I found an old iPod laying around that I want to set it up to use with my car which has a usb plug. I don't like the restrictive iTunes which forces me to upload all the songs first into iTunes into this massive single location, then I have to create different playlists and go find and "copy" these songs to those playlists. And if i need to add/delete/transfer songs from the iPod drive to another computer, I can't find it on the iPod drive structure.

I have music folders on my computer HDD already, and I just want to simply copy them over to the iPod and launch and play music directly from the iPod folders. I know you can enable the iPod as a storage disk, but then you can't play the music.

I thought tools like SharePod, EphPod, etc were the solution, but I tried them and they seem to function the same way as iTunes.

[Edited on August 27, 2012 at 4:45 PM. Reason : thanks]

[Edited on August 27, 2012 at 4:46 PM. Reason : thanks]

8/27/2012 4:44:43 PM

Ummm. Sounds like you just need a damn flash drive instead of an iPod.

Step 1 - Sell iPod
Step 2 - Buy Bigass Flashdrive
Step 3 - ......
Step 4 - PROFIT

8/27/2012 4:49:59 PM

I actually have many flash drives but if I plug it into the USB port of my car, there's no way to navigate between folders and jump between songs.

That's why I needed the iPod because I'm basically using it as the visual interface to navigate between folders and songs.

8/27/2012 9:19:15 PM

Quote :

"I actually have many flash drives"

then you actually have many folders

8/27/2012 9:30:10 PM

proprietary outlet ftw

8/27/2012 9:52:32 PM

haha no, i don't want to keep many usb flash drives in my car....
and i need to be able to jump between songs......so i thought ipod is the perfect solution

8/27/2012 10:04:25 PM

Quote :

"That's why I needed the iPod because I'm basically using it as the visual interface to navigate between folders and songs."

If that's the case then what you want to do is impossible without iTunes or a similar iPod management software. If you need to use the iPod interface you need to use that sort of software because the iPod interface has nothing to do with folder structures. If you want to keep the folder structure on your computer as is, you can tell iTunes in the preferences to not move or manage your music files on import and it will leave them right whe it found them. Otherwise your only other option is to find a different mp3 player that does work off a folder structure ( sandisk, and perhaps creative if they're still in the business makes these I believe) and use those in your car.

8/27/2012 10:56:17 PM

Quote :

"If you want to keep the folder structure on your computer as is, you can tell iTunes in the preferences to not move or manage your music files on import and it will leave them right whe it found them."

This.

Also, there are other apps that will re-organize your music into a proper folder structure based on ID3 tags (which an app like iTunes will help you properly setup if it's not already), so that when you copy it to the flash drive, it makes sense.

It sounds like you really just need to take an hour and import your music into an actual app (iTunes or the many open source clones out there or even WinAmp I think these days) to do what you want, in the most efficient fashion.

8/27/2012 11:51:59 PM