, but popped back on if fingers need to be protected from the tubes’ considerable heat. The Fatman has a 27-key remote control that handles not only standard functions like play and pause, but also treble volume, bass volume and even backlighting.
The Fatman has two amber vacuum tubes, as well as a green tube. “I added that third, green tube for fun,” Mr. Roth said. “It shows you the music level. The higher you turn it up, the more it bounces up and down.”
BOTH the Cocoon and the Fatman come with a pair of white cotton gloves, to be worn to protect the high-gloss metal surfaces from fingerprints during handling. To assemble and try out both machines, I donned a set of the gloves, as did a friend who helped me.
The Cocoon hooks up easily to speakers, by using the red- and black-ringed connectors called banana plugs that come with it. We selected 110 volts as the setting for the transformer, rather than the 230 volts used abroad, and plugged the transformer into the AC wall jack.
Then we turned on the transformer and started the machine. Gradually, the tubes began to glow. Then we popped my iPod into the dock and tried out recordings in both compressed and lossless formats. A Brahms sextet poured out in an impressive stream, even in the compressed version.
Then we hooked up the Fatman. Unlike the Cocoon, it has a built-in transformer, and it was already set for 110 volts. After we connected the dock and the amp to the stereo speakers, plugged both components into the power outlet and flipped on the switch, the power light illuminated on the amp, but not on the docking station.
After 15 minutes of testing the connections and manual controls, we finally noticed the remote control and tried it, feeling foolish not to have done this sooner. The blue indicator light on the docking station immediately flashed on, and we were in business.
Jay Rein, president of Bluebird Music, said that ours was a common mistake. “If the blue power light does not automatically come up when you plug in the docking station, press the Power On button on the remote,” he advised in an e-mail message.
The Cocoon, the Fatman and other vacuum-tube amplifiers for iPods are relative newcomers to the United States consumer market. For instance, Lyric HiFi in Manhattan, a center for high-end audio equipment, does not handle any vacuum tube-based docking stations. But Leonard Bellezza, co-owner, said the accessories might soon be popular.
“Everybody has an iPod,” he said. “So anything you can attach to an iPod sells.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/business/yourmoney/15novel.html
Friday, October 5, 2007
The New 5th Generation Apple IPods
To date, there has been a number of Apple iPod models. Well, with the release of the new iPod Video, there are now officially three iPod models for the 5th generation of iPods. The earlier 4th generation models, including the popular iPod Mini, iPod Photo, U2 and 20GB iPod are now officially history.
The three official 5G iPod models include the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano and iPod Video. What's the difference between this new range of iPods and the previous 4G models? Broadly speaking, the differences are:
Hard Disk
Two of the new iPod models, iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano, are based on flash hard disk technology. This new hard disk is ultra slim and is able to withstand shock and vigorous movement. Unlike 4G models, this make the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano ultra slim and allow them to be used for vigorous activities, including sporting activity, dance, accidental drops, etc. Previous 4G models were less robust and vigorous activity tend to cause possible malfunction.
Battery life
Battery life on the 5G iPod has improved tremendously. One of the major complaints about 4G iPod was the short battery life(8hrs) and battery life draining away quickly after heavy use. The new iPod lasts up to 14 hrs and has a better battery lifespan.
Color is standard
Unlike 4G model, where the iPod Photo model was the only model with color, the new iPod Nano and iPod Video comes standard with color screen and playback.
Choice of video
With the new iPod Video, there is now a range of activities, including data, music, photo and video that can be supported on one iPod. Previously, video was not available as an option.
Standardized casing
The 4G iPod included the multi-color iPod mini, with a choice of pink, blue, green and silver. The only option for black was the U2 model.
Today, the colors has been standardized to black or white (except iPod Shuffle - White only). In addition, all iPod casing has been standardized to hard acrylic instead of the anionized aluminium for iPod Mini and hard acrylic for the other models.
However, the hard acrylic casing used for the 5G iPod models seems to have a tendency to scratch as reported by many iPod user websites. It is advised that a iPod casing or protector film be purchased for the new 5G iPod immediately. A good selection can be found here.
Compact Clickwheel
The iPod Clickwheel was previously a scroll wheel that was designed and supplied by a 3rd party. The new iPod clickwheels are now designed and produced by Apple itself. The functionalities are similar but users reported better response feedback.
Headphone jack
Headphone jacks for all iPod models, including the very first 1G iPod up till the 4G models, has always been on top of the iPod. The iPod Nano breaks ground by having the headphone jack at the bottom.
Which iPod model to choose?
