Some iPod-Related Updates

Correspondents had been recently reporting a common problem with several scripts that copy files to iPod where files would not be completely copied before their originals were removed; thus only a few tracks would get copied. I've fixed the issue (and I do not know for sure if it was caused by an iTunes problem or a Doug problem) and the scripts have been updated and posted. »

UPDATE: New iPod Playlist From Selection v3.1

New iPod Playlist From Selection copies selected iTunes tracks, or the tracks of a selected iTunes playlist, to a new user-named iPod playlist. Works only with iPods set to "Manually manage music and videos", and very handily when assigned an iTunes Scripts Menu Shortcut. I use Control-Command-N.

This latest version fixes an issue with intermittent copying »

UPDATED: Lossless to AAC Workflow v2.1

Lossless to AAC Workflow is a set of two scripts which assist with importing/managing Apple Lossless audio files and sending converted AAC copies to a mounted iPod set to "manually manage songs and videos".

Lossless to AAC Workflow (CD->iPod):

• Imports each enabled CD track as an Apple Lossless file
• Makes a converted AAC copy of each imported Lossless file
• Adds the AAC file to iPod, deleting the original AAC from iTunes.

Lossless to AAC Workflow (iTunes->iPod):

• Makes a converted AAC copy of each Lossless track selected in iTunes
• Adds the AAC file to iPod, deleting the original AAC from iTunes.

In this way you can keep archived Lossless files on your hard drive, and manageable AAC files on your iPod.

This latest version fixes an issue with intermittent copying. »

UPDATED: Rip to iPod v2.1

Rip To iPod v2.1 will import each enabled (checkmarked) CD track to iTunes and immediately copy it to iPod, removing the track from the iTunes library and deleting the original file, thus giving the appearance of seamless CD-to-iPod importing. You can also change your encoder on-the-fly and your Preferences-set encoder will be restored after the rip. Requires that iPod be set to "Manually manage music and videos". iPods set to sync are ignored.

This latest version fixes an issue with intermittent copying. »

AppleTV and Netflix Player

We just bought an AppleTV after months of having to sneakernet our iPods to the Family Entertainment Center whenever we wanted to watch iTunes Store content. I must say I'm impressed. Got it to work with the 550 Harmony Remote, too.

Tomorrow our Roku Netflix Player arrives. We have the six-disk-at-a-time/unlimited Netflix plan so we'll be able to see unlimited "Instant Play" movies and shows. I know some people are saying that there's not a lot of "good" stuff to watch instantly, it's sub-DVD quality, no HD, yadda. But we have pretty esoteric tastes here and have been delighted with the lists of stuff that is available. Plus, can HD be that far around the corner? »

NEW: Add from Amazon MP3 Folder v1.0

Is it just that the Amazon MP3 Downloader application won't automatically add downloads to my iTunes or is this a Windows-only feature? Didn't bother to find out for myself because I decided to have a script do it instead. Add from Amazon MP3 Folder will let you choose the Album folders from your "Amazon MP3" downloads folder and add their files to iTunes. Optionally, if you allow iTunes to "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library", you can choose to move the original folder(s) and files out of the "Amazon MP3" download folder and to the Trash after they're added to iTunes. Saves a few keystrokes.

It occurred to me to make this a Folder Action--so that files get added as soon as they hit the "Amazon MP3" downloads folder--but Folder Actions can be dicey when working with internet-downloading files. So, you've got to run this from the iTunes Script menu.

I've also included the script "Open Amazon MP3 Folder" that will open your Amazon MP3 downloads folder and make it the frontmost window in the Finder. This script can be run from iTunes' Script menu as well. »

RE-POSTED: Make Video Tags v1.2

I have re-posted Make Video Tags v1.2. Due to an error on my part, version 1.1 was posted incorrectly on August 5. Sorry for the inconvenience. »

Join Together Deemed Mac Gem-Worthy

Thanks to Chris Breen at Macworld for bestowing Mac Gem-ness on Join Together. »

Update Flood

I have released a handful of updates to scripts that require fixing for compatibility with iTunes 7.7.1.

There are quite a number of scripts that need the treatment, so there will be more updates to come over the next few days. If you don't subscribe to my RSS feeds--see "RSS Feedings" links in the left column of my site--then now would be a good time to do so to keep up on the updates. »

UPDATED: Make Video Tags v1.2

Make Video Tags is now at version 1.2. I've added an Enabled Checkbox checkbox (no, not a typo) so that each video can be checked or unchecked in iTunes--handy so vids don't get iPod-sync'd if you'd rather not. Also added obligatory compatibility with iTunes 7.7.1. »

UPDATED: Re-Add Selected Tracks as Podcast v1.2

Re-Add Selected Tracks as Podcast will re-add the files of the selected tracks to iTunes as if they were a Podcast subscription. The files will then appear in the Podcasts playlist and "behave" as though they are a group of Podcast episodes. Requires Web Sharing be activated.

This newest version is compatible with iTunes 7.7.1.

Also, I should note that there is a known Leopard/Apache bug that may prevent Web Sharing from working correctly. Many users facing this problem have had success using information from this Apple discussions link and item 5 from this macosxhints forums link. I do not know the status of this bug other than what I have read in the posts cited above. »

UPDATED: Tracks Without Artwork to Playlist v3.3

Tracks Without Artwork to Playlist is up to version 3.3 and fixes the compatibility problem with iTunes 7.7.1. »