RE: [OT] NOW : iShuffle WAS: iTunes DRM

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Keith.

All existing music files can be imported into iTunes, and copied to the
shuffle no problem. During iTunes installation it automatically looks in
your "My Music" folder and adds any music files it finds there to
the
itunes library. Other/additional folders can be added easily later.

The one thing I haven't figured out how to do yet is to make iTunes do a
rescan of the music folders to update the library when I've been
adding/removing files etc...

I'm also not convinced that you *have* to use itunes to move music to
the shuffle, since I reckon it just appears as another removable USB
drive under windows, so I think it should be possible to just drag/drop
files onto it in explorer...- not had a chance to test this theory
though, since it's SWMBO's shuffle, and she always has it with her!

It therefore isn't actually necessary to ever purchase anything from
ITMS if you don't want to... however, the shuffle documentation is very
clear that the accompanying software "must" be installed before
connecting the shuffle to the PC, and that act automatically installs
iTunes (there's no option to just install drivers, and not install
itunes), and of course, once you've got itunes installed, the ITMS is
but a single click away...

I actually quite like the way it's integrated, - I think they've done a
great job, the ITMS appears as just an extension of your own music
collection, its *very* easy to use, and a pleasure to operate... I just
wish it wasn't quite so restrictive...

Paul G.


-----Original Message-----
From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Keith Doxey
Sent: 29 April 2005 08:56
To: UKHA_D Group
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] [OT] NOW : iShuffle WAS: iTunes DRM

Hi Paul

> SWMBO has an iPod shuffle, - and in a classic example of restrictive
and
> anti-competitive practice (which if perpetrated by another well-known
> I.T. company would have lawyers hopping up & down all over the
world..)
> the use of this piece of hardware demands (as far as I'm aware) the
use
> of the accompanying iTunes software to manage it... - certainly the
> device comes covered with a large sticker with dire warnings of global
> meltdown if you don't install the software before plugging it in to
the
> PC...
>

Does this mean that the music transferred to an iShuffle also has to be
downloaded from iTunes or can any MP3 be transferred to it.

Do you have to subscribe to iTunes to be able to use the iTunes software
or
does it come with the iShuffle?

Sorry for the dumb questions but until now I havent really looked at
iPod/iShuffle

Regards

Keith