Play iTunes M4P on BlackBerry Tour 9630

"The BlackBerry Tour 9630 itself is really a mash-up of RIM's BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Storm."

One of the greatest new features I am starting to enjoy on my BlackBerry Tour is the ability for it to play multimedia files and specifically audio (music).

First let's take a look at the video and audio formats supported by the newest BlackBerry Tour 9630:

Video format support: MPEG4 H.263, MPEG4 Part 2 Simple Profile, H.264 (encoding and decoding 30fps), WMV

Audio format support: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMA ProPlus

Basically, when you purchase music from iTunes Store, you actually get DRM protected content (in protected AAC or M4P format), which you will not be able to play on MP3/MP4 players and other non-Apple mobile players. In such case, the option is to burn those tracks to an audio CD and then rip them once again to your computer hard drive wherein the DRM will be removed and you will get the tracks in (DRM free) MP3 format. After this you will be able to transfer them to your BlackBerry.

In case you have purchased a great amount of music from iTunes Store, you can go ahead and use TuneClone M4P to MP3 Converter which acts as a Virtual CD-ROM drive on your PC and lets you remove the DRM element without having to waste actual CD's, with the music ID3 tags info well preserved.

You can follow this tutorial to learn how to convert iTunes M4P to MP3 for your BlackBerry using TuneClone M4P to MP3 Converter:

How to Convert iTunes M4P to MP3?



After you get the output MP3 files, you can now begin to transfer them to your BlackBerry Tour:

1. Connect your BlackBerry to you computer via the USB cable.
2. If you have properly enabled your Blackberry as a Mass Storage Device, your Blackberry's microSD card will show as a removable drive on your computer.
3. Double click on the Blackberry folder.
4. Double click on the music folder.
5. Copy your music files to your BlackBerry.
6. Disconnect your Blackberry from the USB cable and go to the "Multimedia" icon on you Blackberry. You need to disconnect when you use the Mass Storage device method as it disables direct access from the BlackBerry when connected to the PC via the USB cable.
7. Click on the Music icon.
8. Click on the Media Card folder.
9. Select your Music folder.
10. Select your Song.
11. Play and enjoy.

Done.

How to move iTunes Library to Zune Software

You want to migrate from the iPod to the Zune but the main reason you haven't made that jump is because you have your iTunes library. I'm sure that's a very common reason for not coming over to the Zune world. (Ok, maybe not, but I'll maintain my delusion.) This is a serious issue though and if you do want to change platforms, then your only options are mostly time consuming and wasteful.

For instance, you can burn the protected M4P music files to CD-R or CD-RW disc to make an audio CD and then use some CD ripper software to convert the audio CD track back to Zune accepted MP3 or WMA. iTunes allows you to burn the protected music files to CD-R or CD-RW disc to make a standard audio CD:

1. Insert a CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Burn your playlist to make an audio CD. You cannot select the "MP3 CD" option since it requires the DRM protected iTunes music files be converted to unprotected MP3 or WMA files.
3. After the audio CD is successfully burned, insert the disc into your CD-ROM drive again. Then you can use iTunes to import the music tracks on the burned disc as MP3 or WMA files.

However, it would be a time consuming process if you have a big library of iTunes M4P music files ready to be converted to Zune MP3 or WMA. Moreover, the information about the M4P music files like title, artist and album will be lost after the burning and ripping process. So this method is not recommended if you have a big collection of iTunes M4P music files ready to be transferred to your Zune.

I've made a Google search for programs that can convert iTunes M4P music to Zune WMA or MP3, and TuneClone M4P Converter attracted my attention. The edge of TuneClone over other similar programs is that it applys the virtual CD burning technology to simulates the burning and ripping process.



You can use TuneClone M4P Converter to convert your library of M4P DRM protected music to the MP3 format that you can use on any player out there worth its salt. This is a useful tool for anyone looking to break their relationship with the iPod. This software does cost $34.95 to register but that price does give you what appears to be a full feature application. The best part is that it maintains all of the music file's metadata. Wordpress has a tutorial showing how to use TuneClone M4P Converter to get iTunes 8 music converted to MP3 format.

Review on TuneClone Audio Converter

There is an in-depth review of TuneClone Audio Converter software. The author gives an average score of 4.5 out of 5.



