iPod and MP3 Player Tips: 2006
MP3 players (like iPods) aren't just for music anymore. These days, you can download podcasts, watch TV shows and movies, and even let Rick Steves guide you though the sights of Paris (on our new audio tours).
What are your favorite tips for using an MP3 player as you travel?
Becky - too big
You should decide if video is important to you...if not, then you do not need the video ipod. Keep in mind, this is something that you will be using AFTER your trip to Europe. So, with that in mind, don't buy your ipod based on this one trip.
As far as size goes...I feel that the nano is too small. I'm afraid I would misplace it! IMO...others may feel disagree. That being said...I have an older ipod...bigger and heavier than either one of the newer ipods...and I LOVE it for travel. It's the first thing I grab when I'm getting my shoulder bag ready for my trips. I can download photos and music, but that's it.
Either way you go...you will be happy. it's all in what your budget will allow, and most important, how you will use your ipod AFTER your trip!
EB
CO USA Sun 12/31/2006
I just got back from a month long travel and I had my ipod. All you should need is an adaptor because they are supposed to convert voltage on their own. No problem at the airports either.
Evan
USA Mon 12/25/2006
Too big?
I am planning on buying an ipod before I head to Europe but I can't decide between the nano and the larger video ones. I am worried about it being stolen because it is larger. If it's at risk in my pocket as I travel, where could I keep it while I'm walking around?
Becky
Maple Valley, WA USA Mon 12/25/2006
The IPod chargers are fine for anything from 100 to 240 volts, so your problems aren't likely to be caused by the voltage. I suggest you go to the Apple website support section and follow their troubleshooting directions. Mine froze once and it turned out that I needed to do a series of 'click wheel strokes' to wake it up again.
Kate
Scotland Tue 12/19/2006
i plugged my 110v ipod to 220v outlet!!
i went back to Philippines and brought my ipod.i accidentally plugged it to 220v!! now it wont turn on,even if i restart it..what should i do?pls help me.email me pls at dykenpajares@yahoo.com
kendz <email>
Silver Spring, MD USA Sun 12/17/2006
iPod photo storage
Apple's website will tell you how much space and approximately how many photos you can store on your particular iPod. (http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html) However, what resolution you take your photos on affects this - the larger the resolution, the less space for storage.
iPodgeek
seattle, wa USA Mon 12/04/2006
PodCasts
I just returned from 6 weeks in Europe--2 in France and 4 in Italy. I wish I'd had an IPod...and the PodCasts will really change touring. The quality of the rental recordings was terrible and the content of the info was limited (not to mention the $$$). I DEFINITELY will be armed with PodCasts in hand on the next trip!
Bonnie <email>
Petersburg, VA USA Sat 12/02/2006
Belkin Battery Pack for Ipods
I strongly recommend the belkin battery pack for ipods. I just returned from 2 weeks in europe and it was great to have along. After about 20 hours of use (video included) the battery pack still had full power!! I used 4 AA lithium batteries. I purchased the unit on Amazon for $30.
Jeffrey
Sonoma County, CA USA Wed 11/08/2006
maps
An mp3 player with photo display capabilities can be very helpful for displaying hundreds of road and metro maps while you're on the go.
Andrew Allen
Portland, OR USA Mon 11/06/2006
MP3 players and Language Materials
Many of the Pimsleur learning language audio courses are now available through NetLibrary.com. Check your local library for how to sign up for a free account. I was able to download to my Samsung MP3 player the Czech program for my upcoming trip as well as some novels to listen to on the plane.
The only drawback is the audio files are in WMA-DRM format (Windows Media Audio file with Digital Rights Management) so they won't work on iPods. Pretty much all other MP3 players should work though.
ANJ
Provo, Utah USA Sat 11/04/2006
Re: iPod
Yes, it's safe...My iPod is always in my carry-on, and it gets scanned through. I've never had any trouble with it.
Aquarius11
Yardley, PA USA Sat 10/28/2006
iPods and Airports
Question for all you out there. This is my first time traveling oversea's with my iPod and I was wondering if it's okay to put the iPod thru the X-ray machine at the airport. Will anything happen to it. I have a 30GB iPod Video. Thanks.
