This tutorial assumes that you have a Microsoft Windows PC.  If you are using a Macintosh, Linux, or other type of computer, please consult your computer's manual for instructions on copying music from CDs.

If you are using Pocket Tunes Basic, you must configure Windows Media Player to copy music in MP3 format, not in Windows Media Audio format.  Please consult the Windows Media Player documentation for how to do this.  We recommend using Pocket Tunes Deluxe or reading our user guide for advice on copying music to MP3 format.  (Please note that the free trial of Pocket Tunes gives you access to the Deluxe features, so you can follow the instructions below.)

You must be using Windows Media Player 9 or 10.  The instructions below assume that you are using Windows Media Player 9.  If you are using WMP 10, you can follow along, but the screenshots and wording may not match up exactly.  We have added comments describing the differences between Windows Media Player 9 and 10 below.

Step 1 - Install Pocket Tunes

Follow the instructions in the user guide to install Pocket Tunes to your PC and your Palm.

Perform a HotSync operation to make sure that Pocket Tunes is copied to your Palm.

Step 2 - Start Windows Media Player

On your PC, start Windows Media Player.

To do this, click on the Start menu, select "Programs" or "All Programs" and then select Windows Media Player.

Windows Media Player

Step 3 - Click "Copy from CD"

On the left-hand side of Windows Media Player, click on "Copy from CD".  (On Windows Media Player 10, select "Rip", which is located in the top toolbar.)

Step 4 - Insert an audio CD

Insert the audio CD that you would like to copy into your computer's CD drive.

Step 5 - Click the "Copy Music" button

Click the Copy Music button.  On Windows Media Player 10, this button is called "Rip Music".

Step 6 - Set your Copy Options Step 1/2

Windows Media Player may display this dialog:

Make sure to select "Do not add copy protection to your music" and then check the checkbox that you understand that your music is protected by copyright law.  Then click "Next".

If you do not see this dialog, then you may have to turn off copy protection in your Windows Media Player preferences.  To do this, go to the "Tools" menu and select "Options".  Then select the "Copy Music" tab and make sure that the "Copy protect music" checkbox is not checked.

Step 7 - Set your Copy Options Step 2/2

Windows Media Player may display this dialog:

In most cases, it is okay to select "Keep my current format settings".  For most users, we recommend copying music at 96kbps or 128kbps.  You may feel free to experiment with other options such as variable bit rate and other quality settings, but keep in mind that Pocket Tunes currently does not support Windows Media Lossless.

Click "Finish" to begin copying music.

Step 8 - Connect your Palm handheld

Wait for Windows Media Player to complete copying the music to your computer.  When it has finished, the "Copy Status" column will read "Copied to Library" for all of the tracks on the CD.

Now connect your Palm handheld to your PC by placing it in its cradle or connecting it to your PC using its HotSync cable.  Make sure that the cradle or cable is plugged into your PC.

Step 9 - Start Pocket Tunes

On your Palm handheld, start Pocket Tunes.  You can do this by pressing the Home button or tapping the Home icon in the graffiti area.  Then select "Unfiled" from the dropdown in the upper-right corner of the screen.  You should see "pTunes" listed on the screen.  (You may have to scroll down to find it.)  Tap on the pTunes icon.

If you have a Sony CLIE, select the Actions menu in Pocket Tunes (tap near the top of the screen to bring up the menu), and pick "Connect to PC".  (On other devices, this step is not necessary, but you can perform it if you prefer.)

Step 10 - Select the music to copy

In Windows Media Player on your PC, click on "Copy to CD or Device".  On Windows Media Player 10, this option is called "Sync".

Under "Items to Copy", select the album that you just copied to your PC.

Under "Items on Device", select your Palm Handheld.  (If your Palm handheld does not appear on this list, make sure it is properly connected and press F5 to refresh the list of devices.  If that does not work, quit Windows Media Player on your PC and quit Pocket Tunes on your Palm.  Then go back to step #9.  Don't start Windows Media Player until after you have started Pocket Tunes.)

Step 11 - Copy the music

Click on the "Copy" button in the upper-right corner of Windows Media Player.  On Windows Media Player 10, this button is called "Start Sync".

The music will begin to copy to your Palm.  Do not unplug your Palm or quit Pocket Tunes while the music is being copied.

Step 12 - Play the music

Once the music has finished copying, press the Open button in Pocket Tunes.  The open button may look like this (its appearance varies depending on the skin you are using):

You will now see the Choose Songs screen.

(If you do not see "All" in the upper-right corner, tap the popup in the upper-right corner and select "All".)

Tap on "Album" and then tap the name of the album you just copied to your Palm.

Finally, tap "Select All" to begin playing the music.

Finished!

Congratulations!  You now know how to copy music from a CD to your Palm.

If you encounter any difficulties with these instructions, please contact support and describe the problem in as much detail as you can.