iPod accessories

Most people are pretty familiar with making music playlists in iTunes (if you're not, we can help). Video playlists are a less common sight. iTunes already does a pretty good job grouping your TV shows and video podcasts together in their correct order. But for all you video junkies out there who want to create playlists that scan your vast library of "Family Guy" episodes with "Stewie" in the title, playlists can be a lot of fun.

If the ultimate goal is to get these video playlists onto your iPod or iPhone, there are a few hurdles worth knowing about. For all the ins and outs of making video playlists for iTunes, the iPod, or the iPhone, check out our CNET How to video or check the step-by-step slideshow.

How to make video playlists for iTunes, iPod, and iPhone--screenshots

Maybe you should stop breeding now.

(Credit: Parasync)

Ever wanted to sync up to 20 iPods and iPhones at the same time? Me neither, but that hasn't stopped the ambitious crew over at Parasync from putting together a 20-slot dock that will get the job done.

But don't expect to find the Parasync Charging and Synchronization Dock at your local big box store. Although I can totally imagine buying one of these at Costco bundled with twenty iPods and a bag of jerky, you'll need to contact the company directly to order one at an undisclosed price.

(Via TechFresh)

The Einstein Sound Master Photon Ball iPod Dock.

(Credit: Buy.com)

As a child of the '80s, I can distinctly remember a time when decorative electrostatic plasma lamps were very cool. They were also very expensive and--for the most part--useless. These days, though, I can't look at one without thinking of that creepy, evil, wizard crystal ball thing from Lord of the Rings.

Whatever side of nerd nostalgia you fall on, the Einstein Sound Master Photon Ball iPod dock has you covered. You get an iPod dock, clock radio, USB port, and a bitchin' plasma lamp--all for $34.99. I'm not sure how they shield the speakers from interference, or protect your iPod from the constant static-electric charge, but I know wouldn't risk putting an iPhone in there. Anyway, I wouldn't want Saruman the White reading my e-mail.

(Via Techfresh)

Apple's iTunes software makes it dead-simple to copy music onto your iPod, but when it comes to moving files in the opposite direction--from the iPod to your computer--there's no obvious solution. I get an e-mail on this topic at least once a week, usually from someone who's had his laptop stolen or watched helplessly as his hard drive crashed. After an incident like that, it can be a relief to know your music collection (or at least part of it) is backed up on an iPod.

Of course, relief can quickly turn to frustration when you plug that iPod into a new computer and can't figure out how to grab those files. Worse yet, iTunes will sometimes prompt you to erase the iPod if it's not recognized. Saying yes will only end in tears.

To be fair, iTunes isn't completely useless when it comes to pulling media off your iPod. Under the iTunes File menu, there's an option for "Transfer Purchases From iPod" that will work to pull any content purchased through the iTunes Store back to your computer. It's a nice place to start, but to get the rest of your content off your iPod, you'll need to download some additional software.

Get stuff off your iPod--photos

There are two very useful applications out there that will transfer the rest of your music, videos, playlists, and metadata off your iPod and back to your computer. In truth, there are dozens of programs that can accomplish the same thing, but for the sake of simplicity, we'll stick with these two since they're easy to use, and work with all models of iPods and iPhones.

Update: an updated version of Pod to PC (version 3.02) offers compatibility with iPhone OS 3.0 but requires a $9.95 activation fee. The original, free versions of the software outlined in our slideshow and video are still available using the Download.com links below, however, they are not compatible with iPhone OS 3.0.

Depending on the type of computer you're transferring to, download Pod to Mac or Pod to PC from Download.com. If you're looking to get photos off your iPod, go ahead and download Pod Photo Transfer (PC only), as well.

To see how the process works, CNET's Tom Merrit made a handy video that walks you through the steps for retrieving files from an iPhone. The process is identical for iPods, so don't feel left out when Tom says "iPhone"--just overdub it in your mind with the iPod model of your choice. For a few extra iPod media transfer tips, check out our CNET slideshow.

As an iPod Touch owner, iPhone OS 3.0 enhancements such as MMS, and copy/paste aren't as relevant to me as the subtle improvements Apple has made to media playback and search.

New features such as music search (distinct from Spotlight), fine track scrubbing control, podcast e-mailing, and an expanded iTunes storefront, won't grab many headlines but they're certainly welcome additions to an already excellent product.

