>> Forget the UGLY iTunes!!!!!!! L@@K <<

I have got the iPod mini about a week ago and had to install the horrible piece of software I hate so much iTunes. About every aspect about it pissed me off, especially the way it handles playlists.

Among other things, I wanted to drop a couple of folders onto the iPod and have each one become a playlist. riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight, says apple. Not only it puts all the songs from those folders into one playlist, it also is stupid enough to double the list by processing the .m3u and mp3s separately thus duping every song.

Anyway, I was on the lookout for some other software, and after trying 2 others, I found the almost perfect one ephPod 2.

Download it at http//www.builderadius.com/ephpod/ephpod275.exe . Looks like the main page was hacked, so the link is about the only thing I can provide. Believe me though, this one is the way to go. Finally support for dropping a bunch of folders and each becoming a playlist with no dupes! Tons of other feats too, including news downloading and shit like that.

Also a cool one is Yamipod from http//www.yamipod.com/main/modules/downloads/ . The only feature I like there is the automatic lyrics search. Whatever it finds, it adds to notes, and then u can go to Notes on the iPod and the first line of each lyrics file would be "play this song", play it and follow the words. That's pretty tight.

I'm definitely much happier with my iPod now.

P.S. I'm not affiliated with any of those programs, I just hate iTunes! P

Ick, I hate ephPod, used it when I first got my iPod. I'm thrilled with the functionality of iTunes, and it syncs all of my iPods perfectly ).

ya, iTunes rules. wtf U talkin' about?

iTunes has been a thorn in my side until I finally figured out the iTunes folder and Winamp agent. It first deleted over 300 of my MP3s, at which point I called my then ex-boyfriend (it was sometime around 1 in the morning), who FTPed me file recovery software to find the "deleted" files on my hard drive. It took five hours.

Then iTunes stole my file association for .m3u files, which I use with Winamp and Windows Scheduled Tasks as my alarm clock. I overslept by three hours for school and was late to my first class. Then I figured out that Winamp Agent preserves file associations, so at least that's fixed.

I now use iTunes simply because I have over 40GB of music, and managing it is otherwise impossible. I was keeping it all orgainzed, but now it's scattered throughout two hard drives, so I use iTunes to find what I want. Windows Media Player, however, does much the same thing.

It's just a matter of preference - I refuse, however, to let iTunes touch my iPod except to play music. It's too automatic, and I hate how you can't see what's going on. I use Anapod Explorer ($25 or $35 if you want the edition that can accept more than one iPod from the same user) to manage my iPod - it's excellent and integrates directly into Windows Explorer.

i'm gonna try out that one that lets you put lyrics on your iPod..

[quote565d7a719c="shifuimam"]iTunes has been a thorn in my side until I finally figured out the iTunes folder and Winamp agent. It first deleted over 300 of my MP3s, at which point I called my then ex-boyfriend (it was sometime around 1 in the morning), who FTPed me file recovery software to find the "deleted" files on my hard drive. It took five hours.

Then iTunes stole my file association for .m3u files, which I use with Winamp and Windows Scheduled Tasks as my alarm clock. I overslept by three hours for school and was late to my first class. Then I figured out that Winamp Agent preserves file associations, so at least that's fixed.

I now use iTunes simply because I have over 40GB of music, and managing it is otherwise impossible. I was keeping it all orgainzed, but now it's scattered throughout two hard drives, so I use iTunes to find what I want. Windows Media Player, however, does much the same thing.

It's just a matter of preference - I refuse, however, to let iTunes touch my iPod except to play music. It's too automatic, and I hate how you can't see what's going on. I use Anapod Explorer ($25 or $35 if you want the edition that can accept more than one iPod from the same user) to manage my iPod - it's excellent and integrates directly into Windows Explorer.[/quote565d7a719c]

u should try out ephPod, I think u'll find it excellent. It has very nice sync options too if u got used to them.

Do any of these programs offer support for Windows ME? That's what I'm running.

[quote600c640ee9="Archon810"]u should try out ephPod, I think u'll find it excellent. It has very nice sync options too if u got used to them.[/quote600c640ee9]

Oh, believe me, I have tried all the freeware options out there. EphPod wasn't bad or anything, but Anapod Explorer did exactly what I want. I use Windows Explorer for doing pretty much anything with the files on my computer, so adding functionality for my iPod was the logical move for me. Considering how often I use it, it was completely worth the $25 registration fee. It's just a matter of preference, though.

[quote600c640ee9="oasisfan"]Do any of these programs offer support for Windows ME? That's what I'm running.[/quote600c640ee9]

Anapod does, according to the website, work with Windows ME.

Check it out here http//www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/

[quoteaf73b1c65b="oasisfan"]Do any of these programs offer support for Windows ME? That's what I'm running.[/quoteaf73b1c65b]

http//www.ephpod.com/download.shtml has the version for ME.

I've tried these other programs and didn't care for them. They're too fussy and often lack features I like.

Right now, I use iTunes just for syncing and winamp for playing on my computer. I think it's a good combo, since iTunes eats up so much RAM but I've had no trouble syncing with it.

NOTHING will make me go back to iTunes. NOTHING!

I ah, think you've made that rather clear.

-P

i used ephpod back in the day to work with my 1st generation iPod...now i use itunes.

Another thing I hate about iTunes When you remove a playlist, the files in it just jump in the iPod root. Get a fucking clue, I'm removing the playlist... If I wanted them to jump into root, I would move them.

I'm very organized in my music, and I want to slap the iBalls developer who said "hey, i think we should ignore folders and make iBalls using the first random idea that popped in our head".

techdude05, what version was it back in the day? maybe it's time to try it again...

i like the lyric feature on the yamiPod.. nice )

just added about 400 songs to the pod, ran lyric and it found about 100 of them _o/ \o/ \o_, mainly cause the rest is trance. sweet!

<---- Likes iTunes just fine.

[quote5ca5d62990="Archon810"]Another thing I hate about iTunes When you remove a playlist, the files in it just jump in the iPod root. Get a fucking clue, I'm removing the playlist... If I wanted them to jump into root, I would move them.

I'm very organized in my music, and I want to slap the iBalls developer who said "hey, i think we should ignore folders and make iBalls using the first random idea that popped in our head".

techdude05, what version was it back in the day? maybe it's time to try it again...[/quote5ca5d62990]i believe it was version 2.05...not sure.

iTunes is the most horrible piece of software out there. it pisses me off as well and i cant stand it. that is why i sold my ipod and got the iRiver. wow the software there is as simple as it could get and its wonderful. drag and drop.

yeah i was always amazed at how ingenious iRiver team is. Although I've never used their software, but their firmware for imp-350 CD-MP3 player that I've used for 2-3 years is just amazing. AND they keep improving it, unlike apple's firmware that stays the same. I mean come on, on my iPod I can't even play all my playlists (in song order) unless I press shuffle which fucks up the order inside each playlist. how fucking stupid are they? grrrr