Do generic MP3 players work with iTunes?

[labdogs42]

I bought a cute little Spongebob MP3 player for DS during the Target toy clearance sale. Now I'm wondering how in the world to get music on to it! We have many iPods in this house, but no other kinds of MP3's until now. I haven't even taken the thing out of the package, but I'm already concerned about how it will work. Does anyone know what I need to do to put music on this thing?n It won't be a bargain if we can't use it! Thanks!

 

[dgthree]

I bought a cute little Spongebob MP3 player for DS during the Target toy clearance sale. Now I'm wondering how in the world to get music on to it!

iTunes won't recognize other types of mp3 players, but you can use Windows or Windows Media Player to sync music to it. When you do take it out of the package, it should have some sort of way to connect it to your pc, and Windows will recognize it as a new device. Then, you can either drag and drop from Windows Explorer to the player, or drag files to the player from within Windows Media Player.

Hope this helps!

 

[princessmom29]

You can put music on using windows media, but not anything that you purchased through itunes. You have to either have the actual CD, our download form somewhere else.

 

[cathyce2]

My friend bought the same mp3 player at Target, loaded it with itunes and was upset when it did't work. She asked me to look at it before she returned it so I added some songs from Window Media Player and it worked great. If you don't have any music in wmp format, just insert a music cd into your computer, open windows media player and select "rip". When that is finished you can copy to the media player. HTH

 

[labdogs42]

My friend bought the same mp3 player at Target, loaded it with itunes and was upset when it did't work. She asked me to look at it before she returned it so I added some songs from Window Media Player and it worked great. If you don't have any music in wmp format, just insert a music cd into your computer, open windows media player and select "rip". When that is finished you can copy to the media player. HTH

OK. So if I bought a song on iTunes, it won't work, right?

 

[cathyce2]

Not easily. I believe there is a way to write it to a cd then rip it back to windows media in the correct format but I've never actually done it.

 

[disneychrista]

If you buy music from Itunes you will have to burn the songs to an audio CD and then rip to the Media player. Not too difficult but does take time. And I would wait until I have at least 10 songs before I did this. CD's can get expensive after awhile.

 

[labdogs42]

If you buy music from Itunes you will have to burn the songs to an audio CD and then rip to the Media player. Not too difficult but does take time. And I would wait until I have at least 10 songs before I did this. CD's can get expensive after awhile.

That's not horrible. I can do that. I'm supposed to have all that music backed up to CD's anyway, right? Thanks!

 

[kaismahma]

OP and all thanks for the info. I bought DD4 one of these too. I actally found a little pink one. Now I can load all her disney music.

 

[rannxerox]

Just my little rant about iPods and iTunes. I hate them and I just do not understand why everyone loves them. First iPods. They are 2x to 3x the cost of other great music players and you cannot replace the batteries yourself. The OS is good but so are others (like the rio). And iTunes is over prices and you cannot get your music in a format that you want, such as MP3. Until recently you had to deal with DRM and my wife lost about $100 worth of music because the license keys got goofed. Now Apple is shutting out other players, such as the Palm, which means all that music YOU own you don't really own unless you play it on their device. Sorry about the rant. Not a Apple fan as you can tell.

As for your issue with music, there are some programs that will convert iTunes music into other DRM free formats without messing around with the CD/Ripping and coping back thing.

 

[DISfan0829]

If you are asking will a non-iPod/iPhone be recognized in iTunes the answer is no. The Palm Pre was recognized when it was first introduced but Apple quickly introduced a new iTunes update that locked out the Pre.

I have an iPhone but I convert all my music to MP3 format so that it can play on the iPhone and other MP3 players as well.

 

[PirateDad]

Try Amazon's mp3 store. Their files work with any mp3 player and tend to be cheaper. They have great daily specials on albums.

 

[lindsey]

Amazon is a great place for mp3 music. You can also check out their "free" music, sample and see if you like before you download.

 

[labdogs42]

If you are asking will a non-iPod/iPhone be recognized in iTunes the answer is no. The Palm Pre was recognized when it was first introduced but Apple quickly introduced a new iTunes update that locked out the Pre.

I have an iPhone but I convert all my music to MP3 format so that it can play on the iPhone and other MP3 players as well.

and you convert it by putting it on cd, then back on the computer? Or is there some other process?

 

[2BigKIdz]

That's not horrible. I can do that. I'm supposed to have all that music backed up to CD's anyway, right? Thanks!

make sure you choose to make it an audio cd so that it is the correct format

 

[labdogs42]

Well, I'm trying the burn audio CD thing now. We'll see how it goes. With any luck I'll have some music on this thing soon!

I see that iTunes now says their music comes without DRM. Does that mean then I CAN more easily put this music on a MP3 player?

 

[Duchie]

We haven't had great success with Windows Media Player syncing correctly with MP3 players. We've tried several different ones and always had problems.

There's a program available called Media Monkey. We downloaded it and it has worked beautiflly from day 1. The basic version is free and works just fine. You can purchase a lifetime license for around $30 but it's not necessary.

 

[labdogs42]

We haven't had great success with Windows Media Player syncing correctly with MP3 players. We've tried several different ones and always had problems.

There's a program available called Media Monkey. We downloaded it and it has worked beautiflly from day 1. The basic version is free and works just fine. You can purchase a lifetime license for around $30 but it's not necessary.

I got it to work with Windows, but I might download this Media Monkey thing, too. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Praying Colonel]

Try Amazon's mp3 store. Their files work with any mp3 player and tend to be cheaper. They have great daily specials on albums.

I really like Amazon's store. Another online store that sells DRM-free mp3s that's good is Rhapsody. I collect Coke Rewards points and you can get credit for a .99 cent Rhapsody download with 43 Coke Rewards points. You can get 2 .99 credits/month.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Well, I'm trying the burn audio CD thing now. We'll see how it goes. With any luck I'll have some music on this thing soon!

I see that iTunes now says their music comes without DRM. Does that mean then I CAN more easily put this music on a MP3 player?

Not really. Although iTunes store now sells DRM-free downloads, their downloads are still in AAC format. Some non-iPod mp3 players will play AAC-formatted files, but most don't. In order to convert it to mp3 format for play on an mp3 player, you still have to burn it to CD and then rip it back onto your computer in mp3 format.