Xplay 2

Xplay 2

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how to share an iPod, March 17, 2005

Reviewer:   Todd Steinwart "...todd" (Carrboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews

An undervalued feature of this software is its ability to let you read and write a Mac formatted iPod in Windows, both through its native XPlay interface and iTunes for Windows. Granted, the extra translation layer (borrowed directly from their MacDrive software) slows the process down a little but the flexibility is well worth it if, like me, you have both Macs and Windows machines. (NB: If you use MacDrive you don't need XPlay to access a Mac-formatted iPod in iTunes for Windows - that capability comes built in.)

I don't care for the native XPlay interface personally: why make something look and act like Windows Explorer when Explorer is only marginally functional? but more importantly, XPlay doesn't support Smart Playlists, to which I am addicted. I use it strictly for its cross-platform capability.

Overall I am happy with this software. It stays out of the way when I don't need it and works seemlessly when I do. If you're running Windows ME/2K/XP and have a Windows-formatted iPod I'm not sure what its value is, but if you're running and older version of Windows or (like me) want to share an iPod between a Mac and Windows, XPlay is indispensable.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Why can't all software be this powerful and easy???, February 1, 2005

Reviewer:   Steve Cross "Stevie" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

I installed it and that is all there is too it. Within a minute of installing XPlay I was transfering music to my iPod. It was as easy as using any other disk on my Windows XP computer. I can do everything I did with iTunes, but it just feels better, more "Windows" with XPlay. It really is one of the easiest programs I have ever used.

Also, a friend of mine uses XPlay with his Windows Me system. With XPlay we were able to copy music off his iPod and save it to his PC. Pretty cool!!!

I was leary when I first read reviews on here about both XPlay and Mediafour as a company. I am not sure what experience others had on here, but for my money this is a first rate program.

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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Poor documentation, arrogant customer support, December 22, 2004

Reviewer:   Richard Down (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

I have been buying software for computers for almost 20 years now, and this is one of the worst experiences I've ever had with a software purchase. Despite the fancy "iPod family" packaging, there is no manual in the box. The support info on the CD is skeletal, as is the website. Upon calling Media4 customer support, the individual I talked with knew next to nothing about the XP operating system - even though the program is marketed to both Windows and Mac users. There is better freeware out there that actually does what, as far as I can tell, Xplay only says it does.

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Sweet as candy, October 27, 2004

Reviewer:   AMG - See all my reviews

"Good show!", I say. The program does what it claims to and more.
My old 98 computer can use the iPod and that is pretty cool.
I like being able to copy music from my iPod onto my computer. It makes downloading music at the office and bringing it home a lot simpler than FTP'ing the songs, remembering to grab them off the FTP, et cetera. This way I can also play the songs my new songs on the commute home too.

Slick stuff. If you haven't tried it you don't know what you're missing.

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XPlay Review

XPlay Review

Windows and iPod... perfect together.

June 28, 2002 - So everyone already knows that the iPod rocks ass. It's not a perfect piece of hardware, but there's really not much to bitch about in terms of the device itself. One of the only complaints has obviously been the lack of native Windows support. I understand Apple's position, especially given their recent barrage of PC-to-Mac switching advertisements, but leaving us PC users out in the cold seems like a strange ploy. Hell, there are a handful of folks here at IGN headquarters that would have purchased an iPod if it weren't for the Mac-only operation.

Enter Mediafour, whose XPlay software solves the PC compatibility issue. XPlay is based on the company's MacDrive program, which allows users to run general Mac software on a PC. I suppose XPlay was a natural extension of MacDrive once the iPod was released. XPlay has been available in beta form for months -- I've been running it since day one at home -- but the full version only came out a few days ago.

Available in a box at CompUSA or for download at the Mediafour site, the $29.95 program is a godsend for PC users. Lean, fast, and stable, I highly recommend XPlay, and an iPod, of course, to anyone looking for a hard drive-based MP3 portable.

While users are for the most part limited to first-party software with digital audio portables, XPlay is not the first such suite. Notmad Explorer, designed by Red Chair Software, is a third-party application that allows Nomad Jukebox 3 users to skip Creative's clunky PlayCenter. Even better, Notmad allows for more complete control than the original software.

	Tag edits from the software.

	Edit start and stop points and levels.

