Such a Wonderful Mini Player for iTunes Skins, Lyrics & More

SkiniTunes is an iTunes controller application that will enhance your experience with iTunes.
OK, it's iTunes related again, even for those who is not iPod owner, iTunes itself will also be a good choice for music player. Furthermore, it is hard to not talk about SkiniTunes for it is such wonderful software!

With Skin iTunes, you will enjoy your choice of two compact skinnable players and a track pop-up window that includes song information, album art and track rating on the fly!

Mini Player

Run iTunes from a flashy and compact player. Place it anywhere on your screen, skin it, rate your songs, and dance your night away!


Skini Player

"Slim, slick, and extremely cool!" When screen space is an issue, you're one click away from enabling SkiniPlayer.

Small enough to house the basic music controls and track information, this player ensures you have the most space available on your screen.

Track PopupOn each track change you are welcomed with the Track Pop-up window. This compact skinnable window displays the current track and rating information.

Lyrics & Track Information

The detailed track information and lyrics is hidden. And it is only a click away when needed.
Besides, if you have many home DVDs or have many videos on your computer, there is wonderful third party software iPod Video Suite which can convert DVD Video to iTunes for iPod video and music format first on computer.Free download iPod Video Suite to convert DVD Video to iTunes for iPod:

1. iPod Video Suite , for Windows users;
2. iPod Video Suite, for Mac users.

SkiniTunes is also packed with additional stylish features and functionality. Use SkiniTunes to put you to bed with a configurable sleep timer for up to two hours. Customize iTunes with your own unique skins or download popular ones among 35 different kinds skins provided by the official website.

tags: iTunes skins, change iTunes skin, convert DVD Video to iTunes

How to convert DVD to iPod

This document is designed to provide you with step-by-step guide on how to rip DVD to video/audio format for playback on iPod Touch/Nano/ Video with Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter. From this step-by-step guide, you will get an easy-to-use way to freely enjoy your favorite DVD movies on iPod.

This guide includes the following parts:

1. What Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter can do for you?
2. How to convert DVD movie to iPod MP4 video with Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter?
3. Tips about using Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter to convert DVD movie to iPod.

Please download Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter, install and run it.

Part 1: What Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter can do for you?
Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter is a powerful DVD to iPod Converter committed to providing you with an easy-to-use and professional way to convert DVD to iPod MP4 Video (h.264) and iPod MP3 playable for iPod Touch/Nano/ Video with excellent quality and super fast speed! With this wonderful iPod DVD Converter, you can:

• Directly convert DVD into iPod format MP4 and other video/audio formats (MOV, M4V, MP3, M4A and WAV etc) with excellent quality.
• Edit video by video cropping, movie trimming and effect adjusting to make perfect video based on your requirement.
• Customize either image or text watermark for video to color your video files in a unique way.
• Share picture by capturing any picture from video with snapshot function.
• Customize output settings including resolution, bit rate, frame rate, etc to completely fulfill your different requirements.
• Import and preview ISO file directly without installation of any Virtual DVD-ROM on your PC.
• Preview video with two real-time preview windows out of your movies in an intuitive way.
• Enjoy your favorite video freely sync with outstanding quality on iPod Touch/Nano/ Video, ready whenever you need to be entertained.

Part 2: How to convert DVD movie to iPod MP4 video with Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter?
Step 1: Please download Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter. And then install and run Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter.



Step 2: Import DVD files.

Click “Add” button, you are allowed to import DVD folders or click , you are allowed to load DVD Rom, DVD folders, ISO files or IFO files respectively.

Step 3: Edit video files.Click “Edit” button, you are allowed to make wonderful video editing by cropping, trimming, adjusting effect and editing watermark.

Step 4: Customize output settings.Click “Settings” button in the output settings area, you are allowed to customize the output parameters and specify output format and folder.

Step 5: Start conversion.Click “Start” button on right bottom of the main interface, you are allowed to start conversion. All the tasks of conversion will be finished at fast speed and high output quality.

Step 6: Transfer video to iPodYou can transfer video file to iPod with iTunes. Please follow the steps below:
1. Connect your iPod to your computer and Launch iTunes. (If you have not installed iTunes, you can download it from this link http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ )

2. Click “My IPOD” under the “DEVICES”, and tick “Manually manage music and videos” option in the Summary window.
3. Click File and select “Add File to Library” to locate your MP4 files. The added files will be automatically classified in Movies Category under LIBRARY.
4. Click “Movies” under LIBRARY, drag the movie from the library file list to My IPOD. And then click “Movies” under MY IPOD, you will see the file in the right file list.

