iPod: The Missing Manual

by J. D. Biersdorfer, David Pogue

Overview

Apple’s iPods continue to set the bar for media players, with bold new features like the Touch’s supersized screen and Siri voice control. But iPods still lack a guide to all their features. That’s where this full-color book comes in. It shows you how to play music, movies, and slideshows; shoot photos and videos; and navigate Apple's redesigned iTunes media-management program.

The important stuff you need to know:

• Fill it up. Load your iPod with music, photos, movies, TV shows, games, ebooks, and podcasts.
• Manage your stuff. Download media and apps from the iTunes and App Stores, then organize your collection.
• Tackle the Touch. Send email and instant messages, make FaceTime calls, and shoot photos and HD video with the Touch's 5-megapixel camera.
• Go wireless. Use the Touch’s new iOS 6 software to sync content wirelessly.
• Relish the Nano. Enjoy video and photos on the Nano’s new big screen, and chart your workouts with the Nike+ pedometer.
• Master the Shuffle and Classic. Get mucho music on the little Shuffle, and use the Classic’s giant hard drive to tote around your audio and video collections.
• Pump it up. Blast iPod tunes through your home and car stereo.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781449344306
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/19/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

J.D. Biersdorfer is the best-selling author of iPad: The Missing Manual, Best iPhone Apps (Second Edition), Netbooks: The Missing Maunal, and The iPod Shuffle Fan Book. She is the co-author of iPod: The Missing Manual, Google: The Missing Manual (Second Edition), iPhoto '09: The Missing Manual, and The Internet: The Missing Manual. She has authored the weekly technology column "Q&A" for the New York Times since 1998 and often writes about art, books, and design for other sections of The Times. J.D. also co-hosts the independent Pop Tech Jam audio podcast, which explores current events in the world of technology and geek culture.

Table of Contents

The Missing Credits

Introduction

Chapter 1: Meet the iPod: Out of the Box and into Your Ears in 15 Minutes

Chapter 2: Bopping Around the iPod Classic, Nano, and Shuffle

Chapter 3: Touring the Touch

Chapter 4: iTunes Basics

Chapter 5: iTunes Power Moves

Chapter 6: The Power of Playlists

Chapter 7: Shop the iTunes Store

Chapter 8: Videos Everywhere

Chapter 9: Picturing Your Photos on the iPod

Chapter 10: The iPod as Personal Assistant

Chapter 11: iPod Touch(ing) the Web

Chapter 12: iPod Out Loud

Chapter 13: What to Do When the iPod Isn't Working Right

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
What could be more exciting than to open up that new iPod box? There’s your iPod, nestled safely in its own little plastic insert, with its own little cellophane wrapper announcing, “Don’t Steal Music.” There are your earbud headphones, your FireWire cable, power adapter, dock, carrying case, software CD, warranty card, maybe even a remote control. And there’s…that’s your iPod User’s Guide? That itsy-bitsy folder? That’s all?

It might be different if your iPod were as dumb as the typical MP3 player. But, shucks, it’s not. The darned thing can track your appointments. Even if you only intend to use it for music, it can do a whole lot more than you might expect -- if only someone would tell you how. Especially when you take into account the software it comes with.

The solution? iPod: The Missing Manual. Gadget lover and New York Times tech columnist J. D. Biersdorfer has written a book that’s a perfect match for the iPod: simple, useful, and fun. Here’s everything you need to know about the iPod, along with a bunch of stuff that’s just plain cool to know. (Those earbuds? Those aren’t just aluminum or cobalt drivers in there: that’s neodymium, a rare-earth material that’s five times more powerful. Tell ’em that at your next cocktail party.)

Biersdorfer walks you through each of your iPod’s menus, showing (for example) how to create On-the-Go Playlists (new to the 2003 iPods -- before that, you had to download all your playlists from your computer). You’ll learn how to control your backlight (it’s pretty, but a huge battery drain: If you’re spinning tunes in a dark club, leave it Always On, but make darned sure you’re running on AC current.)

Next, you’ll walk through establishing your FireWire connection and syncing -- including installing a FireWire card if you’re running iPod on a Windows PC. (Biersdorfer covers both Mac and Windows iPods, which are growing increasingly alike and will be even more alike when Apple introduces iTunes for Windows).

There’s a full chapter on digital music formats: both MP3 and the impressive (albeit restricted) AAC format. AAC compressed at 128 kbps stereo is tough to distinguish from uncompressed audio sources. Wish you could say that about MP3.

She next turns to software: both iTunes for Macintosh and MusicMatch Jukebox for Windows. On both platforms, you’ll walk through ripping CDs, importing music files, deleting songs, playing music, and managing your music library. Biersdorfer even covers the software’s nifty Internet radio features.

Older iPod books didn’t have the opportunity to cover Apple’s new iTunes Music Store. This one does, discussing everything from shopping to billing. (Biersdorfer’s even reprinted Scott Taylor’s hilarious iTunes Music Store parody, to the tune of Billy Joel’s "Piano Man.")

Biersdorfer covers using your iPod as a boom box or connecting it to your car stereo. Where to update its internal software. Who offers a replacement case that doesn’t cover the screen or keep you from using the front-panel buttons. And, of course, iPod’s calendar and address book mini-applications. (Enough to make the thing tax deductible? Hmmm…) Bill Camarda

Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2000 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks for Dummies, Second Edition.

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