iPod and iTunes Hacks

Bulk-Rip CDs

Convert your music to MP3s/AACs more efficiently.

Pouring your existing CD collection into your iTunes library and iPod is a time-consuming process. You have to open each CD jewel case, pop out the CD and put in it your computer, hit Import in iTunes, and wait. You might enjoy listening to those old CDs you barely remember buying, but it will still take quite a while to get through them all. Of course, you can buy digital tunes from the iTunes Music Store, but unless you have money to burn, you’ll probably want to skip repurchasing music you already own.

One option is to use a service such as RipDigital (http://www.ripdigital.com) to do the dirty work for you. RipDigital will convert your CD music collection to AAC files for you. All you do is send them your CDs, and a few weeks later you get your CDs back along with all the digital files on a hard drive. It will cost you a lot more than this hack, though—around $1 a CD.

The other option is to turn your Mac into an AAC-ripping machine. The time savings are minimal if you are only ripping 10 CDs but get exponentially better as the bigger your collection is. This hack is particularly great for long flights where you are just sitting there twiddling your thumbs. You can use the time to rip dozens of CDs, and you won’t even have to schlep the CDs along with you!

To get things going, all you’ll need to have is Roxio’s Toast ...