As of this writing, the iPod Video has only been out for less than 2 weeks. The current 5G range of iPod seems to be the most complete and versatile thus far, and we can see that the 3 different models are essentially targeted at different segments of the iPod user market. A basic guide to choosing the right iPod model can be broadly classified as:
iPod Shuffle
The iPod Shuffle is obviously targeted at users who have a lower budget or those who only have an occasional need for a music player. The Shuffle comes without a screen and user can only choose to listen to music in a sequence or have it shuffled randomly. Because of it's lower price, this model has become a choice for those who desire for an iPod but may not have the neccessary budget.
iPod Nano
The iPod Nano is now the mainstream iPod model with the exit of 4G iPod models. With a size and thickness slightly larger than a credit card, this is now a runaway favorite iPod model. Users have a choice of data, music and photo with this colored screen iPod.
iPod Video
The newest kid on the block, the iPod Video, is desired by those with a higher budget or who wish to watch video on their iPod. It has a slightly larger screen than the iPod Nano and play a crisp 30 fps video display. With not many iPod videos available for download as yet, we'll need to see if this model can overtake the iPod Nano as the mainstream iPod model.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-10860.php
The three official 5G iPod models include the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano and iPod Video. What's the difference between this new range of iPods and the previous 4G models? Broadly speaking, the differences are:
Hard Disk
Two of the new iPod models, iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano, are based on flash hard disk technology. This new hard disk is ultra slim and is able to withstand shock and vigorous movement. Unlike 4G models, this make the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano ultra slim and allow them to be used for vigorous activities, including sporting activity, dance, accidental drops, etc. Previous 4G models were less robust and vigorous activity tend to cause possible malfunction.
Battery life
Battery life on the 5G iPod has improved tremendously. One of the major complaints about 4G iPod was the short battery life(8hrs) and battery life draining away quickly after heavy use. The new iPod lasts up to 14 hrs and has a better battery lifespan.
Color is standard
Unlike 4G model, where the iPod Photo model was the only model with color, the new iPod Nano and iPod Video comes standard with color screen and playback.
Choice of video
With the new iPod Video, there is now a range of activities, including data, music, photo and video that can be supported on one iPod. Previously, video was not available as an option.
Standardized casing
The 4G iPod included the multi-color iPod mini, with a choice of pink, blue, green and silver. The only option for black was the U2 model.
Today, the colors has been standardized to black or white (except iPod Shuffle - White only). In addition, all iPod casing has been standardized to hard acrylic instead of the anionized aluminium for iPod Mini and hard acrylic for the other models.
However, the hard acrylic casing used for the 5G iPod models seems to have a tendency to scratch as reported by many iPod user websites. It is advised that a iPod casing or protector film be purchased for the new 5G iPod immediately. A good selection can be found here.
Compact Clickwheel
The iPod Clickwheel was previously a scroll wheel that was designed and supplied by a 3rd party. The new iPod clickwheels are now designed and produced by Apple itself. The functionalities are similar but users reported better response feedback.
Headphone jack
Headphone jacks for all iPod models, including the very first 1G iPod up till the 4G models, has always been on top of the iPod. The iPod Nano breaks ground by having the headphone jack at the bottom.
Which iPod model to choose?
As of this writing, the iPod Video has only been out for less than 2 weeks. The current 5G range of iPod seems to be the most complete and versatile thus far, and we can see that the 3 different models are essentially targeted at different segments of the iPod user market. A basic guide to choosing the right iPod model can be broadly classified as:
iPod Shuffle
The iPod Shuffle is obviously targeted at users who have a lower budget or those who only have an occasional need for a music player. The Shuffle comes without a screen and user can only choose to listen to music in a sequence or have it shuffled randomly. Because of it's lower price, this model has become a choice for those who desire for an iPod but may not have the neccessary budget.
iPod Nano
The iPod Nano is now the mainstream iPod model with the exit of 4G iPod models. With a size and thickness slightly larger than a credit card, this is now a runaway favorite iPod model. Users have a choice of data, music and photo with this colored screen iPod.
iPod Video
The newest kid on the block, the iPod Video, is desired by those with a higher budget or who wish to watch video on their iPod. It has a slightly larger screen than the iPod Nano and play a crisp 30 fps video display. With not many iPod videos available for download as yet, we'll need to see if this model can overtake the iPod Nano as the mainstream iPod model.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-10860.php
Apple I Pods, Why Are They So Popular?
These days while your just walking around school, work, the mall, or just about anywhere you’ll see many people listening to their Apple I-Pods. You might see some with cool accessories such as portable speakers, cool looking cases, voice recorders, FM transmitters, remotes and much more. Lets face it the Apple I-Pod has become the most popular mp3 player around and it doesn’t seem like it will loose that #1 spot anytime soon with all their new little inventions. So what makes the Apple I-Pod so popular?
Some may say the design is what makes it popular and makes them purchase an I-Pod and some may say the fun accessories that come with it. Also a few people may have bought it just because everyone has one and they just want to fit in. They’re many reasons why people buy I-Pods; you will just have to find yours.
