Just bought an iPod, a few questions.

[Nihlathak]

Righto, i just got a 20 gig one, and it's white >.> Here's a few questions:

Is it worth getting a case?
How do i stop music?
How do turn the volume up and down?

I can't find in the instructions where it tells me the last 2 questions, so i ask here.

[Soapie]

If you don't mind it getting scratched and can trust yourself not to drop it (though it usually still works anyway) then you needn't bother getting a case.

You stop music with the play/pause button (bottom of the click wheel)

You turn the volume up and down by using the touch wheel when on the now playing screen. Clockwise increases volume and anti-clockwise decreases.

[Bloopo]

1. Yes, they scratch insanely easily, and you don't wanna know what happens when you drop them.

2. You can't. Not really anyway, you have to wait for it to sleep or make it sleep yourself. You can however pause it by pressing the pause button.

3. Spin your finger on the wheel when the song screen is up.

I've only had experience with the 20gb 3rd gen, but i presume they're all mostly the same.

[Nihlathak]

Righto, i'll get a case. Damn about the no music stoppage but meh

[Bones]

You can stop it, but you need to press the skip button (either one) and press it until you hit the beginning/end of the playlist. Pause is fine though.

About the case, my iPod (20gb gen4) has no case, and is only a tiny bit scuffed above the apple logo on the back. Mine gets dropped way too often, and so far it's been fine too, and i doubt a case would really provide much protection against shocks anyway.

Basically if you're paranoid about scratches then yeah, go ahead and buy one. If you're not, they don't seem to scratch badly anyway.

Your call.

[Nihlathak]

Well, it cost me £209, so i suppose it's worth it.

[Soapie]

1. Yes, they scratch insanely easily, and you don't wanna know what happens when you drop them.You can only see the scratches on mine if you move it side to side in light and I've had it for over a year. I've also dropped it about 4 times heavily and I fell on to the pocket in which it was housed once when jumping off something. No structual damage at all.

[Nihlathak]

I'm not too bothered about back scratching (not that sort ;) ) i'm more worried about the display screen cracking/scratching.

[Tiggs]

I used to use a case with mine, until one day I managed to get some sand inside it whiched scrached the back to hell. As long as you're not an iDiot (heh, see what I did there?) then it shouldn't be ok, and its only the nano's and 5G iPods that have the huge scraching problem really.

Also you don't really need a stop button. Hit pause to stop the music playing, hold that button down to turn it off, and thats all you need really.

[Nihlathak]

But will the display screen get scratched with every day wear and tear?

[basstard]

I used to use a case with mine, until one day I managed to get some sand inside it whiched scrached the back to hell. As long as you're not an iDiot (heh, see what I did there?) then it shouldn't be ok, and its only the nano's and 5G iPods that have the huge scraching problem really.

I'd disagree. I've had the 30gig photo iPod since easter and I've found that a case is an essential, pretty much, for the iPod.

The only bits that you can safely leave exposed are the click wheel and the sides, certainly not the shiny back metal or the screen - they're very easy to scratch even from everyday use, such as having it in a pocket besides a pencil, keys, or whatever.

If you're on the cheap, using a sock would do - yeah, any sock. Though getting a semi-decent case [or one of the silicon covers, on eBay very cheap but feel a bit like an iPod condom] is well worth every penny.

[Tiggs]

Perhaps I've just been lucky because I generally avoid putting it in a pocket with anything that could easily scratch it. My iPod has lasted 7 months without anything really bad happening to it (apart form the sand thing).

I just personally don't feel the need to use a case as small scratches don't really bother me, and being relatively careful can avoid the big ones.

[Comrade Smith]

my iPod has lasted 11 months and nothing is wrong with it, never been dropped. But I must say this, never put it in a pocket with a zip without a case, big scratches on ye olde screen

[Minted]

I've had my 15Gb 3G iPod since the 3G was released (late 2003 I think, or early 2004 - one of the two) and it's scratched, though not bad enough that it's unuseable. I originally bought a case for it but ended up not using it, simply because it annoyed me having to fumble through the case for the controls (and it almost doubled the size of the iPod). A more intelligent person would have bought the remote, a lazy person (ie me) ditched the case.

It really depends how 'precious' you are about it. I bought mine to play music, looks were secondary - as long as it keeps playing mp3's I don't really care what it looks like (although obviously a pink flowery one would be undesirable).

As for a stop button, it's unnecessary. Once tracks are loaded into the memory theres no moving parts - hence nothing to 'stop'. Play/Pause buttons for great justice.

[Perks]

I've had an iPod mini since April, and that's got dents in the corners but still works poifickly. I don't know about the proper white iPods, though, but from other people's experiences, they can withstand knackerage, I guess you have to be careful, don't drag it on the floor, etc ^^

I'm kinda wondering about the new, shiny zippy video iPods to get soon (I have far more music than I can fit on my mini!) and I'm wondering if they scratch as easily as the nanos (the black ones in particular - breathe on the fuckers and they scratch pretty badly. Lovely to use, though!) or if Apple's sorted that aaht.

