| The iPod can play MP3, AAC/M4A, Protected | | | | used because Windows cannot access HFS |
| AAC, AIFF, WAV, Audible audiobook, and Apple | | | | filesystems. The user must use iTunes or a |
| Lossless audio file formats. The 5th | | | | compatible third-party software to load |
| generation iPod can also play MPEG-4 (H.264 | | | | audio, videos, and photos in such a way that |
| MPEG-4 AVC), .mp4 and QuickTime video | | | | they are playable and viewable on the iPod. |
| formats, with restrictions on video | | | | Unlike PlaysForSure-compatible and other MP3 |
| dimensions, encoding techniques and bitrates. | | | | players, simply copying files to the drive |
| Apple does not support Microsoft's WMA audio | | | | will not allow the iPod to properly access |
| format — unlike most other media | | | | them. Some third party iPod software allows |
| players — but a converter for non-DRM | | | | this however. |
| WMA files is provided with the Windows | | | | |
| version of iTunes. MIDI files cannot be | | | | An iPod formatted as HFS Plus is able to |
| played, but can be converted to audio files | | | | serve as a boot disk for a Mac computer, |
| using the "Advanced" menu on iTunes. | | | | allowing one to have a portable operating |
| Alternative open-source audio formats such as | | | | system installed. The older iPods with |
| Ogg Vorbis and FLAC are not supported. | | | | FireWire ports could additionally function in |
| | | | FireWire Disk Mode. With the advent of the |
| Each time an iPod connects to its host | | | | Windows-compatible iPod, the iPod's default |
| computer, iTunes can synchronize music | | | | file system was switched from HFS Plus to |
| playlists or entire music libraries and the | | | | FAT32, although they can be reformatted to |
| user can choose for automatic or manual | | | | either filesystem (excluding the iPod shuffle |
| synchronization. Song ratings can be set on | | | | which is strictly FAT32). |
| the iPod and synchronized later to the iTunes | | | | |
| library. | | | | iTunes cannot transfer songs or videos from |
| | | | device to computer (although iTunes 7 allows |
| iTunes Store | | | | it for music purchased online). The media |
| | | | files are stored on the iPod in a hidden |
| The iTunes Store (formerly iTunes Music | | | | folder, together with a proprietary database |
| Store) is an online media store run by Apple | | | | file. The hidden content can be accessed on |
| and accessed via iTunes. It was introduced on | | | | the host operating system by enabling hidden |
| 29 April 2003 and it sells individual songs | | | | files to be shown. The audio can then be |
| relatively easily and cheaply, with typical | | | | recovered manually by dragging the files or |
| prices being US$0.99, EU€0.99, or | | | | folders onto the iTunes Library or by using |
| GBL0.79 per song. iPods are the only portable | | | | third-party software. |
| music players that can play the purchased | | | | |
| music. The store became the market leader | | | | Additional features |
| soon after its launch[verification needed] | | | | |
| and Apple announced the sale of videos | | | | The larger models also have limited PDA-like |
| through the iTunes Store on 12 October 2005. | | | | functionality and can display text files. |
| Full-length movies became available on | | | | Contacts and schedules can be viewed and |
| September 12, 2006, ranging in prices from | | | | synchronized with the host computer, and some |
| US$9.99-$14.99.[3] | | | | built-in games are available including Brick, |
| | | | Parachute, Solitaire and Music Quiz. Brick |
| Purchased audio files use the AAC format with | | | | was originally invented by Apple co-founder |
| added encryption. The encryption is based on | | | | Steve Wozniak in the 1970s. |
| the controversial FairPlay digital rights | | | | |
| management (DRM) system. Up to five | | | | A firmware update released in September 2006 |
| authorized computers and an unlimited number | | | | brought several new features to 5th |
| of iPods can play the files. Burning the | | | | generation iPods including downloadable |
| files onto an audio CD removes the DRM, at a | | | | games, adjustable screen brightness, and |
| cost of reduced quality when re-compressed | | | | gapless playback. |
| from one lossy format to another. | | | | |
| | | | Open-source alternatives |
| iPods cannot play music files from other | | | | |
| competing music stores such as Napster or MSN | | | | The iPodLinux project has ported an ARM |
| Music which use rival DRM technologies like | | | | version of the Linux kernel alongside an |
| Microsoft's protected WMA or RealNetworks' | | | | interface called "Podzilla" to run on all |
| Helix DRM. RealNetworks claims that Apple is | | | | iPods, although only the first, second and |
| creating problems for itself,[4] by using | | | | third generations are officially supported by |
| FairPlay to lock users into using the iTunes | | | | the developers. The iPod shuffle is not |
| Store. Steve Jobs stated that Apple makes | | | | supported. |
| little profit from song sales, but Apple uses | | | | |
| the store to promote iPod sales. | | | | An open-source firmware called Rockbox allows |
| | | | the iPod nano, mini, and all display-capable |
| File storage | | | | iPods after the 3rd generation (except for |
| | | | the updated video iPods) to play Ogg Vorbis, |
| All iPods can function as mass storage | | | | FLAC, Musepack, Wavpack, Shorten, and MIDI |
| devices to store data files. If the iPod is | | | | files, but not FairPlay-encrypted files. |
| formatted on a Mac OS X computer it uses the | | | | Rockbox also offers gapless playback and a |
| HFS Plus file system format. If it is | | | | more sophisticated equalizer but is in a |
| formatted on Windows, the FAT32 format is | | | | testing stage as of September 2006. |