Ipod Basics & Purchasing Guide

iPod Basics and Purchasing Guidecharges the iPod and produces a strong signal. The
So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? Please takeRoadTrip™ also features a
the time to read this brief article which will at best helpremovable FM module which allows it to plug into your
you get the most out of your new iPod, and at thecomputer. You can therefore listen to FM radio through
least, help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions.your computer without having to install software.
This article is written out of my personal experience6. Using iPods at HomeiPods can easily play through
with iPods.your home stereo. One can simply use an adaptive
1. What is an iPod?cable which plugs into the headphone jack of the iPod
An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. Basically,and into the stereo input of your stereo. In this setup,
the MP4 format is a proprietary format onlythe iPod is operating on battery power unless the iPod
recognized by Apple products, such as iPods andis also plugged into a charger.
QuickTime™. In order for music toDocking your iPod is the preferred method, and there
play on an iPod, it must be in MP4 format. Apple'sare a variety of docking solutions available. The iPod
music download site, iTunes™, offersdocks into a base which charges the iPod, and an
music only in the MP4 format. Theoutput jack on the base connects the iPod to your
iTunes™ software which comes withstereo via a cable. Some units offer remote controls
an iPod will convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, sofor your iPod and others do not, but often these
they will play on your iPod. An iPod will not play MP3remotes are weak and have very limited range and
files, neither will Windows Media Player play MP4 files.field of reception. We have found that some television
Both the Nano and Video iPod will store and displayor stereo programmable remote control units can be
photos, but a video iPod is needed to play video files.programmed to work with certain iPod docking
2. What is iTunes?systems, while others work partially or not at all. It is
Â(R) Apple hosts the world's largest musicworth trying if you have a programmable remote.
download site called iTunes™. As ofSome docking units also have a video output for use
March 2006, over 1 billion files have been downloadedwith the 5G Video iPod, which allows one to watch
for use in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers musicvideos or photos stored in the iPod on a television. We
files for 99 cents each, and you need not download anhave found that the picture quality is poor on large
entire album, but can select only the music files youscreen televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. Using a
want and download it into your computer. Thedock with S-video output will provide a far superior
iTunes™ software in your computerpicture than units using an RCA connector. As of now,
is the vehicle by which files are loaded into the iPod.iPods do not support high definition.
Simply place your iPod into its dock (which is attachedThere are speaker systems which contain their own
via USB to your computer), startamplifier and operate as a stand-alone unit with an
iTunes™ and your iPod is updatediPod. These are not all created equal. Our testing has
automatically with new music, playlists, Podcasts andfound that a high price does not always equal high
so forth. I have tried other music download sites andquality. We have found $150 systems which in our
have not found any which I like as well asopinion sound significantly superior to $400 units. It is
iTunes™, even though they maybest to listen to the various systems before making
offer music cheaper than iTunes™.your selection; or if buying online, follow the
A basic search will locate alternative music downloadrecommendations of the seller IF they have tested the
sites.systems and can provide you with recommendations
There are a variety of other files available onbased on testing results.
iTunes™ called Podcasts. These areThere are alarm clock radios (such as
audio or video files which include news broadcasts,iHome™) which allow you to go to
informational programs, comedy programs and manysleep listening to your iPod and wake up to it as well.
others. The great majority of Podcasts are free, andWe have tested the iHome™ and
others are not.others, and found iHome™ to be our
3. What You GetiPods come with the following:iPodunit of choice.
with battery7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod
Earphones (called "earbuds")When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it a high
A generic pouch for the earbudsranking on the "Dumb-O-Meter." Who wants to watch
A docking station (to transfer files and charge thea movie on a 2.5 inch screen? However, after having
iPod)iTunes™ software CDused one, I have recanted my original opinion. It is now
Instruction manualmy iPod of choice. Unfortunately,
That is all.iTunes™ and other MP4 download
4. What You will Needsites usually have little to offer in the way of legal
Every iPod user will need a case, and we stronglymovies which are formatted to play on an iPod.
recommend a screen protector.ITunes™ does have some short
Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) Videofilms, music videos and television shows, but not much
iPod are susceptible to scratching, and the black unitselse.
seem to show scratches worse than the white ones.An easy solution for this is to convert your own DVDs
This is true of both the iPod housing AND the screen.into a format that the iPod can play. This can be
Nothing is worse than having your iPod blemished withaccomplished by means of a software product called
unsightly scratches, especially when it is easilya DVD to iPod converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo
avoidable by using a case and screen protector.and others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD in your
Having your unprotected iPod floating around insidecomputer, start the converter program and let it
your purse or in your pocket will absolutely cause yourconvert the movie to iPod format. Then, move the
iPod to quickly accumulate scratches both on theconverted file into your iTunes™
housing and on the screen. Be warned! This is notvideo list. The next time you dock your iPod to your
really a defect, but just the way it is.computer, it will load into your iPod. Some converter
5. Using iPods in your Carprograms will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV
Most people quickly realize that it would be great to beand other computer video formats for use on an iPod.
able to have their iPod play music through their carThis can allow you to convert your family videos and
stereo. No longer would they have to mess with CDsview them on your ipod. IPod movies are great for
or tapes. How many CDs would you have to carry toentertaining children on the road, for the business
have your entire music library with you in the car? Youtraveler stranded at an airport or for long airplane trips.
can take it all in the palm of your hand with an iPod. So,DVD converters we recommend are available here.
how does one play music through their car stereo?8. iPods and your PC
There are several options.The music files for your iPod are stored in two places:
First, there are cables available for most car stereosin your PC in the iTunes™ program,
which plug into the iPod and the other end of the cableand in your iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose
plugs into a port on the back of the stereo. Removalyour hard drive or have to reformat, you will loose
of the stereo is usually required to accomplish this task.EVERYTHING contained in your
Also, the wire used to connect your iPod is exposed. ItiTunes™ folder, including all of the
does, however, sound great! Some car stereos havesongs you have purchased from
a line input on the faceplate. In this case, all one needsiTunes™. Furthermore,
to do is use an adaptive cable from the headphoneiTunes™ does not offer the means
jack of the iPod to the input on the stereo. In both ofto re-download songs you have purchased for free.
these scenarios, the iPod will run on its internal batteryYou will have to buy them again. Neither does the iPod
unless a car charger is used as well.come with a means to load files into a computer.
Second, (and by far the most popular) method, is toFortunately, there are software programs which allow
use an FM transmitter to transmit a signal from youryou to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC or
iPod to your FM radio and play it as if it were a radiofrom one iPod to another. These programs are usually
station. There are a variety of FM transmitters fromtitled "iPod to PC", or something similar. If your
several manufacturers. We recommend using a unitcomputer crashes, you will kick yourself for not having
which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod port. Thethis program to restore your music files back into your
plug-in units consume power from the iPod battery andcomputer.
seem to produce a weak signal resulting in poor audioIPod to PC programs we recommend are available
quality. A docking unit (such as the Griffinhere.
RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in place,