Syncronize iPod 2.0 with Multiple Computers

[Barronbe]

I learned from a support operator at MAC that an iPod can be connected with more than one MAC. He said, however, that MAC does not support it due thanks to the RIAA. He could not explain to me how one would go about unlocking an iPod so songs could be shared with to MACs but he did say that, if one were so inclined, one could learn how it was done online, with a little bit of investigation. Well, I've been investigating, and have come up with nothing. Can anyone help??

Beau.

[Mal]

First of all, MAC is a Machine Access Code, not a company, and even Mac would have been a completely ignorant way to refer to Apple, the computer company that produces the Macintosh computer and the iPod, among other things.

Secondly, if you'd done any research that involved your brain and the internet, you would have found that you can download one of about 100 different programs that will give you access to the contents of your iPod on another computer whether Mac or POC.

Sorry to sound harsh, but I don't think you've done much research at all.

JW

[Barronbe]

Skywalker,

Your snide, simple-minded, and self-absorbed response was wholy unappreciated. The degree you earned in computer science from the 2 year correspondance school hardly entitles you to take that sort of condescending tone with anyone. Clearly, I'm an outsider in your world of home-made beat-off movies, alternative angles of Britney Spears "Toxic" video and geek jargon. But I posed a legitamate question. If it revealed my ignorance on the subject, it served its purpose. I'm trying to learn about my iPod, and I'm starting from the ground up. I'm pretty sure referring to Apple as Mac does not justify character assassination. Please take a moment next time you'd like to flex your nerd muscles on an internet message board and think about being a descent human being.

Further, I do believe that there is a way to unlock the iPod, or unsynchronize it so that you can simply upload iPod contents to any Mac, in addition to the method you described--using a program like File Buddy (or any other of the hundreds of programs to which you made reference) to make visible the music files on the iPod. I found that process rather tedious. I'll quote a post I read on another sight:

"You can use any utility that lists invisible files to copy data (music) off of your iPod for transfer to another computer whose iTunes has not been "registered" to your iPod.

1. Plug in your iPod to the Mac
2. If the iPod has music on it that has been synchronized from another Mac, iTunes asks you if you want to re-register the iPod. Select No. Selecting Yes will remove the songs from your iPod and sync it with the Mac you are connected to. If this Mac does not have any music on it, an empty iPod is the result. (bummer)
3. Run a disc utility like FileBuddy (shareware, available from download.com or shareware.com) Since the iPod is still mounted as a drive, FileBuddy will recognize it and allow you to list the files on it. The iPod stores MP3's as invisible files.
4. Select all of the invisible MP3 files on the iPod and copy it to a folder on your local hard drive.
5. Have FileBuddy make the files visible.
6. Quit FileBuddy. Quit iTunes. Unplug the iPod from your Mac.
7. Move the now visible MP3 files into your iTunes music folder.

You have now copied songs from your iPod to the Mac. The next time you plug in the iPod and run iTunes, you will get the dialog asking you if you wish to resync to this Mac. As long as you copied all of the MP3's from the iPod, you can now safely select Yes since the contents are now the same and the music will be untouched. The iPod will now be registed to this Mac.

Note: If you connect the iPod to the original Mac that you synced your music with, iTunes will ask you if you wish to register the iPod, since it is no longer tied to that Mac."

Regards,

Beau Barron

[nivenj]

First of all, MAC is a Machine Access Code, not a company, and even Mac would have been a completely ignorant way to refer to Apple, the computer company that produces the Macintosh computer and the iPod, among other things.

Secondly, if you'd done any research that involved your brain and the internet, you would have found that you can download one of about 100 different programs that will give you access to the contents of your iPod on another computer whether Mac or POC.

Sorry to sound harsh, but I don't think you've done much research at all.

JW

Skywalker, if you cant give constructive help, dont bother at all.

Anyway, its you who should do your research, If you had then you could have told him to just right click on his ipod icon in Itunes, select ipod preferences and change it to "manual update", he can then just drag his music onto his ipod.

[sockeatingdryer]

Skywalker,

Your snide, simple-minded, and self-absorbed response was wholy unappreciated. The degree you earned in computer science from the 2 year correspondance school hardly entitles you to take that sort of condescending tone with anyone. Clearly, I'm an outsider in your world of home-made beat-off movies, alternative angles of Britney Spears "Toxic" video and geek jargon. But I posed a legitamate question. If it revealed my ignorance on the subject, it served its purpose. I'm trying to learn about my iPod, and I'm starting from the ground up. I'm pretty sure referring to Apple as Mac does not justify character assassination. Please take a moment next time you'd like to flex your nerd muscles on an internet message board and think about being a descent human being.

OoOoO.... you'd better not pick on him... he got a 1430 on the SAT! OMG WHAT A GENIUS!
Also, is it just me or are most of the boy scouts I know real jerks? :rolleyes:

[Logik]

aye... i don't think you can sync backwards from ipod to mac/pc ... you can only sync from mac/pc to ipod... you can use software to take the songs off the ipod but like you said.. tedious and cumbersome if i do say so myself.

but as someone said if you select manual update on the mac then it won't sync at all but you can sync specific folders/playlists/etc on it from the mac.. you'd also need to do this on the PC or each time you sync with the PC it will remove anything not found on the pc that's on the ipod.

i would've liked this same thing you're asking for because i would prefer to have my music both on my new powerbook and on my pc... my solution seems to be just sharing the folder i put my music on and allowing both to sync ... read/write access on the windows share and i can rip and encode music on either computer and it places the files correctly... when i'm away from home and can't connect to the share i just use my ipod as an ipod ;)

[yellow]

Actually MAC stands for Media Access Controller. The ethernet hardware address of NICs.. er.. Network Interface Cards.