Tapping the froup mind

Jeffrey Kaplan · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 65

I'm about to replace my iPod. I do not want another, larger iPod for
various reasons including incompatibility between the online music
stores I want to use an the iPod and incompatibility between the iPod
compatible stores and Winamp. So assuming that means a "PlayForSure"
(aka MS DRM) compatible player, of 30G or larger, which one is the
best/easiest?

Primary use will be in a car without a tape deck or aux inputs, that
means I'll be needing a car charger and an FM transmitter as well.
Ideally, the new player would also have a remote control so I can leave
the player itself hidden in the armrest cubby and only show the remote
and transmitter.

It will be connecting to a WinXP Pro computer for content.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

Tips for evil cult members: 33. Instead of picking human victims who
are young, virginal and innocent (and tend to turn out to be the Hero's
girlfriend), see if you can substitute mass murderers, lawyers, school
board members, and other people who won't be missed.

Archived from group: rec>humor>oracle>d

Dave Hinz · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 63

On Mon, 15 May 2006 17:58:15 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
> I'm about to replace my iPod.

Interested in selling the old one? I don't need much but would prefer
to buy from someone I know & trust.

Jeffrey Kaplan · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 65

It is alleged that Dave Hinz claimed:

> On Mon, 15 May 2006 17:58:15 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
> > I'm about to replace my iPod.
>
> Interested in selling the old one? I don't need much but would prefer
> to buy from someone I know & trust.

My rule of thumb is family gets first dibs on all of my hand-me-down
electronics. If no one in the family wants it, and you're still
interested in a used 15G 3rd gen iPod that needs a new battery if you
intend to use it walking around...

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"Do you know why Vorrutyer died?" "No...." "He tried to hurt Aral
through me. I found that... annoying. I wish you would cease trying to
annoy me, Count Vordarian, I'm afraid you might succeed." (Cordelia
Vorkosigan and Count Vordarian [Lois McMaster Bujold, "Barrayar"])

Dave Hinz · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 63

On Tue, 16 May 2006 00:54:58 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
> It is alleged that Dave Hinz claimed:
>
>> Interested in selling the old one? I don't need much but would prefer
>> to buy from someone I know & trust.
>
> My rule of thumb is family gets first dibs on all of my hand-me-down
> electronics. If no one in the family wants it, and you're still
> interested in a used 15G 3rd gen iPod that needs a new battery if you
> intend to use it walking around...

That actually fits my intended use well enough. Time-shifting broadcast
radio for my commute.

Eli the Bearded · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 16

In rec.humor.oracle.d, Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
[ipod replacement, requirements:
> compatible [with] stores and Winamp. So assuming that means a "PlayForSure"
> (aka MS DRM) compatible player, of 30G or larger, which one is the
> best/easiest? [... +] car charger and an FM transmitter [;...]
> a remote control [;...] WinXP Pro

Quite a feature list. What's wrong with swapping the car stereo out
for one with more useful interfaces? A few years ago I did that, getting
one that plays MP3 files off of CD-Rs. These days MP3 + WMA is easy
enough to find. Then just keep CD-Rs in the car. Advantage: someone
stealing the discs doesn't get anything of real value. You stil need
to take (or hide in the car) the face plate from the new stereo.
Some Sony ones will play music off of "memory sticks", and others may
take more common digital media.

Years ago I had a car with a CD changer hidden in the trunk that
broadcast on FM to tune in to from the radio. There was a wired
remote. I know that more recently some car stereos come with back of
the stereo inputs for car trunk CD changers, and that some companies
are making MP3 players with car trunk CD changer cables.

I don't have any specific recommendations. My wife has a video ipod
that she really likes. I have an older Creative Zen micro. My son has
an ipod mini and a PSP. All of these we can hook up to the "tape"
interface on our current car to play music. Unfortunately there are
three different power plugs (all at the same voltage, natch) for the
four devices. None of those will suit you because only one is 30G (and
that's the ipod), and we aren't using the FM method anymore.

I think the newest Zen models have an optional remote, but I've never
tried it. Zen Vision and wireless remote, both on this page:
http://www.creative.com/products/welcome.asp?category=213

PhatNoise makes trunk MP3 players:
http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/index.php

Panasonic has a cheap CD/MP3 car stereo with a front aux input:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/PANCQC1333U

I have no experience with any of those products though, just trying
to open it up a bit.

Elijah
------
beware "ipod ready" as that can be an ipod specific interface

Jeffrey Kaplan · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 65

It is alleged that Eli the Bearded claimed:

> Quite a feature list. What's wrong with swapping the car stereo out
> for one with more useful interfaces? A few years ago I did that, getting

The car stereo is completely integrated into the dash. My only options
are those provided by the car maker. I may be looking into getting a
tape deck added just for this purpose, but when I bought the car I had
no use for one, so I opted to not have one installed.

> one that plays MP3 files off of CD-Rs. These days MP3 + WMA is easy

That's what I was doing originally. I paid extra to have the dealer
swap out the in-dash 6 disk changer for a single-disk MP3 disk player.
At the time, I had 10 disks full of MP3s (256k). I was starting work
on the 13th when I decided that was ridiculous. That's when I got my
first mass-storage media player, an Archos 20G unit. Size and weight
like a brick with a UI to match and USB 1.1 quickly convinced me to get
a better designed on, so I upgraded to a 3rd gen 15G iPod shortly after
they came out. I now have over 13.5G of 128k mp3 files on it. I would
need about 20 CDs to switch back, just to cover my current collection.

