Portable Audio

[MissSwiss]

After using a MP3 player in my clunky  5 year old cell phone for years, I'd like to buy a player.  I understand that the I-tunes program that my sister downloaded onto my computer, along with her songs will only play on an Apple I-Pod.  Does that mean I have to buy an I-Pod, or can I use her songs on a different MP3 player?  Is the quality the same for the different brands?  I wouldn't be a fan of the monopoly that Apple has  if I can avoid it.  I just want something light to use for excercise, perhaps a Nano or Sony with 16 GB or so.

Thanks

[Nokia]

If she purchased the songs from iTunes, then no, they would not work. However, apple has recently started selling DRM-free songs, which means they would be playable on any mp3 player.

Just look into something cheap like a Sansa Clip or Fuze.

[MissSwiss]

Thanks for your prompt answer.  I think they look reasonably priced.  How would I go about downloading DRM-free music from the I-tunes program onto a non-Apple MP3 player?  is there some sort of interface/conversion (or whatever it is called technically) necessary?

Thanks again.

[Nokia]

I'm not sure what format the files would be in, since I've never used iTunes. However, if they are mp3 format, you're good to go. I believe they are m4a format, though, so unless the mp3 player you buy supports that format (and I don't think the Sansa does), you'd have to convert them.

[Neihn Trusted Contributor]

Nokia is correct the iTunes files are in .m4a format. However you can easily right click on the song in iTunes and select "Create ___ Version". I left that blank in there because iTunes has different conversion options like convert it to mp3, acc, apple lossless, wav or aiff. I should also note this will not affect the original song. It will just make a second copy of it with one being the original in .m4a format and the second being in whatever format you selected.

[nport92]

well i have the i tunes as well but u CAN use songs u bought on itunes and put them on something else like a phone so yes u can use songs from itunes and put them on a different mp3. (ive done it) 

[Nokia]

That didn't use to be the case.