By: Kristina J
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By: halapinos7
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The appeal of the iPod
One reason for this dominance is that Apple knows what its customers want. The four models in the iPod range – the shuffle, nano, iPod Classic, and touch – reflect different customer needs and offer distinct MP3 experiences.
The iPod shuffle, for instance, is a basic MP3 player of superb quality. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to carry a wide selection of their favourite music in a tiny, almost feather-light device.
The iPod nano is a remarkably compact media player. You can choose from up to 4,000 songs on the 16GB version, or up to 16 hours of video. You can also store thousands of photos, and play games.
The iPod classic is a remarkable storage device. With its 120GB hard drive, you can carry a substantial music library wherever you go – up to 30,000 songs, in fact. If you prefer watching films or TV programmes on the classic’s bright, LED backlit screen, you can load up to 150 hours of viewing. With the ability to listen to 36 hours of music between battery charges, or six hours of video, the iPod classic is a portable powerhouse for digital media.
The appeal of the iPod touch is its brilliant versatility. In addition to being an MP3 player, it has built-in Wi-Fi technology. The touch can therefore download music, video, podcasts, games, and applications without the need for a computer, as well as receive and send email. It also has some of Apple’s cutting-edge software, complemented by a three and a half inch Multi-Touch screen.
Consistent quality
The consumer choice offered by these four iPod models is comprehensive; but in a market where a number of manufacturers are associated with superior products, customers want consistent high quality. If they don’t receive this, they lose faith in a company. Apple knows this, and hasn’t let its customers down.
Since introducing its first iPod in 2001, Apple has put quality at the front of its manufacturing policy. Every iPod is extremely well-engineered. The robust casings resist the knocks and scrapes that all MP3 players endure; and on the inside, the technology is what you’d expect from a maker renowned for the graphics and audio capabilities of its computers.
Innovation
Along with quality, consumers like to see frequent innovation, particularly with technological products such as portable media players. Unlike some of its competitors, Apple has regularly introduced new and exciting developments to the iPod range. In fact, you can almost take for granted that a new generation iPod will have at least one ground-breaking additional feature.
Such an approach to innovation is part of the iPod heritage. It gives Apple an edge over the competition and provides you with the most advanced MP3 players available.
Style
The look of an MP3 player is critical to its sales success. People like to have products that are elegant and clutter-free.
This is why Apple chooses its materials for the iPod range so carefully. Brushed aluminium, polished steel, and high quality glass form the casings of the iPods. Using such smooth and sleek exteriors is not enough, however. The shape of the iPods is also a vital part of the overall concepts.
Apple’s success in this area is thanks to curved designs, thin bodies, compact size, and lightness. The iPod shuffle, for example, weighs a mere 15.6 grams (0.55 ounce). The iPod nano is just 90.7 mm (3.6 inches) high by 38.7 mm (1.5 inches) wide. The iPod classic, despite its large hard drive capacity, covers less than half the surface area of a CD case. As for the iPod touch, it’s a mere 8.5 mm (0.33 inch) thick.
The distinctive wheel-shaped controls and the discrete positions of the ports and switches add to the overall sense of style on the iPod shuffle, nano, and classic. The iPod touch stands out thanks to its Multi-Touch screen that in itself is a statement of technological achievement and flair.
It’s hard to find any other MP3 players that can match an iPod’s sheer good looks. Colour
Yet another feature that distinguishes iPods from their competitors is the choice of colour Apple offers for the shuffle and the nano.
You can order a shuffle in one of five colours: blue, green, pink, red, and silver. The nano has an additional four: black, orange, purple, and yellow. All these colours are bright and wear-resistant, and help to personalise your iPod. They also add to the fun of using an MP3 player.
Extras
MP3 players are gadgets, and as with all such devices, people want useful, interesting extras. There can be little doubt that Apple meets this demand far more successfully than anyone else.
The shake-to-shuffle feature on the iPod nano; Wi-Fi connectivity on the iPod touch; and the Genius playlist feature on the iPod nano, classic, and touch are three examples of recent developments that have caught people’s imaginations. These extras are the latest in a history of additions that help make iPods such desirable gadgets to own.
iTunes
iPods also maintain a significant advantage over other MP3 players because of iTunes. iTunes is the free software that lets you organise your digital media into a library and transfer it to your iPod. It also offers a store in which you can buy music, films, TV programmes and audiobooks from a vast selection. You can even rent certain films, and obtain podcasts without charge.
The best
Apple started the portable media player revolution and has continued to develop the iPod ever since with spectacular results. Look through any sales catalogue of MP3 players, and it’s clear that where the iPod leads, others try to follow. iPods always set the pace, and the rest never really catch up.
By: Josh R Evans
About the Author:
Ben T Wilson writes about Mac computers, such as the imac computer.
Together with your iPod classic, you have
earphones
a USB 2.0 cable
a dock adaptor
What you also need
To use your iPod classic, you must have a computer.
