Recommendation

[Jacob Spindel]

Although this isn't really clever enough to be considered a "Hint," I would like to make a recommendation to anyone who owns an iPod: Create a text file called "Owner" in your Notes folder that contains something like the following:
--
This iPod is owned by:

Your Name
youremail@ihatespam.com
(555) 555-1234

If you find this iPod, please return it to me. Thank you.
--
After hearing stories of lost iPods, I just did this to mine, and I did something similar with a flash drive I own. If you lose your iPod, you'll still have to be lucky enough to have it get found by an honest person, but my guess is that sooner or later, this will easily be worth the few seconds it takes to do it.

[MBHockey]

never seen anyone suggest this...so simple and makes sense. i just did it.

great idea

[CAlvarez]

I depend on something low-tech that anyone will see; a label on the device...

But, a file or even a hidden file can help prove ownership if it is stolen and found. I had a bunch of tools stolen once, and returned to me because I had marked each of them in a semi-hidden spot with a dot of yellow paint. The police said the guy couldn't explain this away, and it helped in both the recovery and his conviction.

[FireWired]

Great idea :D

..You could even add a little something like:

"If you don't return this to me, just remember... I know where you live."

Or, more realistically,

"If you don't return this, how will you be able to live with yourself? How will you sleep at night? How will you let a day pass without thinking about the little boy who's eyes filled with unforgettable joy that one nice, cozy Christmas morning with his family around the tree and fireplace drinking hot chocolate and eating freshly-baked cinnamon rolls? How?"

Ok, maybe I got a little carried away on that..

But thanks for a good idea, I'll be sure to do it.

[ob1cannoli]

i know that if a note contains the following at the beginning:

<**** name="NotesOnly" content="true">

it doesn't let you navigate away from it...

perhaps there is a way to make it so that it shows the note at startup but you can escape from it with a button click? Not many people use/know of the note feature and this would make it more easily seen in the event it was lost...

any help/knowledge?

[PokerOrDie]

Or....may I recommend this: http://www.zReturn.com

Much easier, more lowtech, and you can use it for more than one thing.

[CAlvarez]

I use the Stufbak labels, same concept. They've been around for a while and claim a pretty high return rate.