What's with this message?

Question

There are four of use who us the iMac we have at home. All four of us have iPods that we will connect to the computer using our own individual account. I often get the following message and I'm wondering why?
Example: Yesterday I hooked up my iPod to the dock to charge. There may have been some changes to the podcast playlists, but there weren't any changes to the songs. After the syncing was complete I let it charge and then took my iPod off of the dock. I didn't eject it from iTunes or drag it to the trash because the face of the iPod just showed that the charge was complete.
Today when I log on, I get the message, "The iPod NAME is in use by another user on this computer." Why does that pop up? It isn't in use by another user, it's in my pocket as I type this.
Thanks.
Chip

Answer 1

"The iPod NAME is in use by another user on this computer."
You get that message if there is an iPod (not necessarily your iPod) connected to the computer and connected to iTunes (not ejected), and you switch accounts using Fast User Switching. It's saying that you cannot use that iPod (the one currently connected) in your account because someone else, who is still logged in, is has it connected to iTunes (in his or her account).
If there is no iPod currently connected, I don't know why you get it. If the four of you never log out and use Fast User Switching, perhaps that message is something that popped up during your last session and just happens to still be on the screen when you log in.