So what do you think of this review? Is it fair and honest? Now let's take a look at the highlights of this review:

iTunes has invaded pretty much all musical use on the computer anymore, people who don't really know much about computers hear about iTunes and assume that's what they're supposed to use for their music on their computers. Case in point, a friend of mine does not own an iPod, but yet he and his girlfriend used iTunes to transfer all of his music over to his computer and it's kinda stuck there now. Well he'll be the first to admit that he really doesn't know much about computers at all, so seeing as iTunes was so popular that's what they decided to use for his music, of course they didn't ask me anything at all. They transferred over many, many songs, and of course his mp3 player, a Sandisk, can't play them so he was stuck with what to do next. So he called me for help, mind you though, most of his music isn't copy protected/copy righted etc, he's actually a world renowned Waltz or Ballroom Dance instructor, so he's got tons of music he uses for that kind of stuff, and once they spent the hours to put it in his computer via iTunes he was basically stuck, it was either re-do it all through another program, buy an iPod or figure out another way to get his music to his Sandisk player converted to Mp3 format.

So there are a few free versions out there that will help my friend out, but I needed something that was easy to use, very easy to use and I found TuneClone, which is very easy to use so that's what I've got for review today. TuneClone is a program to convert you iTunes or other music services music over to mp3 format, quickly and easily. It essentially creates a virtual CDRW drive on your computer and virtually burns the CD from the main program, iTunes of other and then TuneClone automatically rips it to mp3 format for you, so in a few easy steps you've got music that is easily transferred and played on any device.

Tech Specs, Features or the Basic Info:

Note: The information in this part is from TuneClone homepage, so please go to http://www.tuneclone.com/index.php to get to know about tech specs, features and basic info of TuneClone Audio Converter.

Installation, Testing and Comparison:

TuneClone is a download, so there are no box shots etc, just download and install, very easy to do.



There's really not much to do on the end user part of this program, most is done automatically. Load up TuneClone and hit the 'Open Media Player' button and your iTunes or whatever will open for you. If you wish you can change the output directory, and other settings like bitrates etc, but for most the default settings are fine.

To use TuneClone you just burn a CD with your program, I'm using iTunes of course, you just have to make sure the destination drive is the TuneClone virtual CD, other than that there's nothing else to change really.

As soon as you hit burn, your CD will start to burn virtually and then TuneClone goes to work converting the files to MP3 format for you automatically.

That's it, there's really nothing much more to it, very easy to use for even someone who doesn't know much about computers.

Summary and Comments:

TuneClone is a great way to free your music from one of the music services out there, it works well, it works fast and it's very easy to use.

DragonSteelMods gives TuneClone Audio Converter Software a 4.5 out of 5 score.

Pros:

-Easy use
-Fast
-Works well

Cons:

-Expensive

The full review is available at http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10186&Itemid=38

How to Convert iTunes 8 M4P to MP3

More than two months ago, I wrote a tutorial entitled How to Convert iTunes M4P to MP3. In that post, I introduced the way to convert iTunes M4P (protected AAC) music to MP3: using TuneClone. With the release of Apple genius iTunes 8, this way of converting iTunes M4P (protected AAC) music to MP3 with TuneClone isn't applicable, as there's some difference between iTunes 8 and its previous version. So, I'd like to post the step by step tutorial about how to convert iTunes 8 protected AAC or say M4P music to MP3 with TuneClone below:

1. Download TuneClone from http://www.tuneclone.com/tuneclone_setup.exe and install it.

TuneClone is fully compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista. A virtual CD burner will be installed. This virtual CD-RW will be used to convert music files.

2. Make settings in TuneClone



Click the "Settings" button at TuneClone. In the pop-up window, you can specify the "output folder", "output filenames", "output format", etc. for the output files.

Note: Apart from MP3, TuneClone also allows you to convert iTunes M4P to WAV and unprotected WMA.
Tip: You can get the output protection removed music folder by clicking the "Folder" button after the whole process.

3. Make settings at iTunes

Create a playlist, and then add the files you want to convert into the playlist.



After you have created the playlist ready to be burnt, click the "Burn Disc" in the bottom right of iTunes.

In the pop up window of "Burn Settings", make the settings as highlighted below:



4. Start to burn

Click the "Burn" button to start burning.

After the burning gets started, TuneClone will automatically convert the music file to MP3, WMA or WAV. You can open the manager screen to show all the converted music files.



The most important step is to choose the CD burner. Then the software can convert the music files automatically. It is exceedingly easy when you want to batch convert lots of files.

TuneClone M4P Converter - remove DRM from iTunes M4P music to MP3 WAV WMA

TuneClone M4P Converter(http://www.tuneclone.com/index.php) is a very easy to use program that converts iTunes M4P music files to plain MP3, WAV and unprotected WMA. Via a user-friendly interface, it is very easy to install and very easy to use.

TuneClone M4P Converter doesn't bypass the DRM. It simulates the burning, ripping and encoding process by installing a virtual CD burner. All you need to do is burn your playlist in your media player software to TuneClone M4P Converter's virtual CD drive, and TuneClone M4P Converter will convert music files in the playlist to MP3, WAV or DRM-free WMA files automatically.

