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iPod - Add-on Software March 10, 2006

Black iPod Having had the iPod for a little while now, I’ve accumulated a few “extra” pieces of software for it, to “enhance the experience”… This post is for the inevitable day that I have to rebuild my PC, and I need to recall what it was that I had installed for the iPod! That said, if you haven’t come across these, and you’re reading this, maybe it’ll be of use to you.

1. iTunes. “Goes without saying?”. Not so much, when you see the next piece of software. I could do without it, but it’s not actually that bad a piece of software.

2. Anapod Explorer

My iPod is set to sync and connect to my home PC. But I work with a laptop, and that’s what goes with me when I travel. It’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that I might want to add or remove music or (especially) podcasts on the road. Can’t use multiple copies of iTunes - and my laptop is setup to sync to a Shuffle, anyway, but that’s a whole other story - so Anapod takes care of it. Some other benefits:

Anapod does a bunch of other stuff, and the full version only costs $30. I’m sure I’ll play with the photo sync, the SQL database, etc., in due course, but the above two features were “must haves” for me.

3. Videora iPod Converter

I’ve got a video iPod, so naturally I want to watch some of the AVI’s that I’ve accumulated on it, especially when I’m travelling. This is pretty much “fire and forget” - set the bitrate and so forth that you need the first time, and it stays remembered. Have it convert one file, or throw a bunch into the queue and leave it alone to get on with it. Takes roughly 30 minutes for a one-hour AVI on my machine at home, so typically, I have this work on a batch of files overnight. The output directory - which can be separate from the input directory - is remembered as part of the overall settings, and I use a dedicated directory for the outputs, so I just have to run a quick “import” on it with iTunes in the morning, let the sync process run, and the job’s done.

Videora will also do conversions for Tivo, XBox360, and PSP’s, if that’s of any use to anyone reading this.

4. Abstract Void

Used for changing the “Show” tag on files that have been converted with Videora. The iTunes interface doesn’t allow for the changing of this tag - I haven’t explored yet whether or not Anapod can take care of it. In the meantime, this takes care of everything for me. You need .NET Framework 2.0 installed for this.

5. Fairuse Wizard

Got it, but not using it; this is a consistently good DVD-ripper. Very, very slow, it must be said. DVD ripping isn’t something I need to do at the moment, but if it was, this would be the tool that I’d turn to first.

Credit for the pointer to Anapod and Abstract Void goes to Ant, who has clearly spent a lot of time getting his iPod the way he likes it!

The above tools, plus a set of A/V connection cables and a spare sync cable tucked away at the bottom of my laptop bag, makes for a very nice little box. I was late to the party on this - as I always travel with a laptop, I’ve just gone with having the music or the video stored on there. The convenience factor of a device in this form factor is definately not something to be sniffed at, however.

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