Thousands of consumers
are looking forward to enjoying music, photos, and movies with the Apple(R)
iPhones(R) or iPods(R) they will be receiving as gifts this holiday season,
but for those using Windows(R) XP and Windows Vista computers, managing
music and video content is not as straightforward as they might think.
Unlike consumers using Apple's Mac OS(R) X which includes integrated
software that simplifies digital media content like home videos, photos,
calendars, and contacts, Windows users need to learn some basic skills to
make managing digital content on the popular devices easier.
"Apple's iPhone and the latest generation of iPods have delivered
enormous power and simplicity to the average consumer, but the technology
is still complicated and usability is not 100% intuitive, especially for
Windows users," said Dave Taylor, SupportSpace Committee Member
specializing in Macintosh and handheld technologies, editorial director of
AskDaveTaylor.com, and author of twenty business and technical books. "The
key for holiday shoppers who want to avoid holiday frustration is to gain
key bits of knowledge so they can enjoy their fabulous new tech toys."
"Consumers need to quickly get the right answers to their questions,
especially during the holiday season when people would much rather enjoy
the technology they are giving and receiving than being stymied and
frustrated by it," said Yair Grindlinger, Chief Executive Officer of
SupportSpace. "There comes a time when everyone needs a Santa's helper, and
SupportSpace is redefining the tech support experience with direct access
to certified industry experts like Dave Taylor so they get the information
they need as quickly as possible."
Unseen Obstacles For Windows Users:
- Audio Files Are In Different Formats: Apple iPods prefer MP3 formatted
music, but Windows systems default to Windows Media Audio (WMA) format.
Windows users who have a library of music will need to convert the
files from WMA to MP3.
- Windows Media Player and Apple's iTunes(R) compete for digital files:
Users manage all content through Apple's Windows software application
iTunes. Without it, copying music on to an iPod or iPhone is not
possible, and if iTunes and Windows Media player "compete" for the
data, users are in for hours of frustration. Once users learn to use
iTunes, which they must install on their computer to get the iPod or
iPhone to work properly, they can then manage audio and video content
on their computer and have it automatically sync with their handheld
device.
- Adding movie files is complicated by digital rights management and
different formats: The constraining digital rights management policy of
iTunes software and different video file formats can be difficult to
work around and understand.
- Loading Photos Is Not Plug and Play: For Windows users, managing photos
can be difficult because there is no default photo application for
Windows that is tightly integrated into iTunes. For Mac OS X users,
iPhoto(R) and iMovie(R) functionality is seamlessly integrated into
iTunes.
Top Tips for iPhone and iPod Windows Users:
- Be Sure to Download the Latest iTunes Software from Apple: Particularly
for Windows Vista users, it is critical to install the latest version
of iTunes (Version 7.2 or later).
- Rip Audio CDs in the Proper Format: Use iTunes to burn audio CD's, or
if users want to use Windows Media Player, they must change its
settings to create MP3 files, not WMA files.
- Understand Issues About Copying DVD Movies to iPods and iPhones: Going
to the iTunes Store to repurchase and download movies already owned on
DVD is the legal way of getting the content onto iPods and iPhones.
Copying DVD movies onto the iPod or iPhone is not legal, but can be
done easily by purchasing third-party software that circumvents DVD
encoding systems. Users should understand the associated copyright
issues and proceed thoughtfully.
- Carefully Manage Content Between Multiple Computers: iPods and iPhones
"pair" to a single computer and will not allow users to copy digital
content purchased at the iTunes store between multiple computers. It is
important users carefully think through which of their computers should
be paired with the device and "de-authorize" computers that won't be
used any longer.
SupportSpace
SupportSpace is a unique online service dedicated to providing "a new
standard of tech support". Giving consumers and small businesses access to
the Web's most robust community of independent, certified tech experts
capable of solving virtually any tech-related need, SupportSpace puts
people in charge of their digital world-enabling them to find their own
"personal" expert by sorting across level of expertise, price, availability
and user ratings/reviews. Customers also have the option of building an
on-going relationship with a particular expert who is familiar with their
profile and individualized needs. SupportSpace provides immediate,
real-time support offering online, phone and remote control access options
(with no waiting in line or on hold). SupportSpace created the first
proprietary support platform that allows experts to remotely share
knowledge resulting in superior customer satisfaction.
Founded in 2006, SupportSpace is privately held and headquartered in
Redwood Shores, CA with experts located across the U.S.
Source: SupportSpace
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