iPod WITHOUT iTunes?

I really like iTunes and would LOVE to use it with Windows to get my music to my iPod - but iTunes on my laptop causes the entire computer to freeze. Sometimes I get ten minutes, sometimes only 30 seconds, but it always happens, and it doesn't matter if I have the iPod attached or not.

I thought it may have had problems reading the songs off of my external firewire hard drive, but then I emptied the library and just was playing an Audible audio book on my main hard drive and it froze up again.

I'm now using XPlay2 which works great, except of course it doesn't support Smart Playlists, has no library, doesn't keep track of play counts unless I play the music on the iPod itself, etc.

I hope Apple fixes iTunes for Windows soon.

The only time iTunes has crashed on my computer is when I had a plug-in installed that was causing it (iRemote). When I uninstalled iRemote, no more problems. Other than that, I've never had a problem. So, I would say it's something specific to your computer and not an iTunes problem that Apple is going to fix. Maybe a fresh install would help.

Especially if you have an iPod, iTunes is really the only way to go.

Originally posted by brundlefly76
Is there any way to use the iPod without iTunes?

Yes look through the software section of the site. There are many other options. Someone has recommened Anapod explorer, there are others such as ephpod and xplay. Remember, the iPod is a database drivin player when it comes to organization, though it is a hard drive, the firmware is not made to read a directory, it reads a database that is populated by the ID3 tags in your songfiles.

But the iPod itself is *so* cool, I had to get one. And now I am loving my iPod but hating iTunes, and I mean HATING it.

Breath deep man, let me introduce you to an new way of thinking about your music with iTunes. If as you say later all you want to do is sync and go, iTunes does JUSt that when used correctly. Though I will try to persuade you that iTunes can do what you want it to, I don't begrudge you moving to a different program.

-I hate that I cant simply have a folder and file view.

You shouldn't HAVE to go into a folder/file view. The library is your folders and files. Use searching and the browse functions to bring up songs into your main window. If you need to go directly to a music file, select the file, right click and select "Show song locatio" and it will take you to the song file.

-I hate that I cannot move files OFF my iPod onto my work computer (even NON-DRM'd music!!)

Yes this is a tough one. There are second party applications that will help you with this. You could have one of these programs on your work computer to move songs off the iPod or you could set up removable speakers and AC adapter for the iPod with the dock and play through the line out through the speakers instead of using the computer. You could also set your iPod to disk mode, copy MP3 files to the hard drive, connect to your computer at work and copy the files off of the iPod to the work computer. DRM'd music fine too as long as you can authorize your work computer to play it.

-I hate that when I rip a CD, I need to point iTunes to the MP3 folder again so it can recheck it for new music, rather then just having an 'refresh' option.

If you used iTunes encoder, this wouldn't be a problem. I can understand people wanting to use different, "better" standards though. when you rip a CD, rip to a special "waiting" folder. When ready, import this folder into itunes. If you have "copy to iTunes Music Folder set" the files will be importated and transferred to the music folder. Now delete the original files from the "waiting" folder. An extra step, yes, but managable.

-I hate that I have to drag my library to the iPod, and that I have to 'eject' the iPod (None of my other MP3 players need to be 'ejected'!!)

If you have the iPod to manual update, or set to operate in diskmode it is now a removable hard drive. It must be ejected before disconnection to help prevent memory mistakes, etc. Remember the iPod is more than an MP3 player. It is a hard drive. You have to eject "ANY" removable device. Having to drag songs to the iPod is only something people who manual update have to do. If you want to sync all songs, don't choose manual update, choose autosync.

-I hate that sometimes when iTunes is busy there is no hourglass or dialog, the window is simply frozen.

Touc??e, but this can happen with any program from time to time. Some investment in more RAM could be helpful. This is a tough one to get around but it isn't something that palgues everyone.

Of course, once I have my iPod disconnected, I absolutely love the device itself, but while it has to communicate with my computer I get mad.

Of course you do. But communication doesn't have to be madding, because you can use autosync.

Is there any Windows software which will allow me to manage the iPod by simply docking it, and clicking a button which syncs my master MP3 folder to a master folder on the iPod?

THIS IS ALL I WANT TO DO!

You don't want to hear this, but iTunes for Windows will do this. With all your songs safely in the iTunes library and tagged correctly connect your iPod and go to preferences. Select "update all songs and playlists automatically" If you aren't going to use the extra space on the iPod as a hard drive, turn off disk mode in preferences. Now when you drop the iPod into the dock it will update with iTunes and the iPod will mirror the iTunes library. If disk mode is off it automatically syncs and disconnects, you can now walk away with your iPod. If you have it set you will have to *gasp* press the eject button, but really your clicking finger does so much more in one day :-)

Now all that said and done, iTunes isn't for everybody, but it isn't the heartache that some "directory" minded people make it out to be. It does have it's faults, if you really can't leave with them, do check out the other software on the site. It's not all free though.

iTunes was made to be a hands off, easy control of you music. It works very well for the average person. You may find if you give it a chance and take some of the suggestions/tips I've put forth here, it could be right for you.

Phew. That was long.

Enjoy your iPod,
Stu

I'm sorry if that's the way it came off. My solution wasn't "just use iTunes" it was "give iTunes an honest chance" in the original posters situation, I felt iTunes could do what he wanted it to if given the chance and if he reorganizes the way he thinks.

For you though, I can see is a deeper problem. Media Center might be a different solutino for you. It now supports smartplaylists, which from what I understand are much more powerful than iTunes versions. It does cost a premium, though.

For you with iTunes freezing. What have you done to figure out why this is the case? You say XP freezing seems to be a common problem, but I know people who have no problems at all. It has to be something in your situation causing it, not just iTunes on it's own on XP. How much RAM do you have? What kind of third-party apps are running/installed? What kind of computer do you have running XP? I'm no windows expert, I have no idea in the least how to go about trouble shooting your problem on a PC machine, but it is more than just iTunes, there is something else in your situation that is leading to your problems. It sounds like you do like iTunes, so it might be worth some investagation on your part to find out why things are going crazy in your situation, but if not Xplay is an okay program, though you may be happier with Media Center, though I would wonder if it may even have trouble running on your computer.

So long story short, no the solution isn't "Just use iTunes" but to give everything an honest chance in your situations.

Good luck,
Stuart