I'm Back With More iPod Thoughts and Info

Last time I talked about the "Shuffle" which was the first edition, so to speak, of the iPod and apparently still available (but doesn't have a viewing screen) at a very affordable price considering the cost of things today.

There is an iPod that you can view videos with called the "iPod nano" (this was not created by Robin Williams, remember "nano, nano"). I don't know about you but when I watch a video I don't want to have to watch it with a magnifying glass, but I guess if you are a real movie geek or are really bored, it is better than nothing.

I had no idea that there was so many different iPods. I thought an iPod was an iPod. I didn't know that there was different ones that did different things. Apparently most models can also be used as external data storage devices, as I said before, because of the flash memory.

These iPods are made to interface with iTunes which is an online media store run by Apple that sells songs. You plug in your iPod to your computer and then transfer the songs you purchase to your iPod. You can also download full-length movies the same way, of course your iPod has to be one that supports that function.

The most expensive of the iPods with a touch screen apparently does it all. I don't know about you, but I am a show me how and I can do it, but all those instruction books that come with the device give me a headache.

Not sure exactly what well talk about next time, but see you then!

Continuing The iPod Ride

As I promised, we will continue learning more about the iPod.

There is an entry-level iPod that is screenless and the budget model called the Shuffle (sounds like a dance to me!). This is what they called the first generation (they have improved them since they came out in 2005) that uses a flash memory. The flash memory can be electrically erased and reprogrammed, you know, like a memory stick you use for your computer to transfer data between computers and other digital products.

The Shuffle was/is easy to download music off of the computer (it plugs directly into your computer through an USB port) with a bunch of songs and be able to play them in random order (shuffle). Sounds like an MP3 Player doesn't it?

Anyway, the price was good and has come down under $100's as improved larger capacity generational ones have become available. This one only holds about 240 songs. It sounds about my speed. Good to take with me on my walks in nature.

I'll explain the next generation next time around.

See ya!

Here We Go - iPod

Hi everyone! I think my grandpa would really enjoy an iPod if someone helped him with it. It sounds like a real cool product. I still don't know if I would get one, but learning about it is fun. For one thing I was spelling it wrong (just a little thing).

Anyway I have learned a little more about iPods. The first iPod was much larger than some of the ones that can be gotten today which I understand can be as small as a pack of gum. This is the size of my USB memory stick (yeh, I do know about those)which I am glad has a neck strap or I would never find it. I guess I will have to go to a store an really look at them because it all just sounds too unbelievable.

There are hard drive-based ones, some that have flash memory so they can be smaller (I am guessing that the stick of gum size has one of these), some that have touchscreen capabilities, others that are video-capable (like the clerk at my grocery store).

You can hook these up to your computer and besides burning and ripping music from a CD like I mentioned before, you can transfer photos, videos, games and calendars to certain models.

Wow! grandpa!! how the world has changed. If you take a nap who knows what new iPod they will come up with while we're sleeping.

There is more detail to go into and we will check on some of it next time. Till then have a great day!!

Explore iPods With Me

Well I don't know about you but this is going to be an adventure for me.

When ipods first came out it seemed just to much to take in. Well for me it still is and I will probably never get one, because I know I would probably never use all of the features you can get in one.

I remember being in the grocery store in my little town and the check-out clerk was talking to the bagger about the ipod she had just gotten. She was so excited. I asked her what she was going to use it for most and she said mostly for watching videos. I was surprised, I had no idea it had that capability. Oh, I probably had heard but had forgotten. I said, "you watch that many video's?" Dummy me, she was only 20 (maybe).

Well as most everyone seems to know, iPod is actually a brand name and was designed, marketed and launched by Apple. Just like other types of products, other brands followed suit with their version of the iPod.

The iPod is a portable media player, which means, you can play tunes on it like an MP3 player. Also, because it has an internal hard drive (it seems everything these days has one) it not only plays music and can handle quite a large library, it can burn, and rip music from a CD. Even if that was all that it could do, it makes it quite spectacular. A lot of things, because of the hard drive, can be transfered to it.

