13.3 Windows Shareware

The Mac people may have gotten a head start on handcrafted iPod shareware, but the Windows crew is beginning to develop programs of their own to extend the iPod's abilities . Like the Mac software described earlier, all of these programs are available on the "Missing CD" page at http://www.missingmanuals.com.

13.3.1 euPod Volume Boost

It's not your imagination : European iPods can't play as loudly as American ones. Not because Americans are any wilder, but because of government- mandated volume restrictions on European music players.

Hackers to the rescue! euPod Volume Boost lets everyone around the world melt their ears off at higher volumes . The software tinkers with a setting in the iPod's database to alter the sound output.

13.3.2 Weather for Me

Meteorologically obsessed music lovers can bring along ten days of weather forecasts after syncing their iPods with Weather for Me (Figure 13-6). This program grabs its info from http://www.weather.com (home of the Weather Channel) and can also convert temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

Figure 13-6. To get your weather forecasts from Weather for Me, just type in your Zip code, your iPod's drive letter, and whether you'd like Fahrenheit or Celsius temperatures. Then save your settings and sync your iPod.

13.3.3 J. River Media Center

The Media Center is designed for media mavens who spend hour after hour organizing and playing with their digital audio and video files. For those looking for alternative music-management software, this $40 program can sync the iPod's contents with the Media Center, adjust song volumes, and bookmark Audible files. (A free 30-day trial version is also available.)