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iPads

 
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Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19373
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:02 pm    Post subject: iPads Reply with quote

Help needed please!

I fancy an iPad but have I think one problem in that I don't use iTunes.

Basically I have music on my laptop as MP3 files that play through VLC at the moment. Can I import them to iPad and use a different 'player' maybe ITunes?

I don't buy much music at all these days, just stream on Spotify and listen to radio etc plus what I have already on my laptop. I gather you use apps for radio and Spotify etc.

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
Posts: 916

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helen, to enable a "sync" between Apple devices you need to use iTunes. There are several reasons - not just because it's the library where all of your audio, video, games and app acquisitions are managed, but because it has direct lines of communication with the computer's operating system. On Apple Mac systems (which I use) for instance, it works hand-in-hand with Quicktime down in the engine room of the operating system and ties everything together technically. It also links you to your registered Apple ID account as a way of keeping everything updated and keeping track of your library assets. Lots of people (mostly Windows users I should add) don't like iTunes and even I have to admit it can be a bit lumpy on Windows, but set up properly it's usually OK. On the MacOSX it works very well, and I use it to synch all my devices at home and in the office together via the Apple iCloud. You don't have to think about it - it just does it in the background.

As for your MP3 files, you can import them all into iTunes, add library tagging info (metadata) and then use iTunes' database management to organise and sync selected files or playlists you've created to your iPad as you wish. On importing, iTunes converts the MP3 files to MP3 AAC, which is a modifed form that allows for the addition of useful search metadata. And, of course, with the right app, you can record streams of audio directly in your iPad and edit them in Garageband. TuneIn Radio Pro (costing about £4.99 in the app store I think) has a "record" button built in, too.

Anyhow, iTunes can manage any media files for you, no matter what they are. You can add your own CD collection to the library on your PC as well as videos, MP3 files and all the apps that you'll have on your iPad or iPhone once it's set up. It will also keep a back-up of all those files you specify in the iCloud (online storage) seamlessly. And if you buy another Apple device (such as an iPhone or iPod Touch, etc etc) then it will synchronise that for you as well. It also takes care of all your other services like email, messaging, etc etc.

My wife uses an iPad 3 and an iPhone 5 which are both synched to my master iTunes library on my iMac and she loves it. Mind you, it's me that has to sort out problems if they arise!

Apple's Store has the largest selection of apps anywhere, including Spotify, BBC iPlayer Radio, Tune In Radio and even Radio Caroline. I use all of these to access my listening preferences - in fact as I type this in my office I'm listening to yesterday's "The Media Show" (Radio 4) using the iPlayer Radio app on my iPhone which is sitting in a ViewQuest dock beside me. I use the iPhone and iPad for this a lot these days, and my wife uses the iPad to catch up with stuff on TV when she's sat in the garden or elsewhere.

If you do decide to get one and you have any questions about setting it up, by all means ask and I'll help. I'm the default help-desk in our family as well as for some people in the offices around me, too!
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Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19373
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all of that Colin!

I for some reason thought, probably from something I'd read in the dim and distant past, that you had to change your files permanently so kept away from iTunes, not that I had a use for it really. I used Music Match as a player for some years then that went, and must have used W Media Player then went to VLC.

I'm going to get one, would have had it by now but we've had a run of family illnesses and problems in the last couple of months that have put things on hold. So I'll probably be asking loads of questions if that's okay.

Now just trying to decide what size (mini or full size one) and memory size. I will get the cellular one. I don't have and have no plans to get an iPhone so don't know if that changes things?

Have read about Apps but of course had no use for them up to now. Do you use the Cloud?

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
Posts: 916

PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helen May wrote:
I for some reason thought, probably from something I'd read in the dim and distant past, that you had to change your files permanently so kept away from iTunes, not that I had a use for it really. I used Music Match as a player for some years then that went, and must have used W Media Player then went to VLC.


No, iTunes copies and transcodes your files while leaving the originals in place, and of course if you have them backed up separately they won't be corrupted. The other thing is that if you wish to then export individual tracks or whole playlists you can do so as either MP3 files or AIFF files which can easily be burned to a CD within the program.

Helen May wrote:
Now just trying to decide what size (mini or full size one) and memory size. I will get the cellular one. I don't have and have no plans to get an iPhone so don't know if that changes things?


My wife's iPad is a 16GB version. She does take a lot of images and HD video and it does take up space, so it has to be offloaded regularly. So get the largest capacity you can afford. I have to use iTunes' space manager interface to clear out unwanted apps and content from time to time.

Helen May wrote:
Have read about Apps but of course had no use for them up to now. Do you use the Cloud?


Apps are now the easiest way to add new functionality to the device; they're not just at the heart of the iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, etc) but also on the main Mac OSX computers as well. The nice thing is that once you've downloaded either a free or paid-for app or video or music file or even film from the store, that can be accessed by any of your Apple devices. It's all synchronised through the iCloud and having been using it for a couple of years now I'm already hooked to this way of working. You can register up to 5 computing devices with iTunes which enables you have one central iTunes database into which others in your house can sync. At home, we have one install of iTunes and all of our content is held there. My wife has her own playlists for music, video, etc., and I have mine.

The other thing I like is that I've set them to re-synch the minute you walk into range of your Wi-Fi, so if a playlist has been modified, it will re-sync without you even being aware of it. It works this way with your emails, browser tabs, history, everything, but you can be selectable as to what exactly is automatically synched and backed up.

As for the iCloud (which is just a fancy name for online storage on a remote server), Apple has just announced an Autumn update which offers something like 250GB remote storage for a low cost per month - I think $3.99 - which would be amazing (as long as you have a decent amount of broadband allowance and speed, of course!). To date, I've also been using Dropbox, and this new announcement must be frightening the life out of them!

Edit: See info here about iCloud Drive: http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/icloud-drive/
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gazmando



Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 560
Location: Huntingdon

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello Helen, hope you enjoy your Ipad!!!
I'm in no way an Apple expert like Colin but just would like to say that when your music is in ITunes you can also share it with your Ipad without physically putting it on there. (If on same WiFi network)
I have an old Ipod Classic which I have all my music on so don't need to put it on my Ipad but it's handy if you are out in the garden and want to listen to some stuff on the Ipad (if in range!!!)
I have an Android phone with Google Music on and that lets me access all of my music on my computer from anywhere (with an internet connection).
It takes a while to initially upload all your music but once done it's a really handy thing to have
It's available on Ipad too but I haven't tried it, hopefully works just as well as the Android version.
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Colin



Joined: 26 Sep 2013
Posts: 916

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can do with Apple iCloud services as well. Trouble with Google Music is that the compression and metadata system re completely incompatible with Apple's. Where you have Apple's hardware, it's best to use their systems because they're designed to work together, and in my opinion iTunes' file management is much better.
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gazmando



Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 560
Location: Huntingdon

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Google music is free though Colin, don't you have to subscribe to ITunes Match?
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