Topic: iPod Shuffle questions

[Chuck]

Can someone point me to a DIY on how to get WAV files, or whatever audio file format the iPod uses, transfered to an iPod Shuffle? I got one as a hand me down and I'm hoping to use it to play music in my car. I'd like to bypass the whole iTunes thing, since I don't want to re-buy all my music. I have hundreds of CDs. I also want to put my audience recordings on it too. I'm really just so behind in this technology.  Before this, I used an iRiver to play WAVs in my car. That was easy to do. 

[printguy]

Why would you have to re-buy all your music?

[Chuck]

Because all my music is on CD's
I thought I could only put iTunes files on the iPod.

[printguy]

Ahh... got it. You can import all of your CDs to iTunes and then sync the music files to your iPod. No need to rebuy anything. When you import the CDs you can choose the file format. Any format that iTunes will import CDs to will be playable on your iPod.

Same goes for any of your live recordings depending of the file format.

[Chuck]

I finally figured out that this device is not for me.
It shuffles everything. So, I can't just load up a recording and hear all the tracks in order. Plus, it puts in the 1-2 second gap in-between the tracks.

[bhadella]

The shuffle is awful.  Just filled one up for a niece who wanted an Apple product instead of one that works.

I'd suggest the Sandisk Sansa Clip (4 gig on sale for $39.99 at Radio Shack).   Plays everything (mp3, flac) and good fidelity.  Tiny unit.  Accepts micro SDHC for increased capacity.  No iTunes crap. 

[printguy]

The shuffle is awful.  Just filled one up for a niece who wanted an Apple product instead of one that works.

I'd suggest the Sandisk Sansa Clip (4 gig on sale for $39.99 at Radio Shack).   Plays everything (mp3, flac) and good fidelity.  Tiny unit.  Accepts micro SDHC for increased capacity.  No iTunes crap.

That's quite a hate for Apple you've got going on. How exactly does the iPod Shuffle not do exactly what is designed to do?

Did you buy your niece a defective or dead Apple product? Otherwise I don't understand your claim - but I'm looking forward to you enlightening me.

[bhadella]

The shuffle is awful.  Just filled one up for a niece who wanted an Apple product instead of one that works.

I'd suggest the Sandisk Sansa Clip (4 gig on sale for $39.99 at Radio Shack).   Plays everything (mp3, flac) and good fidelity.  Tiny unit.  Accepts micro SDHC for increased capacity.  No iTunes crap.

That's quite a hate for Apple you've got going on. How exactly does the iPod Shuffle not do exactly what is designed to do?

Did you buy your niece a defective or dead Apple product? Otherwise I don't understand your claim - but I'm looking forward to you enlightening me.

It functions but it is inferior to the Sansa Clip in every way. 

1.  No FLAC
2.  No screen
3.  No drag and drop files
4.  No external memory storage
5.  Have to use playlist to control what plays
6.  iTunes
7.  More expensive (2 gb for $49 vs 4 gb for $39)

[printguy]

The shuffle is awful.  Just filled one up for a niece who wanted an Apple product instead of one that works.

I'd suggest the Sandisk Sansa Clip (4 gig on sale for $39.99 at Radio Shack).   Plays everything (mp3, flac) and good fidelity.  Tiny unit.  Accepts micro SDHC for increased capacity.  No iTunes crap.

That's quite a hate for Apple you've got going on. How exactly does the iPod Shuffle not do exactly what is designed to do?

Did you buy your niece a defective or dead Apple product? Otherwise I don't understand your claim - but I'm looking forward to you enlightening me.

It functions but it is inferior to the Sansa Clip in every way. 

1.  No FLAC
2.  No screen
3.  No drag and drop files
4.  No external memory storage
5.  Have to use playlist to control what plays
6.  iTunes
7.  More expensive (2 gb for $49 vs 4 gb for $39)

What you really mean is that it doesn't meet your needs. But to the rest of the market that's not the case. FLAC is important to a tiny fraction of the market that want portable players. If you want a screen Apple has a product with a screen that does much more than just play music. Drag and Drop isn't their model, and judging by their impressive market share it isn't an issue for most.

[rastasean]

I agree with bhadella that the clip+ is a better investment and easier to use. I owned the clip+ for a few months before it vanished and I loved it for all the reasons listed and it sounded really good for being so tiny. The microSD on the clip+ is excellent because you could also use it as a mass storage device.

One thing that was a little annoying were the files names from downloads taken from archive/torrents. If people didn't label the track correctly, it would just display the entire file name. There was a way around this by using a plugin for foobar2000, I think.

[bhadella]

Market share does not equal quality or value.   

[printguy]

Market share does not equal quality or value.

I didn't say it does. But it does show that millions of users don't give a hoot about the issues you raised.

[jbell]

I agree the clip+ is nice grabbed one for my wife last year!

I agree with bhadella that the clip+ is a better investment and easier to use. I owned the clip+ for a few months before it vanished and I loved it for all the reasons listed and it sounded really good for being so tiny. The microSD on the clip+ is excellent because you could also use it as a mass storage device.

One thing that was a little annoying were the files names from downloads taken from archive/torrents. If people didn't label the track correctly, it would just display the entire file name. There was a way around this by using a plugin for foobar2000, I think.

[DigiGal]

I finally figured out that this device is not for me.
It shuffles everything. So, I can't just load up a recording and hear all the tracks in order. Plus, it puts in the 1-2 second gap in-between the tracks.

I use an original clip style shuffle specifically for exercising and yard work etc (find it's great for that type of use) anything fancier is overkill with this type of application for me. 

It has a physical switch to select between shuffle mode and playing tracks in order. 

You can get rid of the 1-2 sec gap by checking [part of a gapless album] under options for each of the tracks. 

Recommend using iTunes to interface with it since they're designed to work with together.  You can import your CD's or song files to iTunes so no need to buy music again.  FLAC files are another story though.  I've heard that iTunes may be sluggish on PC's but not so with Apple's so YMMV there.

[Chuck]

I've got a Samsung YP-T10 that does audio & video, so I just didn't think the iPod Shuffle was worth the effort.