USB annoyances
I am easily distracted and like to get sucked into my work so, obviously, I use my ipod at work all day long.
Problem: the batteries sometimes run down before the work day ends. Usually because I forget to recharge it the night before.. or something.
It's a one of the new video ipods with a usb connection.. soo..
Solution: bring my ipod cable with me and charge it off of my work pc!
Seems obvious, no? Not!
Apparently these are my ipod-hooking-to-the-pc-options:
- Hooked up to the pc and mounted as a usb storage device
- Hooked up to the pc and not mounted
So what's the problem? In the first case, I can't use the ipod while it's charging and in the second case it's not charging. Gah!
How do you people live with those windows things is beyond me (or is this pc architecture thing? On my mac the iPod charges just fine when it's not mounted and can be used). Tomorrow.. I'll bring in a charger from my old ipod.. if I can find it.. (never used it).
Comments
Could also be that every copy of OSX includes a version iTunes so plugging it into any Apple allows it to be in "iPod mode" rather than "mounted hard drive" mode. On my home PC, iTunes first takes control of the iPod but once it's done, it goes back to normal - not the case if it's mounted as a HD.
I would say download iTunes for Windows but odds are that would try to "sync" to the work PC and erase all of your music from your iPod. This used to happen with the 3rd generation iPods... I'd LOVE to think that Apple has gotten better at dealing with this sort of thing when plugging an iPod into multiple machines, but I don't know for sure. You might want to try it and be ready to pull the plug if you can't tell it to NOT sync before it starts: for some reason you can't set iPod sync options until an iPod is plugged in and you can't tell it not to sync until you've allowed it to sync. Or something. :)
As to the charger, I had a 3rd gen charger charge my 3rd Gen, 4th Gen, nano and video iPod - it's just a question of whether or not the AC Adapter has a FireWire or USB socket for your current wire... FWIW, I've charged all those iPod with both a USB and FW based adapter - the dock port is still the same shape/pin out, even if you can't move music on it with the video iPods now.
Posted by: Randy | January 30, 2006 06:32 PM
I have an iPod Shuffle and a PC running Linux. The Shuffle charges just fine when I hook it to my USB cable. Not sure if this data point is worth anything.
Posted by: Aristotle Pagaltzis | January 31, 2006 09:13 PM
I use my video iPod at work as well and had the same recharging issue. Through pure dumb luck, I stumbled on a work around. If you install iTunes and let it hook up with your iPod, you can eject the iPod from within iTunes. This seems to keep the flash drive mounted in Windows, but puts iPod back in a useable state.
Hope it helps you as well ;)
Posted by: Puter Monkey | February 2, 2006 01:53 PM
Awesome, thanks!
Posted by: kasia | February 2, 2006 07:25 PM