ipod nano

[Phone Bill]

Hi I no this probably sounds silly, but I have just got an ipod nano for my birthday and don`t understand how to download free music to it. Any one help!!!!

[Alltorque]

Is there still free, (and legal), music on the net ? Get on your PC or Mac and go Googling. I find iTunes works for me and I just download single tracks for 79p each. I'm assuming, of course, that you do have a PC or a Mac. Yeah, I know, stupid question.

[rja211077]

iPods are tied to iTunes, aren't they (i don't own one, just basing this on what i've read)?
i.e. there is a specific format that Apple uses to make sure their market domination holds.

so free music (read 'illegal') would not work, though i'm sure someone will be along soon with a way round it...

[fo3nix]

Personally I'd strongly suggest you don't buy from the iTunes store. The music is infested with DRM, like most other legal music stores, and it'll cause trouble later.

You can either try something semi-dodgy like Limewire, or if you have lots of CDs (or your friends'), you can use iTunes to rip those.

[fo3nix]

rja: no, you misunderstand. iPods will quite happily accept mp3 files that you download from non-legal sources. It's their own music they put on their iTunes music store that is iPod-only. Just like how the other legal music stores are Microsoft PlaysForSure-only (and won't work with iPods). It's the fault of DRM.

[Alltorque]

What is/are DRM ? I + family + friends have downloaded lots from the iTunes Music Store but not seen any probs. Surely more trustworthy than some of the other sources (?).

I'm a Mac user BTW, so my Mac and my iPod just get on really well together.

[fo3nix]

DRM is digital rights management. Some call it digital restrictions management. Large companies like Microsoft, Apple etc. try and make you think its about protecting you or something. Basically, the music industry, film industry, etc., don't like having their stuff copied and having their copyright broken.

With CDs etc. there's not a great deal they can do about it. With DRM, until its cracked, it can stop it from being used in certain situations. For example, any music you buy from iTunes Music Store can only be used on 5 computers or devices at any one time I think -- if you buy a CD, you can use it on as many devices as you can. Some, including myself, think this should be your right. You have bought it, after all!

Many are against DRM because it goes against what rights you have; what freedoms you should have. Some just go against it because its a pain in the neck though. For example, right now only devices supporting Apple's DRM can play stuff with their DRM. This means iTunes and iPod. If you like other music software or other devices, then you're stuck. If Apple stop support for this DRM (they will do, eventually), you'll be stuck with using old software and devices to play it back with, unless you crack it. But cracking it is illegal anyway, so with that in mind you may well have just downloaded it illegally anyway.

[Hippy]

If you wish to use an iPod but do not wish to use iTunes for whatever reason, then try "Anapod" from RedChair Software. It does not have some of the restrictions about moving stuff around that cripple iTunes, and the ripping software introduces less distortion to the sound. The downside is that it costs money. www.redchairsoftware.com

You can obtain your mp3 files from wherever (not telling here for legality reasons) and then use iTunes to "Import" or "Convert to AAC". If you just import it will preserve the original mp3 quality without mincing it up yet again and introducing further artefacts.