Recommend an alternative to iTunes?

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
1,140
Location
MAnchester
Can any recommend an alternative to iTunes??

The format it downloads in wont let me copy over to my w810i Sony Eric. (downloads to mpeg4)

Any good alternates out there that are same price or cheaper and as easy to use??

Cheers

Rick
 
Hmm i dunno, I use the software that came with the phone but it doesnt see the files.

I cant seem to convert them because they say they are protected.

Can i change the format they are downloaded in? I am just using as it was installed atm.

I asked about it in the phone section but no one knew what to do.

Rick
 
How did you get that to work Gilly?

I am pretty sure that the W800i doen't officially support .m4p files (although it does support unprotected AAC files - .m4a), because of the legal issues of copying protected files
 
have you tried copying them directly to the folder? it should be your music folder on the memory stick :) i *think* W810i supports the encoded files
 
you shouldn't be able to convert an m4p file to mp3. i might be wrong though, because conversion with itunes is all weird on a mac
 
Last edited:
I've tried converting the file using the iTunes preferences but it won't do it, says it is protected. I'll look to try and just put it into the folder.

I've been told that musicmatch is a good alternate, I'll try that instead of itunes.

Cheers

Rick
 
RickB said:
I've been told that musicmatch is a good alternate, I'll try that instead of itunes.
Who told you that? Do they not like you or something?

There will be no legal software for converting m4p files to any other format, as it will involve breaking the copyright encoding.

There is a workaround, by creating a music cd containing the protected files, which can then be re-encoded in mp3 or m4a format - which are compatible with the phone. Not sure about the legalities of this (and if it breaks the law/forum rules, i will remove), and it could be expensive if there are a lot of files.
 
If you're using iTunes to rip your own CDs, theres much better stuff.

If you're using iTunes to transfer to an iPod, again, anapod is better.

I really do hate iTunes :(
 
j00ni said:
There is a workaround, by creating a music cd containing the protected files, which can then be re-encoded in mp3 or m4a format - which are compatible with the phone. Not sure about the legalities of this (and if it breaks the law/forum rules, i will remove), and it could be expensive if there are a lot of files.

Yep, this will work. But remember there is a cap on the amount of times you can write a protected file to CD. I think it's 3. So don't lose the new mp3 you make, as the protected file will only be of limited use in the event of a backup being required.
 
Chronos-X said:
If you're using iTunes to rip your own CDs, theres much better stuff.

If you're using iTunes to transfer to an iPod, again, anapod is better.

I really do hate iTunes :(

ok. i can understand that you'll get better compression rates/rip speeds from other apps, so for CD ripping it won't be the best (even though it is the easiest i've come across), but how can one app be better at copying files from your PC to a USB device? what are you basing that on? something tells me that for whatever reason, you hate itunes so everything is automatically better, even when better doesn't make sense.
 
Sic said:
ok. i can understand that you'll get better compression rates/rip speeds from other apps, so for CD ripping it won't be the best (even though it is the easiest i've come across), but how can one app be better at copying files from your PC to a USB device? what are you basing that on? something tells me that for whatever reason, you hate itunes so everything is automatically better, even when better doesn't make sense.

I don't hate it cos its iTunes - just I find it a really clunky piece of software that obsesses over synchronisation (which I dislike).

When you install anapod, you right click on the mp3s, send to-->Windows iPod. They transfer over straight away. No library, no sync, no fuss.
 
fair enough...to each his own and all that. personally i like it because it allows me to sync my library, so from that post, i can really see why you hate it.

from this thread, i get the impression that iTunes isnt as good on PC as it is on Mac. it's been ages since i've used it on a PC.
 
Sic said:
fair enough...to each his own and all that. personally i like it because it allows me to sync my library, so from that post, i can really see why you hate it.

from this thread, i get the impression that iTunes isnt as good on PC as it is on Mac. it's been ages since i've used it on a PC.


Its about the same really, but obviously with you using a Mac you don't have this automatic inbuilt hatred of anything Apple make or do, and so don't just dismiss iTunes before ever really using it.

It is by far the easiest library software to manage, has a great inbuilt music store and does what it does pretty well. It can be a touch resource heavy (like 35MB RAM usage) but if that sort of thing bothers you then either stop being so anal, or get a better PC that isn't crippled when something uses more than 15MB of RAM.

I only use WinAmp now because I can skin it to match my Windows skin, and watch porn through Shoutcast :p
 
Sic said:
fair enough...to each his own and all that. personally i like it because it allows me to sync my library, so from that post, i can really see why you hate it.

from this thread, i get the impression that iTunes isnt as good on PC as it is on Mac. it's been ages since i've used it on a PC.
Used it on both, I think it is just as good on either really. :)
 
Back
Top Bottom