Will itunes software work with other mp3 players?

Triathlon Forum
1

The subject pretty much says it all. I have a cheaper “mpio” mp3 player and I was hoping to use itunes to manage/download my music to the player. I’ve spent some time trying, but itunes doesn’t recognize the player. A friend told me itunes only works with ipods. Comments?

Tom

2

I think your friend is right. I haven’t heard of any workarounds yet.

3

Works fine with my rio S-35, Cali and Chiba. Can’t download from the music store very easily, though.

4

iTunes just manages your mp3s - those will work on any mp3 player. You can also buy songs through iTunes - those will not work on your mp3 player. iTunes purchased music only plays on ipods which really makes me boggle at why its so popular. Its like buying a music cd that’ll only work on Manufacturer_X’s cd player and no others. Would you do that? Didn’t think so. There are a host of other mp3 players that can play non-proprietary, copy protected music but the sheep continue to buy. Oh well.

Anyways, there is a workaround but its a pain and there is quality loss. You can buy from iTunes, burn to a CD, rip the CD back to iTunes and then copy the mp3s over to your player. Fun fun fun.

ot

5

Workaround my husband & I figured out: use iTunes purchased songs and iTunes player to burn CD. Use RealPlayer to pull songs off CD and convert to mp3, then download to mp3 player. A major hassle.

Alicia

edit: Yeah, what he said… good thing I read the whole post.

6

Thanks for the comments. All of my music so far I’ve “ripped” from my own cd’s into mp3 format and located in library. When I plug my mp3 player into the USB port shouldn’t the player come up in itunes as a “source”?

7

It should recognize most mp3 players as a source. It’s not guaranteed to work and if it doesn’t, then I think you are pretty much s.o.l. You’ll have to use another music manager.

8

Thanks for the comments. All of my music so far I’ve “ripped” from my own cd’s into mp3 format and located in library. When I plug my mp3 player into the USB port shouldn’t the player come up in itunes as a “source”?

Try reinstalling your mp3 player driver. Mine was not being recognized in itunes until I reinstalled it, now it’s fine on that computer and my brand new laptop.

9

I am lucky enough to work in an industry that bribes customers with trinkets like iPod’s. I already have a 40GB iPod that Hitachi gave me, and I will be getting a Shuffle on Monday from another vendor.