iPod and iTunes Portable Genius E-Book

Jesse D. Hollington

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Portable Genius
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 410

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Beschreibung

Get the most from iTunes and your iPod with these hip tipsApple's iPod revolutionized the way we enjoy music. Thisno-nonsense guide is packed with advice and ideas to help you geteverything that amazing piece of technology can offer. Learn themost efficient way to create playlists, manage your photos, findexactly what you want at the iTunes Store, download music andmovies, and make your iPod as individual as you are with the expertadvice in this little book.* The iPod has dozens of features that most casual users miss;this book is the key to taking full advantage of your iPod andusing iTunes more efficiently* Loaded with tips and techniques that help you do more with youriPod; gets right to the point without wasting time on things youalready know* Features special icons to highlight innovative techniques andways to save time and hassleCompact and full-color, iPod & iTunes Portable Geniushelps you get the most from your iPod and iTunes.

Leseprobe

iPod® & iTunes® Portable Genius, 2nd Edition

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: What Do I Really Need to Know about iTunes?

Understanding iTunes

Types of audio content supported by iTunes

Understanding lossless and lossy

Changing your default audio format

Types of video content supported by iTunes

How iTunes organizes and stores media

Configuring Your Library Storage Settings

Selecting a location for your iTunes media

Adjusting your CD import settings

Changing CD track information

Importing your existing media files

Importing playlists from another application

Chapter 2: What Do I Need to Know about Purchasing Content Online?

Getting the Most Out of the iTunes Store

How to set up an iTunes Store account

What you can do with content purchased from the iTunes Store

Purchasing items with bonus content

Creating an iTunes Store Wish List

Sharing iTunes Store items on Facebook and Twitter

Getting Social with Ping

Setting up Ping

Renting video content from the iTunes Store

Working with Season Passes for TV shows

Purchasing high-definition content

Subscribing to podcasts from the iTunes Store

Authorizing and deauthorizing your computer

Resetting your authorization count

Using Other Digital Media Stores

Types of digital media stores supported

Purchasing audiobooks from Audible.com

Chapter 3: How Should I Organize My Content?

Organizing Music Content

Filling in required tags

Filling in optional tags

Tagging multiple tracks simultaneously

Filtering and browsing your iTunes library

Organizing compilation albums

Adjusting the column headings

Sorting your library

Using the Grid and Cover Flow views

Rating tracks and albums

Adding lyrics to your music

Organizing Video Content

Types of video content

Tagging video content

Adding more information to your videos

Adding Artwork to Your Media

Where to find album artwork

Adding album artwork manually

Getting album artwork automatically

Chapter 4: How Do I Play My Content in iTunes?

Playing Music in iTunes

Using iTunes DJ

Using Sound Check

Using Crossfade

About gapless playback

Using the iTunes Visualizer

Listening to Internet Radio in iTunes

Streaming to Remote Speakers with AirPlay

Playing Videos in iTunes

Playing videos in a window versus full-screen

Selecting high-definition or standard-definition TV shows

Using chapter markers in videos

Selecting alternate audio tracks

Enabling subtitles and closed captioning

Chapter 5: How Can I Use Playlists to Manage My Library?

Using Standard Playlists

Sorting and manually reordering tracks in playlists

Saving the play order

Finding out which playlists contain a given track

Organizing playlists into folders

Using Smart Playlists to Manage Music Content

Creating a basic Smart Playlist

Using ratings and play counts in a Smart Playlist

Limiting the number of tracks in a Smart Playlist

Advanced Smart Playlists

Removing tracks from Smart Playlists

Using Genius Playlists and Mixes

Enabling the Genius feature

Creating Genius lists

Saving your Genius list as a playlist

Using Genius recommendations

Creating Genius Mixes

Chapter 6: How Do I Manage Podcasts, Audiobooks, and iTunes U Content?

