The metadata is stored as part of the media file. When a CD is ripped, the application knows where to get the information on the net. Gracenote is a typical provider for that kind of information.
It’s already encoded in the MP3 files that I buy legitimately from a well-known Australian digital music store, many CD-ripping programmes give you the option to add the information yourself, or Winamp has the ability to edit ID3 info as well.
It’s in the header of the MP3. Look at your music files with a hex editor and you’ll see it there. Lots of files – audio files, digital photos, Word files, video files, etc. – have a bunch of metadata in their headers. And if you rip a CD, usually it’ll look in an online database. As tacoloco indicated, the usual service is CDDB by Gracenote, although other databases exist.
Great.
Then you need and ID3 editor to fix all the errors and to arrange things the way you want.
Perfect solution. :rolleyes:
No, not really. You only need the ID3 editor if the ID3 information is incorrect (which it isn’t if you’ve been buying or ripping your music legitimately), and even then, it only matters if you care about organising your music collection on your device (as opposed to having it all on random).
Ah, OK, I figured that newer formats would have provision for metadata in the file itself, but I didn’t know that MP3 supported that as well. You still need to use some application to rip the tracks, though: Why doesn’t anyone complain that you can’t just drag-and-drop off of a CD?
That’s the reason I say it’s okay. You don’t anymore, at least since XP SP2, I think. As far as I know, Windows is the only OS that has a way of handing FAT and FAT32 drives in such a way that it can close the drive completely after it finishes writing all the files. (which is when the light stops flashing). I know for sure that Linux couldn’t, as it came up in multiple bug reports with people whining about not being able to just unplug the drive. When they tried to do it, it would close the disk after every single write-cycle, which resulted in a large decrease in the lifespan of the flash memory.
Of course, it may be my fault for not realizing you didn’t specifically say a thumbdrive. I do always properly shut down an actual hard drive (just like I do a thumbdrive without a light): and the minimum for that is two clicks: left-click on the icon in the taskbar, and click Stop Drive X. Usually I find it takes three clicks, because windows has hidden the icon. (I never got the eject option in My Computer to work.)
Note I’m still talking about Windows XP, since that’s the OS we were comparing. If later versions do it differently, that doesn’t matter. All I’m saying is that my 2004 XP Dell laptop came with the ability to connect to Wi-Fi automatically, and the lid made it go to sleep (I remember because this was undesirable for me, since I would want to close it while it rendered stuff,) And I could unplug any USB drive that’s light was off without getting a warning. (I would get a warning if the light was on.)
I have before. But I think it’s because no OS has done it yet. People don’t complain until they perceive someone else being able to do what they can’t. Plus, I think both OSes automatically load a program that gives you the option to Rip.
Wow, I seem to have hit a hornet’s nest.
(BTW: with respect to sleeping on closing the lid, I stand corrected. Haven’t seen it over here, but I take your word for it. With connecting to Wifi I meant first time connecting with WEP/WAP keys, was horridly complicated in XP and surprisingly easy in OSX, but that may be my (in)experience only).
My work computer runs Windows, so let me try again to explain what I mean, as I think it goes to the root of what divides Mac and Windows.
- The difference on USB drives is not the reason for my preference, it is only one reason.
- On my work computer I can right click on the system tray icon but it doesn’t give me the option select ‘Eject F:-drive’ (or whatever drive). I know windows can give that option, but the administrators at work seem to have disallowed that. So I’m often reduced to the cumbersome multiple clicking I explained before. But I agree, that is not a fault of Windows (did I say it was?).
- My experience is with using a USB drive to transport files, so on a Mac I always have the Finder window open in front of me. On Windows I quite often have only the window that opens automatically when you plug in the drive, so I would have to open a separate explorer window. But it is true, if I have the explorer window open, I can choose eject with right click. It did slip my mind. (BTW, I do prefer explorer to the finder: I’m no Apple zealot)
Those things admitted, I still believe there is a infinetisimal difference which I described incorrectly. Assume in both cases the correct window is in front of you. In Windows, in the explorer menu (and similarly with the system tray option), you right-click and then have to scroll through a menu, and choose at the right option. In OSX, you click at the correct place in the Finder (there is sign next to the USB-drive icon). This is a difference, albeit a small one, no? (I see BigT describes it as two clicks)
Now you may say that I’m picky to think this is a relevant difference. But for my work process it is slightly irritating to have to scroll through menus and look for and select the right option, in particular if I have to do it regularly. For the same reason I dislike Apple’s choice that you cannot select menu options solely with keys, which Windows does allow you (Alt, and then the correct letters). The difference is that you have to give it somewhat less thought, you can do it automatically. Maybe you’re so smart that your brain can do these things automatically. I’m probably stupid, or ‘retarded’, as some said: I have to spend extra energy for this, which I don’t like.