Learn more as I learn. Next time! See ya later.

MP3 Players - Oophs! Not done yet

Well here we are again. My mind got wrapped up in something else and I forgot some things I wanted to say about MP3 players. Grandpa was much better at remembering things even just before he passed than I do.

Anyway, grandpa had lots of records, mostly 78's, I don't remember him having an 8-track track tape player (most of today's kids don't even know what they are. I know several people that still have 8-track players and 8-track recorders). Cassette tapes, were great because they were smaller and you could record on them easily from most boomboxes.

The MP3 player was revolutionary, it takes out sounds that you can't hear so that the files are smaller and so when tunes are downloaded they take up less space and thousands of tunes can be stored and played on a very small device. I saw one the other day that was about the size of an breath mint case. It was awsome. To small for me, as I would loose it for sure. I have a hard enough time finding my cell phone when I set it down.

OK, for sure next time we go on to IPods. Have a good one!!

Electronic Gagets - MP3 Players and beyond

First the MP3 players with realatively small gigabytes and now they are massive. You see people (mainly kids) with their ear plugs (what I call them) in, walking the streets and the malls. Every where you go (you have no idea what they are listening to and thank goodness in some cases). Sometimes they are so into what they are listening to they don't know anyone else is around. However in some cases they have them up so loud you can hear the slightest hint of music (the future is full of deafness from devices turned up to loud).

For those that are into MP3 players it is a great thing and better than the old hand held radio's or the portable cd player for jogging or gym workouts, and if that is all you want it for it is just the thing to have.

For those who want more, there is the Ipod (big drum roll!). Until I looked it up, I wasn't really sure what it was other than it was an upgrade from an MP3 player (you can tell I am older than dirt).

Get your feet wet along with me next time.

Electronic Gagets - MP3 Players

I don't know if you have the same problems with todays electronic technology as I do, but sometimes I feel like my grandpa would have if he was plopped in one of todays electronic superstores (or even a small one!)

There are so many choices, and for each choice a dozen price ranges, enough electronic gadgets to make your head spin.

How do you chose, say, an MP3 player. I wouldn't have a clue. There are different size gigabytes (who needs to be able to download 5,000 songs). I don't even understand the need or want for huge gigs on these.

I remember when MP3 players first came out. Wow! what a big deal that was. An expensive big deal at that. Every body had to have one. With the teenagers, you weren't anybody if you didn't have an MP3 player. Now they have ones for little kids in girl and boy colors with cute in the "now" superhero icons on them (or Spongebob Square Pants) and Barbie or High School Musical decals on them.

Watch out mom and dad, they wanted more, and the electronics industry obliged them.

What Would Grandpa Think

You know electronics have come a long way since I first started working in offices 1966. I used an antiquated IBM electric typewriter. The offices I worked in did not have computers yet.

Can you imagine what grandpa would think about today's electronic gadgets? Grandpa used a crank telephone with a 6 party line (Hi Madge, get me #329 (and heaven help you if it was something personal because Joan just might be listening in on the call and she was the biggest busybody around)). He would be totally freaked out with the cell phones of today. Gee, they not only allow you to make a call from anywhere to anywhere (if you have coverage), but they take pictures, let you check your e-mail (e-mail? What's that?), play games (????). If you just told him and he couldn't see for himself he would say, "that's a bunch of falderal!, a bunch of whooey!!"

My husband has a problem figuring out his cell phone. All he wants is to be able to make a call and receive a call. I program all of his numbers and have to check his phone for messages every day, because he can't remember how to retreive them. He took a couple of pictures, but doesn't know how to send them to the computer. Can you imagine if it was grandpa??

I know it may depend on how old your grandpa is. The grandpa's of today can still be pretty young and electronically hip, but my grandpa passed away 33 years ago at 82. Electronics was not a word he was familiar with. This is a world that would take his breath away.