I like talking about new inventions and what to do to our lives.
Today I would like to focus on the iPod from Apple.

First there was the cassette Walkman, then the cd Walkman, mini disk and now the
iPod. The iPod is a music player just like the Walkman, but instead of cassettes it
uses a hard disk to store music in digital format.

Now the great improvement of the iPod over its predecessors is its storage capacity.
An iPod today can store enough music to play non-stop 24 hours a day during 6
weeks.

Now what’s does that mean? That basically means that you can have your entire
music collection on it. There is even storage for music addicts like myself (and I like
a LOT of genres like classical, jazz, heavy metal, drum & bass, breakbeat, flamenco,
Turkish & Arabic, Indian traditional music, etc, etc). That in turn basically means
that you can have your music collection on you where ever you go, at a party, in
your car, at work etc etc …

Now with the iPod Video models you basically your iPod acts as a portable video
player as well. This means that you can stick a few movies on your iPod before you
go on a trip, connect your iPod to the Hotel’s TV set using the AV cables and watch a
video with your lady.

The list of accessories is ever growing and there are some real useful gadgets
available nowadays. Personally I can now listen to my iPod at home on the stereo,
wireless (using iTrip). I have remote controls (both Airclick and apple remote), I
always have it in the car (using Roadtrip), I use it as a portable hard disk, I use it to
store my photographs when I am doing a shoot and have no laptop on me (using
Media Reader), I record new idea’s on the guitar so I don’t forget them (iTalk) and so
on!

I find it normal now that I can have this multifunction device on me wherever I go.
Two years ago I could not unload my big RAW photographs onto a small handheld
device that also stores my entire music collection and connects to my computer, TV,
home and car stereo.

What I am trying to say is that inventions like the iPod seem like nice gadgets but in
fact they are changing your lives! In a positive way imho.

I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Jacco Noordhuizen

iPodShoppers – Europe’s online iPod store with fast world wide shipping.
Please visit our website: http://www.ipodshoppers.com

Alright. So after all that hype about having a practical way of watching TV and movies while on the go, you have finally gone and bought yourself the new iPod. Now what?

Well, let’s see. There are so many options squeezed into one slim, 2.5″ LCD screen media center that it’s going to take a lot of time going over each one of them. So let’s do take it one at a time, shall we? This guide is going to take over all the options you’ve got and how to convert absolutely anything and everything – DVDs, TiVo video, messy AVIs, muxed MPEGs and more to iPod compatible video – all within OS X. And along the way, we’ll teach you a couple of iPod tips and tricks, too!

Handling Those Nasty Scratches

When you take your iPod out of the box, your first order of business should be to protect your investment. You don’t want any of those nasty scratches from appearing on your precious media box, do you? It’s a complete eye soar and one you can completely avoid.

The good thing about this new iPod is that its design is slightly different from that of the nano, which according to most users scratch easily. The new iPod has better chassis and doubled-layered, probably to protect the LCD monitor. But if you want to make sure that your iPod doesn’t show any scratches, most users recommend plastic cases, such as The Invisible Shield. If not, you can always get the white model, instead of the black one.

What Videos Can You Play?

Let us briefly go over the kinds of videos that your new iPod can support. According to Apple’s website, the video specifications of the new iPod are the following:

• H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

• MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec, Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

For the newbies, this might all sound a little too confusing. What’s with all the numbers? Don’t worry because chances are you only need to remember a few of those for you to get the most out of your new iPod.

First, let’s start with H.264 video. The highest video bitrate with the H.264 codec is 768 kilobits per second. The biggest picture size for your H.264 movie is 320 pixels wide by 240 pixels high, which is incidentally the exact dimension of your iPod’s screen. Your iPod can play H.364 video at framerates up to 30 frames per second. Every one of the applications that we’ll be using encodes with the Baseline Profile. Your audio needs to be encoded as AAC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 KHz, and it can be in either stereo or mono. As long as you follow all the guidelines, your movie can even be a QuickTime movie or an MPEG-4 movie file.