USA Fri 10/27/2006
Rick's Podcasts are great!!
Just got back from Paris & used the podcasts for the Louvre, Orsay & Paris Walk. They were great!! Even my husband loved them. Rick is Right... they do move stuff around in the museums. I also used a splitter so we could share the ipod... it just kept us a little close together. Also, in Paris you only need the plug adapter, you do not need the voltage adapter. I wish Rick would make more of these. They would be great at the London museums, & anywhere in Italy. OK... how about all of Europe?? Are you listening Rick?? ;-)
Sylvia Hansen
Aliso Viejo, CA USA Wed 10/25/2006
Rick Steves Audio Tour Podcasts
I downloaded Rick Steves audio tour podcasts (available at iTunes) for the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Versailles and Historic Paris walking tour proir to visiting Paris recently. They were great. I also used a tip in his guide book: buy a Y-splitter (at Radio Shack) and then two people can listen to the same audio tour.
I hope that Rick will continue producing these high quality audio tours for other European cities as well as Paris.
Michael T. Roberts <email>
Vancouver, WA USA Wed 10/11/2006
Nope - you don't have to use the special Mac kit, although it's nice to have the specially fitted plug.
Laptops and IPods both just need a plug convertor - the chargers already convert current/voltage.
One option is to use the Mac convertor to plug in your laptop and charge the IPod from the computer. That saves you having to buy the extra plug convertor, though it should cost less than $1
Kate
Scotland Sun 10/01/2006
Charging Canadian bought iPod in Europe
Just to clarify, once and for all.
When I bring my iPod to Europe, all I need is a regular AC adaptor plug. No Special Converter/Transformer? I normally charge my iPod with the wall unit, and am hoping that all I'll need is an adaptor.
Does this work the same way for my iBook?
I went to the mac store and bought the adaptor kit, but since I already have a European Adaptor, do I need the "Mac" version? I mean, they don't have built in converters or something special that I'll need to charge my iPod/iBook with, do they?
Thanks for your help in advance.
-Tasha
Tasha
Toronto, ON Canada Fri 09/29/2006
Thanks
Thanks Andy...People like you are why I love this forum!!!!
Steve
Sonoma County, CA USA Fri 09/29/2006
Love my i-Pod
I have traveled all over England w/my i-Pod and never had trouble charging it. Don't bother w/extra batteries all you need is a plug adapter and a wall charger that can be used in Europe. I would listen to my i-Pod while on trains, or while walking. Then when I would get to my hotel at night I would just plug it in and charge it overnight. i-Pods are the best.
Jessica
Falls Church, Va USA Mon 09/25/2006
Charging IPod in Europe
Steve, you might want to check with Apple about the battery problem.Some of the batteries don't hold a charge. But yes, all you need is a plug adapter. The battery recharger for your iPod can be used in Europe with the plug adapter as can your Mac power source.
Andy Perry <email>
Louisville, KY USA Sat 09/23/2006
Charging IPod in Europe
So...to charge my IPod Nano in Europe (UK and continent) all I need is the outlet adptor? I don't need a voltage adaptor? Also, what kind of battery life do you Nano owners get. I just bought mine and I am still figuring everything out. It seems like my battery runs out really quickly...even when I don't play with the wheel.
Steve
Sonoma County, CA USA Sat 09/23/2006
Noise canceling headphones
If you travel at least once a year....you should invest in some good quality noise cancelling headphones.
I broke down and bought the Bose brand - and I'm in love! Nothing like watching a movie on the plane with these on, or plugging them into your ipod...then leaving them on with, or without the music/movie and sleeping. It make the noise of the plane and the people around you about disappear. Sleeping is easier (never fun in an airplane seat, but better with these headphones.
I know it's a big investment...but if you travel, these will last you forever, and I feel they are well worth the $$.
USA Thu 09/21/2006
Quality headphones, consider noise-cancelling type
Bring a pair of good quality headphones with built-in volume controls and/or noise-cancelling feature. We tried to listen to Rick Steves' Louvre Audio Tour with a pair of airplane earbuds and we could barely hear over the crowd noise. If I had to redo it over again I would have brought a decent pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Besides using it on the plane, it would be
ideal for audio tours of the Louvre and Versailles palace where the
crowds can really get noisy.
