[Web4lib] Public Computers and iTunes[Scanned]

[Darryl Friesen]

Excellent post by Andrew Hankinson.  One clarification though

> The iPod purposely encumbers audio transferring because Apple doesn't 
> want the labels to come down on them for selling a device that people  can 
> use to share music.  That's why you can only sync your iPod to  one 
> computer.

You use your iPod with any number of computers if you use the "manual" mode. 
See http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61675 for details. 
Basically, it enabled the iPod for use as standard USB device and turns off 
the auto sync feature.  It means you need to manage what music goes on the 
iPod by hand (something I like any way).  I use my iPod with both my home 
and work computers almost daily.


Sharon Foster said:

> We've had one or two patrons who were dismayed to see that synching
> their iPod with the public Mac had the effect of wiping out anything
> they had loaded the iPod with from another computer.

That's what happens when the iPod is NOT in manual mode.  Enabling it -- it 
is NOT the default mode -- will solve the problem.

One other important bit of info to keep in mind is that Windows formatted 
iPods CANNOT be used on Macs, and vice versa.  This, coupled with the above 
problem of wiping iPods not in manual mode makes supporting iPods on public 
machines extremely unattractive (in my opinion).

Plus, I don't see the point.  I can't see students making iTunes purchases 
from public machines.  And I don't think iTunes has that much useful free 
content that the student couldn't possibly wait until they were at home to 
sync.  Ripping Library CDs seems like a violation of copyright.  Using the 
iPod as a USB storage device is about the only thing I can think of that 
might be of use, but the hassles with format and synchronization mode don't 
seem to make it worthwhile.  Or am I missing some compelling argument?


- Darryl

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  Darryl Friesen, B.Sc., Programmer/Analyst    Darryl.Friesen at usask.ca
  Information Technology Services Division,     http://gollum.usask.ca/
  University of Saskatchewan Library
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  "Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes"