fignewtron was here

After many hours of searching for a complicated solution for synchronizing a calendar with my new iPod Classic 80GB, I found how to do it manually.  Why I would want to do that is still up for debate.  At this point the reason is, well, because.

The trick is that you have to use iTunes to set disk access on to get to the device's folders.  The iPod shows up like any other hard drive, usb stick, or virtual drive.  A few minutes of mucking about in the folder structure reveals the Calendars folder.  hmmm.....

"What if I just drag an .ics file into the folder?", I said to myself.  hmmm.... Here are the instructions step by step:

1. Fire up a handy dandy Mozilla Sunbird calendar app
2. Add an event and a task or two
3. Save the calendar as MyCalendar.ics
4. Connect the iPod up to the PC
5. Drop that .ics file into the Calendars folder
6. Disconnect the iPod
7. wait.... wait.... wait...
8. Navigate to the Extras/Calendars and see the events and tasks there!

Sweet! :)

Now delete the file from the iPod to remove the Calendar and manually push a new file to get updates.

(Note: Your mileage may vary)

Code

Over this weekend I had extra time to play with a new iPod Classic 80GB.  A client gave the developers on the team each a shiny new iPod for busting our butts on their project.  Now my inner geek can blend with my inner musician!

So a while back, I discovered this show on PBS call Legends of Jazz.  It has interviews with jazz greats and new names in jazz.  It also has performances in front of a live audience.  The studio backup musicians are superb.  I highly recommend this show to anyone who enjoys music.  So I purchased all episodes for $1.99 each through the iTunes store and will be listening and watching them on my iPod!!!  The picture is crystal clear and the sound is excellent.  I also found several FREE podcasts via the iTunes store that are hosted by NPR.  It's a little odd that a service like the iTunes store has those free podcasts but I'm definately drawn into using iTunes more because of it.  So, I'm busily downloading the NPR: Jazz Profiles show and Piano Jazz Shorts.  I'm very excited to listen and learn from these new sources of jazz on the web. 

The next places I'm going to look for podcasts and videos will be JazzCorner.com, woodyshaw.com, and dextergordon.com.

I love my new iPod!  It rocks and be-bops!

Music