do you have to use ITUNES to upload/download music

to your ipod? because i hate installing new software. I use windows media player. and it works fine.

I use iTunes to download music to my Dad's iPod, but I've also heard of a freeware called ephPod that does the same thing (and I've heard is a little easier). I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't be able to use WMP to upload music to your iPod.

dont use these programs but opensource/freeware is the best way to go a lot of times.

Edit That came out wrong. I wasn;nt trying to say to not use open source programs.

ok so i dont get this thing. you have to pay for itunes. that comes with your ipod?]

like you have to pay for all the songs to put them on your ipod?

this is so confusing

iTunes is the program that comes with the iPod. You have to pay for songs if you get them THROUGH iTunes. But if you burn CDs onto your hard drive or already have mp3s on your hard drive, then you can just use the iTunes program to upload them onto your iPod. The reason you need iTunes or a program like it (ephPod) is because your iPod uses a different audio format and iTunes allows you to convert your mp3s into the required format needed to play them on your iPod. Make sense???

carpediem, that is a little confusing. itunes is a free program much like (but better in my opinion) Windows Media Player. From itunes you can listen to music, put music on your ipod, burn cds, rip cds into mp3, and buy music. Your ipod will play mp3s just fine without converting to AAC format (apple's proprietary format). AAC is the format that songs from the itunes store come in. songs from the itunes store cost 99cents, but you are free to put whatever music you got from wherever onto your ipod.

I stand corrected, and I apologize for the misinformation. What I said was what I really believed, but I'm glad you cleared up any misconceptions that I obviously have about how iPods work. )

okay i get it now !! thanks people!

yea, iTunes double as the ipod music loader and a music store to buy songs.

Its like sonic stage for sony stuff

You can use the winamp plugin. I use it all the time. It's not as fancy as iTunes, but it does the trick and it's free.

http//www.harrison-fisher.co.uk/mlipod/index.php?page=home