Your iPod holds years of music, movies and photos, and the only copy of some of it may be on that device. If the iPod dies or syncing with iTunes wipes it, those files are gone. AVCWare iPod Magic for Mac is built to get that content off the iPod and onto your Mac or into iTunes, and to move files the other way too.
Quick facts
- Platform: Mac OS X
- Price: $29.00
- Devices: iPod, iPod nano, iPod classic, iPod shuffle, iPod Mini, iPod touch, iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4
- License: Shareware, with a free download to try
Key features
Back up iPod music, movies and photos to your Mac or iTunes
You can copy music, movies and photos from the iPod to your Mac. That includes photos and videos shot on the device. You can also transfer files from the iPod to iTunes, and copy files from the Mac back to the iPod.
Convert DVD movies and non-iPod files so they play on the iPod
Files in formats the iPod doesn't support are converted first, then copied across. The program offers a list of optimized iPod video and music profiles. You can also build your own profile by adjusting the output parameters. Listed input formats include AVI, MPEG, WMV, MOV, H264, WMA, AAC, AIFF and AC3.
Manage what is on the device
You can create playlists and photo albums, search with Quick Search and Filter, and switch between list and thumbnail views. You can also rate and comment on files, set illustrations for music and video, and edit ID3 tags for several files at once. The description also lists ringtone and eBook management.
See device details and preview files before you move them
When you connect a device, the program recognizes the iPod or iPhone and shows its picture, type, capacity and version. A built-in player lets you play iPod music and movies, or preview DVDs and videos before converting them. You can also connect several iOS devices at once and drag and drop files between them.
Who it's for
This suits you if you have an iPod or an older iPhone and a Mac, and you want a plain way to back up the device's contents without relying on iTunes syncing. It also suits you if you have DVD movies or video files in other formats that you want to play on the iPod.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Copies files in both directions between iPod, Mac and iTunes
- Converts DVD and other video and audio files for the iPod
- Covers every iPod type, plus several iPhone models
- Includes tag editing, playlists and a built-in player
Cons
- The device list stops at iPhone 4 and iOS 4.3, so newer devices are not listed
- Mac only, and it is a paid program after the trial
FAQs
Can it copy files from my iPod to iTunes?
Yes. Transferring files from the iPod to iTunes is one of its main functions, alongside copying to the Mac.
Does it work with iPhones?
It is described as an iPhone file transfer and converter too. The listed models run from the original iPhone to the iPhone 4.
Can I put DVD movies on my iPod with it?
Yes. DVD movies are first converted to an iPod-supported format, then copied to the device.
Can I try it before buying?
A free download is offered, and the full program costs $29.00.
System requirements
- Mac OS X 10.5 to 10.6
- 512MB RAM
- 30MB free hard disk space for installation