The other option you have is the MPEG-4 video, which supports a much higher bitrate than H.264 video – 2500 kilobits per second. Using higher bitrates will also create larger files, which means that you’ll have less space for additional songs and movies, but more segments of your favorite movie. The biggest picture size for your MPEG-4 video is 480 pixels wide by 480 pixels high – three times as many pixels than your iPod’s screen in capable of displaying. Your iPod will shrink the picture proportionally so that everything fits on the screen. Again, the iPod can play videos up to 30 frames per second and your audio and file format options are the same as H.264 video.

So Which One is Better – H.264 or MPEG-4?

Well, that’s a tough question really as each format has their ups and downs. Arguably, H.264 is preferable considering how it offers high quality and a file size that is much smaller compared to MPEG-4. When it comes to picture quality, however, both formats are comparable, especially when encoded at the higher supported video settings.

As for speed of encoding, most people agree that H.264 video takes longer than standard MPEG-4. Take for example a two-hour movie. When you convert that to iPod using H.264 codec, the process could take considerably longer (especially with QuickTime Pro’s pokey Export: Movie to iPod video option).

Where to Download Videos for Your iPod

If you’re tired ripping movies from your DVD collection or you’ve used up all your movie files in your computer, then it’s probably time for you to look for other sources of iPod compatible videos. Below are some good sites that offer iPod video files that are both free and legal!

• ChannelFrederator.com – If you like to watch short animations while taking a breather, this is the place to look in.

• PodGuide.tv – It’s not called “PodGuide” for nothing.

• Channel 101 and Channel 102 – Brilliant downloadable shows are up on offer.

• The iTunes Music Store’s podcast section – One of the best things about the new iPod is that Apple has bundled it with their updates on iTunes. Now, you can download loads of free videos from the store for your daily dose of iPod-casting.

• Apple iTunes – Sometimes you just have to go to the source of the source to find what you’re looking for.

• Archive.org – This site is great for old videos and movies.

Watch iPod Videos on Your TV

Say what?! Yep, it’s true. And for some users who prefer widescreen as opposed to pocket-TV, this is the best thing about the new iPod. Now, outputting your iPod videos to any TV is easy. Just use a special video cable (and it doesn’t even be the one sold by Apple), output it through your iPod’s headphone jack, and voila! You’re a couch potato, baby!

If you’re more interested in watching videos on your TV, you may want to go with the MPEG-4 format since it can support the bigger 480 x 480 picture size. When you encode widescreen movies and output them to a TV, the pixel limit is usually 230,400 pixels. So when these larger images are displayed on your TV, you’ll get to see all those extra pixels.

Okay So You Can Watch Videos on TV, Big Deal…What About My Other Videos?

When you download video files from the web or file sharing networks, some of these files may not be marked as iPod compatible. Does that mean you can’t play them on your iPod? Well, the good news is that it’s easy enough to find out.

Tip #1 – Open iTunes

The easiest and less time-consuming way to determine whether a video is iPod-supported or not is to simply open iTunes with your iPod connected. Afterwards, drop the video file directly into your iPod’s library. If the video is copied into your iPod, it means it’s compatible. If it’s not, then your iPod won’t be able to play it.

To copy the video to your iPod, just select Manually manage songs and playlists in the iPod tab of your iTunes preferences.

Tip #2 – Add Video to the iTunes Library

The other way of finding out if your video files are iPod compatible is to add your video to your iTunes library. Just right lick the video and select Convert Selection to iPod. You will receive an alert from iTunes on your screen, telling you if your video is already compatible. If it’s not, your movie will be converted to a compatible H.264 video for you.

We should probably mention that you don’t really need to add videos to your iTunes Library in order to add them to your iPod. Just drag and drop videos from the Finder straight onto your iPod in iTunes. Again, make sure you’ve enabled the manually manage option.