Key features of TuneClone M4P Converter: http://www.tuneclone.com/index.php

1. Within a few clicks, TuneClone M4P Converter lets you remove DRM protection from purchased music by applying the virtual CD burning technology. You can play the converted DRM-free music with media players or any MP3 players including Zune, PSP, BlackBerry, Creative Zen, iriver, SanDisk Sansa, Walkman, Cell Phone (Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia N-series, Samsung Anycall, LG, etc.), Pocket PC, PDA, etc.

2. TuneClone M4P Converter supports almost all music formats your media player software can play and burn, whether they are DRM protected or not, including WMA, M4P, AAC, M4B and M4A. And it can output audio formats such as MP3, WAV and unprotected WMA.

3. TuneClone M4P Converter can easily and quickly convert DRM protected music and various audio files to MP3, WAV and unprotected WMA at very high speed with very nice CD quality.

4. With TuneClone M4P Converter, the converted songs will have no DRM restriction any more.

5. TuneClone M4P Converter is very easy to install and and very easy to use with a very handy and clear user interface.

6. TuneClone M4P Converter can preserve ID3 tags for artist, album, title names, artworks, etc.

7. TuneClone M4P Converter is specially designed for batch converting large song collections. Compared with using real CD-R or CD-RW disc, TuneClone's virtual CD burning uses the maximum writing speed so that your music files can be converted at a very high speed.

TuneClone M4P Converter is available at:http://www.tuneclone.com/tuneclone_setup.exe

How to convert iTunes M4P to MP3 with TuneClone

TuneClone Audio Converter is the software you are looking for if you have a big collection of iTunes M4P music files to be converted to MP3. It automatically generates a virtual CD drive and simulates the burning and ripping process. All you need to do is install TuneClone and then burn your playlist to TuneClone virtual CD burner. And TuneClone will directly convert the iTunes M4P music to MP3. It is very fast and all the music information about artist, album and title will be preserved perfectly.

Note: If you are using iTunes 8.0 or above, please skip to http://itunestomp3.blogspot.com/2008/09/updated-how-to-convert-itunes-protected.html

1. Download TuneClone from http://www.tuneclone.com and install it.

TuneClone Audio Converter is fully compatible with Windows XP and Vista. A virtual CD Burner will be installed. This virtual CD-RW will be used to convert music files.

2. Set the default CD Burner to TuneClon CD-RW at iTunes.

Click menu "Edit", select menu item "Preferences...", and then select "Advanced" tab. In order to keep the music metadata, the "Include CD Text" option should be checked.



3. Create a playlist, and then add the files you want to convert into the playlist.

4. Click Burn Disc button at the bottom right of the main screen of iTunes.



While the burning gets started, TuneClone will automatically convert the music file to MP3. You can open the manager screen to show all the converted music files.



The most important step is to choose the cd burner. Then TuneClone will convert the music files automatically. It is exceedingly easy when you want to batch convert lots of M4P files.

How to convert iTunes protected AAC M4P to MP3

The music files you purchased from iTunes store areunder DRM protection. You cannot play them on your own mobile devices other than iPod and iPhone. You cannot directly convert the DRM protected AAC (M4P) to MP3 with iTunes media player, either. However you can burn the M4P music files to CD-R or CD-RW disc to make an audio CD and then use some CD ripper software to convert the audio CD track back to MP3. iTunes allows you to burn the protected AAC music files to CD-R or CD-RW disc to make a standard audio CD. If you have only a few music files, you can use the method below:

1. Insert a CD-R or CD-RW disc into your CD-ROM drive. You'd better use CD-RW disc as it can be used for more than once.
2. Burn your playlist to make an audio CD. You cannot select the "MP3 CD" option since it requires the protected music files be converted to unprotected MP3 files.
3. After the audio CD is successfully burned, insert the disc into your CD-ROM drive again. Then you can use iTunes to import the music tracks on the burned disc to MP3 files.
4. Copy the MP3 files to media players such as cell phone, Zune, BlackBerry, PSP, Creative Zen, etc.

These four steps seem very simple, however, it is a time consuming process if you have a library of M4P music files ready to be converted. Moreover, the information about the music files like title, artist and album will be lost after burning and ripping back to MP3 files.

TuneClone is the software you are looking for if you have a big collection of iTunes M4P music to be converted to MP3. It automatically generates a virtual CD drive and simulates the burning and ripping process. All you need to do is install TuneClone and then burn your playlist to TuneClone virtual CD burner. And TuneClone will directly convert the M4P files to MP3. It is very fast and the music metadata information about artist, album and title will be well preserved.