mp3 players
Work
Play Your IPod Through Your Windows 7 PC’s Speakers
2:00AM The How-To Geek | Windows expert Ed Bott finds a useful feature in Windows 7: you can play an external audio device through your computer’s speakers without any extra software using a simple configuration setting. More »
Fix
Breathe New Life Into Your Aging MP3 Player With Rockbox
10:00AM Adam Pash | Since the birth of the iPod in 2001, Apple has released generation after generation of new iPods packed with exciting feature updates. The problem is that your not-so-old iPod probably feels like it’s drifted into obsolescence. Sure they both still play music, but take a look at a first gen iPod next to an iPod touch and it’s not hard to understand where I’m coming from. Rather than pony up for a shiny new MP3 player, consider installing the open-source MP3 player firmware Rockbox on your current player first. Rockbox just hit a new release, and it’s never been easier to supercharge your MP3 player, from iPods and irivers to Archos and SanDisk players. More »
Fix
Rockbox 3.0 Supercharges Your MP3 Player
4:00AM Adam Pash | Windows/Mac/Linux: Open-source MP3 firmware Rockbox has released its first major update in three years, adding support and stability for more MP3 players and playback of more file types. Rockbox has long been the best tool to breath new life into an aging MP3 player, from first through 5.5 generation iPods to iRiver, Sandisk, and Archos players (see all the supported players here). Rockbox features include Last.fm support, album art, games, video playback, and tons more. Better yet, the new release comes with a streamlined installation tool called RockboxUtility that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and makes installation simple. With the latest release, Rockbox easily earns its spot as one of the 20 best iPod utilities. If you’re a Rockbox user, share your favourite features in the comments. Rockbox [via OStatic] More »
Automatically Remove Unwanted Songs from Your iPod
8:00AM Adam Pash | Managing music between your iPod and your iTunes library can be cumbersome at times, if only because you can’t actually do a lot of management on your actual iPod. To that end, a howto from DIY web site Instructables details how to automatically remove unwanted songs from your iPod using smart playlists and the star rating system built into your iPod and iTunes. The idea is simple enough, but if you find it difficult to remember songs you want to banish from your iPod once you’re actually plugged into your computer, this setup will take care of those songs automatically. Got similar methods of your own? Let’s hear about them in the comments. Automatically remove unwanted songs from your iPod [Instructables] More »
Listen to Wikipedia on Your MP3 Player with Pediaphon
12:00PM Adam Pash | Web site Pediaphon turns any Wikipedia article into an MP3. The site plugs the article into a text-to-speech synthesis app, and while the synthesis isn’t the best you’ve ever heard (what is this lif – eh – hacker, anyway?), it’s very fast, meaning you could plug in an article and sync the MP3 to your MP3 player in about a minute before you head out the door. If you plan on putting Wikipedia to heavy use on your iPod, I’d recommend installing Wikipedia on your iPod or browsing iPodia on your iPod touch or iPhone. Pediaphon [via eHub] More »
Car-Mount Your Gadgets with ProClip
6:00AM Adam Pash | Got (or soon to be getting) a gadget that needs mounting in your car? ProClip offers clips for nearly any portable device you can throw at it, then matches a vehicle mount to the make and model of your car. With the right device clip for your gadget and mount for your car, you can ensure that your gear is securely fastened and conveniently located so hopefully you’re not fumbling to switch songs or answer a phone call while driving. Prices vary but they aren’t exactly cheap, so if you’ve had luck with other, cheaper mounts, let’s hear about them in the comments. ProClip [via UneasySilence] More »
The 20 Best iPod Utilities
4:00AM Adam Pash | With a new generation of iPods on the market this holiday season, your reliable old iPod may not seem as shiny as it once did. But with the help of third party applications and utilities, you can unlock tonnes of useful functionality you never knew was there and revive that aging iPod so it doesn’t look quite so bad next to its successors. Whether new or old, the following 20 iPod utilities can help you get the most from your iPod. More »