Ariel <email>
Union City, CA USA Thu 09/07/2006
MP3 Language guides
Go to www.single-serving.com to download language guides for your country. These can also be printed out and carried with you. Remember--if you can't pronounce it, you could always point to it.
Allison
Ramstein Air Base, Germany Fri 09/01/2006
I Pod
tried that Sandisk and compared to Ipod there is no doubt Ipod is better....ease of use, easier to download music and transfer to player, better sound quality and much much more battery staying power. I never feel like anyone would be stealing my ipod, whenever I am on the metro in Paris over half the people I see are listening to IPODS....just dont pack it in your checked baggage...
by the way the suitcase backpack Steve uses is now having to be checked on most international flights,
they are getting very strick about carryon luggage and it cannot weigh much more than about 15 lbs
the size they really want is about the size of a small lap top or small ladies bag....or tote
Unfortunately the days of not checking luggage seem to be over for now.
dont PACK what you dont want to lose is the new maxim
Susanne
Fairfax, Ca USA Wed 08/23/2006
MP3 and headphones
First, I have a Sandisk Sansa player, the e250. It's more like a iPod Nano, so it's small, but also has an expansion slot and plays movies. You can put plenty of audiobooks on it.
Second, I have a pair of noise cancelling headphones made by Tech B. Amazon sells them. They work very well - it uses a single AAA battery. It's worth it just for the plane trip, even if you don't listen to music.
Steve
Bothell, WA USA Tue 08/15/2006
Ipods For Photo Storage
My husband and I spent 2 weeks touring Italy last fall on our honeymoon. The 20gb. Ipod we took with us was a Godsend! Not only did it store several hours worth of music for the plane ride over and back but we also used it as photo back up. My husband has a nikon digital camera. Between the 2 of us we took over 3000 photos on our trip. When the data card filled up with photos, we transferred them to the iPod (it can store up to 20,000 photos). It kept track of each "roll" of photos we took and allowed us to simply use only 1 card the entire trip. No multiple cards to keep track of. We won't travel anywhere without the iPod!
Raigan <email>
Atlanta, GA USA Tue 08/15/2006
Creative MP3 players and splitter
Ipods are highly overrated and cost too much, in my opinion. Creative makes some great players and they are tiny and hold lots of music. Also, they cost way less than the Ipod. If you want a great player go for a Creative MP3 player.
I've taken mine on trips all over. I also have bought a splitter for the headphone jack so my fiance and I can listen to one MP3 player. They are a worthy investement when travelling and not very expensive. I think I paid $20 for mine.
Happy Travels!
M
Albert Canada Fri 08/11/2006
IPOD NANO and Audio Tours
Does the 4 GB IPOD Nano show the art work that goes along with the Paris audio tours? or does one have to have the regular 30GB IPOD? Thanks.
Pam <email>
South Pasadena, CA USA Thu 08/10/2006
I want to second Rob's note about a Creative Labs MP3 player. Last year on a trip to Japan I wanted something so small and light I would forget it was in my backpack. I also wanted something that ran on batteries (in this case, one AAA) because they are easily available everywhere in the world and you don't worry about voltage and adapters. It turned out to be the ideal travel companion. On a subway or train, I'd just reach into my sack and pull out this little gadget that was only the size and weight of a pack of gum. Lifesaver!! Plus it has a radio built in, for times when you're bored with your music. Leave the fancy stuff at home, only take things you can afford to break or lose. These are now widely available for $50 or less.
Ron
Los Angeles, USA Wed 08/09/2006
iPod and pillowtalk
I am planning a trip to Scotland/Eireland (oops...Ireland...) next year and have been wondering, "Dare I risk the loss of my beloved iPod on this trip?" I use it at home to fall asleep and I listen to it all day at work...nestled into the slim dock, it recharges easily. I know Steve advises bringing nothing you care about losing, but reading these posts makes me realize I should bring it, albeit keep it as close to me as my moneybelt. It's a 60 gb video iPod so the possibilities are endless. I especially love the thought of using the photo features "to make new friends" as someone stated.
