Download formats (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Fun] >> Computers & Technology



Message

GrahamCracker -> Download formats (6/12/2008 11:56:58 AM)

Father's Day and my birthday are coming up this summer. I have wanted some sort of ipod for a while. It is not so much for music but for downloading radio programs in order to listen to them later.

Does the ipod use the MP3 format or is it its own format? For example, if I bought an ipod and wanted to download something that uses the MP3, do they work? Or does it even matter? I suppose some programs are available in both. But I don't even know.

Further, I would like to record something digitally on a digital voice recorder and play it back later, like foreign language practice sessions. Some voice recorders have chips for recording and some don't. I spoke to a sales person who seemed to think that only prerecorded audio stuff is what people care about. So the ipods she showed didn't even allow self-recorded audio material. You just download what you want straight from the computer.

Can anyone help me think clearly about this?



stellaluna -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 12:21:45 PM)

iPods use a proprietary format, so anything you want to listen to on an iPod have to be loaded into iTunes and then "synced" to your device.

Other mp3 players allow "drag and drop," whereby any format (mp3, wma, wav, etc) can be loaded into them. Many also have a voice recorder. (Mine does and an FM receiver)

There are voice recorders that allow you to load your audio files into your computer. Some of them use a proprietary format and have to be converted to something else; some don't.



GrahamCracker -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 12:38:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

iPods use a proprietary format, so anything you want to listen to on an iPod have to be loaded into iTunes and then "synced" to your device.

Other mp3 players allow "drag and drop," whereby any format (mp3, wma, wav, etc) can be loaded into them. Many also have a voice recorder. (Mine does and an FM receiver)

There are voice recorders that allow you to load your audio files into your computer. Some of them use a proprietary format and have to be converted to something else; some don't.


Am I correct in assuming that MP3 is more widespread and popular? At least, is there a perception that it is? It's mine. But I don't know if I am right. What kind is yours and how much memory does it have? I don't know much memory I would need for say 3 hours of listening audio time. The sales lady indicated that that is a LOT of memory.



Miss Giggles -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 12:39:12 PM)

You can still listen to mp3s on an ipod, it's just a matter of importing them into Itunes. Not a big deal.



GrahamCracker -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 12:40:18 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miss Giggles

You can still listen to mp3s on an ipod, it's just a matter of importing them into Itunes. Not a big deal.


Really? That's good to know.



Miss Giggles -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 12:50:24 PM)

Yes because a lot of posts I've seen on ipods that seem to confuse people and then they don't want to buy it just for that reason, and it's incorrect information. Its not drag and drop, but all you do to sync the ipod is plug it in.

I now get my music from amazon.com and their format is a drm free mp3 and I have a 3rd generation nano.



stellaluna -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 12:57:06 PM)

I said that:
quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna
iPods use a proprietary format, so anything you want to listen to on an iPod has to be loaded into iTunes and then "synced" to your device.

I just prefer to not have iTunes manage my music. And I don't want to load anything into iTunes. I want to drag whatever format my music is in directly to my mp3 player, which is exactly what I do. [:D]

I have a 1GB Mobiblu Cube and my husband has a 2GB Sandisk Sansa. His is probably the better deal, because it accepts micro SD cards up to any size. He could easily carry around 6GB of music.



stellaluna -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 12:58:55 PM)

Actually, let me add that my husband used to have an iPod and decided he wanted something different, with more features for less money. And let me add that it took hours and hours to get his music OUT of iTunes and convert it into mp3s. That's hours and hours of my life that I can never get back. [sm=aside.gif]

Suffice it to say, I am not impressed with iTunes, iPods or any other device that uses proprietary audio/video formats.



GrahamCracker -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 1:04:39 PM)

I am not sure what brand name I want. Some of the characteristics would be the ability to have voice recording. Maybe a chip to store stuff on for files I want to set aside for later. And enough room for say, 15 hours worth of radio shows to listen to later.

I haven't decided whether FM radio is important. Radios that small don't always have good reception anyway.



Miss Giggles -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 1:32:37 PM)

I've got the mp3s in one folder and another folder for the itunes music.

But I agree, the ipods are a little more money but I like that its easy to find accessories and add ons for it. I was using the Nike +.

the ipod radio remote isn't worth it. i have it, it works ok.

for the voice recording, I am not sure. A lot of pdas have voice recorders built in but if you want to go the ipod /mp3 route you'll have to record it on your computer and then download it or get a voice recorder that you can download into the computer. Hmmm. The PDAs play music too, how much stuff you want to carry around? LOL Maybe get a nice cell phone like a Treo or blackberry? Hmm



stellaluna -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 1:56:35 PM)

My mp3 player lets me carry files around and also includes a voice recorder.

Here 's a cheapie. [:D]

Here's the Sansa I mentioned.



uncabeeil -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 3:54:02 PM)

quote:

Its not drag and drop, but all you do to sync the ipod is plug it in.
This is an option. You can also manually manage the music on your ipod. I do because I have a 4gb nano and I have more than 10gb of music on my computer.

As far as I know, no ipod has voice recording capability. I know the nano, shuffle, and classic don't. I'm not sure about the touch. So if voice recording is a must have, then ipods are not the way to go.

If you set it up to manually manage your music, there's really very little difference between an ipod and any other digital music player. Mine doesn't do video, but since I need my glasses just to see what's playing that's not an issue. One drawback to the ipods, for me anyway, is lack of a real equalizer. You get presets like jazz, rock, country. My Rio has all that plus a custom setting that's a 6 band equalizer. It lets me, well, customize the sound to just the way I like it.

Oh yeah, there are a lot more aftermarket gadgets for the ipods than any other player.



GrahamCracker -> RE: Download formats (6/12/2008 4:49:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: uncabeeil

As far as I know, no ipod has voice recording capability. I know the nano, shuffle, and classic don't. I'm not sure about the touch. So if voice recording is a must have, then ipods are not the way to go.


I guess it would be either a cumbersome gadget or that there is no market for the price they would have to ask. But it explains why I haven't seen any.

I suppose I would need 2 devices.



Page: [1]



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI