iPod Updater 2006-03-23 Released

[FoxyKaye]

Well just to jump into the fray here, I've only got a few thoughts:

1) If I had a latter-day iPod, I might actually appreciate installing this - riding on BART and MUNI, things get pretty loud - so I pump up the volume accordingly on my iPod, and have always wondered just how many db I'm being exposed to between public transit and my iPod.

2) That being said, I've already got poor hearing (just on the threshold of normal, just above measurable hearing loss). This I blame squarely on my walkman from 20 years ago, oh, and all those loud concerts and dancing next to giant speaker setups at clubs and raves... C'est la vie.

3) And, completely off topic, every time Apple releases an iPod update, I think the same thing: It wouldn't kill them to update the 1G and 2G software to support Apple Lossless. But, you know, I'm also wishing for a million dollars, too.

 

[Tupring]

I agree that this is a welcome addition for a parent who is so actively involoved with his or her children as to sit down and program their iPods to a safe and acceptable volume level (as unlikely as that seems to me). It might even help sell a few more, who knows?

The issue I always had with my 3G before I traded up was getting the right settings with the iTrip in the car. For some reason the music sounded better being broadcast at a high volume with the car stereo volume set more modestly.

I don't use the iTrip anymore (Aux input now) but I suppose if you were to be able to program the right volume setting, one could, with apologies to the late Mr. Ron Popeil, set it and forget it!

http://www.deadoraliveinfo.com/dead.nsf/pnames-nf/Popeil+Ron

 

[Tupring]

And 2 pages without a "why won't this apply to my [1G, 2G, 3G, 4G] iPod." I'll ask the question--why not, on at least some features? Not to stir the debate, but having just gone to teh ipod software page to see if I have the latest for my 3G (i do, this is the same as 1/10, which is the same as teh one before that, which is the same as the one before that), you would think apple would find life easier by having a single update for all ipods that simply knows to disregard/disable features that aren't supported (like video on non-video ipods).

I thought that's what the iPod Updater does...

 

[Tupring]

I now have a playlist entitled Home's LimeWire Tunes. It cannot be deleted from either the menu or by hitting delete. When I right click on it it gives the option to disconnect. Seems like a hack to me.

You need to turn that option off from within LimeWire itself. But without having LimeWire installed, I have no idea how it could be there...

 

[redAPPLE]

do we really need Apple to help people regulate volume settings? a iq test (or an intelligence license) should suffice, no?

this, ladies and gentlemen, is the real reason, why Apple did not have enough manpower to develop the REAL powerbook G5.

in one point, there are not a lot of companies that care about customers (albeit, they were sued). good job Apple.

bad job, people without brains.

 

[DCapple]

Wait? I dont understand correct me if im wrong an iPod has a volume controller right?

i dont see a point why we should have this application when iPods already have a volume controller?

i dont see why these people are complaining for being deaf when this things are user controlled i mean its up to the user on how loud he would like the music...

 

[dZp]

About the iPod displaying the wrong artwork...

Does anyone know if the update fixes the problem on the ipod nano where it shows the wrong album art for songs?

That was my number one hope for this update too. Unfortunately it seems not. I cleared all the tracks off my nano, installed the update, then put all the tracks back on. The first few songs I listened to were fine (which they often are), but when I selected a podcast to listen to on the commute home: wrong album art.

Does the following help?
http://dizzypenguin.com/automac-it/index.php?id=support

# After updating/embedding the artwork for the tracks on my iPod, the wrong album cover now appears on the iPod when playing, although the right one shows in iTunes. How can I fix this?

* iTunes creates an invisible database file (on compatible iPods) to store a copy of the embedded album artwork. It may be "out of synch". Assuming that the artwork embedded into each track is the right one (as displayed in iTunes) you should be able to fix the issue by doing the following:
* - Plug your iPod into your Mac. iTunes should start up.
* - Go to the iTunes > Preferences > iPod.
* - Untick the box that says "Display artwork on the iPod". iTunes will quickly update the iPod and delete the database file.
* - Now re-tick the box that says "Display artwork on the iPod". iTunes will optimize the artwork for the iPod and recreate the database file.

 

[Cryocon]

Wait? I dont understand correct me if im wrong an iPod has a volume controller right?

i dont see a point why we should have this application when iPods already have a volume controller?

i dont see why these people are complaining for being deaf when this things are user controlled i mean its up to the user on how loud he would like the music...

I totally agree. If people are so stupid to listen to music at such a loud volume then they deserve all they get, it is after all their choice.

 

[Stridder44]

Wait? I dont understand correct me if im wrong an iPod has a volume controller right?

i dont see a point why we should have this application when iPods already have a volume controller?

i dont see why these people are complaining for being deaf when this things are user controlled i mean its up to the user on how loud he would like the music...

OK....just like many others have already stated, it's because they have to (unless Apple wants to get a lawsuit, etc.) I completely agree with you, and Im sure Apple does too; these people are morons. Morons who shouldn't make babies (the adults, not so much the kids; we'll give the kids the benefit of the doubt and assume they don't know any better). But it's obvious that if Apple doesn't do something these same morons will try and sue, just like one already has.