Also in reference to a post...my husband and I camp 3 or 4 times a year and last time (3 days) we used our iPod attached to battery powered speakers and listened to music and old time radio shows everynight! And, the slim dock/adapter I use at work slipped into my purse and was only used one time (from the truck's cigarette adapter plug) to recharge. It is excellent for camping...just keep it protected in a good case.
Thanks for all the input...next to my husband, my iPod will be my most valuable travel companion!
Kristen
Santa Ana, CA USA Sun 08/06/2006
Multiple Use Chargers
Amen to Chris's comments about 120/240 volt chargers. Also be aware that electricity doesn't know what gadget you are trying to charge--only what voltage and amperage load you need. Therefore, consider ONE charger for both your IPod and for other accessories. My BlackBerry will recharge on 120/240 and guess what? It charges up my IPod as well, because it delivers a similar electronic load. The reason for the BlackBerry is to send and receive emails and for use as a cell phone. Your personal PDA likely has a charger with a USB port that will accommodate other electronic gadgets and gizmos, resulting in well charged items and only one universal charger (very lightweight, as well--not like those old transformers that you used to have to lug around). Check out the specs, then pare down the equipment you are carrying. I used to carry lots of AA cells for all kinds of things, and now am sold on the rechargeables.
Wally <email>
Reno, NV USA Thu 08/03/2006
Errors with audio tour mp3 file tags
Dear Rick
Nice work on the audio tours. One tip for you is the mp3 files are often missing (over half) the title 'tags'.
This is why some chapter titles are written nicely and others look_like_01_this (where the player defaults to the file name).
A small issue but it's very easy to fix - most computer media players will let you edit the tags.
Keep up the good work!
Rob
AK, NZ Thu 08/03/2006
iPod battery and charging
Well I see a lot of posts on here about changing batteries and how hard it is to charge an iPod battery. I beg to differ. I try to travel with a bare minimum. I don't want to have to worry about batteries. Do you all know that the iPod is rated for 110 or 220 V? All you need to do is have the correct plug that fits ont he end of the charger plug. that's it. There is no transformer you need to buy. All you need in the plug converter and the power cord and plug adapter to plug in to the wall. At first I was alittle skeptikal too about plugging my 400 dollar iPod in to a 220V plug. I tried it in Rome, Paris and Barcelona and oh what a lifesaver. Yeah if you're on a train it may be a little tougher, but I would never go for batteries. It's too easy to plug in overnight or when you are not using it. I download all of my pics to the iPod and it takes up a good amount of power, but at the end of the day I plug in and let it recharge. It's great. The same holds true for the Canon Rebel XT 35d. The battery charger is rated between 100 and 240V, I believe and again all you need is the plug adapter.
Chris
Pittsburgh, PA USA Wed 07/26/2006
iPod French
Sally,
I loaded the Pimsleur French I and II on my iPod and it worked out great. I got the first set from the library, bought the second from Amazon. They're 30 lessons each. Usually did each lesson twice in a day. Learned a lot of French while walking the dog and driving to and from work.
Paul
Virginia Beach, VA USA Tue 07/25/2006
IPODS
I Pods are great they are better than any of these other devices....they hold more music, etc plus my battery lasts almost twenty hours....and with 30 gigs
I can pack lots of music in it...and the belkin add on battery pack is great uses aa batteries and it too lasts a long time
theft has never been an issue i use it every where
Elizabeth
Fairfax, Ca USA Tue 07/18/2006
Rick's Audio Tours in Paris
While in Paris last month, the 4 of us used Rick Steve's audio walking tours on our ipods: Versailles, Louvre, Orsay, and Historic Paris tour (all downloaded for free on iTunes). We loved having them. Although all the information was excerpted from his Paris travel book, it made it easy for all 4 of us to enjoy the sights and learn about them at the same time (without crowding around 1 person who has to read the book while walking!).
One caveat: the art was not always displayed in the same order/location as he presented it. For this reason, it was good to have an ipod that shows pictures (you could match the picture to the real thing!). Even with the occasional mismatch, these audio tours were a great addition to our travels.