Apple I-Pods started out just playing songs. Then moved on to having photos, then pod casts and now it even plays videos! I-Pod MP3 players do just about everything and more. Not only are they good for many things, they are now also very thin and light. They can fit in your pocket without you even feeling it in there and still have room for just about everything else. With your Apple I-Pod you can watch video pod casts, music videos and your favorite TV shows. You can browse your old memories with the photo slideshows, complete with music. If you love reading you may also read books with audio books it has. But of course most of you already know how good of an mp3 player I-Pod’s are and probably already have one. In this case you must get some cool accessories for your Apple I-Pod.
Accessories for your I-Pod can be a great extra feature to everything the great MP3 player has to offer. Impress your friends with the new portable speakers you get for your I-Pod. With portable speakers you can leave your Apple I-Pod in your pocket while you’re taking a walk and have the speakers amplify all your songs for you. If you are not near your I-Pod while it’s playing with the speakers you may also use a remote to change a song or pick another song with simply a click of a button. You may also want to buy a voice recorder for your MP3 player to record memorable moments. If you are a musician you may also use the voice recorder to record songs you play or sing. If you jog daily for a good exercise and would like to listen to your I-Pod you can also get a sports sleeve for it. Apple I-Pods have just about every accessory it needs out there and now it’s your job to find some and for great prices. If you are interested in buying some accessories for your I-Pod you should first try browsing around http://www.splaytech.com
This article was written by Shakib Nassiri, CEO of SplayTech For more information about I-Pods, I-Pod accessory products, or any other consumer electronics products please visit http://www.splaytech.com
Some may say the design is what makes it popular and makes them purchase an I-Pod and some may say the fun accessories that come with it. Also a few people may have bought it just because everyone has one and they just want to fit in. They’re many reasons why people buy I-Pods; you will just have to find yours.
Apple I-Pods started out just playing songs. Then moved on to having photos, then pod casts and now it even plays videos! I-Pod MP3 players do just about everything and more. Not only are they good for many things, they are now also very thin and light. They can fit in your pocket without you even feeling it in there and still have room for just about everything else. With your Apple I-Pod you can watch video pod casts, music videos and your favorite TV shows. You can browse your old memories with the photo slideshows, complete with music. If you love reading you may also read books with audio books it has. But of course most of you already know how good of an mp3 player I-Pod’s are and probably already have one. In this case you must get some cool accessories for your Apple I-Pod.
Accessories for your I-Pod can be a great extra feature to everything the great MP3 player has to offer. Impress your friends with the new portable speakers you get for your I-Pod. With portable speakers you can leave your Apple I-Pod in your pocket while you’re taking a walk and have the speakers amplify all your songs for you. If you are not near your I-Pod while it’s playing with the speakers you may also use a remote to change a song or pick another song with simply a click of a button. You may also want to buy a voice recorder for your MP3 player to record memorable moments. If you are a musician you may also use the voice recorder to record songs you play or sing. If you jog daily for a good exercise and would like to listen to your I-Pod you can also get a sports sleeve for it. Apple I-Pods have just about every accessory it needs out there and now it’s your job to find some and for great prices. If you are interested in buying some accessories for your I-Pod you should first try browsing around http://www.splaytech.com
This article was written by Shakib Nassiri, CEO of SplayTech For more information about I-Pods, I-Pod accessory products, or any other consumer electronics products please visit http://www.splaytech.com
Apple IPod Nano Revolutionizing the Mp3 Player World
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the advent of the Apple iPod revolutionized mp3 players. The look, the style, the sound quality, the navigation, the features, the seamless integration with iTunes and other services, all these separate components added up to a spectacular and revolutionary mp3 player. Each new mp3 player that Apple has released has pushed the envelope for design and all around use. First they miniaturized the iPod with the iPod Mini. Then they miniaturized that, and by getting rid of the LCD screen were able to offer the Shuffle for unheard of low prices for an iPod. Now they've gone to the next level. The Apple iPod nano.
But will it really revolutionize mp3 players? Yes. And here's why:
Size and Storage
Take the iPod, shrink it, shrink it again, and then shrink it one more time and you have the iPod Nano! It's no thicker than a pencil and slides right into your back pocket without even noticing, literally! The nano is smaller than most other flash mp3 players, but has something that none of them do: 2GB and 4GB file capacities. No flash mp3 player has the kind of file capacity that the nano has. And what this means is that you can store a previously unheard amount of music on an mp3 player with no moving internal parts, i.e.- a completely skip free player.
Signature iPod Quality
Remember that this is an iPod, so you have unmatched usability and sound quality. The player comes with the Apple signature click wheel and navigation system. It hooks up seamlessly with iTunes and other standard Apple software. The sound quality, as with all iPods, is excellent.
Brand New Features
The iPod nano comes with a full color screen which can display multiple image file formats in a crisp high quality format. It also now syncs up directly with Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express for contacts and colander functions and to-do lists. One of the coolest and most useful new features the nano comes with is a stopwatch and lap timer. Because it's small and flash based, the nano already is great for working out, but the stopwatch can record many lap times and then give you shortest, longest, and average lap, as well as your overall time and individual lap times.
