Can I drag 'n drop mp3s into ipod without itunes?

[Efkay]

I offered to rip a couple of my friend's cds for her and create a playlist, on my XP based pc, then drag and drop the resulting files into her ipod, again using my pc. (Her own machine's os is Win 2000 and she isn't too pc literate, hence my offer of help.)

I usually use Yahoo Music Jukebox for creating playlists for my own mp3 player or just drag and drop mp3 files via My Computer. I've now been told that this is easier said than done as far as the ipod is concerned.

If indeed there are ipod/apple/itunes issues which prevent accomplishing his simple task, is there an equally simple workaround to be had?

[ll_billym]

The iPod holds it's own database of the music that is copied to it using iTunes. If you drag and drop the files directly to the iPod using Explorer you bypass this databasing utility and the iPod cannot "see" the files as it hasn't been told to look for them. Also, The correct folder is a hidden folder so you need to know where to look.

Similarly if you do a listing of the aforementioned folder in Explorer you can see the music files but the filenames are just a string of numbers and letters, the iPod database knows which file corresponds to the correct music track as it is listed on the iPod. There is no workaround.

The functions that control the databasing of the iPod are not a secret and as I find iTunes a bit clunky I use http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/ and this allows drap/drop functions and has full Explorer integration.

I would just install iTunes on your PC and do it that way or put the tracks on a CD for her to put on the iPod using her PC.

[stevie21]

Consider using "ephod" - anyone I know who uses that would never go back to iTunes

[Efkay]

Thank you both for your informative replies. Looks like I will still have to do the transferring of mp3 files as my friend truly isn't pc literate enough, but at least I now know there is ipod compatible software which is Explorer-friendly.

Thanks again.