iPod Nano stops playing when display turns off

I am a one for keeping tech that works LONG past its use-by-date, and doing all I can to keep it going. So I was struck with horror when my ancient iPod Nano stopped playing whenever the display screen auto-turned off last year. 

I immediately catastrophised that this would finally, finally be the end of this lovely piece of kit (see previous posts here)... however, this turned out to be one of the easiest fixes! 

A quick online search yielded a repair thanks to zahirkidd (2011). The problem is simply that when the headphone jack is just not quite fully plugged in, the player stops when the screen goes to sleep. To fix, simply ensure that the jack is fully pushed home.

Doh!

Sam

Reference:

zahirkidd. (26 February 2011). Music stops when screen turns off after 1.1 update. Apple Community. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2765444

read more "iPod Nano stops playing when display turns off"

IPod error - file was not copied

When it comes to technology, if I have a piece of kit which works well and meets my needs, I am very reluctant to change it until it really, absolutely, utterly no longer works. Yes, I am a Luddite.

I am still using my old iPod Nano (ie, sixth generation iPod), which must be well over decade old, to listen to my audiobooks. I have worn out many sets of headphones, but my Nano keeps ticking on. While I do have trouble at times with syncing with iTunes, I have not yet struck a situation where I have needed to upgrade.

However, the last couple of times I have gone to delete listened to audiobooks, and to add new ones using iTunes, I got a strange message on attempting to transfer files onto my iPod from iTunes, that:

"[filename] was not copied to the iPod "[name of iPod]" because it could not be played on the iPod."

Interesting.

I deleted the books I had loaded, and reimported them to iTunes. They worked and played perfectly there. Good. Tried again. Hmm. Same message.

I went hunting for posts on this error, but the results were all pretty venerable, being between 15 and ten years old. Nothing recent (but hey, I am probably the last person on the planet using an iPod Nano). There were posts about needing to convert files again, to needing to reindex iTunes, to reimport all the files... but nothing that seemed to relate to being unable to transfer a file which had imported into iTunes perfectly, but failed to copy across to the iPod itself.

So I tried some things. I tried reconverting the mp3 audiobook files into mp3s. Reimported. Tried to copy across again. Hmm. Same message.

Then I disconnected my iPod to see if the book had turned up on the iPod in stealth mode. I found that my Audiobook player button had disappeared from the iPod. Could these problems be related? And if so, how to solve this?

I reconnected my iPod, and it showed up as normal in iTunes. I could play my audiobooks from my iPod through iTunes without difficulty. And then, when I disconnected again, my iPod audiobooks button was back on the player. And when I reconnected to iTunes, my iPod could now accept new books.

This problem must be related to deleting books from the iPod. For some reason, deleting books seems to make the iPod think that I have deleted the audiobook player app as well. Ah, well. A least I now have a work-around:

• Plug iPod in. Delete old books in iTunes
• Then play a book still on the iPod through iTunes
• Then disconnect the iPod from iTunes
• Play a book on the iPod
• Then reconnect the iPod to iTunes, and load the new books.

However, I feel I may be getting closer to having to get a new player. <sigh>

Sam

read more "IPod error - file was not copied"

Getting data off my iPod

When it comes to technology, I can be a bit of a Luddite. If I have something that works well and meets my needs, I am reluctant to change it until it really, absolutely, utterly no longer works.

In that vein, I have been using an iPod nano (ie, sixth generation iPod) for many years. It meets my needs very well. It is small, light, and will clip to my clothes. This latter point is important, as women's clothes often don't have pockets (a problem to be discussed in another post!). The Nano works well with my audiobooks, which tends to be my main use. While I do have trouble at times with syncing with iTunes, I have not yet struck a situation where I have needed to upgrade.

However, recently I found that a book on my iPod had disappeared from my library. Luckily, I spotted it was missing before I deleted the book from my Nano. I went to try and copy the book back from my Nano to my iTunes, but was unable to find a way to do that within iTunes itself.

In order to copy from iPod back to iTunes, I went looking online for some non-iTunes transfer software. Unfortunately, the apps which I found no longer worked on the iPod Nano: the Nano was too old to be recognised by the software. I tried both CopyTrans and Leawo iTransfer, and had no luck with either one.

