14. XPlay - Version 1.1.3 - Mediafour

XPlay 1.1.3 presents perhaps a better solution for the iPod than MusicMatch Jukebox.

We touched on XPlay in our previous iPod product review. XPlay was among the first software that was available for PC users to adapt their iPods for use with PCs. Much of this was made possible through the use of Mediafour's MacDrive technology that is still present in the XPlay versions today. XPlay is still one of the best solutions if you want to use a Mac formatted iPod with your Windows based PC; however, most of the previous versions are compatible with FAT32 formatted iPods as well. Thus, XPlay continues to be a well rounded solution for the Windows user.

XPlay uses a "Windows Explorer" orientation to iPod management, which is a relief to the many "hoops" that MusicMatch Jukebox users are required to jump through. Since iTunes is still not available for the PC, XPlay has been able to fill a gap in the ease of use category with a "quick and dirty," robust approach to iPod management.

XPlay offers a drag and drop management scheme that allows a user to drag MP3 files directly onto their iPod with very little problem. This also makes it somewhat easier to use some of the other features, such as the Contacts Manager on the iPod, because XPlay basically treats this data like any other hard drive. One of the nicest features of this product is the portable device support within Windows Media player. If you are happy using Windows Media Play to play your MP3 files, then the iPod will appear as a portable device within Windows Media Player.

We find the "quick and dirty" approach that XPlay has taken to be far better than that of MusicMatch Jukebox, at least for the most part. Since both programs can co-exist on the same PC, it is quite possible to use them both for different tasks. We still think that XPlay offers a level of user control that you can't get from MusicMatch Jukebox. Retailing at a price of $29.95 US, it costs a few bucks more, but if you are an expert user, we think you will like what XPlay has to offer. If you are a dual Mac/PC environment user, XPlay offers the best support that is available on the Windows side of the house.

We recommend XPlay, as it fills the gap between what is good about iTunes and what you might not like about MusicMatch Jukebox when using it with your iPod. Times might become tough for XPlay, however, if Apple does deliver iTunes for the PC. In the meantime, if you are already an iPod user, you can download the trial version and have a look at it for free; and you just might be surprised at how much you like it.

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