iPod woes

[OuchThatHurts]

Problem. I have a bunch of computers but I don't want to put iTunes on my laptop computer. I hate the program but I need it for the iPod. I have it 'synced' to one of the desktops.

Does anyone (kaiser help!) have a software program that will convert m4p files to mp3 files that I can use with my windows media player?

I have music that I ripped and music that I bought which of course have DRM on them. I'd like to strip that off too.

Basically, if I buy music, I want to use it and listen to it wherever and however I damn well please.

Any help with conversion app or utility would be great. I have one that I use for WMA files called CD-DA File Format Converter. It doesn't do m4p files though

 

[mooshue]

I have to correct you, you dont EVER NEED ITUNES for ANY reason unless you are dead set on purchasing music from it, period.
Anapod Explorer, your ipod shows up as an external drive, you drag and drop your mp3's both ways at will.

As far as your questions regarding m4p to mp3, its not just a matter of converting. m4p have an extra layer of security in them. You cant play those outside of itunes or your ipod for that reason. You can get some small programs that will, once you supply your itunes login and password, rip the mp3 out. It requires that info to open through the security layer. I am very leary of those kinds of programs, someone could easily set up a phishing program, have it send them your login info and drain you $$$ dry of purchased music.

All i can say is newsgroups and torrents.

 

[BOOMSHAKER]

Bumping MOOSHUE, I have been using Anapod for a few months now and I love it! No more Itunes ever for me!

 

[OuchThatHurts]

I have to correct you, you dont EVER NEED ITUNES for ANY reason unless you are dead set on purchasing music from it, period.
Anapod Explorer, your ipod shows up as an external drive, you drag and drop your mp3's both ways at will.

As far as your questions regarding m4p to mp3, its not just a matter of converting. m4p have an extra layer of security in them. You cant play those outside of itunes or your ipod for that reason. You can get some small programs that will, once you supply your itunes login and password, rip the mp3 out. It requires that info to open through the security layer. I am very leary of those kinds of programs, someone could easily set up a phishing program, have it send them your login info and drain you $$$ dry of purchased music.

All i can say is newsgroups and torrents.

Well that's just it, I do purchase music from iTunes. Yes, I know there are a ton of programs that will let you move music to and from the iPod. That's not my problem. I also know all about digital rights management (DRM) as I said. Burning to a CD will certainly cure that. I can move all my files to and from my iPod. I have mp3's and m4p files that I've purchased.

What I'm asking for is if anyone knows a software program to convert m4p files and strip off DRM to mp3 so I can play them anywhere as mp3 files. So far the best advice I have gotten is to burn them to CD and then rip the CD back to the computer as mp3. There is also software that creates a virtual CD on your hard drive, and recompress the file to mp3.

I have found a few proggies that, as you say, I'm leary about installing them as their pretty obscure little company names.

There is an answer to this question. I'm still looking for one so I'm still looking for suggestions.

 

[Kaiser]

OTH, I dont have an iPod or iPhone so I dont get a chance to tinker around witht them. The solution from Anapod mentioned above seems like a great choice though. Also, what the hell are you doing, you know I have everything and was waitin for that 1TB drive to be shipped to me.

 

[OuchThatHurts]

OTH, I dont have an iPod or iPhone so I dont get a chance to tinker around witht them. The solution from Anapod mentioned above seems like a great choice though. Also, what the hell are you doing, you know I have everything and was waitin for that 1TB drive to be shipped to me.

I know, I know. Let's get on that! I'm still going to look for a converter for these m4p files. Damn DRM. I can't believe the amount of money you pay for music and then they tell you how and where you can listen to it? It's bullshit.

 

[Kaiser]

I just ggogled it and there are a bunch out ther. This one looks not too bad:
http://www.m4p-mp3.com/

 

[parrajm]

whats this, i can be free of itunes forever? no, i dont believe it...its too good to be true.

 

[mooshue]

Ouch, the program that you are referring to creating virtual drives on your pc is daemon tools, google it, its free and works great. The burning of the cd only strips that if you do it through itunes, and it makes them .cda (compact disc audio) files. You would have to re-rip them with something like lame and eac encoder to get a decent quality mp3 from a cda.
Thats about as much help as i can be unfortunately as i dont have itunes installed anywhere to test it out. I could set up a virtual machine with itunes and test it out or something if you really really get stuck.