I had to think laterally. I know that iTunes creates four letter file names for each of its files, and stores one book across multiple folders. The only way you can work out what each file is within the folder structure of the iPod is to listen to each file. I didn't want to have to do that. I have a lovely piece of software called FileSearchEX (the EX stands for exchange). This is a very helpful piece of kit for doing pre-Windows 8 tiered searches (read more here). What I did was:

• I went into my iPod using iTunes, and changed some of the audiobook information for the entire book, to change the "file modified" date stamp.
• Then I used FileSearchEX, with the date filters for "file modified" restricted to today's date, to search my iPod. It returned the files for that audiobook which I was missing from iTunes.
• I then simply dragged the iPod Nano FileSearchEX files and drop them into my iPod backup Windows folder. I got a list of four letter-named MP3 files.
• Then I reimported those MP3 files straight back into my iTunes library.
• iTunes reimported the files as music, so I had to re-categorise them as an audiobook, but all the other information was still there.

While this is a bit of a workaround, it worked without me needing to buy any new software.

I hope it works for you too!


Sam

*please note that while this is not a sponsored post, consider buying a copy of FileSearchEX: it is only USD$30. It has saved me thousands of dollars in wasted time trying to find files.

read more "Getting data off my iPod"

Listening to audiobooks

Fifteen years ago I was introduced to audiobooks by a friend. I had dog-sat while he went overseas, and my - unexpected - reward was an mp3 player with a couple of audiobooks loaded on it. Since that wonderful gift, my audiobook collection has grown to the high hundreds, and I listen to audiobooks daily.

Why daily? Because I sleep deeply and short: my husband sleeps lightly and long. Audiobooks fill the gap between my needed sleep, my low boredom threshold and my husband sleep's very well indeed. I use a trusty old iPod Nano which I clip onto my pillow, and listen n whisper-quiet through $3 earphones from AliExpress (here). The earphones usually crap out within about 6 months from being rolled on, so I don't go for high value or high cost ones.

What is even more interesting is that I will listen to audiobooks that I probably wouldn't have the patience to read, or think of buying. One of my favourite audiobooks is the seven volume work on Winston Churchill by William Manchester. I have an annual Audible subscription, have converted DVDs and CDs, have downloaded books from authors, and have borrowed audiobooks from libraries.

What do I use to listen? I listen on my phone, my iPod, or my PC. My iPod is my go-to listening device, but sometimes - if I am travelling internationally - I will load some extra books on my laptop, to be transferred to my iPod as I run low, as well as filling up my iPod. When travelling within NZ, sometimes I will add some books to my phone as well as on my iPod.

But the result of all these devices is that DRM causes me grief: many formats lack transferability, particularly Audible. To avoid that, I use a couple of pieces of kit to help me with getting the books that I own - or have borrowed for a time - onto my phone, my iPod, my laptop or my PC.

One way using three pieces of kit:

• When downloading books from the Audible library, download (a) in Enhanced format, (b) using the latest Audible Download Manager, but (c) have an OLD version of Audible Manager installed (version 5.5.08 or earlier). Once you have downloaded, use a piece of German freeware kit called AaxToMp3GUI.exe (download here) and go to the file that Audible had saved your download to. Although this software is in German, you can easily work out that "Durchsuchen" means search, and "Umwandeln" means convert. Conversion will take a while. Then save the file and import it into whatever the software is that you use.

And another way using one piece of kit:

• Manage all your downloads and file conversions using OpenAudible (download here). I have tried this and it seems to work just fine. Simply import your existing Audible files and the software will auto-convert them to mp3s. It says that it will work for the US, UK, DE, FR, AU, JP & CA regions (no mention of NZ, but we are probably lumped in with Aussie). The cool thing about this software is that you can do everything in one step: download, MP3 conversion, and file management, right from the desktop. Tip: set your conversion folder location as the same as your fave player folder (eg iTunes location).

I hope this allows you all to listen to your books more easily.


Sam

read more "Listening to audiobooks"

Soundless Audiobooks

Now, how about this for a contradiction in terms: soundless audiobooks. It is an interesting problem to have!

I recently downloaded a couple of audiobooks from audible, and transferred them to my iPod. I went to play the books, to find that - although the book had every appearance of playing - there was no sound. I checked that other books played with sound: they did. OK, so something wrong with my latest downloads. Should be simple. Just delete, re-download, re-synchronise... ah. Same problem.