This tiny difference with the USB-drive to me seems to be pervasive: Windows provides you with the good stuff but often makes it cumbersome to get there. Apple may provide you with less, but makes it easier to use it. The difference is in functionality versus comfortability. As both systems provide me with the functions I need, my preference is skewed by comfort in using the computer. For all its faults, I still find OSX preferable in this respect. But again, Windows 7 may be different, I haven’t experienced that yet.
If you think this tiny difference is irrelevant (no ‘real’ difference), that means you personally don’t care about these things. That’s your prerogative. But don’t make me believe that there is no difference. The way in which you access functions is important to some people, and that is a message that Apple has understood very well (mostly), while Microsoft still seems to struggly with it.
The claim that it makes no difference is indicative for the mindset which seems to emanate from Windows, that the user shouldn’t complain as the function is there. The user, however, complains that it isn’t easy (in the sense of hassle-free, quick) to use it. Apple seems (or seemed) prone to make the converse fault: it says that you shouldn’t complain that the function isn’t there, as you don’t really need it. But the functions that it does provide, it does very accessibly. To me, Windows is bureaucratic, while OSX is paternalistic, or if you prefer, visionary. As OSX provides me with what I need, I prefer less bureaucracy. When I have a need that OSX can’t provide for, I’ll choose Windows (although I might use a virtual machine).
To echo some of the posts above, it’s really about you and how you expect to use it.
I was a hardcore windows guy from 3.0 through XP SP2. I had experience with Macs, most of it annoying (pre-OS X Mac really was a pain IMO). But as I’m a software engineer and always liked Linux/Unix OSes, when the Mac Mini came out (2004), I bought one and did an experiment to see if I could switch, would I like that, etc.
Note that I had built myself and family members at least 8 PCs by this point, and was the tech-support for my parents and wife etc.
Long story short, I left my PC behind. I’m not a hardcore gamer (well, I do game, but that’s what my Xbox 360 is for), but I do like the aesthetic as well as a certain je-ne-sais-quoi about Apple products. We went from having an iPod (my wife’s), to having 2 MacBooks, 2 iPhones, 2 AirPort Expresses for music distribution, an AppleTV, etc., within 5 years. The Mac Mini is still in use, to this day, by my parents. My tech support issues have decreased dramatically, and not once since they got it have they had a virus/malware, and they were CONSTANTLY getting that stuff with their Dells (my dad is not very savvy and tends to be a good mark for malware).
I have never touched Vista, nor Windows 7. Win7 looks pretty nice, and technically, Vista (and I presume W7) are very solid, capable OSes, in some ways moreso than OS X (although 10.6 really has some kick ass stuff under the hood, but that’s not really important here.)
I agree if you’re a serious gamer and want to do so on your PC, Mac is pretty much out of the question. But I decided to “give in” to the Cult of Jobs, pay more, and “do things their way”, and have been mostly happy about it for the last 6 years. (FYI a Linux desktop is my primary machine at work; a MacBookPro my secondary, and I have a Windows box as well for testing.)
I do think a major consideration should be “do I want to do the things that iLife does well”? If so, the price differential isn’t really that big for a Mac, in fact, it might be cheaper. iLife isn’t perfect, but it’s really quite good. iPhoto and Garage Band in particular are really nice apps for anyone below the professional level. I happily fork over my iLife upgrade money each cycle. And my OS X upgrade money. Actually that’s another thing I like – almost NONE (iWork I think is the exception) of the bullshit serial number verification stuff. I buy family licenses, which only cost a small (15% or so) premium over single seats, and install… Apple trusts you enough to not waste your time with serial number madness.
And the whole “it just works” thing, I think is true. My parents do all sorts of things on their Mac, without me walking them through it, that they couldn’t on their PC, even when I tried to teach them (repeatedly). It’s hard to measure, but I really think it’s true.
I will say however that I think Apple has gotten a bit distracted with the iPhone and released some sub-par software (early revs of 10.4, especially bundled apps) and QC on the hardware (27" iMac fiasco) isn’t always stellar. That being said, I beat the crap out of my MacBookPro (work-owned) and it runs great, which is more than I can say for the IBM and Compaq laptops I had at previous jobs (the IBMs were generally nice, but actually not any cheaper than the MBP.)
Where I work (at a major software house that I’m sure you’ve all heard of and probably used at least one of our products) it’s extremely mixed, and I’m very thankful that they try extremely hard (and succeed) to support both Mac and PCs very well. And it’s probably split about 60/40 in favor of Macs for laptop usage in my group (we all use Linux as primary desktops). But aside from gentle ribbing (both directions: oh, your PC won’t work with the projector AGAIN? oh, you can’t find the silly dongle for the proejctor for your Mac AGAIN?) we all just accept it as personal choice and get on with trying to build awesome software… 90% of which runs on Linux servers 
Oh one thing I meant to mention that always sort of amazes “windows types” when they’re at my house. I’m sure something comparable is doable with Win boxes etc but this is dead simple to set up and use with Apple products and is tres cool.