Meg
Rochester, MI USA Wed 07/12/2006
iPods are great
I love my iPod. The battery lasts a really long time, but if I need to charge it, I use a wall charger and it's no big deal at all. The charger is about 1 1/5 x 2 inches. I'd much rather carry that than a bunch of batteries. Plus, I can play video clips on mine. It's great on the plane. Perhaps the people who hate iPods are camping. I could see how one would need an mp3 player that took batteries in that case.
Pamela
Santa Barbara, CA USA Mon 07/10/2006
Better than an IPod!
I agree with Michael that IPods are over rated, you are captive to too many issues including software as well as batteries. I use a Creative Labs MP3 player as well and it is the best traveling companion! I store a couple of audio books as well as several hours of music on mine. (Tip: when you convert your audio files don't bother saving them at the highest bit rate. You're looking for quantity, not quality. In an airplane or other noisy environment even with noise canceling headphones you are not going to get any benefit of a super high quality recording. Set your audio conversion software to save the files at the FM radio level and you can triple the amount of listening time available. If you are doing audio books set the software to the AM radio level. Plenty good for anyone's needs and you can fit a lot more on to the player.)
These players are about the size of a disposable cigarette lighter and use a standard AAA battery which you can replace in an instant. They also allow you to record voice with a built in microphone which is great for directions or such and you can also record diretly from the built in FM radio so you can save some of the local flavor for later. It also allows you to plug directly into a USB port with out need for adapters or cables!
I can tell you that almost every IPod owner I have shown this player to is wishing they had the flexibility I do. And at a better price. I can't praise this little gem too much.
Rob
Danvers, MA USA Sun 07/02/2006
I agree that having the iPod for the airplane rides are great, I also used mine when I was jet lagged and couldn't sleep. I've got some soothing music on there and I listed to very quietly to help me nod off when I was having trouble.
USA Fri 06/30/2006
Long- lasting batteries
I just came back from my tour of France, and brought my ipod nano along. I thought that i would be using it a lot, and bought a bunch of things for it: a wall adapter to charge it into a plug, and an international adapter so I could charge it in France. It turned out that the only time i really used my ipod was on the airplane rides! The batteries for an ipod last long enough that you probably dont need to bring a charger if you dont plan on listening to it as much.
Brittany
PA USA Thu 06/29/2006
Noise-cancelling earbuds
I just tried the Sony MDR NC11 noise-cancelling earbuds on a 6-hour flight. I'd say they worked OK. They don't block out all noise. The earbuds form a seal which do block out part of the noise. And then the active noise cancellation emits a low-level hiss. You won't hear the hiss if you play music at the same time. Together, the white-noise hiss and the music did decrease the volume and drone of the airplane engine better than plain earbuds do. But you can still hear some rumble, and you definitely can hear the flight attendants, crying babies, etc. It's not a miracle product, but it helps me enough on flights that I'll be bringing it along, until I find something equally small that works better at cancelling noise.
USA Wed 06/28/2006
RE:Noise-cancelling earbuds?
I have a set of Etymotic Research 6isolator earphones. They are noise cancelling earbuds and block out around 35 decibals of noise. I recently used them on an airplane flight to Hawaii and I must say, the preformance was amazing. While you can still hear some engine noise (about 75% of the noise was blocked in my opinion), it is not nearly as much as the standard earbuds that came with my iPod. Standard earbuds are designed to let you hear outside noise. Noise cancelling earbuds are not.
USA Sun 06/18/2006
Noise-cancelling earbuds?
Has anyone tried noise-cancelling earbuds (like the Sony MDR NC11) on flights? Are they that much better than plain earbuds at canceling/blocking airplane engine noise? (And I'm interested in the earbud version, not the big over-the-ear headphones like the Bose). Thanks.
USA Thu 06/15/2006
iPods for storing Travel Info
Ipod's are useful for more than just music!
- subway maps for Paris, London, Tokyo and other cities at http://www.isubwaymaps.com/
- a few photos from home to show your new friends
- short notes like hotel address and phone numbers
Of course remember not to store something like credit card numbers on your easily stolen player.
