About.com Rating
The Bottom Line
Pod to PC offers a number of features that let you copy the contents of an iPod to a desktop iTunes library, but it is plagued by too many bugs and small frustrations to merit a recommendation.
Buy Direct
Pros
Cons
Description
Guide Review - Pod to PC Review: A Program to Copy iPod to iTunes
Developer
Macroplant
Version
4.004
Works With
All iPods
All iPhones
iPad
Like other iPod transfer programs, you use Pod to PC by connecting your iPod, iPhone, or iPad to a computer running the software and then choose what files you want to copy to the desktop computer or iTunes library. As with other full-featured programs of this kind, Pod to PC also lets you browse and transfer photos, ringtones, address book entries and notes, and text messages, among other kinds of data. Unfortunately, none of these features are polished enough.
The software's core feature--transferring music--offers middling speed, moving my standard test of 590 songs/2.41 GB in 34 minutes (not the slowest time I've encountered, but far from the fastest, either).
In performing this transfer, I ran into some odd behavior: on my first attempt, Pod to PC reported completion in about 3 minutes, but it hadn't transferred any songs; in my second attempt, things were gong fine until I canceled the transfer by accidentally touching the keyboard (there was no indication that a keyboard touch would cancel things); on the third try, the transfer worked fine, except that Pod to PC reported moving 589 songs instead of 590.
With the transfer complete, the software successfully moved album art, song ratings, and playcounts.
In addition to moving music, Pod to PC also moves other iOS data. Again, though, I ran into trouble. Pod to PC was able to move only 3 of 4 ringtones and moved all 3 podcasts I attempted, but imported them into iTunes as 5 podcasts.
When trying to access photos and the iPod filesystem, Pod to PC regularly locked up and needed to be restarted. When trying to access the iPhone filesystem, the program showed me the data from the iPod touch that had been previously connected and wouldn't show the iPhone at all.
If you're willing to put up with some frustrations, Pod to PC can do at least some of its job: moving music from iPod to computer. But, with other less-buggy programs on the market, there's no reason to put up with that frustration.
Buy Direct
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
The Bottom Line
Pod to PC offers a number of features that let you copy the contents of an iPod to a desktop iTunes library, but it is plagued by too many bugs and small frustrations to merit a recommendation.
Buy Direct
Pros
- Moves music, playcounts, ratings, album art
Cons
- Confusing music transfer
- Frequent crashes when trying to move data
- Can't transfer iBooks files
- Middling performance: moved 2.41 GB in 34 minutes
Description
- A utility designed to copy an iPod, iPhone, or iPad to a desktop iTunes library
- Runs on Windows XP/Vista/7
- Works with PC-formatted iPods only
- Desktop software only, not an iPhone app
- Price: US$19.95
Guide Review - Pod to PC Review: A Program to Copy iPod to iTunes
Developer
Macroplant
Version
4.004
Works With
All iPods
All iPhones
iPad
Like other iPod transfer programs, you use Pod to PC by connecting your iPod, iPhone, or iPad to a computer running the software and then choose what files you want to copy to the desktop computer or iTunes library. As with other full-featured programs of this kind, Pod to PC also lets you browse and transfer photos, ringtones, address book entries and notes, and text messages, among other kinds of data. Unfortunately, none of these features are polished enough.
The software's core feature--transferring music--offers middling speed, moving my standard test of 590 songs/2.41 GB in 34 minutes (not the slowest time I've encountered, but far from the fastest, either).
In performing this transfer, I ran into some odd behavior: on my first attempt, Pod to PC reported completion in about 3 minutes, but it hadn't transferred any songs; in my second attempt, things were gong fine until I canceled the transfer by accidentally touching the keyboard (there was no indication that a keyboard touch would cancel things); on the third try, the transfer worked fine, except that Pod to PC reported moving 589 songs instead of 590.
With the transfer complete, the software successfully moved album art, song ratings, and playcounts.
Data Troubles
In addition to moving music, Pod to PC also moves other iOS data. Again, though, I ran into trouble. Pod to PC was able to move only 3 of 4 ringtones and moved all 3 podcasts I attempted, but imported them into iTunes as 5 podcasts.
When trying to access photos and the iPod filesystem, Pod to PC regularly locked up and needed to be restarted. When trying to access the iPhone filesystem, the program showed me the data from the iPod touch that had been previously connected and wouldn't show the iPhone at all.
Conclusion
If you're willing to put up with some frustrations, Pod to PC can do at least some of its job: moving music from iPod to computer. But, with other less-buggy programs on the market, there's no reason to put up with that frustration.
Buy Direct
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
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