Shout-Out to Vrinda / Vee!

[Aquajock]

Hi, Vee! It's clear from previous posts that you are some sort of techno-wizard-goddess. I have a question:

I burned about a thousand CD's worth of aerobics music onto my computer and then sold off the actual CDs when I quit group fitness instruction; my computer has the standard-issue Windows Media format.

Is there a way that I can download these copied songs, or playlists of these copied songs, onto an iPod (which I do not at this precise point in time own)? Is there software that can be downloaded to enable me to do this, and if so what and how?

Please keep in mind that my knowledge of technology does not go much beyond an electric can opener if / when you respond!

TIA TIA TIA !!!

A-Jock

 

[Vee]

Hi Annette (whom I think is a fitness Goddess),

You probably popped in the CD and used Windows Media player to transfer the songs to your PC. In this case they are stored in mp3 format or some other format on your computer. Yes, you can definitely copy it to an iPod when you acquire one. In fact, you can put the music on any brand of player - not just Apple's iPod (some alternative brands of players are Creative Zen, Sandisk's Sansa, etc).

Based on the brand of player you buy, you may need additional software to transfer the songs to the player. For instance if you get an Apple you will have to download iTunes from the apple website. It is a free download that is extremely easy to download. On some brands you dont need additional software, you can use Windows Media or Windows itself to transfer.

I suggest that you take a backup of all the music on the PC to an external hard disk or to CD media so that if your PC were to fail, you still have the backup form which you can restore it.

~* Vrinda *~

 

[Aquajock]

Vrinda, thanks for the detailed response! Also, do they make waterproof iPods on which you can transfer playlists of songs? I've being doing my aqua workouts music-free for a long time now, and I'd like to get back to using music, but cannot bring a boombox to an open-swim pool.

TIA AGAIN!

A-jock

 

[jodijodi]

My husband uses the swimp3 for doing laps. The headphones use bone conduction so it doesn't matter if you get water in your ears. (However, they don't work well above the water, so if your head is out of the water most of the time during the workout, these won't work for you.) Here's more info:

http://www.finisinc.com/products-swimp3.shtml

He tried other waterproof mp3 players, but once he got water in his ears under the earbuds, he couldn't hear the music properly.

 

[Vee]

I have never tried any personally, but I am aware of swimp3 that jodijodi mentioned. They get good reviews.

I also know that waterproof cases and headphones are available for the iPod. The reviews may guide you too, when you choose which to buy.

a. H20's Audio's case for the iPod Nano:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Waterpr..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0F0VHT98P2WP52YFSFB2

b. Waterproof headphones:
http://www.amazon.com/Aquapac-Water...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1215831374&sr=1-2

c. Waterproof iPod case choices:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e?url=search-alias=electronics&field-keywords=waterproof+ipod+case

With sport headphones (I need headphones that are sweat resistant and wont fall out when I weight-train, run and do yoga) I have discovered that customer satisfaction depends on whether you are lucky enough to get a good fit. I think the same may apply to swimming headphones because the reaction ranges from perfect to lousy about whether the headphones stay in and dont let water in.

There seems to be no such things as a standard ear canal. Headphones that work fine for me, dont work for my sis or for DH. With any headphones that are supposed to sit inside the ear, and not fall out when you move, you have to figure out if your ear canal is compatible with the design of the "in-ear" headphone. If the canal is too small or too large the ear phones will fall out and you wont get a good "seal". Or they could get uncomfortable after a few minutes.

Most headphones can be returned. So I recommend mentally preparing to try/return until you find the right pair before you start the quest.

I know some people use itrain's iSwim workouts in the pool. Hopefully, one of them will chip in here more opinions.


~* Vrinda *~

 

[Vee]

Annette,

One more thing, if you are going to buy on mp3 player, consider waiting until early September.

Almost every year, Apple releases a new line up of iPod players around Sept 9. Tech analysts expect it this year too.

Usually the price drops - or you get more features/storage capacity for the same price.

Competing brands come out with their new models around the same time, or reduce prices as a reaction to Apple's announcement.



~* Vrinda *~

 

[Aquajock]

Thanks, Vee and JodiJodi! Actually, I do have a completely submersible, waterproof mp3 player that I got from Oregon Scientific about two years ago. It has a ton of memory in it, but here's the weird part:

Although I would carefully develop a playlist that was organized by beats-per-minute, when I transferred the playlist to the mp3 player, it organized the songs ALPHABETICALLY BY SONG TITLE AS DIGITALLY ENTERED WHEN IT WAS PRODUCED. Seriously, seriously not helpful. I was hoping that enough time has gone by and iPod had come out with a device or accessory that would make its product both submersible AND that would play a playlist in the order that the consumer prefers.

I'll keep checking with the sage advice of both of you in mind.

Thanks again!

A-Jock