Performance Excellent operation. Fast and reliable. No crashes with XP, though i haven't tried weaker OSes. 9.0 Build Quality I don't know why you'd need it, but Mediafour offers full tech support with the full version. 8.0 Ease of Use If you're using Windows, then you already know as much as you need to. 8.5 Value For $30.00 you get to use one of the best MP3 portables with Windows. Hmm... 8.5 Features Pretty straightforward stuff. Drag and drop transfers are easy enough. The tag and song editing is nice, despite being very basic. A few more tools, a la Notmad would have been appreciated. 7.5 Overall Rating (Not an average) 8.75

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XPlay 2.0

XPlay 2.0
By Ian Betteridge November 12, 2004	2 comments posted  Add your opinion
System requirements: Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98SE; FireWire or USB 2 port. Editor Rating:
For a brief period back in the dawn of iPod history, the product was effectively only for those happy few with Macs. iTunes, Apple's excellent music application and conduit to the iPod, was Mac-only, and iPod's could only be formatted as Mac-native HFS+ drives. Unsurprisingly, some companies saw this as an opportunity – and in prime position was Mediafour, which already made MacDrive, an excellent piece of software that allowed Windows users to work with Mac formatted drives. Hence, the creation of XPlay, a piece of software based on MacDrive which allowed users to copy songs direct to a Mac-formatted iPod from any Windows machine. The natural question is whether there is any need for XPlay, now Apple has created iTunes for Windows and iPods can be formatted in Windows-native formats. The answer, thanks to XPlay's evolution into XPlay 2.0, is definitely "yes". For example, if your primary computer is a Mac and you want the convenience of using a Mac-formatted iPod, yet occasionally need to use the player with a PC, XPlay is an ideal solution. And, if you use Windows 98 SE or Windows Me, you'll need a product like XPlay in order to use your iPod with your computer. What's more, the latest version of XPlay adds some convenient features, which will appeal to some. The product now converts unprotected Windows Media files on the fly into MP3s when you copy across to the iPod, although this requires that you have MP3 creation software installed. The interface under Windows XP is smooth, clean, and easy to use, integrating well with Windows Explorer. XPlay is an impressive piece of software, both for its power and more than anything for its simplicity. For Mac users who want to use their Mac-formatted iPod with a Windows machine, it's an ideal solution that just works – and at $29.95 it's easily affordable too.

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XPlay 1.0

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XPlay 1.0 Editors' Rating Performance 7 Features 5 Service & support 7 Installation & setup 9 Interface & ease of use 6 Full Review Readers' Rating 0% 0% Rate this product List price £29.95 Check Prices

Full Review

Troy Dreier July 10, 2002

Formerly known as XPod (a name Apple found a bit too similar to its iPod), Mediafour’s XPlay is the best-known application that synchronises your iPod with a Windows PC. In contrast to EphPod, its sole competitor, XPlay has a professional, polished look and the backing of a major software developer. However, unlike EphPod, XPlay lacks novel features, such as Web-page syncing. If you simply want to move music and contacts from your PC to your iPod with no hassle, choose the $29.95 (~£20) XPlay. If you'd rather expand your horizons, give EphPod a try. Compared to EphPod, which we struggled with for hours, XPlay installs like a dream -- in seconds and without a hitch. To launch the program, simply plug in your iPod. XPlay then automatically launches on your desktop. Unlike EphPod or the iPod's Mac software (iTunes), XPlay doesn't display a standard Windows-style interface. Instead, you click the iPod icon, which shows up as a mounted storage drive in the My Computer folder, to see and access the files inside it. When you first start XPlay, you can use the auto-launching setup wizard to select folders on your computer to automatically synchronise with your iPod. Thereafter, XPlay will automatically upload any music that you place in one of these folders when you connect. You can also copy and paste music folders directly onto the iPod window to update manually or drag and drop individual songs into the Songs folder. Like Apple, XPlay prevents you from copying songs from the iPod, so if you're using more than one machine to play music, EphPod is the better bet. XPlay mimics all of the standard iPod tricks, including the ability to make playlists with whatever selections you choose. To do so, you can simply select a song or a folder in your iPod's music folder, right-click, and choose Send to Playlist -- a nice trick. You can then send the music to an existing playlist or make a new one. To rearrange a playlist's entries, open the Playlist window in the mounted iPod, open the playlist you want, then drag and drop your selections. This is much easier than EphPod's complex process. Since XPlay doesn't offer a standard user interface, you reach most controls by right-clicking songs or folders. For example, you can right-click to adjust a song's volume, designate an equaliser preset, or adjust a tune's start or stop times -- unlike EphPod, which doesn't let you tweak sound or volume settings. Unfortunately, XPlay overwrites your settings the next time you auto-synchronise your files. XPlay can store contact information on your iPod in vCard (VCF files) format, as do iTunes and EphPod. Unlike EphPod, though, XPlay doesn't synchronise with any Web sites or offer additional uses for your 5GB or 10GB portable drive. We appreciate that unexpected extra in EphPod, as it takes logical advantage of all those gigabytes. Should you encounter a problem with XPlay, you can email technical support. Mediafour promises an email response within one business day, but we waited four days for an answer. When it did show up, thankfully, it was polite and helpful. With XPlay, Mediafour offers an attractive, straightforward program that will appeal to those who value ease of use. But after seeing EphPod's creative features, we wish XPlay's developers had added a bit more value. XPlay certainly brings the iPod to Windows users with no hassles. But we'd enjoy a few surprises, too.

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