New member, first mp3 player, need help

[Kibble_Fat]

Hi,

Just bought my first mp3 player ever - a T30 - from geeks.com, so here I am. Yes, I know it's refurbised, but for about $60 shipped, it's not a bad deal.

Anyway, it hasen't arrived yet, but I'd like to be up to date on all the lingo you guys use. Is there an "mp3 dictionary" webpage I should take a look at? Also, What non-intrusive - or at least minimally intrusive mods are available? If you could link me to some good info, that would be fantastic...

Thanks,
Eric

[cloarox]

Originally Posted by Kibble_Fat

Hi,

Just bought my first mp3 player ever - a T30 - from geeks.com, so here I am. Yes, I know it's refurbised, but for about $60 shipped, it's not a bad deal.

Anyway, it hasen't arrived yet, but I'd like to be up to date on all the lingo you guys use. Is there an "mp3 dictionary" webpage I should take a look at? Also, What non-intrusive - or at least minimally intrusive mods are available? If you could link me to some good info, that would be fantastic...

Thanks,
Eric

Eric... don't apologize for the refurb... I have three T30's all refurbs and their great. I can't speak for geek.com but as long as it was refurbed by iRiver it will look and perform like new.

The first thing you do after getting it is to check the firmware level. Most of the refurbs from iRiver are several versions back. I'm not going to tell you how to upgrade the firmware. It's really something you have to figure out for yourself by reading the instructions. Do it wrong and you can brick you player. (i.e., kill it) Here's a link to instructions telling you how to perform the upgrade (as well as a manual and quick start guide.) As long as you are careful and don't skip any steps you will be fine.

http://www.iriveramerica.com/support/ultra/t30.aspx

As to MP3 downloads... there are plenty of free (and legal) ones if you surf for them. For instance you can download at least 200 at this link. NOTE: There are 5 pages of 50 MP3's, check the tabs at the top of the page to get to the other pages:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...636625-9337555

[links to illegal P2P sites deleted. Please read the Mistic River Posting Guidelines.]

In addition to MP3's, don't forget about Podcast. You can download them to your T30 and listen to them when you need a break from the music. Don't fret... you can find Podcasts on every subject from planting tomatoes to improving your sex life. Heres a link to 30 or 40 thousand to get you started. NOTE the A to Z index at the top of the page.

http://www.download.com/MP3-Rocket/3...ml?tag=lst-3-2

One of the fastest and easiest ways to get podcasts into your mp3 player is via a utility called podcastready. Nothing to install on your computer or MP3 player, just a link you add to your browser.

http://www.podcastready.com/site4/index.php

NOTE: This next link will help get your browser set up to grab the podcast you want to listen to. The link works with either Firefox or IE... but the Firefox solution is a piece of cake. You click on one button and the Podcast is downloaded. In IE you need to bookmark a link and click it each time you want to download a podcasts.

http://www.podcastready.com/oneclick...p?page=install

One last note: The "hold" slide switch on the back of your T30 will lockout all the buttons so you can handle the T30, drop it in your pocket, etc., without worrying about hitting a button while listening to tunes . However "if" the hold switch is moved to the hold position when the unit is turned off, it will lock out the buttons and prevent you from turning it back on. The first time this happended to me I thought my unit was broken. DOH!

Anyway, this should keep you busy for a while. Good luck with your new T30.

Cloarox

[Kibble_Fat]

Wow, thanks a lot for the highly informative post! Well, I got the player two days ago... I'm glad I saved some dough on a refurbished t30!! This is one awsome little gadget. The sound quality and menus are unbelievable! Lol, the WMP 10 disk that came with it was cracked into three parts, but thankfully I already have it and didn't even need it: just copy & paste.

I don't know if this will tell you anything about my firmware but turning it on with the hold engaged I get a screen that has the padlock with bisected circle over it (it says "Hold" beneath it too).

The system info reads: Firmware V 1.54P - is that the latest?

Thanks again,
Eric

[1337.Mage]

You don't have the latest firmware. The latest firmware for your model is 1.71.

Go to this site to update your firmware:

http://www.iriveramerica.com/support/mtpupdate/

[Kibble_Fat]

So it will recognize my player as the T30 when I plug it in (and not as the H10)? What does this version of firmware have that mine doesn't. Just curious. Is it true that if you mess up on the directions your player can "die"?

Edit: I did the 1.71 update and it seems to have worked...

Eric