Please help the technologically challenged

[ProudMommy77]

I don't own anything by Apple, so I'm not familiar with iTunes, other than what my students do with their iPods.

I'd like to buy Page One digitally, so I was wondering if I have to have an Apple product to play things I download from iTunes, or will it play on my generic MP3 player? (Or can I buy it from somewhere else?)

Thanks, from an out-of-touch thirtysomething. :confused:

[Jodie]

Hmm...I've never tried to play anything from iTunes on a non-iPod, so I'm not sure if that'll work (I suspect it will, but hate to say for sure and have you waste $$). It is available on Amazon right now as an .mp3 download, if that's an option, and I actually signed up for Rhapsody (14-day free trial) in order to get it a week or so ahead of release. I canceled the account before the trial ended, as I use iTunes and don't really have a need to stream music on multiple devices--which is a big benefit of a service like Rhapsody-- but if that's something you'd be interested in, that might be a way to go as well. Good luck! :)

[ProudMommy77]

Maybe someone will know the answer, but in the meantime, I found it at gomusicnow.com Didn't think it would get there so quickly, as they tend to get things months after it comes out. So I've got it digitally now! :D Thanks!

[designerfox]

Before I got my iPhone, I had a Blackberry, which played music I bought from iTunes. The only thing was, one particular song I had bought "skipped" when I played it on my Blackberry, but sounded fine in iTunes, and sounds fine on my iPhone.

So, short answer, yes, you should be able to play songs bought from iTunes on your generic MP3 player :D

[ProudMommy77]

Thanks, that helps! :)

[Jenxteen]

It used to be that you could not listen to music brought into iTunes on a non-apple product. It converts it from a regular mp3 to an apple proprietary format. Maybe that's changed, but I don't know if you will be able to listen in a non-apple mp3 player. You should probably try to google it or check the apple site to be sure.

[ohiobnlchick]

you should be able to download it to any mp3 device, I have done it on other devices before I had an ipod

Jeni

[cjthedj53]

iTunes now has an option where, as long as the file was purchased recently (i.e. is called "Purchased file" and not "Protected file") you can easily convert it to MP3 and avoid all problems! To make sure your iTunes is set to do this properly... go to...

Edit > Preferences > Import settings > Import Using: MP3 Encoder

Any bitrate should be OK, I would recommend at least 192 though. One you've set that, right-click on the iTunes file and choose "Make MP3 version" - it will DUPLICATE (not replace) the song in MP3 format!

Also, if you're using an MP3 player that didn't come with good software, I recommend downloading a program called iTunes Sync (http://www.binaryfortress.com/itunes-sync/) - it's VERY easy to use, just make a playlist in iTunes that features all the music you want on your MP3 player, then open iTunes Sync, choose your MP3 player and the correct playlist from drop-down lists, and voila! Only problem is you need to keep an eye on the iTunes playlist and make sure it doesn't go over the amount of space you have free on your MP3 player. ;)

[ProudMommy77]

... Also, if you're using an MP3 player that didn't come with good software, I recommend downloading a program called iTunes Sync (http://www.binaryfortress.com/itunes-sync/) - it's VERY easy to use, just make a playlist in iTunes that features all the music you want on your MP3 player, then open iTunes Sync, choose your MP3 player and the correct playlist from drop-down lists, and voila! Only problem is you need to keep an eye on the iTunes playlist and make sure it doesn't go over the amount of space you have free on your MP3 player. ;)

Thanks to everyone with their awesome help on this. Strangely enough, in the last week we have purchased two used iPod Touches. My husband bought one for his birthday, and I became addicted. I got one yesterday, and am now using the iTunes Sync and have all my songs on it!

I LOVE the set up -- play by artist, album, etc. I have been wishing for something like this for years. Perhaps it's time my DH and I got back on the cutting edge like in our high school days.

And my kids love the Toy Story 3 app... Now, if they could come up with a Snacktime app, how cool would that be????

[cjthedj53]

For the record, the Sansa Clipp+ is hundreds of dollars cheaper and has all of those same playback features ;)

Also, save the computer's memory - if you're actually working with an Apple-branded device, you don't need to use the external iTunes Sync program - iTunes should inherently recognize the device and give it its own playlist.