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Best iPod copy, backup and transfer programs
Best iPod programs picked to help you copy iPod, backup iPod, or transfer iPod to computer.
Although Apple’s iTunes program is very good at keeping a computer-based library synchronized to an iPod automatically, or for manually transferring tracks from your computer’s iTunes library onto your iPod, it provides extremely limited functionality for transferring information in the opposite direction—from your iPod back to your computer.
One of the likely reasons for Apple to have taken such a restrictive approach to this is to combat piracy and thereby maintain good relations with the music labels that are currently selling their content via Apple’s iTunes Store. In reality, however, there are any number of legitimate reasons below why you may want to copy, backup and transfer music from their iPod back to your computer.
Why use iPod copy, iPod backup and iPod transfer programs?
- Copy and transfer audio and video media back from iPod to computer, on a safe location of your choice.
- Quickly transfer a large iTunes library over to a new computer.
- Recover all your iTunes data from a catastrophic system failure.
- Make an iPod backup and save it on another computer.
- Copy iPod libraries to share music with friends and family.
Best iPod copy, iPod backup and iPod transfer programs?
Although Apple has provided a method in iTunes 7 or later to copy purchased content from your iPod back to your computer, it is doubtful as to whether iTunes will ever provide any more advanced features to facilitate copying music back from an iPod. Fortunately, there are always third-party developers willing to fill the gaps and provide more sophisticated functionality. Well, below is a summary of some of the third-party tools available to copy and/or transfer music from an iPod.
| CopyTrans (formerly CopyPod) www.copytrans.net |
Windows | $19.99 | 14 day trial period |
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| iGadget (formerly PodPlus) www.ipodsoft.com |
Mac Windows |
$19.99 | 15 days or 10 sessions | |
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| iPod.iTunes www.crispsofties.com |
Mac | $39.90 | Limited copying | |
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| iPodAccess findleydesigns.com |
Mac Windows |
$19.99 | Limited copying | |
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| SenUti www.fadingred.org |
Mac | Free | Donationware | |
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| TouchCopy wideanglesoftware.com |
Mac Windows |
$24.99 | 14 day trial period Maximum 40 tracks |
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| SyncPod www.iskysoft.com |
Mac |
$19.99 | watermark |
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| YamiPod www.yamipod.com |
Mac Windows Linux |
Free | |
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Compatibility - This indicates which models of iPod the application supports. Applications compatible with the newest iPod classic and iPod nano (video) are also compatible with all older models of iPod.
iTunes Import - This refers to the ability of the application to import recovered tracks directly into your iTunes library. “Manual” indicates that the application in question does not perform the iTunes import directly, but instead creates an XML file that you can import manually using File, Import within iTunes.
Playlists - Indicates if the application is capable of recovering playlists and their content from the iPod and restoring them to the iTunes library. Note that some applications do this in a single recovery step, while others require a separate process be run in order to do this.
Ratings - Indicates if the app is capable of recovering ratings for each track from the iPod and restoring them to the iTunes library.
Play Counts - Indicates if the app is capable of recovering Play Counts for each track from the iPod & restoring them to iTunes library.
Last Played - Indicates if the application is capable of recovering the Last Played date and time for each track from the iPod and restoring them to the iTunes library.
Standalone - Indicates if the application is designed to be run from the iPod itself, without requiring installation on the host computer or integration with an iTunes library. This is not intended to indicate if an application could be tweaked to run from the iPod, but rather if the app is designed specifically for this purpose, and can therefore be easily setup to do so. Applications that can run standalone from the iPod can be particularly useful when transferring music between different computers, some of which may not even have iTunes installed
In closing, for PC users your best bet is CopyTrans, though there are some small flaws like the album art problem, the powerful features, great automation (copying the iPod library to iTunes is very easy), and simplicity make CopyTrans a terrific choice for copying iPod libraries to new computers. For Mac users, iGadget is an affordable, successful program. If its developers can improve the speed of its transfer and make the process a little more friendly for non-expert users, it will challenge for the top spot in the iPod back/transfer/copy market.
If you want to rip DVD or convert video to your iPod, you may download free trial version of iPod Video Converter for Mac
or DVD to iPod Converter for Mac.
Get iFunia DVD to iTunes Converter for Mac