Feeling cold clench of fear: eeek! I might have to trade in my iPod! Granted, it is extremely venerable. It is an iPod 5th generation - the little square model with the clip on the back. I love it because it is tiny and light. It doesn't do wi-fi or bluetooth, but it keeps going and going and going... and I don't want to have to get a new one!

OK, deal with it later. Read/listen other books for a while. Then return when I have five minutes to spare. First step: delete already downloaded files, re-download, re-synchronise... nope, still the same problem.

Google search: "new downloads play but no sound on ipod". Great: a post from Apple. Oh. "Talk to Audible". Dammit! Go to help on Audible and repeat search. Result! "What should I do if my audiobook downloaded in format 4 does not play correctly on my MP3 player?"

OK: the solution is remarkably simple. Go to your library page. At the top of the page, there is an "Audio Quality" dropdown box (see image on this post). Chances are your quality has been changed from "Enhanced" (which plays) to Format 4 (which doesn't). Change it back to Enhanced.

Re-download. Transfer. Listen <sigh>

Satisfaction. Job done.


Sam

References:

• Apple (15 April 2015). Audio book won't play on iPod. Retrieved 16 August 2017 from https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7925227?start=0&tstart=0
• Audible (n.d.). What should I do if my audiobook downloaded in format 4 does not play correctly on my MP3 player? Retrieved 16 August 2017 from http://audible.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9150/kw/new%20downloads%20play%20but%20no%20sound%20on%20ipod

read more "Soundless Audiobooks"

How to read 200 books a year

I read an interesting post by Charles Chu recently on Medium (6 January 2017).

Apparently the average American loses 608 hours of their lives annually on social media, and 1642 hours in front of the TV (Chu, 6 January 2017). Ouch. And if we think of the number of ...er ...'alternative facts' out there, perhaps this isn't the best use of our time.

It probably doesn't improve our thought or decision-making processes, either.

Charles laid out the mathematics instead for how to read 200 books a year (Chu, 6 January 2017. Also see the poster with this article). Surprisingly, it works out at 8 hours a week.

However, if we do the mathematics a different way, we need to read 3.8 books a week in order to read 200 in a year.

I think it will take most of us longer than 2 hours per book - particularly if we are using talking books, which average around 10 hours in length.

I listen to around two talking books a week, plus my other on-screen reading... my talking books get listened to at night using my iPod and earbuds, as I go to sleep. I also do a fair bit of technical reading, as a PhD scholar.

So I suspect that it would take us closer to thirty hours a week to get four non-fiction books read. Then we have enough time budget to read two and listen to two.

But even thirty hours is only just over four hours a day. Ditch the TV and social media for three nights, and four books a week is pretty do-able.

Read on!


Sam

• Reference: Chu, Charles (6 January 2017). The Simple Truth Behind Reading 200 Books a Year. Retrieved 5 February 2017 from https://betterhumans.coach.me/the-simple-truth-behind-reading-200-books-a-year-1767cb03af20#.sbditxjxk

read more "How to read 200 books a year"

WikiHow: Resetting Your iPod Nano 6th Generation

If your iPod Nano is freezes - ie, it appears to be as dead as a doornail with a black screen and not responding to the native or headset buttons - WikiHow has a fix.

All you need do is to press and hold both the Power button and the Volume Down button for about 8 seconds.

The Apple logo should appear if the reset happens correctly.  Then the iPod will start as normal

If th reset process doesn't appear to work on the first try, repeat the process a few times.

However, if you can't get your iPod to reset this way, plug it into a power adapter or into your computer. While it is charging, try the reset process again.


Sam

• Reference: WikiHow (n.d.). How to Reset an iPod. Retrieved 25 June 2015 from http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-an-iPod

read more "WikiHow: Resetting Your iPod Nano 6th Generation "

Who knew iPod earbuds had so many hidden features?

As we know, many iPod earbuds have a volume and off/on control on the cable, but they can do a lot more than that.

In fact, there is an awesome amount of things you can do with one, two or three clicks that makes using your iPod easier than ever: and is a FANTASTIC reason to buy the earbud sets with the cable controls over the ones without.

Check out Will Wei's video from the Business Insider below:



Sam

• Reference: Wei, Will (12 February 2015). 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do. Australia: Business Insider. Retrieved 25 February 2015 from http://www.businessinsider.com.au/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2

read more "Who knew iPod earbuds had so many hidden features?"

Technology and Magic

Arthur C. Clarke's had three laws, and the third of them, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", is a purler (1973, p. 36).