Mac
A Mac requires
a USB 2.0 port
Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later
iTunes 8.0 or later
PC
A PC requires
a USB 2.0 port
Windows Vista or Windows XP (Home or Professional) with Service Pack 3 or later
iTunes 8.0 or later
Features
Your iPod classic has
a hold switch and headphones port on the top edge
a dock connector on the bottom edge
a two and a half inch colour LCD screen
a Click Wheel beneath the screen with the following buttons:
- menu - next/fast forward (??I) - play/pause (?II) - previous/rewind (I??)
a centre button
To find a menu item, move your thumb or finger around the Click Wheel
To select an item, press the centre button
To see the previous menu, press Menu
To switch on the backlight. Press any button or scroll the Click Wheel.
To view main menu. Press and hold Menu.
To adjust the volume. Use the Click Wheel.
To search for a song. Select Music on the main menu.
To search for a video. Select Videos on the main menu.
To play a song/video. Choose the song or video; press either the centre button or play/pause (?II). Please note: you cannot play songs or videos when you’ve connected the iPod classic to your computer.
To pause. Press play/pause (?II) or remove the headphones from your iPod classic.
To rewind or fast forward a song or video. Press and hold previous/rewind (I??), or next/fast forward (??I).
To play the previous song/podcast/audiobook chapter. Press previous/rewind twice (I??).
To listen to all songs in random order. Select Shuffle Songs on the main menu.
To skip to a certain part of a song or video. If you’re in the Now Playing screen, press the centre button. The scrubber bar appears with a diamond icon that indicates the current position in the song or video. Move the icon forward or backward with the Click Wheel.
To make a Genius playlist. Select or play a song; press and hold the centre button until a menu appears on the screen; select Start Genius; press centre button. Please note: Start Genius appears only when you have appropriate songs to create a Genius playlist.
To add a song to your On-The-Go playlist. Select or play a song; press and hold the centre button until a menu appears on the screen; select Add to On-The-Go; press the centre button.
To disable your iPod classic controls to prevent anything happening if you accidentally touch them. Move the hold switch to the HOLD position.
To reset your iPod classic if it doesn’t respond. Move the hold switch to HOLD and back again; press the centre and menu buttons at the same time and hold for around six seconds until the Apple logo comes on the screen.
Press and hold the centre button until a menu appears on the screen.
Go to the main menu and select Settings>About. Press the centre button until the serial number appears. The number is also on the back of your iPod classic.
Choose Search from the Music menu
Create a search word by using the Click Wheel to run through the alphabet, and the centre button to select each letter. Press the next/fast forward button (??I) for a space; press the previous/rewind button (I??) to delete a letter. Your iPod classic starts the search when you select the first letter
To see the results, press Menu
Select Cover Flow from the Music menu
Scroll through the album artwork with the Click Wheel, or use the next/fast forward (??I) and previous/rewind (I??) buttons
Choose an album
Press the centre button
Scroll through the available songs with the Click Wheel and select one
Press the centre button
Put the Dock Connector/USB cable into a USB 2.0 port on your computer
Plug the other end into your iPod classic’s dock connection
“Connected”
“Synchronising”
Click on the iTunes Eject button (?) or
for Mac users, drag the desktop iPod classic icon to Trash or
for PC users, eject iPod classic in My Computer, or select the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows system tray and choose iPod classic
pull the cable from the bottom
buy items from the online iTunes store
import items from your CDs, DVDs or computer hard drive
Place a CD in your computer
Open iTunes
Select Import CD
When you’ve finished, eject the CD by selecting Eject ?
select your CD’s first song
choose File>Get Info
select Info
type in the name of the song
choose Next
when you’ve finished, select OK
Drag the appropriate folder to the iTunes heading marked Library, or
Select File>Add to Library and choose the appropriate folder
Select a song
Select File>Get Info
Select Artwork
Select Add
Go to the file containing the artwork
Select Choose
By using the slider, adjust the size of the artwork
Select Next to include artwork for another song or album
Select OK when you’ve finished
choosing a song on iTunes
selecting File>Get Info
selecting Lyrics
putting the lyrics in the text box
selecting Next to enter the lyrics for another song
clicking OK when you’ve finished
Select Add (+) or File>New Playlist
Enter a playlist name
Select Music in Library
Drag a song to the playlist
Select File>New Smart Playlist
Set up your rules
on iTunes, select the Genius button (located at the bottom of the iTunes window)
follow the instructions
connect the iPod classic to your computer and sync it
select one of your songs on iTunes
click the Genius button
set a maximum number of songs for the Genius playlist by selecting a number from the pop-up menu
select Save Playlist
select iPod classic in the source list of iTunes
choose Summary
in Options, choose “Manually manage music and video”
select Apply
select Music (or an alternative item in the iTunes source list)
drag the song or other item to the list’s iPod classic icon
select iPod classic in the source list
on your iPod classic, choose the song or other item
press Delete or Backspace on your computer keyboard
select iPod classic in the source list
choose Add (+) or File>New Playlist
type in a name for the playlist
choose the items you want in your playlist, and drag them to it
choose iPod classic in the iTunes source list
choose Movies
select “Sync movies”
select the videos you want to transfer to your iPod classic
choose Apply
connecting it to your computer (the computer must be on and not in sleep or standby mode – except for some Macs) or by
using an Apple USB Power Adaptor
To manually delete a song or other item from your iPod classic
This deletes the song or other item from your iPod classic, but retains it in your iTunes library.