The Cool Factor
What can I say? The iPod nano just oozes cool from every angle. It's small and sleek. The colors are hot. The navigation is excellent. It can play music or audio books, display pictures, or even do both at once!
http://www.selfseo.com/story-10870.php
But will it really revolutionize mp3 players? Yes. And here's why:
Size and Storage
Take the iPod, shrink it, shrink it again, and then shrink it one more time and you have the iPod Nano! It's no thicker than a pencil and slides right into your back pocket without even noticing, literally! The nano is smaller than most other flash mp3 players, but has something that none of them do: 2GB and 4GB file capacities. No flash mp3 player has the kind of file capacity that the nano has. And what this means is that you can store a previously unheard amount of music on an mp3 player with no moving internal parts, i.e.- a completely skip free player.
Signature iPod Quality
Remember that this is an iPod, so you have unmatched usability and sound quality. The player comes with the Apple signature click wheel and navigation system. It hooks up seamlessly with iTunes and other standard Apple software. The sound quality, as with all iPods, is excellent.
Brand New Features
The iPod nano comes with a full color screen which can display multiple image file formats in a crisp high quality format. It also now syncs up directly with Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express for contacts and colander functions and to-do lists. One of the coolest and most useful new features the nano comes with is a stopwatch and lap timer. Because it's small and flash based, the nano already is great for working out, but the stopwatch can record many lap times and then give you shortest, longest, and average lap, as well as your overall time and individual lap times.
The Cool Factor
What can I say? The iPod nano just oozes cool from every angle. It's small and sleek. The colors are hot. The navigation is excellent. It can play music or audio books, display pictures, or even do both at once!
http://www.selfseo.com/story-10870.php
Apple iPod - Why Apple Dominates the Mobile MP3 Player Market
Noticing a growing market for mobile MP3 players, Apple released the original iPod in late 2001, and it was quickly destined to be a huge success. It was exactly what people wanted.. It had a simple interface, it had a large storage capacity, and it was extremely attractive and recognizable. It was only compatible with the Apple Macintosh though, which extremely limited their sales possibilities.
The iPod did end up driving up Apple Macintosh sales though, since a small percentage of people actually migrated over to the Macintosh computer just so they could use an Ipod. It wasn't enough to drive sales of the iPod up though, Apple needed a bigger market, they needed the Windows market, which was (and still is) much larger than the Macintosh market.
In 2003 Apple released a new iPod that came with iTunes, which was compatible with both Macintosh and Windows systems. This was when the real explosion of sales occurred, since so many more people could use them with the Windows platform.
The iPod Keys to Success
# Simple Interface - The Apple iPod has an extremely simple interface, needing only a few seconds of use to be able to master it.
# Large capacity - The current regular ipod has a 30 or 60 gigabyte storage capacity, which 30 gigabytes equals about 6000 songs. Even the smaller versions have a larger than normal capacity.
# It's visually attractive - They made it look very sexy, appealing to just about everyone, and is now extremely recognizable.
# Windows and Mac compatibility - When they crossed over to the windows market, they more than tripled their market, literally reaching anyone that owned a computer
These are the things that really make the Apple iPod dominate the mobile MP3 player market, reaching over 70% of the market share. Apple never simply wanted to dominate the market with one product though, they're still releasing new products at an alarming rate, each of which are doing extremely well.
# iPod Mini - This was Apple's first iPod spinoff, attempting to appeal to a younger market, being the first to come in different color, and it was much smaller than the original iPod. It didn't have as large of a capacity as the original, but it was still large enough to hold a lot of songs.
# iPod Nano - Apple retired the Mini, and came out with the Nano, which was even smaller than the Mini, at about a quarter of an inch thick. The nano has exploded onto the market with it's extremely small size, and has capacities of 1, 2, and 4 gigabytes.
# iPod Video - This was a replacement for the basic iPod, and the most recent addition to the iPod family of products. the iPod Video not only plays songs like the original, but plays video files as well, and they bumped up the capacity to 30 and 60 gigabytes.
# iPod Shuffle - The iPod Shuffle is Apples first attempt at the flash drive market, since all of their other products have spinning hard drives. The shuffle replaces the user interface with just a few buttons, and prides itself on the "shuffle" feature, after it's name. It is the smallest of the iPod line, at about the size of a usb memory stick, and has capacities of 512 megabytes and 1 gigabyte, appealing to those that don't need much space and want something extremely small.
The iPod has created a whole slew of other markets as well, from audio companies implementing ipod connectivity support in car radios, clothes companies creating ipod pockets, and other third party companies creating tons of ipod accessories, like carrying cases, protective sleeves, docking stations, the list goes on and on.
It's no wonder why the iPod dominates the market, with Apple's ingenious marketing strategies, great features, and appealing looks of their products, the iPod is destined to dominate the MP3 player market for some time.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-11531.php
The iPod did end up driving up Apple Macintosh sales though, since a small percentage of people actually migrated over to the Macintosh computer just so they could use an Ipod. It wasn't enough to drive sales of the iPod up though, Apple needed a bigger market, they needed the Windows market, which was (and still is) much larger than the Macintosh market.
