How to Get The Most Out of Your iPod!

What is the iPod?

These five sections will take anyone – from the techno-wiz to the interested layperson to the technically terrified – and provide them with a comprehensive overview of their iPod, why it’s such an advantageous little creation, how to get the most out of it through shortcuts and other time-saving options, and as a special bonus, a section that explains iTunes and dozens of shortcuts that will save you time. 

What is the iPod?

If you ask 10 people to explain what an iPod is, you’ll likely receive 10 different answers; and all of them will likely contain some element of fact and logic.  Introduced by Apple Computers in 2001, the iPod is technically defined as a portable music player; and even this doesn’t do it justice. 

As you’ll see (or perhaps know already from your own experience), the iPod is so much more than a mere convenient way for you to listen to music while on the go.

These things SELL!

The iPod is the #1 seller of legal digital music and digital music devices. 

And just what does it take to be #1 in the highly competitive personal entertaining business?  Well, since its launch in 2001, over 3 million iPods have been sold; and counting. 

In fact, in a 3 month period from April to June 2004, almost over 850,000 iPod and iPod minis were sold.  To put that into some kind of perspective, that’s almost 10,000 iPods/iPod minis per day.  And if that doesn’t make you go WOW, that’s 398 per hour, or just under 7 per minute – of every hour, of every day, for 3 months! 
It’s no wonder, given these awesome sales total, that the question most people ask these days isn’t: are you getting an iPod, but rather: where is your iPod?

Look and Feel

A big reason for iPod sales goes beyond its incredible functionality (which we’ll look at further in this book).  Apple has been known for its aesthetics since it entered the personal computer market decades ago. 

In fact, one of the reasons that Apple Macintoshes (now referred to as iMacs) have found such a loyal following among artistic professionals is its relentless commitment to how things look, in addition to what things do.  It was no surprise, therefore, that the iPod followed this legacy perfectly.

The iPod is about the size of a deck of cards, while the iPod mini is about half that size.  They’re both a kind of creamy white, which is Apple’s signature color for the devices. 

The iPod works through a grey click wheel that is rotated and pressed/depressed at the same time. This allows listeners to navigate through various songs – skipping tracks, scanning, repeating, and pausing. 

A nice new feature of the latest iPod versions is that this wheel must be depressed by the listener in order for the song navigation to occur. 

Apple added this little feature after some negative feedback on early versions.  Those models didn’t require the wheel to be depressed, and therefore some listeners complained that it was being accidentally hit or bumped.

Also, take heart if you want to have a more unique-looking iPod to add to your sense of personal style.  It looks like there are “special edition” iPods in the works, such as:

· the Ashley Simpson iPod
· the New York Yankees iPod
· the Eminem iPod
· the Madonna iPod
· …and more!

Battery

Another nice feature of the iPod is its incredible battery life.  Early versions lasted about 8 hours before fizzing out; which many listeners found very inconvenient and, over time, expensive.

Apple responded to this with its current versions (we’re now onto the 4th generation of iPods…already!) delivering up to 12 hours of life.  This is a full 50% more battery life, which is quite the technical accomplishment!