Change default to unchecked

Your observation is correct. There is no way to change that in the app. I suppose it might be possible to change it through terminal commands if you have that sort of ability. I'd Google it.

Why don't you want them checked?

Much, much easier to simply make a playlist (or multiple) and sync ony those playlists.

Then add/delete from those playlist to add/delete from the iDevice.

But if you really want, you can check/uncheck all by Command click in one checkbox.

Trust Chris on this. I used to use check boxes to determine which items got synced to my iDevice. One accidental command-click and it's all a disaster. Not to mention, it's just a pain. Using selected playlists/artists/albums is much easier. I didn't believe him at first, either. The only things I check or uncheck these days are holiday music.

With your device connected, in each tab, Music, Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, select what you want to sync. For example, under Music, you can select by playlists, by artists, by albums, whatever combinations you like. I tend to mostly sync by playlists and then add a few artists.

For some additional info:

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1758

If you don't like the answer, I'm sorry.

Best of luck.

yattaman wrote:

Perhaps I'm doing this in a roundabout way? If I'm doing this incorrectly, please explain in detail the correct procedure. I just want to get selected stuff onto the iPad, not all stuff that ever gets added to iTunes, and not have to be concerned with checkboxes.

I gave you a perfectly good answer to that paragraph. I have also answered your original question. Hope you figure out what you need to do. I'm done.

This is about the iTunes default of enabling the checkboxes.

This cannot be changed.

But if you are using the checkboxes to decide what syncs or not, it is much simpler to make playlists to decide what to sync.

Am I missing something here?

It would seem so, yes.

Checking that box is NOT the only way to limit what is sync'd.

Create a a playlist of items you want on the iPod (named iPod music or whatever) and drag songs to it.

Connect the iPod and click the Music tab across top.

Select Sync selected playlists.

Tick only the playlist containing the music you want on the iPod then sync it.

Now instead of unchecking items, just add/delete them from this playlist and sync the iPad.

The point is that any song (or movie) dragged into any Playlist, is automatically "checked" by iTunes. I need iTunes to stop enabling the "check".

No it does not do this. Items added to iTunes are checked when added. Moving them around in iTunes does not check them.

Even if it did this, you are adding songs to a playlist you want sync'd so you would need to check the boxes anyway so...

I create playlists for items I want sync'd and add/delete from those playlists.

The only time I uncheck items are for things I rarely/never want on my iPad/iPod are unchecked such as Christmas music and audiobooks I have already listened to.

In my iTunes libraryI have ~ 8000 songs.

I only have a few hundred unchecked.

I sync ~1000 to my iPod mini and ~250 to my iPod shuffle and ~3000 to my iPad.