I have been using my mp3 player a lot more lately. I got it for free back when I bought my jack drive or jump knife or whatever I called it. But my freshman year at BYU (when people were still listening to Walkmans...) some guy spoke and talked about the importance of being aware of what's around you in nature and not just plugging in to music all the time. I actually kindof agreed with him and stopped using my walkman when I was walking to and from classes and eventually just stopped using my walkman. So when I got my mp3 player, I still never used it because I still preferred to walk around without music. And I didn't use it to go working out because I could bring DVDs to the gym and watch those.
When I finally decided to upload some music onto it, I was disappointed to find out that none of my iTunes music worked on my mp3 player. Someone could have told me. The only mp3s I had on my computer were French songs, so I compiled a bunch of French hip hop and 80s music to get a good workout mix. And I still never really listened to it at the gym because I still preferred to watch TV or movies.
But recently I started training for a 1/2 marathon, which involves running outside the gym. So my mp3 player has become more important to me. And yesterday I splurged on a pair of water-resistant sports headphones. And so today, I brought my mp3 player to campus with me and for the first time, listened to it between classes like all the cool iPod owners. But in my own little mind, I felt that I was cooler than the iPod owners. First of all, I didn't pay for my mp3 player. Second of all, I didn't buy an item whose hype costs ten times more than the actual product. And I really convinced myself for a while that I was a proud owner of an mp3 player. I was One Who Abstains from iPods.
But secretly I wished I could buy an iMac while Apple is so busy pushing out all their old Nano stock in preparation for a new Nano and giving them away for free.
At work today, I overheard someone mention that Key Bank is currently giving away free iPod Nanos for those who open a checking account with either a credit card or direct deposit. It just so happened that "change banks" was on my list of things to do in the next two weeks, so the free offer made up my mind for me. Immediately after work, I went to Key Bank and opened an account.* Christmas is scheduled to come early any time in the next 60 days.
Now I am all set. My current stereo has an aux line for mp3 players and I'll soon be outfitting Clicky with an FM transmitter. And now, in time for my to graduate from college, I can graduate from the foolish notion that people should listen to nature when they walk around. No my friends.
I will plug in.
*If you also want to take advantage of this deal, if you fill out a form saying that I referred you, you get $25 in your account and I get $25 in my account. It's a win-win situation. Any takers?
11 comments:
You know, there are ways to convert all your iTunes music files to regular, unencrypted mp3s. The simplest way I've found it is to burn them onto a CD and then rip the CD to mp3. Of course, you're getting a free iPod anyway, so this probably isn't all that helpful or useful.
http://fakenewsauthority.blogspot.com/2005/11/ipod-picco-are-you-icool-enough.html
Nano is ok, but it won't take your breathe away like the new Picco.
'Our Tunes'. You should look into that.
So I need to know about this free nano thing because my husband and I were just talking about how much wells fargo stinks. And he's been dying for an mp3 player. I'm thinking this could be the answer. Is this legit? Can you go to any key bank? What's the catch? I had a friend that worked for key bank and I think 2 years in a row I opened accounts there only to cancel them 6 months later to help his numbers. One time I got a cheesy pair of binoculars...but a nano...there's gotta be a catch.
GAH, if I had ONLY stayed in Utah!
Yeah, you can download mp3 converters from loads of different websites. It is mostly illegal to change the iTunes stuff into an Mp3, but iTunes using Digital Rights Management is more wrong and is against your fair use rights. Because I bet that isn't even music you bought from the iTunes market--it's your own stuff.
So damn the Man, baby!
THE CATCH: Uh... well, the "catch" is that you have to sign up for either a credit card or direct deposit. I needed both of those things anyway. That's the only catch. And it is totally legit.
SB: That's WAAAAAAY too much work. Seriously. I just get angry thinking about it.
C79: Other than make fun of your wrong use of the word "breathe," I have little response to your comment. A free iPod Nano is always better than a $50 iPod Picco.
TMF: Yeah, but that involves more work. I'm lazy. So lazy.
Nem: A while back I read about the French and their snooty response to iTunes and mp3 players and it made me cheer. I love the French!
I didn't buy my iPod!
Le sigh, my dad did. However he offered and so what if I'm married, have produced an heir, and am currently self-sufficient, I can't turn down a video iPod! I am not that strong. Also, I lack convictions. I'm glad you're joining the plugged in squad, now you'll be secretly so much cooler.
p.s. how was the party?
I thought about attending, but then I thought that would be strange.
You don't need to download an MP3 converter. When you select a song in iTunes, and right click on it, you can see there is a selection to change the song from whatever file it is, to mp3. Pretty sweet huh?
It definately won't let you change the format on the protected AAC files. Like Miss Nemesis says, it's annoying when it's your own music and not something you bought from the iTunes store.
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