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Ed0005,
Another option for ripping your CD's to MP3's is Apple's own iTunes software (which is a free download from apple.com and will work with Windows versions starting with Win2K SP4 forward). iTunes will rip to MP3 (universal compressed format, lossy), WAV (full size windows audio, not lossy), AIFF (full size Macintosh Audio, not lossy), AAC(ISO standard MPEG-4 derivative, compressed, but with limited support, lossy) and Apple Lossless (Apple compressed format, but not "lossy"). iTunes will also convert unlocked WMA (Microsoft Media Audio) files to the format of your choice when they are imported into your music library. iTunes is a fantastic way to organize your music collection, and happens to be the gateway to the iTunes music store (should you want to buy DRM music online) and the iPod, should you want to take the music with you.
The word "Lossy" above means that a concept called "perceptual encoding" (among other things) is used. Perceptual encoding removes some of the actual audio information to achieve higher compression rates, with an emphasis on removing information that is likely to be noticed least by the listener (FWIW, I believe the first serious application of this was MiniDisc/Digital Cassette audio in the ATRAC format by Sony/Philips in the Mid 90's). This is why encoding bit rates (and encoding algorithms) are important in compressed music, the lower the bit rate, the smaller the file size, the more musical information is removed. Smaller files mean that more songs will fit on your MP3 player, but what will fit is of lower quality. Let your ears decide what quality level you would like.
iPod is to portable MP3 players as Jello is to Gelatin, Kleenex is to facial tissues and Walkman is to portable cassette players. It is an entrenched music player brand, that is often used to refer to a class of music playing devices. Any MP3 player will obviously play MP3's. Samsung, Sandisk, Creative and Microsoft's Zune are the most common non-Apple players. These will usually play WMA (always unlocked, sometimes locked ... also referred to as "Plays For Sure") and WAV also, and somethimes AAC (unlocked), Ogg Vorbis and a proprietary format (Rhapsody, Napster, etc).
I have a new iPod Shuffle and love it. Great for working out, holds about 12 hours of music at the rate that I encode it, and plugs into an AUX jack in your car. Plus its only $79, so if it gets ripped off/lost its not the end of the world, and no one is likely to bust into your car to get it.
Regarding software:
WinAMP, Windows Media Player, Real Media, iTunes and countless others will perform the MP3 ripping task. Its the organization of your music after the fact that really matters, if you have a music collection of any size.
A car interface for your MP3 player is a matter of your preference. If you have no AUX in, you can always go FM modulator. Some newer vehicles have full iPod integration that allows you to control the iPods from the steering wheel, charge them while attached, etc. Most do not yet. If you must have a physical connection and you do not have an AUX input, you are looking at a new head unit ($$$).
Good Luck and happy listening.
posted by 136.237.60...
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