The Slick Network

 

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I was searching for a convenient way to convert my (non-DRM)WMA audio files to mp3 format, but I found that it was difficult to find a solution that met my needs.  I looked up audio converters on Google and I was provided a large list of tools that sounded great.  I downloaded a few and I was surprised to learn that all tools required manually inputting information into id3 tags.  I research the problem a little more and several sources pointed out that WMA to mp3 tagging is not as easy as it sounds.  I figured that I would have to buy a plugin that worked with the Windows Media Player.  The prices ranged from $9.99 and up.  I would have purchased them , but I didn’t see any description that the products could do what I needed them to do.  Most of the tools provided ID3 tags when ripping from a CD to Mp3, but none offered ID3 tags when converting from WMA to MP3. 

 I have an iPod now, but I used to use a Creative Jukebox Zen Xtra.  I figured that I would try to reload or download the software that came with the product because I was sure that it offered a free conversion tool.  I went to the Creative USA site and they did offer a tool.  The tool works like a charm and converts title, track, and album name to ID3 tags.  I am including the link below and hopefully it will save someone some time.  The actual article below describes the conversion from Mp3 to WMA, but it is easy enough to figure out how to do it the other way. You don’t actually have to own a Creative Mp3 player for this program to work.  This is a great tool if you all of a sudden have a large collection of DRM free WMA files to convert.

Here is a screenshot of the program:  

*Note: Creative no longer has a direct link to the Audio Converter.  You will have to download the full software bundle.  You can delete the programs thst you don’t need.

Here is a direct link to the article and dowload.  <-- not working

Try this link. You will need to select your Country and mp3 player.  Any of the Zen Players should work.  Download the Creative Media Source Organizer.

 If you have iTunes, you can also just drag any unprotected WMA file into the library window and have the option to convert WMA files to Mp3.

 

The Slingbox from Sling Media will change the way that you watch Television when you are away from home.  One of the best things about this device is that it lets you stay connected to local news and sporting events if you are away traveling.  It also lets you control your cable box, Tivo , or DVD player. You need a fast internet connection in order to fully enjoy this product.  I will admit that some sporting events look choppy, but at least you can watch it in real time or with a minimal 15 second delay. 

 We have tested this product and would say that it is well worth the $200-250 cost.

At first glance, I was amazed by the wonderful features of my iHome branded clock radio for my iPod. It had an alarm, iPod charger, and the ability to play my ipod audio directly through the speakers on the unit. It was a dream come true. No longer was required to listen through those little headphones. I was free to listen without boundaries. I decided that work would be a great place to connect my unit. I am at my desk eight hours a day and my company is nice enough to let me listen to music at a reasonable volume level.

After only minutes of the first use, my iPod completely froze and would no longer go into sleep mode. I blamed the iPod for being faulty because it was brand new. I went online and tried to reset the iPod and that didn’t work. After a lengthy call with the helpful Apple associate, I was told to go home and reinstall the updated iPod software. That didn’t work, so I had to send my iPod in for repair. About two week later I had a refurbished iPod. It totally sucks because my iPod was just one week old when it stopped working. I was just happy to have an iPod that worked , so the following Monday, I connected my “refurb” iPod into my iHome. My iPod now freezes after about three songs and then I have to reboot my iPod in order to get it to play. It is a newer generation Video iPod, so I thought that maybe it was just a little “buggy”. I waited for the new firmware to be released because it promised to fix several bugs. The following Monday I connected the iPod to the iHome and it began freezeing again. I doesn’t freeze once or twice a day…it freezes like 20 or 30 times a day. I have a $10 set of computer speakers that I got from Walmart and my iPod never freezes when I connect it to those speakers.

I went to the iHome forums and all I could find is that it says that you may run into interference when connected next to a computer or monitor. I have three dell flat panel monitors connected to two computers at work, so possibly it could be that. It is just a sad thing that I lost my receipt and am unable to return the $89 paper weight. The clock radio sounds great , but I can hook up a $10 clock radio if that’s what I wanted.

Let me know if anyone else runs into the same problem or has a solution for me. This was a promising product that has just totally let me down.

I would not buy this product again, but that is only my opinion. Maybe I just have a defective unit.