Using iPod with Windows Media Player instead of iTunes
Up until recently, I've never had an iPod. It wasn't that I didn't like them - I think they're the best looking MP3 players out there. There was one reason, and one reason only that I hadn't bought one - iTunes. On Windows, and it has to be amongst the clunkiest applications from a major software company I've ever used. I'm not sure if it's because of the desire to make it look like a Mac and custom-draw everything, or just sloppy coding. It just always seems clunky and unresponsive, and hogs machine resources.
To make things worse, Apple started telling people not to upgrade to Vista because iTunes didn't work properly on it. WTF! Apple had how long to sort this out? You can't just tell people not to upgrade their operating system because you failed at meeting the deadline for your music player! (I do see this has since been fixed).
Anyway, back to the point. What stopped me buying an iPod was iTunes. The software is nasty, and I already have my music collection in Windows Media Player, which plays nice with Windows Media Center and my Xbox 360. If Apple made the iPod work with Windows Media Player, I'd have bought one. Assuming there are other people like me, Apple are losing potential business by trying to force people on to iTunes. I found there were a few ways to get Windows Media Player to work with the iPod, but it required 3rd party plugins (and cost money), and I wasn't about to buy an iPod to find these solutions aren't stable.
As fate would have it, I received a Blue 4GB iPod nano from my auntie when she was visiting from the states. The whole idea of not wanting to buy one in case it didn't work was squashed. I had an iPod, and I was going to use it, with or without Windows Media Player support!
When I got home, I downloaded a trial of MGTEK dopisp - one of the plugins claiming to get the iPod working with Windows Media Player. There are a few other plugins to do this, but a quick Google revealed less unhappy people using this one! I installed the plugin, connected my iPod, and fired up Windows Media Player.
Error! I was greeted with a dialog telling my my iPod had never been set up (via iTunes) and couldn't be used. I had a feeling this would happen, and luckily I had a laptop running Windows XP I was about to flatten! I installed iTunes and set up the iPod, then tried again. The iPod now appeared (with the name I assigned in iTunes) in Windows Media Player as a mobile device. I grabbed a few songs and tried to sync. It worked. It worked exactly like I wanted it to. It was that easy.
That makes me wonder why Apple didn't write a similar plugin? I understand they really want people to use iTunes, but is it really worth losing iPod sales over? Forcing people to use your software is not the way to do business. Sell your iPod on what it is. Sell iTunes on what it is. If people just want one, let them have it. You're lucky I received an iPod as a present, because you'd have missed out on this sale without native Windows Media Player support.
Comments
Actually, you can use Windows Media Player for Ipod Devices. Its way better than stinky as* itunes. First plug in your IPod, then open windows media player. then on the right of the window on WMP(Windows Media Player) click on "Copy To CD or Devices" then it will show you what files you have on your Ipod. IF you have downloaded music for your Ipod make sure you save it in a folder in your "Documents" open up where you saved your song or audio ....then, drag your song to the left of the WMP device thingy. then click copy. wait for it... AND YAY!.....Hope i could help.
i need some answers, i have been selected to goto this program during summer for a week, when i complete the program i get a fre ipod nano, and i dont have a mac, or itunes, i just wanted to know if i should keep it or just sell it! i have never owned an ipod, i just want a regular mp3 player that can be plugged up and sync right away
Thank you very much...this worked great !
looks like i should have got a basic mp3 player then. apple yous suck
I love this I read it aloud to my little sister with an angry voice. We have the same qualm with itunes. Though I own an ipod and she (a proud sony walkman owner) doesn't we found this hilarius, acurate and helpful. I will definately try this out. Thanks a bunch!
i just did a clean install of windows xp home, even before the clean install of winXp i had probs with itunes even my dad did, so i do a clean install and itunes keeps poppin up errors about my ipod not being able to sync when 3 seconds ago it was syncing just fine!!! im so Pist OFF!!!
Is there any help for me. I unknowingly bought three I Pod systems. I love WMP and find it much more dependable (I Tunes loses my music often) Can I transfer music from WMP to Ipod without corrupting either? I too, hate I Pod and their clumbsy selfish system.
Thank you.
Hello:
I too have an I Pod and my library is in WMP. I duplicated the library with I Tunes so I could
load it the I Pod. Now, I Pod duplicates WMP and I get doubles on everything. I Pod is not near as user friendly as WMP and I dont want to give it up. Can you help?
hi i would like to know what to do when my ipod wont sync, ive tried everything... talking to it... yelling at it...i even tied threatning it and still it wont sync
Here is my solution to the problem:
Install both WMP 11 and iTunes! On Windows XP, make sure system defaults are enabled in Control Panel->Add or Remove Programs->Set Program Access and Defaults (it's on the left hand side).
Make sure you select "Custom". Click the arrows at the end of the "Custom" bar. Under the "Media Player Tab", [[[ENABLE ACCESS TO ALL MEDIA PLAYERS (includes WMP11, iTunes, and QuickTime)]]]
If you so desire, enable WMP 11 as the default media player, but allow access to iTunes AND QuickTime (enables iPod syncing to iTunes)
>>>Make sure to click "OK">>>
By doing all of this, you could use Windows Media Player for all of your media files and only use iTunes for syncing your iPod. iTunes would not interfere with any other program.
And as for your music/video library, simply highlight the files you want to transfer to iTunes and "drag and drop" to main menu of iTunes.
In other words, you are simply using "Copy & Paste"
The solution came to me because originally I was an Apple fan. I used iTunes and HATED WMP because it would crash my computer resulting in the infamous "Blue Screen of Death" To solve this, I simply downloaded the fix from Microsoft.
I wanted to have iTunes for my iPod and I wanted to have Windows Media Player for my Xbox 360 (no Windows Media Center on Windows XP Service Pack 3)....
...The Solution: HAVE BOTH!... and of course follow the steps I mentioned earlier so iTunes doesn't become your default media player.
XBL Gamertag: UnheardSpectre
~To be the best, you have to learn from the best!
OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 (2.4 GHz)
RAM: 2GB DDR2
hehehe This is my first time i bought an ipod for the same reason i realy dont like aple, but Ipod nano is one of the best mp3 i ever c.
Thanks Adrian I have always wanted to know if that it would ever work with WMP!!
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great!
I'm thinking about getting an IPOD one day... and it's nice to know it can work with wmp