 

[Marky_Mark]

This new update breaks goPod 1.4. It now says 'no ipod detected'.



EDIT 2 mins later: Scrub that...forgot to put it in disk mode first! Duh!

 

[(L)]

nonono whats totalitarian is ITUNES. how bout we look to france for competition laws and not immigration policy.:0

Competition laws? Read the comment by Anders regarding France vs iTMS. Sounded possible, if not probable, to me. Either way, this is a great reason for iTMS to pull out of France. The iPod is OPEN. The iTMS should be able to sell what it wants and can get the public to pay for (and they make money doing that). There is absolutely no sane reason they should HAVE to sell to Sony Walkman users or other mp3 player users, etc. If they can't find customers, it'll close. If they find customers, which is how it is, it's working fine.

 

[lorien]

I disabled look for shared music in preferences and it disappeared. Possibly some one on my network?

Yep, I have the same Home's Limewire playlist flying around on my network and I don't have Limewire installed, but obviously some other person on the LAN does. Very imaginative calling your computer "Home"

 

[mainstreetmark]

You need to turn that option off from within LimeWire itself. But without having LimeWire installed, I have no idea how it could be there...

Because, if I recall, LimeWire puts up a iTunes-esque server, so iTunes thinks it's seeing someone else's iTunes on the net or somesuch. Acquisition just adds songs to an Acquisition playlist, which seems a better solution.

 

[starnox]

I noticed a new option in my videos called 'Movies' that I hadn't seen before.

 

[boncellis]

http://www.deadoraliveinfo.com/dead.nsf/pnames-nf/Popeil+Ron

Oops...why did I think he had passed away? Thanks for the correction!

 

[JAT]

No, it's a setting in iTunes (and even SoundJam). Just edit the ID3 tag and you'll see. You can clearly change the volume of the .mp3 file itslef, and it DOES work and sound louder.

Thanks. That is what I call encoding, btw.

 

[cobraverde]

That's not a problem or a bug. If the backlight were off, you wouldn't be able to see anything while watching videos! Without the backlight, you'd lose almost all color and it'd just be a shadowy, murky mess of black and dark grey.

well the point is that it used to be an option and now it isn't... besides, i've actually been in situations where i'm enjoying just listening to a movie, esp if it's a concert film or something. i'd rather not waste battery on an unused backlight. it's a feature that's been removed and replaced by nothing.

movies aside, isn't is useful to be able to turn the backlight on and off on a whim?

 

[greendayfan]

fixed bug

the update fixed the video bug on my 60 gig black ipod. All of my self-encoded videos play fine.

 

[itcheroni]

Would this update make any difference to a shuffle owner? I didn't see it on the list, but I thought I'd ask anyway in case I'm missing something.

 

[matticus008]

well the point is that it used to be an option and now it isn't... besides, i've actually been in situations where i'm enjoying just listening to a movie, esp if it's a concert film or something. i'd rather not waste battery on an unused backlight. it's a feature that's been removed and replaced by nothing.

movies aside, isn't is useful to be able to turn the backlight on and off on a whim?

You can still turn off the backlight when it's not playing a movie, just like before. To my knowledge, the backlight has always been on when playing a video with no option to turn it off. If you want to listen to the movie and not watch it, then just rip the audio. It'll save plenty of battery power that way.

 

[JQW]

I noticed an odd problem with this update yersterday.

My G5 iMac was powered off for the day. On returning home I first plugged the iPod into the USB cable ready for a recharge/sync, and then powered up the iMac. The iMac hung during the boot process with a grey screen. It happened again when the power was cycled. Then I got it to boot with the iPod disconnected.

 

[danielsan26]

Does this means that parents will be able to make their kids' volume levels only go up to 10 instead of 11? Looks like iPods won't be one louder anymore for poor kids with meddling parents.

No extra push over the cliff.

 

[MarkCollette]

You can still turn off the backlight when it's not playing a movie, just like before. To my knowledge, the backlight has always been on when playing a video with no option to turn it off. If you want to listen to the movie and not watch it, then just rip the audio. It'll save plenty of battery power that way.

Spending the time and disk space on having duplicate data is less optimal than pressing a button on the iPod.

 

[matticus008]

Spending the time and disk space on having duplicate data is less optimal than pressing a button on the iPod.

True, but if you are watching videos or listening to music, the thing is engineered properly. If you're not going to watch the video, then don't load the video on the iPod--no duplication. I wouldn't count on "listening but not watching videos" being built into the iPod any time soon.

It's a minor nuisance for a very small number of people, even if it's a minor fix. Adding one more setting to an iPod makes it more complex, and if they make concessions in one place, it gets opened elsewhere. Anything like this leads to a snowball effect, which is something most entities try to avoid.

 

[bagofbeef]

How freakin' long is it gonna take for Apple to give us PLAYLIST FOLDERS?!!! Cripes!