Do you like iPod?
The iPod is Apple’s pocket MP3 player and comes with a built-in hard disk that ranges from 5 to 20GB in capacity. It supports connection via FireWire, and allows high-speed transmission of music data.
The software iTunes can be used for connection with Macintosh. We can play back audio files continuously for up to ten hours, and it takes three hours to recharge its batteries. The display can also be switched back and forth between Japanese and English.
Although it was made only for Mac OS and Mac OS X in the beginning, a Windows-compatible model is now available as well.
Maybe everyone knows the iPod by now, I think, because it is really famous all over the world. But actually, I didn’t know it until I went to Canada. Surprising? I’m surprised at myself, too.
When I was in English school in Canada, I noticed my friend had “something white.” At first I didn’t understand what it was, so I asked her. When she explained to me what the iPod was, I was impressed by the wonderful gadget. Then I decided, “After I go back to Japan, I’ll buy one myself!” And I bought one as soon as I came back.
But it was really optimistic of me to expect myself to use an iPod perfectly. As soon as I started to use it, I ran into problems. Actually, I’m not very good at using computers and have no sense of machines. I am stupid that way.
As time went by, I managed to understand how to use the iPod. But still, I don’t understand it enough to use it skillfully. For example, how to import songs from CDs I rented at a rental shop? I have no idea about this problem.
However, I love the iPod very much. Because I think this invention is really revolutionary and epoch-making because nowadays we don’t have to buy a lot of MDs or CDs. And compared with previous gadgets similar to it, the iPod is easy to use. (Of course for people who aren’t good at computer it might be little bit difficult.) Even if I can’t use it well in future, I want to use it.
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Comments (8)
Rudolf
wrote on November 26, 2005:
To play audio on an iPod, you will need to convert (or “rip”) the sound data to the .mp3 format or to any of the other audio formats that the iPod supports.
To do this conversion, you will need an MP3 converter, i.e. a piece of software that will do the job for you. There are a couple of programs around that you can download from the Internet for free. Here’s a list with ratings. Once you’ve decided which software you’ll want to use, download it and install it. If you’re on a Windows machine, the software will probably come as an .exe file: close all programs you’ve got running, then run the .exe file, which will install the software on your computer.
Warning: never run an .exe file (or any other executable) unless you know what it is and trust the source where you have it from.
Disclaimer: I’m not making any recommendations here. I’m just pointing out what you can do to solve your problem.
Are you listening to any podcasts?
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Rudolf
wrote on November 27, 2005:
You might want to listen to Tokyo Calling—a podcast site by current EFL teacher and former radio man Scott Lockman.
For those of you like, um, myself, who don’t have a portable MP3 player, you can listen to podcasts on your desktop box using any media player that plays MP3s (I’d recommend Winamp if you’re a Windows user, but you may be happy with Real Player or Windows Media Player).
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Rudolf
wrote on November 28, 2005:
Some recent polling on hard disk-based portable audio players in Japan: 15.4% of the population own a portable digital player. Apple has 32.7% of the market, Sony comes second at 30.5%.
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julian
wrote on December 01, 2005:
I want a nano-iPod…It is so class and small!I believe is is the most beautiful of the whole iPod range but the problem it’s it just got 2 Gb of memory. :(
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daichi
wrote on December 01, 2005:
I envy you.
Because you have iPod. Actually, I want to buy iPod. But, I can’t understand difference between iPod, iPod mini and iPod nano.
Do you know? If you know, Please would you tell me?
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kayo
wrote on December 01, 2005:
Rudolf—Thank you for your comments. Thanks to your close explanation, I was able to understand about “iPod” well and think I might solve my problems. Welll,actually I have not listened to any podcast. But I want to listen them very much.
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Rudolf
wrote on December 02, 2005:
Daichi—a little digging with a search engine will give you product specifications and reviews for the iPod, the iPod mini, and the iPod nano.
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Kayo
wrote on December 04, 2005:
Julian—Thank you for your comment. I agree with you. I also think that capacity is a little bit small. And I also want to buy “iPod nano” because I have not “iPod nano” but “iPod mini”.
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