[mrikasu]

Just thought I'd let you know that if you just got that iPod then you should send it back since the 5G (video) ones came out a few weeks ago at £10 more than what you paid and they also have 50% more storage and are thinner.

[Tweekish]

Id recommend that whatever type of iPod you have - buy some screen protecters for it. I had mine a few weeks, put it in my pocket and it came out scratched to buggery. They are basically see-through sticky rectangles that you stick on, you can peel them off easily and reposition them later.

Quite cheap, although I think I still have a spare one if you want that, pm me your address and I will post it to you. Im very trustworthy :)

[argh]

Thats a lie! She sent me anthrax!

[Nihlathak]

Thats a lie! She sent me anthrax!


Lmao :D I'm not going to get a video one, no point. Thanks for the screen protecter offer, but i'm going to get a case. How do i get Podcasts?

[Tweekish]

I did not send you anthrax! It was some other powdery white substance....

Secondly, you can get podcasts in the music store of iTunes. Under "Inside the music store" They automatically update themselves every time you plug your iPod in

[Nihlathak]

Are they free? And i just accidentally uninstalled iTunes and can't reinstall it. Shit.


EDIT: Ignore what i just said, i CAN get on :rolleyes:

[Tweekish]

100% free

[Midget]

Lmao :D I'm not going to get a video one, no point. Thanks for the screen protecter offer, but i'm going to get a case. How do i get Podcasts?

No point?

At £10 more for 50% more storage space, video capablility and thinner I'd say there really is a point.

You done gone been ripped off.

[Nihlathak]

Woo! Now i gotta find an English speaking, non-american one.

I haven't, i don't want one of those, i've got no use for it. Plus i don't have £10 and didn't have an extra tenner at the time.

[Tweekish]

Thanks for the screen protecter offer, but i'm going to get a case.

I have a case too, its better to be safe than sorry.

[basstard]

Woo! Now i gotta find an English speaking, non-american one.

I haven't, i don't want one of those, i've got no use for it. Plus i don't have £10 and didn't have an extra tenner at the time.

Try www.britcaster.com for UK-based podcasts.

I'd recommend Top Of The Pods (www.topofthepods.com) and The Tartan Podcast (www.tartanpodcast.com) personally, and I've not listened to enough of the others to comment. Since they're all free, and an iPod has plenty storage space, grab a couple examples of each show and just subscribe to the ones you like.

[Nihlathak]

Why, thanks very much :D You've saved me asking another question. I was about to ask about those ;)

Right, small problem. I downloaded a few, and they aren't on my Pod. How do i put them on there?


EDIT EDIT: I have just downloaded one of the top of the pods things and listened to it a little. Quite impressed i say, god, i'm going to have fun owning an iPod :D

[basstard]

Why, thanks very much :D You've saved me asking another question. I was about to ask about those ;)

Right, small problem. I downloaded a few, and they aren't on my Pod. How do i put them on there?

In case you've not got round to this yet :

If you're using iTunes to get podcasts, the podcasts are automatically put into your iTunes folder. Then just plug your iPod up to the PC, and it'll automatically send any new files to the iPod.

Even if you're using a different podcast client, such as iPodder [I use this], same thing - once the podcast is downloaded, it's automatically put into iTunes, and plugging the iPod in should do it.

[Nihlathak]

I 've got it sorted :D Does anyone else have any recommendations for podcasts?

[lachie 7]

send your iPod back to the fiery pits of hell from whence it came...I had a bad experiance with apple

[Minted]

send your iPod back to the fiery pits of hell from whence it came...I had a bad experiance with apple
Once, when I was young, I fell off a swing. BAN ALL SWINGS! SWINGS ARE EVIL!

... oh no wait, on second thoughts, that was just an irrational outburst that I didn't think through.

Now, do you see what I did there?

[Nihlathak]

Just something i was wondering, will the socket where you put the earphones into loosen? Cause it seems quite loose now.

[Tweekish]

Throw away those crappy earplugs that apple give you and buy a decent quality set of headphones. You have just spent over £200 on a new piece of kit, so why limit their ability by listening to it using an inferior product?

Plus, people who use iPod earplugs are more likely to get mugged than people who use different ones :)

And no, the jack is designed to come out relatively easily (just incase you get something caught) but mine hasnt been a problem. No headphone falling-out for me.

Just a side-thought, have you registered at www.ilounge.com? Its not affiliated with apple but its a forum dedicated to ipod and related products. Theres lots and lots of people on there who have a wealth of knowledge plus there are FAQs and suggestions for new owners. I found it very helpful.

[Nihlathak]

I got a set of earphones, cost me a tenner ¬_¬ And they have clips so they don't fall out of ones ears. And about the site, now going there heh >.>

[eleanor]

I have Sony bassboosty earphones - the model is MDRED21. They're very nice - I'm picky about earphones and these are great \o/ £18.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8907/myearphones0np.png