In 2003 Apple released a new iPod that came with iTunes, which was compatible with both Macintosh and Windows systems. This was when the real explosion of sales occurred, since so many more people could use them with the Windows platform.
The iPod Keys to Success
# Simple Interface - The Apple iPod has an extremely simple interface, needing only a few seconds of use to be able to master it.
# Large capacity - The current regular ipod has a 30 or 60 gigabyte storage capacity, which 30 gigabytes equals about 6000 songs. Even the smaller versions have a larger than normal capacity.
# It's visually attractive - They made it look very sexy, appealing to just about everyone, and is now extremely recognizable.
# Windows and Mac compatibility - When they crossed over to the windows market, they more than tripled their market, literally reaching anyone that owned a computer
These are the things that really make the Apple iPod dominate the mobile MP3 player market, reaching over 70% of the market share. Apple never simply wanted to dominate the market with one product though, they're still releasing new products at an alarming rate, each of which are doing extremely well.
# iPod Mini - This was Apple's first iPod spinoff, attempting to appeal to a younger market, being the first to come in different color, and it was much smaller than the original iPod. It didn't have as large of a capacity as the original, but it was still large enough to hold a lot of songs.
# iPod Nano - Apple retired the Mini, and came out with the Nano, which was even smaller than the Mini, at about a quarter of an inch thick. The nano has exploded onto the market with it's extremely small size, and has capacities of 1, 2, and 4 gigabytes.
# iPod Video - This was a replacement for the basic iPod, and the most recent addition to the iPod family of products. the iPod Video not only plays songs like the original, but plays video files as well, and they bumped up the capacity to 30 and 60 gigabytes.
# iPod Shuffle - The iPod Shuffle is Apples first attempt at the flash drive market, since all of their other products have spinning hard drives. The shuffle replaces the user interface with just a few buttons, and prides itself on the "shuffle" feature, after it's name. It is the smallest of the iPod line, at about the size of a usb memory stick, and has capacities of 512 megabytes and 1 gigabyte, appealing to those that don't need much space and want something extremely small.
The iPod has created a whole slew of other markets as well, from audio companies implementing ipod connectivity support in car radios, clothes companies creating ipod pockets, and other third party companies creating tons of ipod accessories, like carrying cases, protective sleeves, docking stations, the list goes on and on.
It's no wonder why the iPod dominates the market, with Apple's ingenious marketing strategies, great features, and appealing looks of their products, the iPod is destined to dominate the MP3 player market for some time.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-11531.php
The Ultimate Guide to Video iPod
Alright. So after all that hype about having a practical way of watching TV and movies while on the go, you have finally gone and bought yourself the new iPod. Now what?
Well, let’s see. There are so many options squeezed into one slim, 2.5” LCD screen media center that it’s going to take a lot of time going over each one of them. So let’s do take it one at a time, shall we? This guide is going to take over all the options you’ve got and how to convert absolutely anything and everything – DVDs, TiVo video, messy AVIs, muxed MPEGs and more to iPod compatible video – all within OS X. And along the way, we’ll teach you a couple of iPod tips and tricks, too!
Handling Those Nasty Scratches
When you take your iPod out of the box, your first order of business should be to protect your investment. You don’t want any of those nasty scratches from appearing on your precious media box, do you? It’s a complete eye soar and one you can completely avoid.
The good thing about this new iPod is that its design is slightly different from that of the nano, which according to most users scratch easily. The new iPod has better chassis and doubled-layered, probably to protect the LCD monitor. But if you want to make sure that your iPod doesn’t show any scratches, most users recommend plastic cases, such as The Invisible Shield. If not, you can always get the white model, instead of the black one.
What Videos Can You Play?
Let us briefly go over the kinds of videos that your new iPod can support. According to Apple’s website, the video specifications of the new iPod are the following:
• 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.
For the newbies, this might all sound a little too confusing. What’s with all the numbers? Don’t worry because chances are you only need to remember a few of those for you to get the most out of your new iPod.
First, let’s start with H.264 video. The highest video bitrate with the H.264 codec is 768 kilobits per second. The biggest picture size for your H.264 movie is 320 pixels wide by 240 pixels high, which is incidentally the exact dimension of your iPod’s screen. Your iPod can play H.364 video at framerates up to 30 frames per second. Every one of the applications that we’ll be using encodes with the Baseline Profile. Your audio needs to be encoded as AAC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 KHz, and it can be in either stereo or mono. As long as you follow all the guidelines, your movie can even be a QuickTime movie or an MPEG-4 movie file.
The other option you have is the MPEG-4 video, which supports a much higher bitrate than H.264 video – 2500 kilobits per second. Using higher bitrates will also create larger files, which means that you’ll have less space for additional songs and movies, but more segments of your favorite movie. The biggest picture size for your MPEG-4 video is 480 pixels wide by 480 pixels high – three times as many pixels than your iPod’s screen in capable of displaying. Your iPod will shrink the picture proportionally so that everything fits on the screen. Again, the iPod can play videos up to 30 frames per second and your audio and file format options are the same as H.264 video.
