I have just purchased an iPod Touch, with a view to uploading a bird field guide to it.
With it I hope to carry a field guide of static pictures, video clips and bird songs. I will also be able to record songs for identification then or later.
I was going to buy an iPod Nano but the screen I think is a bit to small.
I bought Mitchell Beazley's book:
BIRD The ultimate illustrated guide to the birds of Britain and Europe.
As it contains a DVD iPod Field Guide. Unfortuntately the installation instructions don't seem to fit an iPod Touch. I have emailed Mitchell Beazley, but am not hopeful.
Has anyone got a similar arrangement to this ?
Hi mxb,
I can't really advise on the issue with Mitchell Beazley's book install on your ipod.
But just to make you aware, there is a number of Apps in the iTunes store about half a dozen or so.
There is a couple of free ones and the dearest is £2.99.
There is also 1 bird identifier App, it is in German. It is free which can give you an idea of how birds will look on your iPod
It all depends what you are wanting, I have installed a number of mp3 Apps to help with bird calls, rather than song at this time of year!
There is a number of websites were you can download mp3's for free. Try the one below.
www.virtual-bird.com/aboutsound.htm
I make a folder in my music and place all my bird songs and calls together, so when you sync your iPod all the recordings are in one file on your iPod.
The other thing you could do is upload your own photo's / pictures, millions on the web again place them in one folder and sync your iPod.
Hope this helps.
Regards Paul
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
I hope to have more joy as my sister says she has just purchased the same Book and disc and I have a touch.
I will let you know as soon as I get, may be some time as she is in Liverpool and I'm in Perth!
John
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Thanks for your replies.
I'm new to ipod so hadn't checked the ipod Apps Store.
Yes there are a number of "Apps" that do pretty much what I want.
I downloaded one called "Birds UK" and its good, although a few of the birds are not included.
But as it cost me all of 59p ( !!! ) I can't complain.
As regards the CD that came with the book, I contacted their tech dept and it was designed for the ipod Nano etc ........before the ipod Touch existed. So doesn't work on the Touch.
They may fix this in the future however.
Cheers,
mxb...
Oops! that is not good, Thanks for the heads up anyway. I will look into app's.
John :-0
Hi mxb
just a follow up to my original reply.
You may want to have a look at the following link:
Albeit these Apps are far more expensive they maybe what you're looking for!
http://www.birdguides.com/iphone/default.asp
http://www.birdguides.com/estore/browse.asp?cat=39
Buzzard
Hi Buzzard,
Thanks for your info.
Sorry for the delay in responding but I've had a medical problem, and only now getting out and about again.
I saw the Bird Guides app for ipod some time ago, strange I thought it was in the £30 bracket at the time ?
That was my reason for looking elsewhere.
I think I would like to see it working somewhere before paying the asking price.
In the meantime I'll keep an eye on the apps store for updates to the ones there.
Cheers
www.youtube.com/user/Wildlifevideosuk
Hi Nisus
Curious, I'm sure I replied to your message a few days ago ???
Anyway, as I am getting more and more interested in wildfowl, I want an app with those birds in it.
Probably at the moment only the expensive "BirdGuides" will have them.
As iPods and their like are taking over from field guide books, isn't it time the RSPB brought out their own app ?
Hi there,
I have been messing around with the files and folders on the disc, and have found a lot of MP3 files.
There is one for each bird, 250 all told.
Also embedded in each audio file in the tag info is an illustration for that particular bird, showing typically, male, female and bird in flight.
I "imported" these MP3 files into the iTunes Library on my computer, and then into their own Playlist which I called "BIRD" as per the name of the book.
This can then be drag and dropped into the iPod Touch, It will then take a few minutes to "Synch"
It then appears on the Touch under "Music".
When you touch BIRD you get an alphabetical list of the 250 birds. When you touch one of these you get an illustration of the bird and it plays its song !
It works quite well.
This is only a small amount of the information on the disc, but I am not clever enough to extract the rest.
If the book publishers would only get the disc to work with the Touch, it would make a great birding App they could publish on the iTunes store !!
Hello, I've recently got an app from Bird Guides, Birds of Britain and Ireland Pro, £14.99. 270 plus Birds illustrations of each stage and gender, Photos the same, songs and call recordings, maps and full write ups. I must say it is very good.
I like the idea of being able to play any song or call, from my pocket, in the field to help being the subject a little closer. Only tried it once so far on a Woodpecker and it really showed interest.
John :-)
We have also bought the same one as you John and are very pleased with it. We haven't, as yet, tried using the sound in the field though. Must try that.
These apps/ ipod field guides etc sound really good, but before I spend any money, I'm just interested to know whether any of you guys have used them on the ipod Nano. Obviosuly audio guides will be fine, but is the small screen on the Nano going to show the picture guides in enough detail?
Harry x
I have just upgraded to a Samsung Jet touchscreen phone and as it has a lovely big colour screen I fancy loading some bird ID software on it. Has anybody tried this on a phone other than an iphone?
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Hi,
I missed the posting of this.
Yes, just had a look at it on iTunes Preview, and it looks good,
Does it have and video clips ?