iPod Video-esque device with no additional software?

d-baggery · #1 05-03-2006, 04:43 PM

I am looking for a player that can possibly do videos and such, but most importantly acts as an external HD and does not have to convert MP3s to get them on the unit. Does such a thing exist?

Performify · #2 05-03-2006, 04:57 PM

The (video) ipod does all of the above.

MP3s go on the device natively, if for some reason you thought they had to be converted to Apple's AAC format, that's not the case..

ipod.apple.com

From the tech specs page:

Audio support
AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF

SL__72 · #3 05-03-2006, 04:58 PM

The Creative Zen vision:m is what I have. It plays multiple types of audio/video files and will act as a small (30gb) external hard drive if you want.

It probably isn't the ideal solution though, you need to install some software in order to transfer things to/from it.

Kneel B4 Zod · #4 05-03-2006, 05:04 PM

amzingly, this thing exists and is the #1 mp3 player in the world.

d-baggery · #5 05-03-2006, 05:05 PM

I really want to never use the steaming pile of [censored] known as iTunes. Are you saying I can enjoy the full functionality of the video iPod without iTunes? If so, I'm in, but that was not my impression...

edit: I swear i'm not retarded. My sister's iPod mini was not drag N drop as far as I could see.

Kneel B4 Zod · #6 05-03-2006, 05:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I really want to never use the steaming pile of [censored] known as iTunes. Are you saying I can enjoy the full functionality of the video iPod without iTunes? If so, I'm in, but that was not my impression...

[/ QUOTE ]

actually, itunes doesn't let you take full advantage of an ipod.

Anapod Explorer does.

d-baggery · #7 05-03-2006, 05:08 PM

so... yes? Also what's the video format for iPod video?

Kneel B4 Zod · #8 05-03-2006, 05:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
so... yes? Also what's the video format for iPod video?

[/ QUOTE ]
yes.

video format is mp4 I believe, but there are free converters that will convert all sorts of formats into the 'ipod format'

d-baggery · #9 05-03-2006, 05:12 PM

just to be crystal clear, you can open the iPod on your computer and see all your MP3s right on the device with their original name intact?

Performify · #10 05-03-2006, 05:14 PM

[ QUOTE ]
so... yes? Also what's the video format for iPod video?

[/ QUOTE ]

Photo support
Syncs iPod-viewable photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only) and PNG formats

Video support
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

I posted you a link above. Couple clicks on that site tell you pretty much everything you need to know.

And re: the iTunes critique, as mentioned by others above:
Anapod Explorer

That being said, iTunes seems at first glance like its overly simplified but its actually a very very good music organization & management application once you get to know it. Not sure what you don't like about it specifically...