So Which One is Better – H.264 or MPEG-4?
Well, that’s a tough question really as each format has their ups and downs. Arguably, H.264 is preferable considering how it offers high quality and a file size that is much smaller compared to MPEG-4. When it comes to picture quality, however, both formats are comparable, especially when encoded at the higher supported video settings.
As for speed of encoding, most people agree that H.264 video takes longer than standard MPEG-4. Take for example a two-hour movie. When you convert that to iPod using H.264 codec, the process could take considerably longer (especially with QuickTime Pro’s pokey Export: Movie to iPod video option).
Where to Download Videos for Your iPod
If you’re tired ripping movies from your DVD collection or you’ve used up all your movie files in your computer, then it’s probably time for you to look for other sources of iPod compatible videos. Below are some good sites that offer iPod video files that are both free and legal!
• ChannelFrederator.com – If you like to watch short animations while taking a breather, this is the place to look in.
• PodGuide.tv – It’s not called “PodGuide” for nothing.
• Channel 101 and Channel 102 – Brilliant downloadable shows are up on offer.
• The iTunes Music Store’s podcast section – One of the best things about the new iPod is that Apple has bundled it with their updates on iTunes. Now, you can download loads of free videos from the store for your daily dose of iPod-casting.
• Apple iTunes – Sometimes you just have to go to the source of the source to find what you’re looking for.
• Archive.org – This site is great for old videos and movies.
Watch iPod Videos on Your TV
Say what?! Yep, it’s true. And for some users who prefer widescreen as opposed to pocket-TV, this is the best thing about the new iPod. Now, outputting your iPod videos to any TV is easy. Just use a special video cable (and it doesn’t even be the one sold by Apple), output it through your iPod’s headphone jack, and voila! You’re a couch potato, baby!
If you’re more interested in watching videos on your TV, you may want to go with the MPEG-4 format since it can support the bigger 480 x 480 picture size. When you encode widescreen movies and output them to a TV, the pixel limit is usually 230,400 pixels. So when these larger images are displayed on your TV, you’ll get to see all those extra pixels.
Okay So You Can Watch Videos on TV, Big Deal…What About My Other Videos?
When you download video files from the web or file sharing networks, some of these files may not be marked as iPod compatible. Does that mean you can’t play them on your iPod? Well, the good news is that it’s easy enough to find out.
Tip #1 – Open iTunes
The easiest and less time-consuming way to determine whether a video is iPod-supported or not is to simply open iTunes with your iPod connected. Afterwards, drop the video file directly into your iPod’s library. If the video is copied into your iPod, it means it’s compatible. If it’s not, then your iPod won’t be able to play it.
To copy the video to your iPod, just select Manually manage songs and playlists in the iPod tab of your iTunes preferences.
Tip #2 – Add Video to the iTunes Library
The other way of finding out if your video files are iPod compatible is to add your video to your iTunes library. Just right lick the video and select Convert Selection to iPod. You will receive an alert from iTunes on your screen, telling you if your video is already compatible. If it’s not, your movie will be converted to a compatible H.264 video for you.
We should probably mention that you don’t really need to add videos to your iTunes Library in order to add them to your iPod. Just drag and drop videos from the Finder straight onto your iPod in iTunes. Again, make sure you’ve enabled the manually manage option.
You can also add songs and videos to your iPod’s library from any computer that has iTunes. Just make sure that you’ve enabled the manually manage option in iTunes. If your iPod was originally formatted on a PC, you can add files from both PCs and Macs. However, if you have a Mac-formatted iPod, you’ll only be able to add files from other Macs.
Tip #3 – Open the file in QuickTime
Alternatively, you can also find out if your video is iPod compatible if you open the file in QuickTime. Next, Select Window: Show Movie Info. In most cases, your video should be iPod-ready if the format is H.264 or MPEG-4, the audio is ACC, and the size of your video is 320 x 240 (or smaller) for H.264 or 480 x 480 (or smaller) for MPEG-4. Also, look at the data rate and make sure it’s not over 900 kbits/sec for H.264 or 2600 kbits/sec for MPEG-4.
In most cases, the bitrate reported by QuickTime would include the video stream and the audio stream (normally 128 kbits/sec) so don’t wonder if the video is shown to have a higher bitrate.
I have a lot more information available at me website, be sure to click by and have a look.
Thanks for reading and I hope you find this information useful.
Ian Richardson
Ian's website gives you the insider secrets about Video iPods. Please visit the site for more information on Video iPods.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-13657.php
Well, let’s see. There are so many options squeezed into one slim, 2.5” LCD screen media center that it’s going to take a lot of time going over each one of them. So let’s do take it one at a time, shall we? This guide is going to take over all the options you’ve got and how to convert absolutely anything and everything – DVDs, TiVo video, messy AVIs, muxed MPEGs and more to iPod compatible video – all within OS X. And along the way, we’ll teach you a couple of iPod tips and tricks, too!
