How To Manage a Media Player On Your Android Phone

There's been a constant criticism that Android powered smartphones don't have a desktop interface similar to iTunes, but the truth is that Android devices can comfortably sync to Windows Media Player in more or less the same manner as the iPad and iPhone. If you use Windows regularly then you can be able to transfer music your PC and your phone.

Android devices are intended to be self-reliant and that's why you will be pardoned to think that your droid is not syncing with Windows as they do not ever depend on desktop synchronization. In fact, they sync to windows similar to any other media player. Provided you set the smartphone suitably, you can drag files about in Windows Media Player and sync media libraries between your PC and your Android phone automatically.

If you're connecting your Android for the first time, you will most likely see a small autorun dialog box that will prompt you to install the drivers for your smartphone or possibly a small assistant app that is preloaded on your phone. Depending on the phone's manufacturer, the method may be different.

Look out for any prompts asking you to download and install other software from your wireless carrier. Such apps are not good since their work it to mainly grasp any extra penny from users and not really to help sync your phone to your PC. Close any browser tabs that come up with invitations to download the junk. You will see a control window panel for your phone once you finish the installation.

If the Windows Control Panel doesn't appear, go to 'Devices and Printers' and check for your handset's listing there. On the device control panel, there are a couple of options for managing the contents: 'Manage media on your device', 'Browse files', 'Import pictures and videos' and 'change general settings.' Other devices have additional options but those are the important ones. Apps for managing music and photos will be automatically set as default by Windows but if you wish to make changes you will just click change program under each option. For this process allow the Windows Media Player and Windows Live Photo Gallery to be defaults.

To transfer pictures and videos you have on your phone's gallery double click import pictures and videos. Windows will by default search the camera roll of your phone. You can input tags if you want and then click OK to commence the import. To delete files from your camera, check the box or keep them by leaving the box unchecked just like with any other digital cameras. An Explorer window will open to display what you have transferred once you are through with importing.

Music that is not in your Windows music library but in your phone can be also transferred through to selecting your device from the list on the left plane; select music and then highlight and drag all the files into a box marked 'Drag items here.' Transfer them by clicking on Start sync.

Play Your iTunes Files on Windows Media Player

So you just purchased a new media device and it uses Windows Media platform to playback stored media files. You just copied your media files from your iTunes unto your new device but playback show you that the file format is not supported, hence the files won't play. Fret not! There are many methods of how to convert iTunes files into Windows Media files.

Although a seemingly easy task, converting downloaded media files into player acceptable format can turn out to be such a chore for some users, this should not be the case.

Method One - For non-ACC format files:

For files that are not purchased or downloaded from iTunes, following these simple instructions will convert the media file automatically.

• Open your Windows Media Player.
• On the 'Library' tab click, 'Add to Library'
• Select the 'My personal folders' option and click 'Ok'
• The files should be added to your Windows Media Player

Method Two - third party converter:

However, media available on iTunes can only be downloaded in a format called AAC. Currently, Windows Media Players does not support this format. If the above instructions are used, the Player will search for the media files and find them but the ones bought from iTunes store will not add to the library. The files would then have to be converted using any media converter.

There are a lot available over the internet, some which are free. Browse the web to choose suitable ones and follow the instructions to download, install, convert and enjoy your new device like it was intended to.

Method three - iTunes built-in converter:
Files available from iTunes used to come in two versions - the plus (indicated with a '+'sign before the price of the song) and non-plus version. File with the '+' version, are premium quality and can be converted easily without charge whereas, those without the '+' sign can be converted with a 30cent charge each.

All files available on the iTunes are now in the '+' format so this worry is eliminated and are compatible with various media players. This is how to convert iTunes files into Windows Media Files format using the iTunes.
• From 'Edit preferences' go to the General tab
• Select the 'Import Settings' option and set it to use an encoder compatible with Windows Media - an MP3 or WMA would suffice, and click 'Ok'
• Select 'List View' and the select all items in your library
• Select the 'Advanced' option and choose with format you want, e.g., MP3
• The file conversion begins when you click 'Ok'.
• Open the Windows Media Player and from 'File', select 'Add to Library'. The player then searches for the media files on your computer and adds them to the Library.
This method only works if you purchased media files from iTunes or converted the songs to '+' iTunes for a 30 cent charge.