To make my point, I've put together a slideshow and video of some of the less-appreciated improvements iPhone OS 3.0 has given to media junkies like myself.

iPhone OS 3.0 iPod updates

The iPod Touch is one of the sleekest, most advanced portable media players on the planet. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most fragile. With one side covered entirely by a thin pane of glass, a single careless drop is enough to turn the iPod Touch into nothing more than an expensive paperweight.

To protect your investment, Apple offers a one-year, limited warranty on its iPods, with the option to buy an extended Apple Care warranty. But on the day CNET Associate Editor Antuan Goodwin dropped his first-generation iPod Touch face-down in a parking lot, he was out of warranty and out of luck.

A cracked iPod or iPhone screen is really a lose-lose proposition: you either pay someone upwards of $100 to repair it, or shell out for a new one. To Antuan's relief, I offered a third, less expensive option: DIY repair.

I had some experience replacing iPod batteries and messing with electronics, so I offered to do the iPod repair myself, so long as Antuan understood there was a good chance I would irreparably mangle his iPod. I found the replacement glass on iFixit.com for $50, along with detailed, step-by-step instructions on the repair.

I won't lie to you: the repair wasn't easy. iFixit correctly cautions that the repair is "Very Difficult," involving lots of delicate parts, and, at one stage, requiring a hair dryer and an oven mitt to remove adhesive from the iPod's metal frame. What iFixit doesn't tell you is how fascinating it is to crack open this remarkable and densely packed little gadget, or the satisfaction of repairing your own stuff.

To inspire others who may be considering a similar repair, I've put together a video and slideshow featuring some highlights of the repair.

Fixing a cracked iPod Touch screen

If you're an iTunes user (download for Windows|Mac) whose appetite for music, movies, and podcasts is outstripping the capacity of your computer, it might be a good time to think about offloading that library to an external hard drive or a separate internal drive. If you do it right, the process is relatively simple, although the transfer time could take an hour or more, depending on the size of your media library.

To walk you through it, here's a step-by-step video and slide show tutorial on how to move your iTunes library to an external hard drive.

Move your iTunes library to an external hard drive

FiRe brings professional recording features to the iPhone and iPod Touch.

(Credit: Audiofile Engineering)

There are dozens of voice memo applications available for the iPhone and iPod Touch that do a decent enough job for dictating your grocery list. Professional recording applications, however, are much harder to come by.

Audiofile Engineering's FiRe application ($5.99) is by far the most advanced stereo audio recording application we've seen for the iPhone and iPod Touch, going far beyond the limitations of previous go-to apps, such as BIAS' iProRecorder. To get stereo audio into FiRe, you'll need to use compatible microphone accessories, such as the Alesis ProTrack, or our current fave, the Blue Microphones Mikey. You could get away with mono recordings using the iPhone's internal mic or headset mic, but that's certainly not the point.

Advanced features such as location tagging, overdubbing, waveform editing, and Broadcast WAVE metadata make FiRe a powerful tool for journalists and musicians. One of FiRe's coolest tricks, though, is its capability to upload recordings directly to the online audio hosting service SoundCloud. Once a recording is uploaded, you can publicly share and embed the audio just like any other SoundCloud recording, or download the original file to your computer at a later time. It's a nifty trick, and the FiRe application is the first to pull it off.

For screenshots of FiRe in action, check out our photo gallery.

FiRe audio recording app

I love podcasts. Not a day goes by that you won't catch me listening to episodes of Buzz Out Loud on the way in to work or getting lost in a podcast version of This American Life on the commute back home. Podcasts keep me informed, they make me laugh, and some podcasts have even made me cry. And the most shocking thing about podcasts? They're free! Some of the best entertainment and journalism in the world is free for the taking, instantly available, and ready to take on the go.

Why is it, then, that so many people are still in the dark when it comes to podcasts? What kind of world are we living in where our current Twitter hysteria has reached the likes of Regis Philbin and Oprah, but a technology like podcasting that can deliver university lectures to anyone with an Internet connection still can't break through to the mainstream? It's madness, I tell you.

To be fair, part of the problem is that podcast nerds like myself don't do enough evangelism around podcasts. So, to get the ball rolling and help demystify things, I've created a video and slideshow tutorial on the basics of subscribing to podcasts in iTunes. Just like last week's how-to on iTunes playlists, the material here may be second-nature to many of you, but I'll wager that there's someone in your life who could use a little Podcast 101.

With thousands of podcasts available on the Internet, there really is something out there for everyone. Maybe all that's needed is a little push.

Getting started with podcasts in iTunes--photos