You can also add songs and videos to your iPod’s library from any computer that has iTunes. Just make sure that you’ve enabled the manually manage option in iTunes. If your iPod was originally formatted on a PC, you can add files from both PCs and Macs. However, if you have a Mac-formatted iPod, you’ll only be able to add files from other Macs.

Tip #3 – Open the file in QuickTime

Alternatively, you can also find out if your video is iPod compatible if you open the file in QuickTime. Next, Select Window: Show Movie Info. In most cases, your video should be iPod-ready if the format is H.264 or MPEG-4, the audio is ACC, and the size of your video is 320 x 240 (or smaller) for H.264 or 480 x 480 (or smaller) for MPEG-4. Also, look at the data rate and make sure it’s not over 900 kbits/sec for H.264 or 2600 kbits/sec for MPEG-4.

In most cases, the bitrate reported by QuickTime would include the video stream and the audio stream (normally 128 kbits/sec) so don’t wonder if the video is shown to have a higher bitrate.

I have a lot more information available at me website, be sure to click by and have a look.

Thanks for reading and I hope you find this information useful.

Ian’s website gives you the insider secrets about Video iPods. Please visit the site for more information on Video iPods.

iPods have had an amazing rise to stardom that started back when they were first introduced in 2001. In a very short time these have set the standard for digital audio players. This market has been so large that everyone and their brother now have an iPod.

One of the best parts about iPods is the plethora or wide range of aftermarket products. You can now customize, tweak and trick out your iPod to your hearts desires. You might go with something simple to something very wild but no matter what you choice are there will be a product to your liking.

An iPod skin is often seen as one of the most important accessories and aftermarket products out there. There are many manufactures that will offer a wide variety of iPods skins for every make and model of the iPod including the iPod Mini, iPod Shuffle, and iPod Nano. No matter what the skin looks like or the model that you have the skin has one main purpose. The main purpose other then being stylish is to protect your iPod from wear and tear including scratches and drops.

So which is the best iPod skin for your particular needs? Well, it largely depends on your tastes, style and desires. You can get a completely custom and wild look using a custom printable iPod skin also known as iPod Tattoos. If you are looking for something a little more sedate or subdued with classic style then you might want a leather skin or case.

Silicone iPod Skins

These are great little skins that offer tremendous protection and durability. They are made from silicone and thin vinyl. They are great for a variety of reasons. The silicone insulates the iPod from battery heat and keeps the iPod much cooler. These carrying cases often feel soft and rubbery or almost sticky to the touch which is great because you can get a good grip on them. Even if you hands are sweating or moist you can grab your iPod to switch to the next tune or adjust the volume without worrying about dropping it.

Typically silicone types of skins will run anywhere between $20 to $30 dollars. You can get a wide variety everything from glow in the dark to simple solid colors.

Hard Plastic iPod Skins

The skins in this category often run around $8 to $15 dollars depending on the make and model. You can also get them in a wide variety of colors and styles. You can easily find models with lanyards or belt clips to attach your iPod to which is a handy feature.

The only problem that has been noted by many hard case users is the case being made of plastic tend to be more slippery when wet then the silicone models. So you will want to be careful when holding the iPod in a hard plastic case so you don’t drop the unit.

Leather iPod Skins

These are the cream of the crop for iPod users and many of the older generation of iPod users favor the classic styling of leather and the look and feel over the squishy silicone variety. These can really range in price between $20 all the way up to $200. Kate Spade has a line of leather iPod skins which is very classy and stylish.

You will want to try the iPod skin on if at all possible to get used to the look and feel of it. Make sure that you can access all of the features on the iPod unit itself as you do not want anything covered up. For example if you want access to the jack port and docking connector without having to remove the skin. The most important thing is to try a few different skins out in the store or read reviews if you are shopping online before making a purchase. Find something that fits with your own style.

Find more great info on iPods
including tips, tricks, products reviews and news at http://www.podplayerz.com
You can also read more articles on iPods
like the iPod Nano, Shuffle, and Mini here.