Part 3: Tips about using Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter to convert DVD movie to iPod.
Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter provides you powerful editing functions which allow you to crop, trim, adjust video effect , design watermark and customize output parameters.

1. Cropping
After entering the edit page, you cancrop video by clicking “crop”.You are allowed to finish cropping by the following three ways:• Dragging cropping frameMove your mouse cursor onto one of the eight small adjustment boxes on the cropping frame (the dashed line) and drag the crop frame to crop the DVD file such as cutting off top and bottom black bar. The cropped result will be shown on the Output Preview at the same time.• Selecting aspect ratioYou are allowed to select an output aspect ratio from the Zoom drop-down list. There are six choices available: Keep original, Full screen, 16:9, 4:3, Letter box and Pan & Scan • Setting the valuesType the value directly or click to set the value in “Left”, “Right” and “Cropped area size” area to set the position of the cropping frame.


2. Effect adjusting

Click “Effect”, you are allowed to adjust brightness, contrast and saturation of video by dragging . You can also select a special effect from the Effect drop-down list for the video. The available choices are Gray, Emboss, Negative, Old film and No effect. Besides, you can select the suitable option from Repeat odd field, Repeat even field, Odd interpolate and Even interpolate in the deinterlacing drop-down list to adjust the picture's quality, if there are some pixels, lines, mosaics or stripes on the picture.Note: You can check “apply to all” option to apply the current effect adjusting of one file to all the selected files.



3. Trimming
Click “Trim”, you are allowed to make trimming of video by the following three ways:
Dragging the slider Drag below the Preview Windows to mark the beginning of your clip and drag to mark the end of your clip during the preview.

Controlling “Mark in” and “Mark out” button Press to mark the beginning of your clip and to mark the end of your clip during the preview.Note: You can click to play frame by frame to make a precise trimming.

Setting start and end time Input certain time number in Set start time and Set end time fields manually and click to trim a clip from the video as you like.Note: You can click to preview the clip. Click under the process bar to remove the selections.



4. Watermark designing
Image watermark editing
1. Check image watermark option to edit image watermark.
2. Click to specify the image you attempt to use.
3. Adjust Transparency, Vertical Space and Horizontal Space by dragging .
4. Resize the height or width by inputting numbers in image size area or dragging .

Text watermark editing
1. Check text watermark option to edit text watermark.
2. Type the text you attempt to use as watermark in text watermark area.
3. Click to edit the font of text. You are allowed to edit the font style, size, effects etc of text in the following menu.



4. Adjust Transparency, Vertical Space and Horizontal Space by dragging .




5. Output settings customizing Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter enables you to customize output settings in the bottom of the main interface. You are allowed to select subtitle/audio track and specify output format/path etc.



Click “Settings” button in the output settings area, you are allowed to set video/audio output parameters including resolution, bit rate, frame rate, encoder, sample rate and channel etc.

iPod nano 4th vs Creative Zen X-Fi, which mp3 player better?

iPod nano 4th:

In contrast to last year's compacted design, the Nano has been stretched back to the candybar footprint of its first and second generations. Apple's fourth-generation iPod Nano returns to the original long, light, and slender formula that put the series on the map.

Creative Zen X-Fi:

Creative's newest flagship product is the Zen X-Fi, a high-capacity flash-based digital media player that adds Xtreme Fidelity (X-Fi) sound technology. But with added wireless features and X-Fi sound enhancement. Will this be enough, though, to satisfy the Zen fans who have been patiently waiting for Creative's latest addition to the family?

Quickly look: iPod nano 4th vs Creative Zen X-Fi

iPod nano 4th

1.Size:90.7 mm x 38.7 mm x 6.2 mm

2.Weight: 1.3 ounces (36.8 grams)

3.Capacities: 8GB - $149 or 16GB - $199 flash drive2

4.Screen: 2” (diagonal), 320x240-pixel

5.Rated Battery Life: 8 hours or 16 hours of video5

6.Transfer Protoco: USB flash drive

7.Video Formats: H.264 video, .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats, MPEG-4 video

8.Audio Formats: MP3,WAV,MP3 VBR,AAC,Audible,AIFF

9.Photo Formats: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD（Mac only）and PNG

10.Other Features: Genius playlist tool, a tilt sensor, and accessibility features for the visually impaired, cover Flow browsing.