- Have crapload of music on the Mac, somewhere on the home network, running iTunes (my main MacBook).
- Have an Airport Express plugged in in the kitchen, hidden in a cabinet, with some nice PC speakers connected to it (directly). The Airport is on the wifi network, just plugged into AC.
- Have the ‘Remote’ app on the iPhone. Run it, search for music you like, and press play. It starts playing ‘magically’ in the kitchen. Control volume, get more info, etc. from the iPhone.
My wife always has her phone on her or in the kitchen, so it’s extremely handy to control the music in the house (you can target multiple Airports/AppleTVs, so actually we can ‘send the music’ to any room, essentially). ‘Genius playlists’ work great with this (hard to explain quickly, check it out in iTunes, I’m sure it’s in the free PC version as well if you have Windows).
Anyhow, there was almost NO configuration for this. iTunes – already working. AirPort Express – plug in to power, plug in speakers. Download app for iPhone from app store, do a 1-time security sync (type in a 4 digit number), and done. Control all your music from your iPhone, throughout the house. Kick ass!
Because I like beating equines – I think you should try left clicking on the icon. It took me a couple years to figure this out, as you generally right-click on things in the Tray.
My take on the Mac/Windows debate is that users who switch to Apples have no problem exploring the new OS (to familiarize themselves). In particular, they may focus on those things that were frustrating in Windows. Those who use an OS for a while stop exploring it or trying out new things or right-clicking on things just to see what pops up.
My point being: the common complaint that: ‘while the same functionality exists on both platforms, things are more complicated/buried/non-intuitive in Windows’ is often a post-hoc excuse.
I have yet to hear a former long-time Mac user say, “gee things are just simpler on the PC”. Of course that could be because I have yet to hear of a former long-time Mac user.
There are a couple things that seem easier for me on a PC: the ability to cut and paste files from one folder to another, for one. More importantly, it just seems easier for me to navigate the directory tree in XP’s Exploer and move files from one place to another than in OS X’s Finder. I don’t know how Vista or 7 currently have it implemented, though.
Also, installing new programs still seems a bit quirky and non-intuitive for me, but it works well enough and certainly uninstalling programs is a snap. (I remember how when I first got the Mac I had to google how to uninstall a program, learning it’s really as simple as it should be: drag to trash. Empty trash.)
Of course I don’t even know what you are talking about. Not having ever been a PC owner, I can’t imagine what I would want to cut and paste from one folder to another. I cut and paste the icons all the time, but I don’t think you are talking about changing a folders icon to a picture. I find navigating the Windows and Mac file trees to be identical except that on a Windows machine, I have no idea where anything is. I likely get mad the way any PC user gets looking for utilities on a Mac.
Are you going to go back to PC when you get a new computer?
I prefer Explorer to Finder as well, although i’m perfectly willing to admit that this is probably largely because i am so accustomed to using Explorer. I will say, though, that after a year and a half of owning her Mac, my wife still sometimes gets frustrated with the directory layout in Finder. She does love its search capabilities, however.
Explorer in Windows 7 would be almost completely familiar to anyone who has used it on XP, with a few differences.
One new feature is the introduction of Libraries, which are essentially a sort of virtual metafolder that acts as a portal to any selection of folders that you choose. For example, i have a folder with all my own digital pictures, as well as a folder with images that i’ve copied or scanned for teaching and research purposes. I have selected both of those folders to be part of my Pictures library, so when i click on the Pictures library i see both those folders, even though they are in very different places on my computer.
I was a bit skeptical of the usefulness of the Libraries feature at first, but it actually works well. Of course, you can also navigate to the individual folder locations as well.
Probably the biggest improvement in Explorer is the much-improved integrated search feature, which is now much more like the search feature on Macs, and is actually very good at finding stuff very quickly. I still, however, tend to prefer my standalone Copernic Desktop Search software over the native Windows or Mac search.
No, I never said I was. I’m saying there are a number of things I prefer the way the Windows OS handles things. And I used to cut-and-paste folders and files all the time. At least now (at least I think it’s new, I don’t remember OS X doing it before), you’re allowed to copy-and-paste files and folders in finder, but not cut-and-paste.
As for the other bit of functionality I miss, what I’m saying is that in Windows, I can open up Windows Explorer, find the folder in the right pane, navigate my directory in the left pane, and then simply move the folder from the right pane to the left pane to where I want it to be. I still have that functionality in Adobe Bridge, which is great, but I don’t know how else to do it, without opening two separate windows.
The Finder’s column view allows you to do the same thing, although the behavior is not identical.
I only use the column view for finder so what pulykamel suggests about dragging a file from one folder in to another is exactly how I would do it. As for cut and pasting folders, isn’t that just the same as drag and drop?