iPod (with video) tips and tricks

Look, you knew we were going to do this one sooner or later: for this week's installment of Tips and Tricks we're asking for your best, um, tips and tricks related to that new iPod you're probably sick of hearing about (you know, the one that can play moving pictures). We know it's only been out for a couple of months now, but you probably already have this one all figured out, right?

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Any video cable will work with the iPod, not just the Apple one, the video may be coming out of an audio plug though.

[jesse @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

here's a tip: stop calling it the "ipod (with video)."

[Matthew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

This one may be obvious to a lot of people but a surprising number of my friends (maybe I have dim friends) weren't aware.

The video for the iPod doesn't have to be 480 x 480. It can be any size or aspect as long as you keep it under 230,400 pixels.

[dan warriner @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

lyrics...get pearlyrics (widget or standalone) or "sing that iTune" widget both very handy and import lyrics directly to itunes

ones on itunes it'll automatically load on ur 5G ipod and just hit the center button a few times on the now playing screen to sing along

[Mark Question @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

To use a iBook A/V cable for the iPod you can easily make an adapter, or splice into the cable (the diagram includes the pinouts for the iPod A/V cable):

http://static.flickr.com/32/58420576_89d4e11534_o.jpg

[Sameem Siddiqui @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

what i dont know but would like to be able to do is change the background color with white fonts- i want it black, and make it more seemless with the rest of the player

[Tobias @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

http://homepage.mac.com/tylerl82/

get isquint, it's great. No i don't work for them.

[Greek Goat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=4954&highlight=system

to set videos as tv shows (in video browsing)


http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=4413&highlight=system


and dvd to ipod, enjoy

[Craig @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

as long as we're sort of on the topic, i have a question (as a former B&W 4G soon to be 5G owner).

i always add albums to my iPod by dragging and dropping the album folder via iTunes. in addition to the mp3 files, the album folder generally contains a jpg of the album cover and an m3u of the album.

my question is: will the album art in the folder somehow show up on the iPod, or will does it only show up if the album art is integrated into the id3 tags? i don't want to hassle with integrating the jpg into the id3 tags, so i hope that iTunes somehow picks up on the fact that the one jpg in the folder is the album art for all mp3s in that folder.

if anyone can shed some light on this, that would be great... thanks.

[audrey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Convert your Media Center recorded TV shows using MyTVToGo (http://www.mytvtogo.com). I downloaded this about a month ago and it's great, easy-to-use and worth it!

[Taylor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

#4:
After you've sold your ipod (with video) for a creative zen vision:m, sell the zen vison m and buy a cowon A2, because creative doesn't care about making good products: http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=pmc&message.id=3348
(I just bought a normal zen vision with high hopes, but they were all dashed away after a month of ownership and many hours on creative's own forum)
-Taylor

[Kingston @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Roopesh I would love to use another mp3 player with my mac but no one makes the software! Please some one do it! As for tips don't try and show off the video aspect as the battery will more than likely die in the middle of it making you look like a fool! Happened to me :) and Jesse thats exactly what it is, an ipod (with a bit of video).

[Greek Goat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

you go do that Jihnn rummy but if anyone wants to put videos on any other ipod try out http://ipodlinux.org/Video_Player

ipod linux, i use it to watch seinfeld on my 4g and it looks pretty good, use mopid to convert it to the right format

[NathanK @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Download Videora iPod Converter its free and easy to use so download it http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/

[TokerZ @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Comparison shots of the Ipod 5G w/Video and Creatives new Zem Vision:M.

mirror 1:
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7701/scnshs2ky.jpg
mirror 2:
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/393/scnshots8tj19kc.jpg

Creative Zen Vision: M has 262K of colours compared to 65K of the iPOD Video and its video size output resolution is 640x480 compared to the ipods 320x240. Its video playtime of 4hrs is doubling the iPOD video and supports more video codecs such as WMV9, MPEG1/2/4-SP, Motion-JPEG, DivX/XVid where iPOD Video only supports MPEG4, H.264 and MOV.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

I second the nod for iSquint... Tyler (no affiliation) really nailed the balance between power and simplicity (hint: favor simplicity!) and iSquint has quickly become a staple in 5G arsenal. Here's the URL:

http://homepage.mac.com/tylerl82/

[Derek @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Wow. What is your problem? It is a MP3 player that ALSO does video. Do you notice that it is still called the iPod? You are one sad individual...

[diverdale @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Unpopular format??? Let's see...how many iPods are out there? How many other hunks of crap are out there? All this self rihgheous douchbagery cracks me up. Why do people have to be such zealots?

[Vanilla Spice @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Roopesh Sheth, there's no need for trolling. It is just a waste of bytes, seeing as though the "fanboys" don't need an excuse or encouragement - they'll say what they'll say without any prompting required !

And all the fanboys' hype, and all their clamouring, will completely pale in comparison to the avalanche of nonsense from the anti-Apple club, who still don't understand that a person can intelligently decide to purchase an Apple product without being a "slave to Jobs".

These idiots routinely declare that all Apple products are useless and crappy, and they accuse people of making automatic responses instead of assessments ... apparently oblivious to the fact that that is the precise crime that they themselves are guilty of.

Just for once, I'd love to read through the comments on a story about an iPod or a Creative player, and to see some intelligent discussion on the players' relevant merits and/or faults, without any degeneration into pointless and brainless squabbling.

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

I'm beginning to think that Creative has a couple stooges assigned to do nothing but bash Apple and praise Creative on this blog. That would account for the abnormally high percentage of posts that slam Apple and kiss Creative's ass...when we all know that Apple has most of the market and Creative divvies up what's left with several other manufacturers. Just by sheer marketshare numbers, the post ratio should be very different.

[andrea in tha city @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

WOW THAT CREATIVE PLAYERS SCREEN IS BEAUTIFUL! oops sorry caps :( Anyhow that Vision M players screen looks miles ahead of the ipods, so does that album art browsing (pretty coolio) Do any of you guys know when that zen vision player is gonna be released in the usa??

[John Doe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

if you have a video camera, you can just use the video cable for it with your ipod! but the colors are not cordinated (video is actually the red cable to the yellow reciever etc.)

[mrqcho @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

@ #9
we have actually created a full website to follow that up and are continuing development on an application to set Videos in the "TV Shows" menu on the iPod(with Seasons, and Episode capabilities and all), and it works for Windows and Mac.

you can check it out:
http://www.mrtvpod.net

[Roopesh Sheth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Let's rile up some fanboys. Upgrade your Crapple iPod to a Creative Zen Vision:M

[Ricky C. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Not a 5G specific tip but useful imo...
Install idleTunes (http://www.idletunes.com). Love the fact that it makes it easier to bulk insert album art to tracks. Of course it does alot more than just the album art. It ain't perfect, but still a great little piece of software that's worth checking out. And free.

[robert preseau @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

i would like my 30gb ipod video to do a trick and come out of hiding. it has misplaced itself and i can't find it. :-(

[crunkmaster @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

#5 - too bad pearlyrics got a cease-and-desist letter from Warner and is now shut down...

Many other lyrics-grabbing widgets have also disappeared...

[Erin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Hey #5, Pearllyrics just got a cease and desisit. Apparently, the record labels decided that lyrics websites are causing them to lose money. Expect more sites/apps to be shut down in the near future.

Just terrible.

Read about it:
http://www.pearworks.com/pages/software.html

[J. Fishy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Email me if you are on a mac and you want to get your dvd's to you ipod video.
Email
[e-mail]
AIM
jake2ball

[Shanna @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Until 2 mos ago, I had been satisfied (not bowled over by) my Zen Micro for the past year. This was my 4th MP3 Player. I was avoiding the iPod because I am a born & bred FadBasher. Then my technophobe business partner got a Nano for her B-Day. So I had to set it all up for her. I was floored, it was so LOGICAL! It all worked! It was so EASY! It was so SMALL!

I was sold. A week later, I bought my own. My husband was jealous (having fought with the Micro for so long), and I wanted a Video, so I told him that he could have my Nano if he bought me a Video for X-mas. Two weeks after that, he gave me my Video early. We are so pleased with them!

So for you Creative hugging iPod bashers, I'll sell you my Zen Micro.

By the way, my laptop's hard drive is smaller than my iPod's, so how do I put video on the player and keep it there, and delete it off the the laptop's hard drive? The iTunes iPod video tab doesn't have the "manual update" option.

[Baco @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Don�t you think the itunes site is looking too housewifish with all those TV shows photos? Remember when Apple used to be a cool company? Now their main spot on the web looks like you are browsing through the latest issue of TV Guide.Why did Steve Jobs built a gadget dedicated to far-right programming? iPod video is definetely a betrayal, Republican, middle-of-the-road device!

[3284lmm @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Shanna how odd you would say that, I also own a Zen micro (5gig black) and one of my buddies just got a Ipod nano today. After about 20minutes fooling around with it I came up with the following conclusion: it blows ass compared to the micro : It lacks base, they're about 10 different EQ presets but none of them seemed to satify me (nor my MDR-ex71's) but I guess thats because i've been having to much freedom with the custom 5band EQ on my micro. You know what else i found great about about the nano? its horrible ergonomics, My hands hands just don't find it comfortable tracing circles (cramp) on a popsicle stick. I could go on about the scratch... I mean i could go on about the nano but i've got a micro to tend to :) As for Shanna, open your eyes, I don't know about you but i wouldn't enjoy being sucked into a communistic cult (Steve Jobs and the ass kissers)

[GLAMzamZAM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

has anyone answered about when that creative zen vision m player is being released? i currently have a 4G ipod and had been a bit weary about the 5th gen, but this vision m player is looking extremely nice, especially with the divx and xvid support.

