Tom's Diary

Yes, I think using a separate card reader to populate the SD card would be a good idea.

Tom Hesley

Mp4 is a container file type and is used in QuickTime and other apps for storing and playing multi-media data.  For more information on MP4 files, see the following URL:

http://www.coolutils.com/Formats/MP4

As I indicated in a previous post, MP4 files that hold audio are identical in every way to M4A files, except for the file extension.

Apple’s documentation suggests that the settings on the   Import Settings   dialog box are for when you import CDs.  They have no effect on files that you buy from the iTunes store.   But as I’ll mention further below, these settings do affect the available conversion formats on the context menu for each song in the library.

But these settings do not seem to affect the format of songs that you import into the iTunes library from elsewhere on your hard drive.  I just set my import settings to the MP3 encoder, then imported a WAV file.  After the import, the WAV file appeared in my iTunes library, still, as a WAV file.

However, when I set my import encoder to MP3, and then examined the context menu for one of my music files, yes indeed, the “Create MP3 version” menu item appeared.  So apparently, you have to be configured to import as MP3 in order to see this conversion option on the context menu.  This is strange, because in the   Preferences   dialog box, the   Import Settings   button is grouped with other options that are specifically importing CDs, including the “When you insert a CD” edit box and the “Automatically retrieve CD track names from the Internet” check box.  Further, when you pull up the   Import Settings   dialog box, it does say that these settings do not apply to selections purchased from the iTuens store.  However, it seems to affect the available formats for conversion in the song’s context menu.

It seems counter-intuitive that   Import Settings   would change the context menu for creating a copy of the song in a different format.  After all, the song you’re converting has already been imported into the library; so you’re not really performing an import when you make a differently-formatted version of it. 

The layout of the   Edit–>Preferences   dialog box could be improved by moving the   Import Settings   button away from the other CD settings, to avoid the misunderstanding that these settings apply to only imports from CDs.  Also, it seems that calling these settings “Import Settings” does not totally describe what these settings affect.  Instead they might call the button “Import and File Conversion Settings”, or provide two buttons; one called “Import Settings” and the other called “File Conversion Settings”.  But software, as well as its accompanying documentation is always imperfect.

Tom Hesley

Yes, you can copy YOUR library [from one computer to another]. The key phrase there is “your library.” In your original note, you said that you wanted to copy a library from your friend’s computer to yours. You didn’t mention however that the music on your friend’s computer was in fact, your music. In fact, it seemed that your friend was the owner of the music because you said, “A friend of mine has a small library of songs that she said I could use until I build up my own library.” But if you own the music, sure, the copy is legal.

Tom Hesley

One can tell if a particular iPOd has a hard drive in it by putting one’s ear against the iPod while it is syncing. If one hears a hum, whine, or hiss, or there are periodic clicking sounds, then the iPod has a hard drive.

The Shuffle, The Nano, and the Touch have the solid state flash memory. All other iPods have a hard disk drive on which they store music and videos.

Tom Hesley

Question: Can I sync two iPods from the same iTunes library?

Yep, it is. Both iPods can be synced from the same library. You can either put the same content on both, or tailor the content for each iPod creating one or more playlists for each one. Then, for each iPod, choosing which of those playlists gets synced to it. You could create a playlist called iPod1 and one called iPod2. Then, when you plug in iPod1, configure it to sync only the iPod1 playlist. Do the same with iPod2.

Or, if you wanted the same content on both iPods, you could either sync them both to your entire library (without configuring specific playlists to sync), or you could set them both to sync to the same playlist.

HTH,
Tom Hesley

When you plug your iPod into your computer and its name appears in the iTunes sources tree view, you focus on that name. Then you can tab to get to the portion of the screen that shows the various tabs for configuring the iPod. However, I’ll have to defer to someone else to tell you how to move among the various tabs with JAWS. I just use my mouse. So you probably could use the JAWS cursor. But there’s probably an easier way, especially if you’re running J-Tunes.

Tom Hesley

No I never have to hit sync when I’m not manually managing my music. Podcasts sync automatically as well.

Well, if you didn’t read all of the other posts from yesterday, then you wouldn’t have gotten the cat-in-scanner joke.

Tom Hesley

My experience is that syncing selected playlists works as documented. I routinely sync only selected playlists, and my 4th Generation iPOd syncs automatically, as soon as I plug it into the computer. On the Music tab, I have the “Sync music” checkbox checked as well as the “Selected playlists” radio button just beneath it. Then, below the radio button, in the list of playlists, I have the ones I want to sync checked.

Perhaps the problem is that you have a cat in your scanner.

Tom Hesley

Another thought: If you’re concerned about your iPod, you can place it in a lead-lined bag. These are available at camera shops, or most any place that sells photographic film. Airport security will, of course want to inspect the bag and the iPod before sending it through the scanner. But when in the bag, the iPod would be completely protected from the scanner’s radiation.

Tom Hesley

Normally, low-level x-rays utilized by airport scanners don’t harm electronic equipment. People put laptops, PDAs, cell phones, and other devices through them all the time without problems. I’d say that you have nothing to fear.

Just don’t send a cat through one. Cats hate it. I know from experience. Airport security made a former girlfriend put her cat through the scanner. I’m not sure which one cried louder; the lady or the cat. But what was certain though was that the two of them made quite a spectacle — half the people in the airport stopped to stare.

Tom Hesley