Steve
Portland, OR USA Thu 06/15/2006
French iPod Lessons for Sally
Sally, several people have french lessons for the iPod. Open the iTunes application and click on Podcasting. Search for "french" and you will find several that you can subscribe to and download to your iPod.
Lester
San Antonio, TX USA Mon 06/12/2006
Sally- French
Just go to your library and check some out, listen and see what you like. It depends on what and how much you want to know, but the library is a great way to explore all the different audio CD options and then download one (or more) to your ipod. I also go to Amazon and read their reviews then ask my library for ones that were highly recommended.
Sue
Chicago, IL USA Fri 06/09/2006
french lessons
Does anybody know a good french lesson program i can trnafer to my ipod ? Thanks !
Sally
USA Fri 06/09/2006
Audio Tours of the Louvre and Orsay
I just took my ipod to Paris last week and listened to the Orsay and Louvre audio tours. Overall they were great, but I stumbled a little bit at the beginning because there were a few pieces that I couldn't find. In the Orsay, The Source and The Birth of Venus were not in room 1. A bit later The Origin of the World has moved to room 15 , Whistler's Mother is on loan and I couldn't find The Card Players. Over at the Lourve Venus de Milo was on the move the entire week we were in Paris. You should be able to find her now in room 74 of the Sully wing. Overall I enjoyed them because they were an excellent start to both museums. You could definitely spend WAY more time in the Louvre...it would be nice to have a Louvre highlights and a deeper Lourve. The Orsay tour I felt really covered a lot of the museum. Like they say on the tour, be flexible. There were only a few pieces that I couldn't find at all, if one wasn't in the room they said it would be in, they were generally pretty close by.
Martta
Knoxville, TN USA Thu 06/08/2006
Share Photos
Instead of bringing photos of family, friends, and your hometown, you can use your ipod (but only if its an ipod photo or ipod video model.) I saw that someone suggested bringing actual photos to share with people they had met abroad. I have over 3000 pictures stored on my ipod and have used it many times to show people friends, where I live, vacations, etc. People will go on forever looking through your photos. Organize your favorites before hand into a slideshow with your favorite music. It's a fun way to bond
Tom
Long Beach, CA USA Sun 06/04/2006
Ipod/mp3 recorded tours
Rick Steves walking tours of Paris, The Louvre, and Musee D'Orsay are available as mp3 downloads on iTunes.
Andy Perry <email>
Louisville, KY USA Sat 06/03/2006
MP3
We will be traveling this summer to Europe with our kids. Our local library is a great source for free downloadable books for me and my sons. I love my Zen micro! Holds a ton of stuff.
LJ
Chicago, USA Sat 06/03/2006
Ipod/mp3 recorded tours
Ipods and MP3s can be used to carry your own recordings of Rick's many tours found in his books. All you need is some audio recording software and a microphone. I updated my standard issue Quicktime Player to the "Pro" version for Windows, but many others are out there - maybe even free. An inexpensive mic will let you create your own "recording studio". I just reviewed each walk and noted places to pause. Then when I recorded, I added sound pause indicators using a electronic keyboard that will make whatever sound you choose. I set it close to the mic so it lets the listener know when to press the pause button (you could also just say "ding"). Since I am not a computer genius this worked very well for me but perhaps experts know of a better method. The microsoft sound recorder on the computer limits recording to only 60 seconds so that's the reason for upgrading. Each program was about 15-25 minutes long and good for the usual 1 to 3 hour walk. Warning: I hope you and your companion can stand to listen to you; I will soon discover how my wife really feels about this. I did 17 programs for southern and eastern Europe plus 4 other ones that I downloaded from IJourneys- very few of these are presently available but this may expand in the next year or so. I am using two SanDisk Sansa E-130 mp3s which are relatively cheap. They use flash memory instead of a hard drive which makes them very light (1 oz) and rugged. I also use some very compact folding headphones made by AltecLansing that fit into a nice little case. Both are very easy to carry around all day. The Sansas also have an SD memory slot so you can carry up to 2 gigs extra which would probably mean about 100 or more walks. This is a very simple process -I use Quicktime to record, import the recording into ITunes, convert it into mp3 (see advanced on toolbar) and then use explorer to export it to the Sansa. I would strongly recommend it as an alternative to the usual guided walks which to me have real disadvantages. I am also bringing along my video Ipod for movies on the planes, and an extra older Ipod for local recording of comments and sounds for classroom presentations. Recording on the older Ipods is very easy with a small optional microphone device - I use the Belkin - but the weight and delicacy of the Ipods makes me somewhat concerned about using them heavily in the field- so that's the reason for the cheaper mp3s. Maybe Rick will speed up the podcasts, but until that happens, this is available now.
