50 Fun Things to Do With Your iPod

Ant writes "Jason Kottke's Web site has compiled a list of 50 fun things to do with your iPod besides listening to music with those white earbuds: From the article 'In the four years since its introduction, the iPod has proven to be a versatile little device. Despite a relatively closed architecture, hackers have found their way in. Content creators and software makers put information at your fingertips when you're on the go. Would-be designers have added to the fashionable stylings of the now-ubiquitous white ear buds. Hardware makers and enthusiasts have augmented the iPod with new add-on gadgets. Here are a few dozen things you can do with your iPod besides listen to music.'"

Comments

#1 fun think I do is

[MasterOfUniverse]

Listen to music! Gosh its a music player for Gods sake, not second coming of a slice bread..

No radio

[Douglas Simmons]

One thing you won't be able to do, at least with Apple's factory setup of the iPod, is listen to radio (unless one day they charge for satellite radio). This could be so easily added as it is seen on competitors' devices but if users aren't listening to downloaded music, rather something from a source they do not control, then they are not buying things on iTunes. Am I correct to guess that this is a marketing thing and not because they can't fit a little radio on there? If so, that should be a big criticism of the device.

Re:No radio

[Espen]

One word for you: podcasts

Now I get to listen to the radio programs I want away from the tyranny of the schedulers.

Re:No radio

[Trurl's Machine]

One thing you won't be able to do, at least with Apple's factory setup of the iPod, is listen to radio (unless one day they charge for satellite radio). This could be so easily added as it is seen on competitors' devices but if users aren't listening to downloaded music, rather something from a source they do not control, then they are not buying things on iTunes. Am I correct to guess that this is a marketing thing and not because they can't fit a little radio on there? If so, that should be a big criticism of the device.

That would explain why the "competitor's devices" are now a runaway success and iPod is just a miserable failure...

..or rather is it the othey way round? Well, if it is - then this should be a pretty good answer for your "big criticism". The market demand for radio-equipped digital music players is too small for Apple to bother. Apple's strategy seems to be "sell a basic device with ginormous offer of all kind of add-ons (among them - FM receivers). The "competitors devices" seem to be based on an entirely opposite strategy - "sell a device with all features that we can fit... and no add-ons". It seems that the first one works better on the market, would you agree?

Re:Why the need for radio?

[macklin01]

Seriously, god knows how many reviews/blogs/posts/whatever complaining about whatever mp3 player not having radio. Why would I want to listen to what someone else picks and ads and stupid people when I can listen to what I want, when and where I want to listen to it!

1. public radio
2. live sportscasts
3. emergency broadcasts
4. exposure to music you don't own

Really, it's not to hard to come up with a few good reasons. -- Paul

Re:ipod ipod hype hype hype

[Twid]

Well, I didn' t mod you a troll, but I would have if I was modding.

Here's why:

1. You don't actually own, use, or appear to even like iPods, but you feel compelled to post on your second-hand experience of buying one for your girlfriend. Based on what sounds like about 20 minutes of using one, you think you're some sort of expert commentator.

2. You follow that up with some weird observation about not seeing iPods in use in major cities. Now, I'm in the bay area, but I do travel a lot. I'm not sure what you're looking for, but I personally see iPods everywhere, to the point where you'll see several people posting here about iPods being too popular or too trendy. I was at the gym last week and was amused to see that every single person on the row of elliptical trainers that I was on had an iPod of some sort.

3. You finish with a rambling observation that you don't see why people find the iPod (which you don't own) special or useful.

In summary: you're posting uninteresting, vague and uninformed observations about a product you don't even own or use, and that you appear to have a bias against. You also post vague statements about other products being better without offering any specific examples. I'm not even sure you like to listen to music. So, overall that would move you to troll in my estimation.

There you go. :)

#26 Why the heck not real movies?

[xsspd2004]

Okay, I know it is against the [ignorant and out of touch] law in the US, but why not watch real movies on your iPod? That's why I bought the stupid thing.

My recipe goes like this:

1. Clone DVD to get the VOB files to my hard disk.
2. MergeVOB to get them into one huge file.
3. Videora iPod converter to do the MP4 converting.

On my rather dated machine the process takes about an hour 40, but the movies are only 700mb and that doesn't make much dent in my 60GB

Okay, now here's the kicker. I bought the movies legally on DVD and still have the case and all, why is this illegal? That's just stupid I don't care who you are. I should be able to put the disc in and iTunes should rip it for me, just like a CD.

IPDA

[Belseth]

Seems a lot of the features are trying to turn an Ipod into a PDA. If some one would just make a PDA with a proper hard drive that has an Ipod style menuing system there wouldn't seem much of a fight for functionality. Ipods are still largely a single use device. I use my PDA all day long and would be lost without it. I'm guessing cost is the big factor holding it up. Personally I'm pretty happy with the 1 gig card on my PDA. I store a lot of stuff on it and have yet to use up 10% of the memory. If it breaks I can pull out the card and drop it into a new one and be up and running in minutes.

iWhine

[naChoZ]

Being half deaf on the left, I wish someone would figure out a "hack" for balance control. Pretty sad such an obvious control would have to be a hack though...

goodbye-pod

[drwho]

I am so tired of hearing iPod this, iPod that -- these devices are not the first, nor the best, the portable MP3 players. I am also surprised that so many people here in slashdot, who tend to be quite reactionary about privacy and public disclosure rights, seem to blithely surrender to iTunes, that software which rules your music collection -- one which is in some ways spyware (reporting back to apple what you listen to) and is subject to the whims of Apple and its cohorts. At what point will MP3s become unsupported unless digitally signed by some Authorized Party such as Apple or the RIAA? I live my Creative MUVO much better - just drag and drop your music, no sweat, no software, no Big Brother. And, unlike the iPod shuffle which I was misguided enough to get my girlfriend for Christmas, it doesn't require software (iTunes) which caused the CD drive of her computer to no longer be recognized by the OS. I returned it to the store, and am going to buy her a MUVO.

Very old page

[l00k]

Erm, this has been on the net since at least May last year. A give away is "..With the recently introduced iPod Photo.."

Some things that aren't inluded in that list:

1. Convert large text files and into notes for use on iPod
2. Rip DVD Movies To Your iPod Using Free Software
3. Use your iPod Photo or Nano as a Yahoo! Maps directions viewer
4. How-To: Get TV shows off of your TiVo and onto your iPod

And that's just from clicking through del.icio.us search results for iPod a few times.

Overhyped?

[TechForensics]

The IPod has a stellar "coolness" factor, but I tell everyone considering one to get an Ipaq instead. Maybe a bit less memory in most configurations, but WiFi, Bluetooth, Web browsing; or interface to your GPS, remote-control just about any IR device, print, use Word, Excel, read Ebooks, receive streamed video from your home server.... and of course, Solitaire. If you're not flush with extra cash, why get a less-capable device for more money?