I'm thinking about taking my iPod with me on my trip to the British Isles this summer. However, I don't own a charger (and probably wouldn't have room to pack a lot of accessories anyway). I'm thinking about just taking the USB connector cable and charging it off of the computers there (we'll have access for all of the trip). Do I need to do anything special to make sure my playlist doesn't get erased when I hook it up?
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
No. When you connect it, if it's set to sync, iTunes will prompt you with something like "Do you really want to sync with this library and erase all of the songs on your iPod?" You can just click "No" or "Cancel" or whatever it is.
Also, if you want to play songs on the computers from the iPod, just set syncing to "manual" in the preferences, and you'll be able to play songs from the iPod in iTunes as normal.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Assuming that the computers you have access to have iTunes installed. You charge with your USB cable? I thought I read somewhere that you needed a firewire connector to charge?
Posted by Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy (Member # 9384) on :
You can charge over USB 2.0. USB 1.1 doesn't transmit enough power.
The 5G iPods won't sync over a FireWire cable, and they don't come with a wall charger, so USB charging is a necessity for them.
Posted by Avadaru (Member # 3026) on :
I just charge mine with a regular USB cable when I go on vacation, and I've never had any problems.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
If the computers don't have iTunes, will it not charge? Or will it just not mess with the playlist at all?
(Just to be clear, I have an iPod mini. And USB 2 on my laptop).
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I wouldn't touch an iPod with a ten foot pole, but one of my mp3 players is a 2gig that charges off of USB. It doesn't matter if you're running your music program when you charge it; it'll charge either way. You don't even have to choose an option when it asks you if you want to sync. You can just leave the little box that pops up and not click anything, and it should charge itself.
-pH
Posted by Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy (Member # 9384) on :
quote:If the computers don't have iTunes, will it not charge? Or will it just not mess with the playlist at all?
If the computers do not have iTunes, the iPod will charge, but your data will not be messed with.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Right.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Even if the computer has Itunes it won't screw with your data unless you allow it to. I took a trip last summer to Britain and did this same thing, and it worked fine. I also bought an adapter kit (the actuall apple manufactured plugs which fit most outlets in the world). This was a good investment when I went to mainland Europe, since all the plugs there are the same, and Britain has ridiculously huge novelty size plugs Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
There's a limit on how much luggage I can take, so I'm trying to avoid anything I have to plug in. That way I don't need to pack an adaptor.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
The adaptor from apple is just a plug you switch out from your wall charger. The plug is interchangeable with your american style prong plug. This means that there is no extra device beyond the ipod wall plug you should already have, just a different set of prongs... Its not an adaptor though, and you should never use an international adaptor on top of a device like the apple wall plug unit because the apple unit already has a voltz converter, (or whatever it is), so you'd run the risk of frying your wall unit or your ipod.
Admittedly the wall unit is a few ounces of extra weight, but considering your alread carrying the Pod and the cable and all, the added convenience might make it worth your while. I was quite glad I brought mine, since none of the other students in my flat did and they all borrowed time on it as well, it made me a little more popular .
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
She doesn't have a charger. She has the Mini, which doesn't come with one.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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