iTunes--how does it work exactly?

[msd]

Nice, do you have some links? There are dozens of cases of creating/selling the programs, but I haven't found any about regular Joe's using them.

Heh...I can't really give you my Westlaw userID/password (not, at least without creating some problems... ).

I will try and find some alternative sources for the cases I found.

-Matt

 

[I'm A Banana]

So, just to check, this would be completely feasable if you never downloaded from iTunes?

1) Buy a CD
2) Rip the music onto your computer to MP3 format
3) Use the iTunes player to play the music from your computer.
4) Use the iTunes player to upload the songs to an iPod

Am I right? Because I must confess that confusion on this issue is part of the reason I haven't done anything with 'em.

Using a PC, btw, not a Mac. STFU, Steve Jobs!

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

So, just to check, this would be completely feasable if you never downloaded from iTunes?

1) Buy a CD
2) Rip the music onto your computer to MP3 format
3) Use the iTunes player to play the music from your computer.
4) Use the iTunes player to upload the songs to an iPod

Am I right?

You are correct. That is completely feasible. Both my uncle and brother (PC owners and iPod owners) do exactly this. I believe it defaults the import settings as Apple's AAC encoding so you would just need to change it to MP3 encoding. Then you're good to go to import audio CD as MP3.

 

[Dimwhit]

So, just to check, this would be completely feasable if you never downloaded from iTunes?

1) Buy a CD
2) Rip the music onto your computer to MP3 format
3) Use the iTunes player to play the music from your computer.
4) Use the iTunes player to upload the songs to an iPod

Am I right? Because I must confess that confusion on this issue is part of the reason I haven't done anything with 'em.

Using a PC, btw, not a Mac. STFU, Steve Jobs!

I will be the second to say yes, that is exactly feasible. Change the import options to rip to MP3 and not AAC, and you're good to go (iTunes will even do the ripping for you). There are custom options that will let you rip to whatever bit rate you want, as well. You don't have to use the three defaults (128/160/192).

 

[Desdichado]

That's great if you want to do all your importing into m4ps, I'd want to do all my importing out of that format. It would only play on my PC and on an iPod (I don't have an iPod, BTW.) I want something I can play on any PC, including my workstation here at work, as well as in an mp3 player in a car, or a DVD player on my stereo. Sounds like iTunes is exactly what I don't want after all.

STFU Steve Jobs!

 

[Dimwhit]

Dude, you're not listening! I use iTunes all the time to create mp3 discs that will work in ANY PC and ANY mp3 player. It is only music you purchase through the iTunes music store that is in AAC format (which can easily be converted to mp3).

So one more time - iTunes will take a CD and create a bunch of mp3s for you (NOT mp4s). Files that you rip from your CDs will not have DRM, and they will play on any PC or player you have.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

So one more time - iTunes will take a CD and create a bunch of mp3s for you (NOT mp4s). Files that you rip from your CDs will not have DRM, and they will play on any PC or player you have.

Yup. Dimwhit has it true.

Plus, as has been mentioned before, but to reiterate, even the DRM music you purchase through the iTunes store can be burned to a normal, regular audio CD. This removes DRM because the normal, regular audio format for normal, regular CDs has no DRM built in. These audio CDs can be imported back into iTunes as plain old mp3s the same as you import from any CD you buy in a store.

 

[Desdichado]

Dude, you're not listening! I use iTunes all the time to create mp3 discs that will work in ANY PC and ANY mp3 player. It is only music you purchase through the iTunes music store that is in AAC format (which can easily be converted to mp3).

So one more time - iTunes will take a CD and create a bunch of mp3s for you (NOT mp4s). Files that you rip from your CDs will not have DRM, and they will play on any PC or player you have.

Yes, I am listening. My original question was about the music purchased from the iTunes store. I have no interest (or need) for another media player, so my only interest in iTunes would be to purchase music from the store.

I thought that was made pretty clear throughout the thread.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Right, iTunes for downloading music? Not so good.

iTunes for using an iPod without ever giving the company $1? Solid!

 

[Psionicist]

Why waste CD's when you can use the tools I linked to above?