Creative Zen X-Fi

1.Size: 83mm x 55mm x 12.8mm

2.Weight: 68g

3.Capacities: 8GB (no Wi-fi) - $149, 16GB - $199, 32GB - $280

4.Screen: 2.5”, 320x240 pixel, 16.7m colors

5.Rated Battery Life: 36 hours audio, 5 hours video

6.Transfer Protocol: MTP

7.Video Formats: WMV, MPEG4-SP, Divx 4/5, Xvid, and MJPEG

8.Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, and Audible 2,3,4

9.Photo Formats: JPG (Software will transcode BMP, GIF, PNG, and TIFF)

10.Wireless: IEEE 802.11 b/g with WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK security

11.Other Features: Built-In Speaker, X-Fi Sound Enhancement, FM Radio, Calendar, Contact, Task List

Features comparision of iPod nano 4th vs Creative Zen X-Fi:

iPod nano 4th Key Features

1.New Genius feature
you can create an instant 25-song playlists based around the musical characteristics of a single song. The Genius feature is easy to use, and the results are fun, provided your music collection holds enough songs to make interesting connections.

2.Adds the same tilt-sensor
It allows for some interesting control tricks. Giving the iPod Nano a vigorous shake, for instance, puts the music player into shuffle mode. Causal shaking caused by running or exercising isn't enough to trigger the Nano's shuffle mode, and you can always deactivate the shake-to-shuffle feature under the iPod's setting menu or by engaging the hold switch.

3.Cover Flow music view
iPod's Cover Flow music view when turning the device on its side. We found it a little confusing to use the iPod's scroll wheel controls while holding the player sideways for video playback. You get accustomed to it, but it seems like an inelegant design solution coming from a interface-savvy company like Apple.

4.Easier to make voice recordings
Apple makes it easier to make voice recordings on the fourth-generation iPod Nano by allowing microphone input through its headphone jack. You'll have to shell out for an Apple-approved headset.

5.An unprecedented feature
It is the capability for vision-impaired users to hear menu, selection, and playback information read to them in a synthesized voice.
You can enable this feature through iTunes, which generates the synthesized voice information and transfers it to your iPod Nano. capability for vision-impaired users to hear menu, selection, and playback information read to them in a synthesized voice.

6.Convert DVD to iPod nano 4th
Any way, the ipod nano 4th also can play movie and video. You can put DVD to iPod nano 4th with DVD to iPod Converter, it can be free download. DVD to iPod Converter is software which can exerts itself to convert DVD to iPod video formats MP4 (MPEG-4),M4V, and convert DVD to iPod audio format MP3, AAC, M4A with great quality and super fast speed. I prefering using Daniusoft DVD to iPod Converter, it is professional and easy to use DVD Converter for iPod, for all iPod.

Creative Zen X-Fi Key Features

1.Photo Viewer
Nothing has changed from the previous Zen players on the photo viewing side. You can easily browse photos in folders, lists, and thumbnails. You are also able to create and view slide shows to music.

2.Radio
Radio reception is poor. The autoscan feature is great, but it only picks up three stations where other players will pick up more than eight. A radio station I am only a few miles away from has static at times, which is totally unacceptable.

3.Voice Recording
Voice recording is the same as what is found on the Zen; files are saved as low quality WAV files. To use this as a voice note taker, you can easily map the short cut button to record quickly.

4.Organizer
The organizer feature remains the same as the previous Zen organizers. Using the Creative’s media player you can sync your contacts, calendar, and to-do list with Outlook or Windows Contacts.

5.Wireless Features
This section applies only to 16GB and 32GB Zen X-Fi models.
The Zen X-Fi is Creative's first player ever to have built-in wireless features (802.11b/g with WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK security). The capabilities are rudimentary compared to other wireless-enabled DAPs with web browsers, but it's nice for streaming and downloading content from the Creative media server (Creative MediaBox) or one you have at home.

6.Convert DVD Video to Creative zen X-Fi
As you know, zen is creative mp3 player, but it can also play movie and video. So you can convert DVD to creative zen with DVD to Creative Zen Converter, the same as DVD to iPod Converter, it's a software which can convert DVD to Creative Zen video including AVI, WMV, MPEG that fits for Creative Zen and also convert DVD to Creative Zen audio MP3, WMA, WAV with excellent quality. To convert DVD Video to creative zen, please go here.

