Best way to maintain multiple Ipod touchs

[MaryBS]

Up to now DD is the only one with one, but DS and DH are both getting one for Christmas.

We have a family computer with just one user log on and like it that way. Whats the best way of maintaining multiple ipods please? I've tried googling and there are different suggestions, like separate play lists, separate libraries (maybe separate itunes accounts?). They each need to maintain their own itunes credit, so would separate itunes accounts be best in that case?

What do other families do? And why?

If you want separate credit and separate tunes/apps then separate accounts is the way to go. But bear in mind that you can't transfer music, etc. between accounts. So if you want access to the same stuff then they'll need to be on the same account. Obviously that means that account credit will be shared also.

Gotta love Apple for Making things so easy(!)

I just have one account. That serves us all for our ipod, iphone and ipad. For music we have one big iTunes list and the kids just create their own playlists and pick which they want to sync on their devices.

This is much much better than separate accounts since it means you can share apps between devices with no additional cost.

It does need a bit of organisation and housekeeping but then I think separate accounts would also bring logistical problems and could get a bit messy.

Thanks. I can see the credit causing problems, but will have to manage that somehow, 1 account and playlists seems the best way. What a pain in the bum it is though!

Hello, I'm in a similar situation, can I hijack your thread for a mo??? I have set all the ipods up on one account and its working fine in that I can share all the apps between the ipods, but!!! If one of the kids tries to facetime someone it says it is me! Is there any way round this?

I just did a MN search for iPod and all the threads that came up were people saying - "stupid iPod"!

TIA

Thats a good question actually. DD uses facetime

ds2 got an iPod touch too. if some one else texts me from their iPhone he is getting my messages too!! how do I stop this.. it's easier to have same iTunes account but don't really want him reading my texts!!!
How do I stop that?!?

Worley, go to settings and turn off iMessage on his iPod.

thank you hysterical!! all done.. phew

KAQ

In settings go to messages. It has your apple ID email address as contact. Add their email address, verify it, then remove yours. Make that rather than phone number the primary contact.

Then face time and iMessage is separate for each account.

honeydragon, thankyou! I have now set each one up an email address and an apple account and I have set up the facetime, green messaging, the game center and the email all works on theirs, the apps and itunes all go through mine so we can share and all the restrictions are set up with the pin! what a palaver! especially 4 times over!