Which would not allow me to random-play the entire collection. It
would not allow me to keep it updated "live" - I would not be able to
remove a single track from the library, or add a single track to the
library.

> Years ago I had a car with a CD changer hidden in the trunk that
> broadcast on FM to tune in to from the radio. There was a wired

I had one of those once. The next car had a fully wired trunk mounted
disc changer, which kept breaking. That's when I converted to my first
in-dash MP3 disc player. That car had a standard DINN car stereo
mounting space. When I was forced to trade in that car (to the one I
have now) a few years ago, I ordered it with an in-dash MP3 disc
player.

> remote. I know that more recently some car stereos come with back of
> the stereo inputs for car trunk CD changers, and that some companies
> are making MP3 players with car trunk CD changer cables.

I wish. I'd even settle for one dedicated to the iPod, but that's not
an option available to me. Even if newer models of the car's factory
provided stereo has that now, swapping the stereo out for that would
effectively double my cost because I still need to replace the iPod
($200 ~ $400 depending on model) and a replacement stereo for my car
would run at least $350 plus installation. A universal FM transmitter
can be had for anywhere from $20 ~ $70, depending on features.

> I think the newest Zen models have an optional remote, but I've never
> tried it. Zen Vision and wireless remote, both on this page:
> http://www.creative.com/products/welcome.asp?category=213

The remote is actually the least important of the features. Lack of a
remote won't break the deal, but with two otherwise similar devices the
one with the remote will edge ahead.

> PhatNoise makes trunk MP3 players:
> http://www.phatnoise.com/products/digitalmediaplayers/index.php

But only for a few car models, mine not included.

> Panasonic has a cheap CD/MP3 car stereo with a front aux input:
> http://www.cardomain.com/item/PANCQC1333U

See above, third-party car stereos won't fit my car.

> beware "ipod ready" as that can be an ipod specific interface

No "can be" about it. If it specified the iPod, it most likely IS an
iPod specific connection, to leverage the dock connector features:
Playing the music from the data file instead of an audio stream,
meaning access to the ID3 tags, and not having to fiddle with the
portable player's output volume.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"So, if we go down there, it blows. If we don't, it blows anyway, just
a little later. It's a good thing I'm Russian. We're used to hopeless
situations." (Lt. Cmdr. Ivanova, B5 "A Voice in the Wilderness II")

Jason · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 22

Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:

> But only for a few car models, mine not included.
>
>> Panasonic has a cheap CD/MP3 car stereo with a front aux input:
>> http://www.cardomain.com/item/PANCQC1333U
>
> See above, third-party car stereos won't fit my car.
I find this odd. If I recall, you're driving a Mazda 6, aren't you? I
am astounded that in this day and age, a car manufacturer would not
provide for third party replacement of the stereo.

Jeffrey Kaplan · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 65

It is alleged that Jason claimed:

> > See above, third-party car stereos won't fit my car.
> I find this odd. If I recall, you're driving a Mazda 6, aren't you? I

Yep.

> am astounded that in this day and age, a car manufacturer would not
> provide for third party replacement of the stereo.

Look again. It's a conscious design decision that other manufacturers
are picking up on. A buddy recently purchased an '06 Civic. Same
deal, the stereo face design is integrated into the dash with the
controls and display in different locations. My brother's '04 Saab
93's stereo is integrated with the car's computer and OnStar phone.

None of us can use an after market stereo without major modification to
the dash panels and components, even if it's at all possible.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

Tips for the Innocent Bystander: 53. Do not split up to search for the
monster.

TimC · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 54

On 2006-05-17, Jeffrey Kaplan (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> It is alleged that Jason claimed:
>
>> > See above, third-party car stereos won't fit my car.
>> I find this odd. If I recall, you're driving a Mazda 6, aren't you? I
>
> Yep.
>
>> am astounded that in this day and age, a car manufacturer would not
>> provide for third party replacement of the stereo.
>
> Look again. It's a conscious design decision that other manufacturers
> are picking up on. A buddy recently purchased an '06 Civic. Same
> deal, the stereo face design is integrated into the dash...

My ex-'81 mitsubishi colt was ahead of it's league then?

--
TimC
Sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice.
-- Hamilcar Barca in comp.os.linux.advocacy

Jeffrey Kaplan · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 65

It is alleged that TimC claimed:

> My ex-'81 mitsubishi colt was ahead of it's league then?

So what is it now?

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"So, if we go down there, it blows. If we don't, it blows anyway, just
a little later. It's a good thing I'm Russian. We're used to hopeless
situations." (Lt. Cmdr. Ivanova, B5 "A Voice in the Wilderness II")

TimC · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 54

On 2006-05-17, Jeffrey Kaplan (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> It is alleged that TimC claimed:
>
>> My ex-'81 mitsubishi colt was ahead of it's league then?
>
> So what is it now?

Hopefully it's been melted down and remoulded into something useful --
perhaps 100 bikes, by now.

--
TimC
"Nature is pretty" -- CmdrTaco

Dave Hinz · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 63

On Wed, 17 May 2006 01:20:37 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
> It is alleged that TimC claimed:
>
>> My ex-'81 mitsubishi colt was ahead of it's league then?
>
> So what is it now?

I'd suspect maybe a refrigerator?

DP Hit: Georgia on my mind Goodbye, Ray Charles.

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