[Dr Watson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

For #1 and #25, not any camcorder video cable will work. Different brands have different pinouts with the ground moved, not just the wrong color, so be prepared, you may have to hack it up to get it right.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

The Zen Vision M is out now on the Creative website. It was in stock for a couple days but as far as I know now it's out of stock. Anyways, it's there if you want.

[3284lmm @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Well if i'm correct I think Creative Labs said Decemeber 16. Its already released in Japan though.

[CARLOS FONSECA @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

I love the creative zen owners that are all pissed off because they get no respect with they're crap players. Its obvious that they want others to get one too so they have someone to talk to about it. Now think about it, you guys are the cult like people. Your music players suck. They do good video big woop, walking around town with that thing makes you look lame. LAME!

[Riddickbo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Hey #34, did you really just call us iPod owners communists?!? When did "iPod with video tips/tricks" turn into "I hate/love Apple time"? I have a 5G and love it to death, but that new micro sounds sweet too. I do wish the pod had better bass. Lets keep the tips/tricks coming folks, and lighten up!

[Vagina Coastguard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

The Creative Zen sucks. You know it, I know it. Everyone knows it. So GET OVER YOURSELVES.

[GLAMzamZAM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

ok cool thanks guys! i didnt know it was on creative's website yet. i also just realized that u get all the accessories with it as part of the bundle which sadly i had to purchase seperately for my ipod >:(

[GLAMzamZAM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

overratediPod, i agree about the sound quality. before i bought my 4th gen pod i owned a 60 gig zen xtra and the quality on that zen was far superiour than the pod. i hope they continue that trend here with the zen vision m, especially because im buying one! :)

[okcodemonkey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

I need a way to convert wmv files from sites like http://channel9.msdn.com/. Every one that I have downloaded and tried to use videora to convert never works. Anyone have any other ideas?

[3284lmm @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Oh, Carlos I don't really care about the "image" thing; if I did I would have most certainly picked up an ipod. Go over and visit the first post on the Vision:m (around 250posts or so)and tell me who's lonely, its full of Apple zealots crying because there precious ipod G5 just got shit on. You say you hate the Zen l ineup but yet you fail to mention why... ehh

[Danny Purdue @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

older iPods admittedly didn't have the best sound, but the new iPods have a great kick and sound to them. if you're unsatisfied with your audio quality, it's probably your fault for having poorly compressed songs or bad headphones/earbuds/speakers.

but really, with all this crap, each person has their own tastes. nobody cares if you buy a creative product, nobody cares if you buy an iPod (except those respective companies.) buy what makes you happy and stop telling everyone else they're dumb for their decisions.

[c c corlew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

You fools! My (insert player name) is so much better than your (insert player name) I'd never own a (insert player name) You jst aren't thinking clearly, because there is only one plater worth owning and that is obviously the (insert player name)
I hope I've helped you see the light.

[Hogen's Head @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Umm... yeah. Remember that thing about TIPS AND TRICKS for the ipod? Try to stick to it. Apple does take the cake on software and add-ons, which in a buisness sense, is HUGE. Anyone care to argue that? I personally like the "PQ DVD to iPod" software.

[Tom Nuckels @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Yeah... This is the first time I've really read the comments on engadget... and some of you need to look in the mirror. No one on the whole wide web gives a shit about what you care... this page is here to help people that have an iPod not a Zen. Just because your parents didn't buy you an iPod for your 13th birthday dosn't mean it sucks...

[DJ LEX @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Oh my what is this all about, i am pro apple and used to use windows, i still have mac and pc but only use pc to run crappy hack apps that the mac misses out on, however i have always been a fan of ipod but in this case Creative has really pulled out all the stops especially with the support for all those lovely codecs. Anyway the one and only point im going to make is "ITunes" if any of the other manufacturers could get something similiar or at least get the creative to synch with itunes then world mp3 domination is at your beck and call. i mean look at Sonic stage (sony) i thought i was back in the days of my zx spectrum, what a heap of crap. itunes is the daddy and that is the 'my wings are like a sheet of steal' around the ipod so either write an awesome music management software or accidently release something that will trick itunes into thinking its an ipod, END OF DISCUSSION

[Tom Nuckels @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

Yeah... This is the first time I've really read the comments on engadget... and some of you need to look in the mirror. No one on the whole wide web gives a shit about what you care... this page is here to help people that have an iPod not a Zen. Just because your parents didn't buy you an iPod for your 13th birthday dosn't mean it sucks...

[Doug @ Dec 19th 2005 12:21AM]

I agree - try to keep it on topic. I've been waiting for this one for weeks, now all I get is a bunch of rants? Arg.

Anyway, here's another vote for PQ DVD to iPod, although I haven't tried the competition.

I'm still getting used to itunes. It doesn't seem to recognize audiobooks right...