Rich Sweeney
CA USA Thu 06/01/2006
Ipods and batteries
The ipod internal battery problem is easily solved by a number of external AA battery pods (Belkin, etc.) that simply plug into your ipod. Some will even charge your ipod from the AAs. Inexpensive and not a big deal
Just a Traveller
Tucson, Az USA Fri 05/26/2006
LOVE MY Ipod
I've used my iPod for 4 trips over seas. Used it on the plane to help me sleep, and while on long train trips. I've NEVER had an issue with the battery dying on me. I love that I only have to bring a small charger and my adapter plug. No batteries to carry around or throw away (enviornment?- remember that?)
It's great too because I can download my photos from my digital camera as a back up to my memory cards with a simple $29 accessory I bought at the Apple store.
I also keep my language lessons on my Ipod so I can practice on the plane and during downtime during the day or night. I will most likely download a few books for my next trip too, lots lighter than carrying a book with me. (I'll use the library for this, no need to buy an expensive audio book I'll only listen to one time)
There is just so much you can do with an ipod! I LOVE MINE - it's FANTASTIC! Thanks Steve Jobs!
USA Thu 05/25/2006
IPODs Blow
I hate I PODs, especially for international travel. The main reason is when the battery dies that's all she wrote. I have a creative Zen Micro that I love and I have 4 extra batteries for it that I can swap out at anytime. Last summer we did the Trans-Siberian railway and if I had an IPOD I would have been out of luck for most of the trip. I highly recommend finding a MP3 player that has a removable battery.
Michael Ford
Antioch, CA USA Thu 05/25/2006
Cheap Add-ons For Ipod
If your cheap like me and /or just hate paying those rediculous prices for Ipod add-ons... THe best source to buy cheep add-ons is Ebay. It is not uncommon to pick up a leather case for 99 cents. They usually will toss in something for free as well. I got 2 cases, a lanyard and car charger for under $2. I did pay $9 for shipping. Still a huge bargain since the the leather case was $29 at local Walmart.
So take a look and consider buying multiple things so you can save a few more bucks on the shipping.
HHHhhhmmm is it too early to buy Christmas gifts...
Andrew
Andrew Patron <email>
Tampa, FL USA Mon 05/22/2006
iPod charges
Want to take your iPod to Europe or any other electronic device requiring a charger, (cameras, MP3 players, computers, etc.) Just check the power adapter/charger, see if the input voltage is 90-240 VAC. If it is you do not need a heavy bulky transformer; all you need is a $1.00 plug adapter. http://www.amabilidade2002.com/power13.htm Don’t do this if the device is rated for 110/120 VAC, you will need a transformer.
I find I travel with a several electronic devices. I either travel with several of the adapters or use a power strip. (Make sure it’s not a surge protector.)
Dougg
USA Sun 05/21/2006
Ipod and MP3 Player tips
This urban myth about white earphones is just that\
a myth., I have lived in Paris for quite a while with an
i pod and used it everywhere.....thousands and thousands of Parisians have ipods with white earphones......pas de problem
Suzanne
Fairfax, Ca USA Wed 05/10/2006
ipod nano
i would like to know if i can use my ipod in Italy?
simona <email>
bronx, ny USA Mon 05/08/2006
So many uses!
