| iPod Basics and Purchasing Guide | | | | the iPod battery and seem to produce a weak |
| | | | signal resulting in poor audio quality. A |
| So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? | | | | docking unit (such as the Griffin |
| Please take the time to read this brief | | | | RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in |
| article which will at best help you get the | | | | place, charges the iPod and produces a strong |
| most out of your new iPod, and at the least, | | | | signal. The RoadTrip™ also |
| help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions. | | | | features a removable FM module which allows |
| This article is written out of my personal | | | | it to plug into your computer. You can |
| experience with iPods. | | | | therefore listen to FM radio through your |
| | | | computer without having to install software. |
| 1. What is an iPod? | | | | |
| | | | 6. Using iPods at HomeiPods can easily play |
| An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. | | | | through your home stereo. One can simply use |
| Basically, the MP4 format is a proprietary | | | | an adaptive cable which plugs into the |
| format only recognized by Apple products, | | | | headphone jack of the iPod and into the |
| such as iPods and QuickTime™. In | | | | stereo input of your stereo. In this setup, |
| order for music to play on an iPod, it must | | | | the iPod is operating on battery power unless |
| be in MP4 format. Apple's music download | | | | the iPod is also plugged into a charger. |
| site, iTunes™, offers music only | | | | |
| in the MP4 format. The iTunes™ | | | | Docking your iPod is the preferred method, |
| software which comes with an iPod will | | | | and there are a variety of docking solutions |
| convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, so | | | | available. The iPod docks into a base which |
| they will play on your iPod. An iPod will | | | | charges the iPod, and an output jack on the |
| not play MP3 files, neither will Windows | | | | base connects the iPod to your stereo via a |
| Media Player play MP4 files. Both the Nano | | | | cable. Some units offer remote controls for |
| and Video iPod will store and display photos, | | | | your iPod and others do not, but often these |
| but a video iPod is needed to play video | | | | remotes are weak and have very limited range |
| files. | | | | and field of reception. We have found that |
| | | | some television or stereo programmable remote |
| 2. What is iTunes? | | | | control units can be programmed to work with |
| | | | certain iPod docking systems, while others |
| Â(R) Apple hosts the world's largest | | | | work partially or not at all. It is worth |
| music download site called | | | | trying if you have a programmable remote. |
| iTunes™. As of March 2006, over | | | | |
| 1 billion files have been downloaded for use | | | | Some docking units also have a video output |
| in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers | | | | for use with the 5G Video iPod, which allows |
| music files for 99 cents each, and you need | | | | one to watch videos or photos stored in the |
| not download an entire album, but can select | | | | iPod on a television. We have found that the |
| only the music files you want and download it | | | | picture quality is poor on large screen |
| into your computer. The iTunes™ | | | | televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. |
| software in your computer is the vehicle by | | | | Using a dock with S-video output will provide |
| which files are loaded into the iPod. Simply | | | | a far superior picture than units using an |
| place your iPod into its dock (which is | | | | RCA connector. As of now, iPods do not |
| attached via USB to your computer), start | | | | support high definition. |
| iTunes™ and your iPod is updated | | | | |
| automatically with new music, playlists, | | | | There are speaker systems which contain their |
| Podcasts and so forth. I have tried other | | | | own amplifier and operate as a stand-alone |
| music download sites and have not found any | | | | unit with an iPod. These are not all created |
| which I like as well as iTunes™, | | | | equal. Our testing has found that a high |
| even though they may offer music cheaper than | | | | price does not always equal high quality. We |
| iTunes™. A basic search will | | | | have found $150 systems which in our opinion |
| locate alternative music download sites. | | | | sound significantly superior to $400 units. |
| | | | It is best to listen to the various systems |
| There are a variety of other files available | | | | before making your selection; or if buying |
| on iTunes™ called Podcasts. | | | | online, follow the recommendations of the |
| These are audio or video files which include | | | | seller IF they have tested the systems and |
| news broadcasts, informational programs, | | | | can provide you with recommendations based on |
| comedy programs and many others. The great | | | | testing results. |
| majority of Podcasts are free, and others are | | | | |
| not. | | | | There are alarm clock radios (such as |
| | | | iHome™) which allow you to go to |
| 3. What You GetiPods come with the | | | | sleep listening to your iPod and wake up to |
| following:iPod with battery | | | | it as well. We have tested the |
| | | | iHome™ and others, and found |
| Earphones (called "earbuds") | | | | iHome™ to be our unit of choice. |
