[starman]

Hi all,
I'm in love . Ok, the thing is exceptionally cool. I'm importing a ton of CDs right now.

I understand, but don't like the fact that you can't sync it with 2 computers. I have a computer at home and at work, and I'd like to be able to import CDs that I bring with me in the car on my work computer. Bah!

Gaps between tracks?????? That was my biggest gripe with the Nomad Jukebox. Someone tell me that 1.2 will fix this, or at least give us an option.

I used it in the car with the iRock, the unit that transmits over 4 selectable FM stations. VERY bad. I'll have to try using a longer cable and moving the iRock closer to the antenna, but man, I got a high pitched wine, static, you name it. My car stereo is a CD player without an AUX jack (even though there's an AUX selection on it. GRRR!). The iRock was my only solution to not having a direct jack to the stereo. Maybe I'll get a new car stereo, but I LOVE my Monsoon.

Now, I hate to say it, but my main computer is my Windows PC. I love my Mac, but I'm more of a gamer so my PC is my main computer. Because of that, I was hoping to find the right Windows solution to replace iTunes since I don't turn on my Mac every day. Sadly, there isn't anything out there for Windows that's as good as iTunes. XPlay comes VERY close, but it wiped out my music due to the sync issue without telling me! (GRRR!). Also, it can't rename folders like iTunes can (yay!). It doesn't have a built-in encoder. Playlists are possible, but you have to drag from one window to the playlist window to do it. It's not bad, but iTunes is better. The MacOpener solution is VERY bad - you could destroy your file system using it since it doesn't allow you to PROPERLY remove the iPod where XPlay does. EphPod looks pretty, but doesn't work AT ALL.

My bottom line to Windows users - XPlay or nothing. It's shaping up to be a real good Windows solution. It's in Preview 6 and supports the iPod's file system, so you can at least transfer files to/from the iPod under Windows with it. JUST DON'T SYNC YOUR IPOD WITH IT.

Mike

[RWoelk]

Interesting. I have been recommending xplay for all the window's users that I have sold iPods to. Correction: iPods sell themselves. I just plop it out on the table, unhook a nearby computer's speakers and let them play with it for 4 or 5 minutes. Done. "Where, can I get me one of these?" they ask....

That said, EphPod seems to be getting a lot of positive press over at many of iPod sites and most window's users seem to be giving it the nod over xplay.

[starman]

XPlay's major advantage over EphPod is that EphPod's an app, where XPlay treats the iPod like a real DEVICE. Also, EphPod depends on an app that allows Windows to see the HFS file system on the iPod, so that's TWO apps you need if you want to use EphPod. XPlay will allow you to wander into the Music directory's file system like a hard drive. VERY nice. It just needs some polish and it will be THE perfect solution for Windows users.

Mike