Creative Zen X-Fi Box contents

Zen X-Fi, short USB 2.0 cable, mini software CD, quick start guides and other paperwork, and Creative EP-830 noise-isolating IEMs with three sizes of silicone tips. Additional accessories, such as an armband, leather case, and TravelSound speakers, are available separately.

iPod nano 4th Box contents

iPod nano, Earphones, USB 2.0 cable, Dock adapter, Quick Start guide

Conclusion:

Zen X-Fi is marketed as "the sound of perfection". It is the company's best-sounding player to date and it does sound undeniably great, but really only when X-Fi, its most lauded feature, is disabled. Most of the other features unique to the Zen X-Fi are gimmicky at best, and the new controls do nothing but clutter an otherwise attractive player.

The iPod Nano 4G's Genius playlists, shake-to-shuffle, and improved voice recording compatibility are fun features to have, but they're not worth $150-$200. But if you've filled up your 4GB third-generation Nano and want some extra room or if you need the additional accessibility features such as enlarged screen font and text-to-speech, the fourth-generation iPod Nano is an ideal choice.

How To Play an iPod or Other Portable MP3 Player Through a Car Stereo

Are you tired of lugging around those CDs back and forth to your car to listen to your favorite music while you drive? Do you get upset when you are in the mood for a certain CD only to find that you left it at home? If you own a portable MP3 player, one way to get a variety of music in your car is to hook it up to play through your car stereo.

Connecting your PlayerThere are three basic ways to hook up a portable MP3 player in your car stereo - through a cassette tape adapter, FM transmitter, or line out in your car stereo. All have their advantages and disadvantages and all are relatively inexpensive and easy to set up.
Cassette Tape AdapterA cassette adapter, available for around $10 at most local electronics stores, provides an easy and straightforward method to hook an external device into a car stereo. Simply place the cassette tape in your car's tape player and the other end into the headphone or line out jack on your MP3 player. Make sure that the tape is playing forward and not in auto reverse. Turn on the player and play a song and it should output through your car speakers.One of the drawbacks of this approach is a reduction in sound quality of the music. Although to the untrained ear, it is hardly noticeable. Also, of course, this approach requires that you have a tape player in your car, which is becoming much less common because of the pervasiveness of CDs.

FM TransmitterAn FM transmitter transmits the audio signal of the device that it is plugged into over a specific FM frequency. An FM stereo then can pick up the sounds as if it were a regular FM broadcast. In order to get a transmitter to work with your MP3 player, it must be first plugged into the MP3 player's headphone or line out jack. If the transmitter has an on/off button, power it on. Examine the device and figure out the FM station that the output will be broadcast to. Tune it to a radio station that is not in use in your area. Typically, the lowest numbers on the dial are your best bet - 87.1 through 87.9.The biggest drawback of this device is that it is sometimes hard to find an FM station that is fairly open that can be used by the
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transmitter. This is especially the case in urban areas. If the station is not clear, it can lead to a lot of static and interruptions in your music. If you live in an urban area, be sure to purchase an FM transmitter that allows you to transmit your signal to any place on the FM dial.

Line Out Through the StereoThough less common, another simple way to connect your MP3 player in your car is through a line in jack on your car stereo. Before you get excited though, most dealer shipped cars do not have an input jack in their car stereo. You can buy an aftermarket stereo that has an input, but that can obviously be cost prohibitive. If your car stereo had this feature, there would usually be an 'Aux' input or something similarly named on your stereo. Ask your dealer or consult your car owner's manual if you are not sure if your car stereo has an input jack. If the jack exists, just plug in your MP3 player to it and listen through the appropriate input on your car stereo.

Help on the Way?It's a wonder that with so much technology being introduced into cars, such as navigation systems and DVD players, that still few cars have the built-in capability to play MP3s seamlessly. However, that trend seems to be changing. Some cars, specifically the new BMW, are being equipped with a built-in doc for an Apple iPod. (You can also buy an adapter after market for about $150US on some of their vehicles.) Also, Alpine also has a $100 iPod interface device which may be used to directly access your iPod from your Alpine car stereo.

While these are steps in the right direction, they only work for the iPod player, so you're out of luck for now if you have a different player.There are also MP3-based hard drive stereos that are available for aftermarket purchase, but many car manufacturers are not yet offering them as an upgrade when you purchase a new car. Some newer cars have CD players that can play MP3 CDs, but you're still stuck carrying around MP3 discs and trying to navigate through the songs on them without any help but a label on the CD itself. So, unfortunately, for the next couple of years unless you want to spend quite a bit of money, your best bet for playing MP3s in your car is to use one of the methods described above.(by Ron Repking )