Handling Those Nasty Scratches
When you take your iPod out of the box, your first order of business should be to protect your investment. You don’t want any of those nasty scratches from appearing on your precious media box, do you? It’s a complete eye soar and one you can completely avoid.
The good thing about this new iPod is that its design is slightly different from that of the nano, which according to most users scratch easily. The new iPod has better chassis and doubled-layered, probably to protect the LCD monitor. But if you want to make sure that your iPod doesn’t show any scratches, most users recommend plastic cases, such as The Invisible Shield. If not, you can always get the white model, instead of the black one.
What Videos Can You Play?
Let us briefly go over the kinds of videos that your new iPod can support. According to Apple’s website, the video specifications of the new iPod are the following:
• 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.
For the newbies, this might all sound a little too confusing. What’s with all the numbers? Don’t worry because chances are you only need to remember a few of those for you to get the most out of your new iPod.
First, let’s start with H.264 video. The highest video bitrate with the H.264 codec is 768 kilobits per second. The biggest picture size for your H.264 movie is 320 pixels wide by 240 pixels high, which is incidentally the exact dimension of your iPod’s screen. Your iPod can play H.364 video at framerates up to 30 frames per second. Every one of the applications that we’ll be using encodes with the Baseline Profile. Your audio needs to be encoded as AAC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 KHz, and it can be in either stereo or mono. As long as you follow all the guidelines, your movie can even be a QuickTime movie or an MPEG-4 movie file.
The other option you have is the MPEG-4 video, which supports a much higher bitrate than H.264 video – 2500 kilobits per second. Using higher bitrates will also create larger files, which means that you’ll have less space for additional songs and movies, but more segments of your favorite movie. The biggest picture size for your MPEG-4 video is 480 pixels wide by 480 pixels high – three times as many pixels than your iPod’s screen in capable of displaying. Your iPod will shrink the picture proportionally so that everything fits on the screen. Again, the iPod can play videos up to 30 frames per second and your audio and file format options are the same as H.264 video.
So Which One is Better – H.264 or MPEG-4?
Well, that’s a tough question really as each format has their ups and downs. Arguably, H.264 is preferable considering how it offers high quality and a file size that is much smaller compared to MPEG-4. When it comes to picture quality, however, both formats are comparable, especially when encoded at the higher supported video settings.
As for speed of encoding, most people agree that H.264 video takes longer than standard MPEG-4. Take for example a two-hour movie. When you convert that to iPod using H.264 codec, the process could take considerably longer (especially with QuickTime Pro’s pokey Export: Movie to iPod video option).
Where to Download Videos for Your iPod
If you’re tired ripping movies from your DVD collection or you’ve used up all your movie files in your computer, then it’s probably time for you to look for other sources of iPod compatible videos. Below are some good sites that offer iPod video files that are both free and legal!
• ChannelFrederator.com – If you like to watch short animations while taking a breather, this is the place to look in.
• PodGuide.tv – It’s not called “PodGuide” for nothing.
• Channel 101 and Channel 102 – Brilliant downloadable shows are up on offer.
• The iTunes Music Store’s podcast section – One of the best things about the new iPod is that Apple has bundled it with their updates on iTunes. Now, you can download loads of free videos from the store for your daily dose of iPod-casting.
• Apple iTunes – Sometimes you just have to go to the source of the source to find what you’re looking for.
• Archive.org – This site is great for old videos and movies.
Watch iPod Videos on Your TV
Say what?! Yep, it’s true. And for some users who prefer widescreen as opposed to pocket-TV, this is the best thing about the new iPod. Now, outputting your iPod videos to any TV is easy. Just use a special video cable (and it doesn’t even be the one sold by Apple), output it through your iPod’s headphone jack, and voila! You’re a couch potato, baby!
If you’re more interested in watching videos on your TV, you may want to go with the MPEG-4 format since it can support the bigger 480 x 480 picture size. When you encode widescreen movies and output them to a TV, the pixel limit is usually 230,400 pixels. So when these larger images are displayed on your TV, you’ll get to see all those extra pixels.
Okay So You Can Watch Videos on TV, Big Deal…What About My Other Videos?
When you download video files from the web or file sharing networks, some of these files may not be marked as iPod compatible. Does that mean you can’t play them on your iPod? Well, the good news is that it’s easy enough to find out.
Tip #1 – Open iTunes
The easiest and less time-consuming way to determine whether a video is iPod-supported or not is to simply open iTunes with your iPod connected. Afterwards, drop the video file directly into your iPod’s library. If the video is copied into your iPod, it means it’s compatible. If it’s not, then your iPod won’t be able to play it.
To copy the video to your iPod, just select Manually manage songs and playlists in the iPod tab of your iTunes preferences.
