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