To manually create a new playlist on your iPod classic
When you manage songs and videos manually, always eject your iPod classic from iTunes before disconnection.
To load videos on your iPod classic
You can add films and TV shows to your iPod classic in a similar fashion to the way you add songs (see above).
Your iPod classic syncs all videos automatically. To sync only selected videos
Select Help>iTunes Help for further details about iTunes and its features.
Charging
Your iPod classic has a built-in battery. When you charge the battery for the first time, leave it for around four hours or until the screen’s battery icon shows a full charge.
When your iPod classic’s battery runs down, it takes about two hours to reach an 80% charge, and four hours to reach a full charge.
Methods of charging
Charge your iPod classic by
Please note: (i) your computer’s USB port must be USB 2.0 (ii) the iPod classic will not sync with your computer when a “Charging, Please Wait” or “Connect to Power” message appears on the classic’s screen
A battery icon on your iPod classic screen indicates the amount of charge you have left.
Sync your Genius playlist to the iPod classic in the same way as ordinary playlists.
To load music on your iPod classic
Your iPod classic automatically syncs songs, playlists, audiobooks, videos, films, TV episodes, and podcasts in your iTunes library when you connect it to your computer. If you’ve deleted or added items to your iTunes library since you last connected the iPod classic, iTunes automatically updates the classic’s contents.
When you first connect the iPod classic to your computer, a message asks if you want automatic syncing. Please note that if you don’t want this, you can add items to your iPod classic manually.
To manage your iPod classic manually
Managing your iPod classic content manually allows you to delete and add songs and videos as you choose.
To set iTunes for manual management
To manually add a song or other item to your iPod classic
To add lyrics
View lyrics while a song is playing by
To make playlists
With iTunes, you can make your own playlists.
Smart Playlists
You can also set up a feature known as Smart Playlists. Smart Playlists update automatically when you place songs on iTunes that match your Smart Playlist rules.
Genius
Genius automatically creates playlists of songs that go well together. To activate Genius
To set up an iTunes Genius playlist
To add music already on your computer to your iTunes library
iTunes must be able to support the song file format.
Other features
When you put music in your iTunes library, you can include the album artwork and arrange for the lyrics to come up on your iPod classic screen. You can also make playlists, and set up features such as Smart Playlist and Genius.
To add album artwork
Any music you buy from the iTunes Store comes with the album artwork. Your iPod classic automatically displays this.
If you’ve imported music from a CD, and you have the album artwork on your computer, you can add it to iTunes.
iTunes uses the Internet to try to find the names of the songs on your CDs. If the names are not available on the Internet
To disconnect your iPod classic:
iTunes
iTunes is the software that enables you to buy, arrange and transfer music, videos, TV episodes, audiobooks, podcasts, and games. When you connect the iPod classic to your computer, iTunes automatically appears.
Main features
To place digital media in your iTunes library, you can
To place your audio CDs in iTunes
Other control options Your iPod classic serial number
If your iPod classic doesn’t respond to any controls, push the hold switch to the HOLD position and back again. Then, for approximately six seconds, press the Menu and centre buttons at the same time. The Apple logo will appear on your iPod classic screen.
Searching The search function
Use the search function for songs; album titles; artists’ names; playlists; podcasts; and audiobooks. You cannot use the search function for videos; notes; lyrics; contacts; or calendars.
Browsing with Cover Flow
Cover Flow displays album artwork on your iPod classic screen. The artwork appears according to the alphabetical name of the artist or group, and provides a visual method of browsing.
Connections Connecting the iPod classic to your computer
Connect the iPod classic to your computer to transfer music, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, photos, and files. The connection charges your battery at the same time.
Disconnecting
Never disconnect the iPod classic from your computer if one of the following messages is on the iPod classic’s screen:
When you see such a message, eject your iPod classic before disconnecting it.
The iPod classic controls Switching on
To switch on your iPod classic, press the Click Wheel or the centre button. The main menu then appears.
Switching off
To switch off your iPod classic, press and hold play/pause (?II).
Basic navigation
To navigate the menus of your iPod classic, use the Click wheel and the centre button.
Common control functions
By: Josh R Evans
About the Author:
Ben T Wilson writes about Mac computers, such as the imac computers.
By: nlmsfan
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