Suggestions for a good alternative to manage iPod

[sidewinder]

Never really had an iPod before but have been given a 60GB iPod Photo so it would be a shame not to use it.

Main problem is - I hate iTunes. My PC isnt that high spec so it runs like treacle. I do have a decent mac (which I know it runs well on) but it isnt my main machine, and I use a few computers and I want to be able to update and add to it on anything.

 

My current music collection is stored on a small server which on my laptop I have mapped and then set as the basis for my WMP library. So using any other library based software (such as iTunes) is a pain because it takes a fair while to get it all in there in the first place

 

What I really want is a drag and drop solution, I just want to be able to copy albums onto the iPod as a usb drive, run something and then be done with it. My iPod shuffle lets me do this, I found a python script that rebuilds the database, so I just copy music, run it, and go. Im after something similar for this.

 

Ive tried Songbird - very good but it would be forever mounting the ipod (known bug by the looks of it) - so no good

I tried Ephod - looked ok but kept giving weird errors and soooo slloooww

 

Any other suggestions or am I stuck using bloody iTunes?

[featured_spectre]

floola.com - Wiwi - Home Floola is a good alternative, I use it and it works nicely, also ubuntu has some stuff built in to replace itunes if you are interested!

[sidewinder]

Cheers, will give that a go

[dyoung5]

I use a program called MGtek dopisp, which is a plugin for WMP. I like it because it makes the ipod appear to WMP as a normal player and it also converts WMAs to MP3. You can get it here:

 

Sync your iPod with Windows Media Player

[sidewinder]

Ooh that looks even better. Shame its not free but if it does the job it'll be worth it!

 

thanks

[3s-gtech]

Winamp has good iPod support, just drag and drop. All free, and the ml_ipod plugin is even better with it.

[Butters]

MediaMonkey » Free Media Jukebox, Music Manager, CD Ripper & Converter

 

Best music player/management software out there.

[sidewinder]

dopisp is awesome, thanks so much for that dyoung, works seamlessly and syncs relatively quickly (it is dragging the music across a wireless link so its never going to be very quick)

[localzuk]

Foobar 2000 with the Ipod Manager plugin.

 

foobar2000

musicmusic's foobar2000 stuff - iPod manager