Tip #2 – Add Video to the iTunes Library
The other way of finding out if your video files are iPod compatible is to add your video to your iTunes library. Just right lick the video and select Convert Selection to iPod. You will receive an alert from iTunes on your screen, telling you if your video is already compatible. If it’s not, your movie will be converted to a compatible H.264 video for you.
We should probably mention that you don’t really need to add videos to your iTunes Library in order to add them to your iPod. Just drag and drop videos from the Finder straight onto your iPod in iTunes. Again, make sure you’ve enabled the manually manage option.
You can also add songs and videos to your iPod’s library from any computer that has iTunes. Just make sure that you’ve enabled the manually manage option in iTunes. If your iPod was originally formatted on a PC, you can add files from both PCs and Macs. However, if you have a Mac-formatted iPod, you’ll only be able to add files from other Macs.
Tip #3 – Open the file in QuickTime
Alternatively, you can also find out if your video is iPod compatible if you open the file in QuickTime. Next, Select Window: Show Movie Info. In most cases, your video should be iPod-ready if the format is H.264 or MPEG-4, the audio is ACC, and the size of your video is 320 x 240 (or smaller) for H.264 or 480 x 480 (or smaller) for MPEG-4. Also, look at the data rate and make sure it’s not over 900 kbits/sec for H.264 or 2600 kbits/sec for MPEG-4.
In most cases, the bitrate reported by QuickTime would include the video stream and the audio stream (normally 128 kbits/sec) so don’t wonder if the video is shown to have a higher bitrate.
I have a lot more information available at me website, be sure to click by and have a look.
Thanks for reading and I hope you find this information useful.
Ian Richardson
Ian's website gives you the insider secrets about Video iPods. Please visit the site for more information on Video iPods.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-13657.php
An introduction to iPod Mini
Ipod Mini was first released on February 20, 2004 and it delighted many. Being a smaller edition of Apple Computer’s Ipod first generation moveable audio player, it’s variety in colors (comes with limited colors, silver, gold, blue, pink, and green) appealed to the broader market. The Ipod Mini could be operated with both Macintosh and Windows PCs.
The iPod mini’s quality was the click wheel, where four buttons were placed above the wheel. To use one of the buttons, a user had to drive the wheel edge inner over one of the labels. The click wheel system is now normally used in the fourth and fifth generation iPods and it is as well been used in the iPod nano. Above the wheel was the monochrome display, which offers the menus or information of the presently selected track. The new generation of ipods normally has a colored screen display.
The battery life of its first generation iPod mini was 8 hours, which led to some quarrel on its small duration. This problem was later solved with the second -generation models that had a battery life of 18 hours. Like the larger iPod, the iPod Mini as well supported a crowd of file formats like MP3, WAV, AIFF and other MP4 features. It maintained its perfect integration with the iTunes Music Store and the files being downloaded there. Software wise, the iPod Mini was as consistent as the innovative iPod units.
Besides if there was something high-quality to be said about this amazing iPod mini, it’s the choice it gave the consumers when getting a digital audio player. The Ipod mini struggled directly with most renowned players like Creative’s Zen Micro and the Digital Networks Rio Carbon. The smaller display was actually one line smaller than the last models, thus warning it’s on-screen track information show to title and artist only, taking the album information off.
As the Ipod family started to grow, the Ipod mini was laid to rest when Apple launched the opening of the iPod nano. The iPod mini did not then exist in the market and stopped its production. Though it looks the iPod Mini only stayed for a while, its sway as the initiate of the click wheel would always be remembered.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-19418.php
The iPod mini’s quality was the click wheel, where four buttons were placed above the wheel. To use one of the buttons, a user had to drive the wheel edge inner over one of the labels. The click wheel system is now normally used in the fourth and fifth generation iPods and it is as well been used in the iPod nano. Above the wheel was the monochrome display, which offers the menus or information of the presently selected track. The new generation of ipods normally has a colored screen display.
The battery life of its first generation iPod mini was 8 hours, which led to some quarrel on its small duration. This problem was later solved with the second -generation models that had a battery life of 18 hours. Like the larger iPod, the iPod Mini as well supported a crowd of file formats like MP3, WAV, AIFF and other MP4 features. It maintained its perfect integration with the iTunes Music Store and the files being downloaded there. Software wise, the iPod Mini was as consistent as the innovative iPod units.
Besides if there was something high-quality to be said about this amazing iPod mini, it’s the choice it gave the consumers when getting a digital audio player. The Ipod mini struggled directly with most renowned players like Creative’s Zen Micro and the Digital Networks Rio Carbon. The smaller display was actually one line smaller than the last models, thus warning it’s on-screen track information show to title and artist only, taking the album information off.
As the Ipod family started to grow, the Ipod mini was laid to rest when Apple launched the opening of the iPod nano. The iPod mini did not then exist in the market and stopped its production. Though it looks the iPod Mini only stayed for a while, its sway as the initiate of the click wheel would always be remembered.
http://www.selfseo.com/story-19418.php
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