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I'm an mp3 noob and can't figure out how to use my iPod as an mp3 player on multiple pcs.  iTunes keeps telling me that I can only have mu iPod synched to one computer... which seems odd as all of my music files came from cd's that I currently own.  Does any software exist that will let me plug my ipod into multiple computers to use as a player?  I'd rather this than listen with headphones. 

Thanks

You can do that with iTunes, Winamp, or whatever is the current hotness.  I think you have 'let iTunes manage my music automagically' or whatnot, and it's complaining that you can't have that set across multiple computers. 

I'm sure someone else will provide you with step by step instructions.

I disabled the auto load feature and attempted to import stuff from my ipod.  I was denied.  Still tells me that I can only have the ipod synched with one computer at a time.  I don't really care about synching with any of them... I just want to play it through my computer speakers in the background as it it were a cd player.  Is this unpossible?

If you want to copy from ipod to computer, you need some shareware, my fiancee has one on her ipod that my supervisor put on there.

Not sure why you wouldn't just be able to use it as a portable jukebox, though (without copying, just playing the tracks through itunes on different computers).

Huh.

Yeah, if you want to copy the music off of your iPod use SharePod (http://sharepod.sturm.net.nz/), but it seems as if you just want to play the music through whatever computer you happen to be near.  In that case just plug the sucker in and play the files directly off of the iPod.

How?  My computer doesn't show my ipod as a device.  I've tried a number of different players and none recognize it as even being plugged in. 

I'll try the other program.  Thanks!

If you just want to plug it in and play music from the iPod, do that. Just plug it in, open iTunes, cancel a message that complains about synchronization, and the iPod should still show up under Devices in the list on the left. Click on the iPod and it should display the music and anything else on it. Then just choose what you want to play from the iPod's library.

If your computer isn't recognizing mass storage devices when they're plugged into your computer, I'd say it's time to restart.

Or replace the cable.

Cable is fine, I'll try a restart.  iTunes doesn't see it as a connected device.

Restart didn't help.  iTunes finds the device, but when I hit Cancel for not synching it, it is nowhere to be seen. 

If its talking about synching, its not in manual mode. This wordy crap may help:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61675

My iPod has been a complete nightmare since day one.  I've even paid to have Apple ship me a return package, only to find out that the behavior my iPod was exhibiting was completely normal*.

Make sure you use a high speed usb 2 port and be prepared to flash it every once in a while.


*Normal, according to Apple, is losing its charge if unplugged for ten minutes, thinking the battery is full when it is empty, thinking the battery is empty when it is full, not charging when the 'charging' icon is showing and generally being a completely useless $200 paperweight since it must be within plugging distance of a computer to be used reliably.

Apples idea of normal has never been.... normal.

Never had a problem with iPod and on my 3rd (count iPhone as iPod)… …still have a 5 year old 20gig model (that syncs via firewire) works pretty much as at did at purchase time…

Except for current iPhone (where the "last 1/3" is desirable, given 8G space), have always managed iPods manually…

This is what baffles me - most people I talk to have never had a problem with theirs.  But then I read horror stories on the interweb about the same problems I have, and how it is 'normal' behavior for an iPod.  I know that most of my problems would probably disappear if I invested in an AC cord, but I just can't bring myself to throw any more money at this thing.  Even when I flash it and fully charge it, it still 'forgets' its charge and begins misbehaving soon after.  Just the hours put into figuring out what the hell it was doing made this little bastard not worth price of admission.  Just my opinion - most people don't have any problems with theirs. :heart:

If you ask an Apple fanboy, any problem you ever have with an Apple product is completely "normal".  Much like every problem you ever have with a Microsoft product is further evidence that Bill Gates eats babies.

Apple products in general suck if you try to use them outside what Apple deems "appropriate behavior". Sure they are slick designs and often "innovative", but I much prefer copy-cat devices from manufacturers without such a closed minded approach to devices.

I still use my HP iRiver as a 30gb HD for moving stuff around. You can do that with an Ipod, but it won't play any music you copy to it!

Edit: That said, I love watching anime on my video iPod while traveling.

Floola (http://www.floola.com/modules/wiwimod/) is what I use.  By looking at sharepod's site for a sec it looks the same except that floola can also play the ipod's music.

The short version:

Plug iPod into main computer
Turn on enable disk use
Turn on manually manage music and video
Hit sync

Now when you plug it into another computer you can click the iPod on the left and play music off of it. Sadly this doesn't work with an iPhone. DAMN YOU APPLE!

Once you get your iPod to be recognized as a mounted device, you can actually does go and grab the files from it and copy them over as well. Just change your OS to view invisibles and start poking around. SharePod seems to just make that process more straightforward.

Songbird. (http://www.songbirdnest.com/)