I like its intent. While I can understand some of the aspects ot technology - ie, you plug it in, follow the instructions and it should do what it says on the tin - once we get beyond that, into that great, esoteric vastness of quantum mechanics, I am lost. All is hazy beyond my tech event horizon.

So tech is at 'that' point for me; where it is rapidly descending into magic. It either works (technology) or is an incomprehensible piece of plastic (evil, sadistic, black magic)!

However, I love tech. I find it so cool that I can have 1/4 of my library - 700 books - on my Kindle. My iPod nano is tiny yet contains 300 albums and 25 talking books. My laptop weighs a mere 1200g. I have a three terabyte harddrive that contains loads of my favourite movies and TV series, synched with a sound system and a projector to watch films, just like I was at the movies (but with loo stops and better coffee and wine).

You might get the feeling that I like to read. Oh yeah.

If I am ever without a book, I will read the toilet paper wrapping or cereal packets. Intently. I need words in a row. In times of desperation, I have even been known to read real estate listings and women's magazines (you know, the ghastly ones that speculate about airbrushed 'celebrities', and have diets and clothes for brooms alongside rich, indulgent recipes).

When I travel, gone are the days when I need to take a quarter of my luggage allowance in books. Now I can 'go lite' with everything on little devices.

My entertainment supplies are on the web. I have bought books, music and films online since the 1990s. While originally I purchased hard copies, now I download. Why limit yourself to a 'thing' when you can have searchable, pausable, drag and dropable electrons in a row?

All this is WONDERFUL. Except when tech fails. Then, we get back into magic territory, where my technomancer fixes it for me (Martindale, 1990).

So what has this tech done to our society? Bricks and mortar bookshops will vanish, except as another entertainment venue - think cafe reading - or as a niche interest group. Books will only come in eFormats - truly searchable - and you won't get hard copies anymore unless you print your own. The same for music, I think - also unless you 3D print records (as is starting to happen) or you burn a CD. All knowledge will be accessible on the web - for a price. I think may start entering the realm of micropayments for things we want access to online, with free content as teasers (The Economist, 17 December 2013).

I love the idea of Google Glass. I know wearers are currently coined 'glassholes' (Whittaker, 3 January 2014), but reading what Zach Whittaker has to say, Google Glass makes current technology seamless. You can film, see, direct and access your life in a way that opens up many more opportunities and richness than we have seen in the past. Zach wrote that Google has algorithms which search and link all your content and, despite not programming a diary entry for a flight, "like magic it [Glass] appears with terminal information and live departure status. I walked around the terminal and, behold, [Glass directed me to] a place to grab a coffee and somewhere to buy a slice of cake". He continued "a week with Glass makes a smartphone feel somewhat archaic. The fact that this wearable technology sits within plain sight makes interfacing with it feel closer and more interactive. By that, the reality that your data is visual, it's always there, and it's available as and when you want it" (Whittaker, 30 December 2013)

Technologies will continue to converge at a dizzying rate, become more human and seamless and I will finally get my wished for combo device that I can tell to be the shape that I want for the use that I want... book shaped for reading that will turn off when I fall asleep and sticks to my fingers so I can't drop it, 3D surround for watching movies, and invisible and sound-proof for listening, talking, singing, dictating and creating.

Truly magic.

References:

• Clarke, Arthur C. (1973). Hazards of Prophecy: The Failure of Imagination in Profiles of the Future: an Inquiry Into the Limits of the Possible (Revised Edition). USA: MacMillan (p. 36)
• Martindale, Steve (1990). Technomancy. Aboriginal Science Fiction, March/April 1990 volume 4, issue 2 (pp. 56-61)
• The Economist (17 December 2013). Friends and forecasters: Ten thoughts for the future. Retrieved 9 January 2014 from http://www.economist.com/blogs/theworldin2014/2013/12/friends-and-forecasters 
• Whittaker, Zack (3 January 2014). OK, Glass: How do I stop people calling me a 'Glasshole'? Retrieved 9 January 2014 from http://www.zdnet.com/ok-glass-how-do-i-stop-people-calling-me-a-glasshole-7000024659/
• Whittaker, Zack (30 December 2013). Google Glass: The most personal piece of tech you may never own. Retrieved 9 January 2014 from http://www.zdnet.com/google-glass-the-most-personal-piece-of-tech-you-may-never-own-7000024631/

Sam

read more "Technology and Magic "