Anapod Explorer 8.9.5

• Quick specs
• Price: Free to try (Some features disabled); $25.00 to buy
• Operating system: Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
• Date added: December 21, 2005
• Total Downloads: 72,656
• Downloads last week: 204
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• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 59 votes
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User reviews of Anapod Explorer 8.9.5

• Average user rating: 2.2 stars out of 59 votes
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• Showing 5 of 17 user reviewsSee all 17 user reviews

• 1 stars

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

  Version: Anapod Explorer 8.9.5

  "Avoid like the plague"

  by cartervt2k on February 8, 2006

  Pros: It works, albeit with 1 iPod only, unless you shell out $ for a second license because they don't follow through with sending you an activation code for a 2nd iPod. If you're ready to make a life commitment to your current iPod, give it a try. A quick call to your credit card company makes getting a refund easy.

  Cons: Unresponsive to emails, company contact info unlisted...until now:

  Backyard Digital

  4701 Patrick Henry Dr, Ste 1665

  Santa Clara, CA 95054-1863

  (408) 748-9988

  (408) 748-9944 (f)

  This phone number was also confirmed my my CC company, FYI.

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• 5 stars

  5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

  Version: Anapod Explorer 8.9.5

  "Great piece of software of shuffle and mini's"

  by elfling on February 7, 2006

  Pros: I was desperate. I had been using iTunes to manage my shuffle, and it just doesn't do what I want it to do. All I want is to drag files/audios onto and off the shuffle. Seems easy and it is with Anapod! A nice user interface that is fully integrated with the Windows shell (I can even use Send -> Ipod when right clicking an audio file). The auto morphing (transforming from one audio format to mp3) is great as all my master files are in FLAC format. It just converts automatically on the way to my shuffle.

  Cons: The activation process is tedious the first time you install. You need to register each iPod. Once done everything is fine. Also nice that you can install the software on all your home PC's (I have three with it loaded) allowing your iPod to be connected to any of them, without needing to purchase for each machine.

  Also if buying (I did and do not regret it) get the Universal version as you can connect any type of iPod.

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• 1 stars

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

  Version: Anapod Explorer 8.9.5

  "If you want support, don't buy this software"

  by durrenm on February 1, 2006

  Pros: Sure the demo version works great. Much improvement over iTunes. It worked so great, I bought a copy within hours of trying the demo. But...

  Cons: I, mistakenly purchased the wrong version. Naturally, I assumed I could contact the company and do an exchange.

  Dozens of emails went unreturned (and I gave them several addresses to reach me at and I sent my request from several different addresses in case a spam filter was in the way) Then I tried to call them. I could not find a phone number anywhere. I finally did a "whois" lookup on their domain "redchairsoftware.com" and found a fax number - so I faxed them. Again, no response... Fortunately for me Paypal gave me my money back (normally they don't do this but apparently, I'm a good customer)

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• 2 stars

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

  Version: Anapod Explorer 8.9.5

  "Zero Tech Support - Poor Software Documentation"

  by Simply_Jay on January 4, 2006

  Pros: Drag and Drop Windows interface. Ability to copy songs off iPods. Ability to drag songs into Genre folders. Play List backups. Can web stream music off your iPod

  Cons: There are some things that you should know before buying Anapod Explorer. One, the activation process is token based which means that the software has to communicate with Red Chair servers everytime Anapod is installed on a new PC. Two, you must activate each indivdual iPod you may own. You MUST register each iPod device with Red Chair! This is very inconvenient and unnecessary. If your PC is not connected to the internet or if the Red Chair servers are down, you are out of luck!

  The software itself is rough around the edges. It mostly works, but has trouble auto-refreshing and showing you what changes you made. The 8.9.5 version also has problems with photos and video transfers. Some features like the Red Club Bandwidth meter(compares your network bandwidth to other Red Chair customers) are of questionable value and use.

  Also there is no documentation that comes with the software. The only thing that comes close is an online, non-downloadble HTML page on the Red Chair website. No text files, no Word docs, no PDFs. Forget about customer support. The only way to reach Red Chair is via a email web form, no phone, no mail address. Multiple e-mails to Red Chair tech support have gone unanswered and ignored.

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• 1 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  Version: Anapod Explorer 8.9.5

  "A Real Disappointment--Does Not work as Advertised"

  by caduceus1 on November 8, 2006

  Pros: Really a 1/2 star or less but that rating is not available. The Red Chair Software web site gives an impressive description of Anapod's features. This was just what I was looking for to manage files on my 5G iPod--especially the ability to copy files by to my computer.

  Cons: After purchasing the current version (8.9.9However, I've had to rebuild my iPod several times after using Anapod. I make changes that appear to be okay then upon running iTunes (you're supposed to be able to use either, just not at the same time) I get "iPod is not recognized please rebuild..." error. There is no support for this product. I've emailed Red Chair several times--they are totally unresponsive. This product is unreliable as I don't now when it will scramble my iPod requiring a reformat and restart from scratch. I purchased the universal version--a waste of $30. Avoid!!!

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