Album view when playing iPod contents through iTunes.

Question

Album view when playing iPod contents through iTunes.

My question is about playing iPod contents in iTunes. I have a new iPod classic (which I love) and I play music through it on my work computer every day. My music collection is on my home computer so it has to be through my iPod. I have it playing through iTunes (using manage disk manually and viewing ipod music contents) but I can only play through a large list of all songs.

While there is a search facility it is nearly impossible to browse through in this mode if you have an expansive collection, also, if you want to play a particular album on repeat, as I do all the time, you have to make playlists on your iPod etc as after finishing in the big list of songs it'll just move on to whatever's next. (If I'm working with relaxing Skyrim OST in the background, I don't want a sudden transition to Alice Cooper!).

How can I switch it so I can play music through my iPod in iTunes using the album or artist view I know how to use? Getting the artwork etc as you do for your local collection? I'm assuming you can because I can think of any reason that would be limited, it would be stupid but I can't find it.

System:

iPod Classic 160GB - software version 2.0.5 (up-to-date at time of writing)

iTunes 11.1.0.126 running on Windows 7 64-bit

iPod classic, Windows 7

Posted on Jun 9, 2014 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

the fiend

Level 7

23,022 points

Jun 11, 2014 1:45 AM in response to DannyReynolds

DannyReynolds wrote:

.... but I can only play through a large list of all songs.

Can't you use the specific menus, such as Artists, Albums etc., which would be a smaller list?

DannyReynolds wrote:

...if you want to play a particular album on repeat, as I do all the time, you have to make playlists on your iPod etc as after finishing in the big list of songs it'll just move on to whatever's next.

No you don't.

Navigate to Albums, select the album you want and start it playing. If you have Repeat All turned on (in Settings), then the iPod will repeat just that one album.

DannyReynolds wrote:

How can I switch it so I can play music through my iPod in iTunes using the album or artist view I know how to use? Getting the artwork etc as you do for your local collection? I'm assuming you can because I can think of any reason that would be limited, it would be stupid but I can't find it.

I have to ask; "why are you playing the iPod through iTunes?" The iPod is a stand-alone device and is best used that way. This might expalin why you're having difficulty playing just one album in repeat mode. After all, you mention the Artists and Albums menus (that I suggested), so you have found them. If you don't want to use headphones at work, then use an external speaker designed to be used directly with iPods, rather than through iTunes on a computer.

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Answer 2

Jun 11, 2014 6:10 AM in response to the fiend

the fiend wrote:

Can't you use the specific menus, such as Artists, Albums etc., which would be a smaller list?

the fiend wrote:

No you don't.

Navigate to Albums, select the album you want and start it playing. If you have Repeat All turned on (in Settings), then the iPod will repeat just that one album.

That's the main part of my question. Those menus (Albums, Artists) are not there. They do not seem to exist for content through an iPod. Or at least, I can't find them, if you can tell me how to get to them it would solve my problem. That interface seems to only be available for local media. The only access I have for the content of my iPod is shown here:

the fiend wrote:

I have to ask; "why are you playing the iPod through iTunes?" The iPod is a stand-alone device and is best used that way. This might expalin why you're having difficulty playing just one album in repeat mode. After all, you mention the Artists and Albums menus (that I suggested), so you have found them. If you don't want to use headphones at work, then use an external speaker designed to be used directly with iPods, rather than through iTunes on a computer.

The iPod is best suited for stand-alone, on-the-go music. When sitting at a desktop computer all day, an iTunes interface is much better, easier to browse and use. The fact that I can play media from my iPod through iTunes proves it is at least designed to be possible, and is definitely how I would prefer to do it. I cannot understand how it would be possible to play media but not have the same iTunes interface as local music (as a software developer myself, I can't see how the decision to do that would have even be considered). The Artist and Albums views you mentioned, I have not found, that's what I'm trying to find. Any help would be appreciated.

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Answer 3

the fiend

Level 7

23,022 points

Jun 11, 2014 10:56 AM in response to DannyReynolds

So it looks as though you want this view:

which shows the same view as yours, but with the columns view on the iPod.

Turn on the Menu Bar at the top of your iTunes window (by using CTRL+B)
While looking on the iPod through iTunes, click on View/Column Browser/Show Column Browser. Notice the columns choices, which are also on the View/Column Browser menu.

However, I suspect you may have to go through this procedure every time you connect the iPod to iTunes, because when I tried it, my iTunes doesn't remember that I had previously selected the Columns Browser.

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Answer 4

Jun 11, 2014 11:18 AM in response to the fiend

That is Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. That makes listening at work so much easier. Thanks for the help, I knew it would be possible but no matter how much I poked I couldn't find that. Of course, the album art view you get with local media would be nice (A grid of album covers), but so long as I can get it like this I'm happy,

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