| | | | |
| A generic pouch for the earbuds | | | | 7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod |
| | | | |
| A docking station (to transfer files and | | | | When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it |
| charge the iPod)iTunes™ software | | | | a high ranking on the "Dumb-O-Meter." Who |
| CD | | | | wants to watch a movie on a 2.5 inch screen? |
| | | | However, after having used one, I have |
| Instruction manual | | | | recanted my original opinion. It is now my |
| | | | iPod of choice. Unfortunately, |
| That is all. | | | | iTunes™ and other MP4 download |
| | | | sites usually have little to offer in the way |
| 4. What You will Need | | | | of legal movies which are formatted to play |
| | | | on an iPod. ITunes™ does have |
| Every iPod user will need a case, and we | | | | some short films, music videos and television |
| strongly recommend a screen protector. | | | | shows, but not much else. |
| | | | |
| Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) | | | | An easy solution for this is to convert your |
| Video iPod are susceptible to scratching, and | | | | own DVDs into a format that the iPod can |
| the black units seem to show scratches worse | | | | play. This can be accomplished by means of a |
| than the white ones. This is true of both | | | | software product called a DVD to iPod |
| the iPod housing AND the screen. Nothing is | | | | converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo and |
| worse than having your iPod blemished with | | | | others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD |
| unsightly scratches, especially when it is | | | | in your computer, start the converter program |
| easily avoidable by using a case and screen | | | | and let it convert the movie to iPod format. |
| protector. Having your unprotected iPod | | | | Then, move the converted file into your |
| floating around inside your purse or in your | | | | iTunes™ video list. The next |
| pocket will absolutely cause your iPod to | | | | time you dock your iPod to your computer, it |
| quickly accumulate scratches both on the | | | | will load into your iPod. Some converter |
| housing and on the screen. Be warned! This | | | | programs will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, |
| is not really a defect, but just the way it | | | | WMV and other computer video formats for use |
| is. | | | | on an iPod. This can allow you to convert |
| | | | your family videos and view them on your |
| 5. Using iPods in your Car | | | | ipod. IPod movies are great for entertaining |
| | | | children on the road, for the business |
| Most people quickly realize that it would be | | | | traveler stranded at an airport or for long |
| great to be able to have their iPod play | | | | airplane trips. |
| music through their car stereo. No longer | | | | |
| would they have to mess with CDs or tapes. | | | | DVD converters we recommend are available |
| How many CDs would you have to carry to have | | | | here. |
| your entire music library with you in the | | | | |
| car? You can take it all in the palm of your | | | | 8. iPods and your PC |
| hand with an iPod. So, how does one play | | | | |
| music through their car stereo? There are | | | | The music files for your iPod are stored in |
| several options. | | | | two places: in your PC in the |
| | | | iTunes™ program, and in your |
| First, there are cables available for most | | | | iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose your |
| car stereos which plug into the iPod and the | | | | hard drive or have to reformat, you will |
| other end of the cable plugs into a port on | | | | loose EVERYTHING contained in your |
| the back of the stereo. Removal of the | | | | iTunes™ folder, including all of |
| stereo is usually required to accomplish this | | | | the songs you have purchased from |
| task. Also, the wire used to connect your | | | | iTunes™. Furthermore, |
| iPod is exposed. It does, however, sound | | | | iTunes™ does not offer the means |
| great! Some car stereos have a line input on | | | | to re-download songs you have purchased for |
| the faceplate. In this case, all one needs | | | | free. You will have to buy them again. |
| to do is use an adaptive cable from the | | | | Neither does the iPod come with a means to |
| headphone jack of the iPod to the input on | | | | load files into a computer. Fortunately, |
| the stereo. In both of these scenarios, the | | | | there are software programs which allow you |
| iPod will run on its internal battery unless | | | | to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC |
| a car charger is used as well. | | | | or from one iPod to another. These programs |
| | | | are usually titled "iPod to PC", or something |
| Second, (and by far the most popular) method, | | | | similar. If your computer crashes, you will |
| is to use an FM transmitter to transmit a | | | | kick yourself for not having this program to |
| signal from your iPod to your FM radio and | | | | restore your music files back into your |
| play it as if it were a radio station. There | | | | computer. |
| are a variety of FM transmitters from several | | | | |
| manufacturers. We recommend using a unit | | | | IPod to PC programs we recommend are |
| which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod | | | | available here. |
| port. The plug-in units consume power from | | | | |