>>You do need to load MP3 files to the iPod via the iTunes library. That's probably to steer you toward buying songs from iTunes as well, which you don't have to do. I don't find it much of a burden to copy songs that way rather than straight from Windows Explorer et al.
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>It just means that if you get mp3s from somewhere else, you then have to load them into the iTunes library first. Afaic that's a pointless waste of time for no real benefit.
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It can be tedious at times, but once they have been added to the iTunes library, you can build playlists w/them, which then sync to the pod. And of course you can burn CDs with those files as well as files bought via the store.

What mp3 device are u using and what software are u using to manage it?