My husband and I are taking the Rick Steves three-week Europe tour this summer and I have been planning much of my trip around my ipod. We have the ipod camera connector (works like a charm) and I have loaded my ipod with everything from music, to audiobooks (fun ones for Europe, from my local library), language CDs in the three languages I will need (I have the RS phase books, but this way I can hear the language being spoken-- I put the "In Flight" audio CDS on, again from the library), and the Rick Steves tour downloads for Paris. I also have an older ipod (got it Aug. 05) and I have the Belkin italk so I can record audio journaling, street musicans, etc. (it also serves as a little speaker for the alarm or sharing music with a friend). I am continually amazed at everything I can use my ipod for! And I don't even have the video ipod-- I can only imagine...
Sue
Chicago, IL USA Sun 05/07/2006
Small set of Speakers,
I take some little speakers with us for all our trips. It's nice to have local music on my Ipod and play it in our hotel rooms and once even in our rental car while tooling across France.
Marty <email>
Seattle, WA USA Wed 05/03/2006
Offload Digital Camera Photos
THis is good! Belkin Digital Camera Link for iPod w/ Dock Connector Part # F8E477. An adapter that offloads pictures from my camera memory cards to my Ipod. This allows me to offload my pictures every night for safekeeping. I've heard something about a new direct Ipod to Camera cable available.
Marty <email>
Seattle, WA USA Wed 05/03/2006
Dublin Walking Tours
Have iPod (or other MP3 player) and going to Dublin? Check out www.visitdublin.com before you leave home. Look under "Self Guided Walking Tours" or try this link: http://www.visitdublin.com/SeeAndDo/Tours/SelfGuidedWalkingTours/selfguided.aspx?id=281 . These are downloadable files for your MP3 player (just like Rick's Paris Tour and radio show podcasts). They are narrated by a local author and a free, easy way to take a walking tour without the guide or guidebook. I'm going in August and will be sure to give the tours a try. Happy Travels!
Melissa <email>
Troy, MI USA Sat 04/29/2006
iPod charger
I've actually noticed that my iPod charges faster using the wall charger vs. plugging it into my computer to charge.
Erika
Edmonds, WA USA Mon 04/24/2006
New IPod charger
I called my Apple dealer and he told me the wall charger and Firewire cable I had from my old IPod will work fine. I didn't want to have to worry about finding a place to charge it with the USB cable.
Daneal
Tucson, AZ USA Sun 04/23/2006
Charging Ipod without your computer
Hey Angela,
Newer ipods only come with the computer cord. My ancient ipod came with an attachment that you could plug into the wall to charge. Apple sells them separately now ($29 US). happy traveling!
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/1.RSLID?mco=19333EF4&nplm=M9837LL%2FA
Kevin
Toronto, Ontario Canada Sat 04/22/2006
Charging Ipod
This is a question, not a tip. My Ipod came with only a charger that plugs into my computer to charge. If I'm not going to haul a computer around Europe, how do I recharge it?
Angela
Chicago, IL USA Sat 04/22/2006
iPod playlists and headphones
We used an iPod to listen to the Gladitor movie soundtrack when touring the Coliseum in Rome. Made me wish I had thought ahead and dowloaded some Italian-themed music for my trip. I recommend buying a cheap pair of headphones though, as police depts all over Europe warn that white headphones are a target for thieves. I recommend noise-cancelling headphones for the plane ride, even if you aren't listening to music, just having them on helps me sleep better by cutting ambient noise.
Ashley <email>
TN USA Sat 04/15/2006
iPod use
I have audio books for airplanes (saves weight and space in your carry on) and a catagory for just 'sleeping' music. I also use the 'sleep timer' if I know I'll fall asleep to save my battery on the long overseas flights.
Laurel Meadows <email>
Bagram, Afghanistan Fri 04/14/2006
iPod in Italy
I successfully charged my iPod in Italy just using the charger that came with the iPod and the appropriate plug adaptor for Italy. That should be all you need. Have a fun trip!
USA Fri 04/07/2006
IPods in Europe
I've never had any problems charging my (US bought) IPod here in the UK, though I normally charge it via my computer.
As long as you use the charger that came with the IPod and the appropriate plug coverter, it should be just fine - the charger is dual voltage just like any computer charger. Apple also sells a kit of travel convertors which work very handily with all IPod chargers and computers.
Scotland Fri 04/07/2006