Managing Podcasts and iTunes U Collections

Podcasts versus iTunes U

Subscribing to podcasts from outside of the iTunes Store

Setting how many episodes to keep

Exempting specific episodes from automatic deletion

Managing Audiobooks

Converting and importing your own audiobooks

Importing audiobooks from CD

Setting tracks to remember their playback position

Setting audiobooks to be excluded from shuffled playback

Chapter 7: How Do I Manage the Content on My iPod?

Identifying Your iPod Model

Managing Music and Video Content on Your iPod

Synchronizing your content to your iPod automatically

Managing content on your iPod manually

Synchronizing checked items

Synchronizing movies

Synchronizing TV shows

Transferring rented movies and TV shows

Managing Podcasts on Your iPod

Syncing Photos to Your iPod

Syncing Games to Your Click-Wheel iPod

Enabling Disk Use on Your Click-Wheel iPod

Syncing Calendars and Contacts to Your Click-Wheel iPod

Storing Notes on Your Click-Wheel iPod

Syncing Contacts, Calendars, and Bookmarks with an iOS Device

Syncing contacts

Syncing calendars

Synchronizing bookmarks

Synchronizing and Managing Applications on an iOS Device

Syncing Books and PDF Files with an iOS Device

Using Multiple Apple Media Devices on One Computer

Chapter 8: How Do I Get the Most Out of My iPod?

How Content Is Organized on the iPod

Rating Content on the Go

Using Shuffle Settings Effectively

Configuring shuffle settings on the iPod classic and click-wheel iPod nano

Configuring shuffle settings on the iPhone and iPod touch

Viewing Lyrics on the Go

Adjusting Audiobook Playback Speed

Listening to Music Videos

Using the On-The-Go Playlist on Click-Wheel iPods

Creating and Editing Playlists on iOS Devices

Creating and Using Genius Playlists

Purchasing Content on iOS Devices

Connecting Your iPod, iPhone, or iPad to a TV

Types of TV connections supported

Adjusting Your Device’s Video Settings for Optimal Display

Chapter 9: How Do I Get My Own Movies onto My iPod?

About Converting Video for the iPod

Video formats supported by the iPod

Recommended video conversion settings

Converting DVDs

Using HandBrake for one-step DVD conversion

Importing digital copies from DVD

Converting unprotected DVD VOB files

Converting Video Files

Converting video files with QuickTime and iTunes

Converting video files with third-party tools

Converting Home Movies

Types of digital home video formats

Converting standard digital video

Converting MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 home video

Converting VHS recordings

Chapter 10: How Do I Get Content from My iPod Back to My Computer?

Transferring Purchased Content

Transferring Content Manually

Third-Party Programs for Transferring Music and Video Content

Copying Photos

Chapter 11: How Do I Manage Content on an Apple TV?

Synchronizing Content with an Apple TV

Accessing Content from Multiple iTunes Libraries

Purchasing and Renting Content on the Apple TV

Configuring your Apple TV for the iTunes Store

Previewing and purchasing content

Adding movies to your wish list

Keeping track of your favorite TV shows

Renting movies and TV shows with your Apple TV

Using On-The-Go and Genius Features on the Apple TV

Displaying Slide Shows on Your Apple TV

Using Your Apple TV with AirPlay

Using Your iOS as an Apple TV Remote

Using a Third-Party Remote with the Apple TV

Chapter 12: How Do I Manage a Large iTunes Library?

Upgrading to iTunes Media Organization

Moving Your iTunes Library to an External Hard Drive

Specifying a different iTunes Media folder location

Moving and consolidating your iTunes media

Moving the iTunes database to a new folder

Moving Your iTunes Library to a New Computer

Managing Your iTunes Media in Multiple Locations

Creating Multiple iTunes Libraries on One Computer

Sharing Your iTunes Library on a Network

Sharing your iTunes library for playback by other users

Sharing and copying your iTunes library content among multiple computers on a home network

Chapter 13: What Can I Do When I Have Problems with My iPod, iPhone, or iPad?

Basic Troubleshooting

Reset

Retry

Restart

Reinstall

Restore

Common Problems and Solutions

Your device is not detected by iTunes

Your songs skip on the iPod or do not play at all

Advanced Troubleshooting

Downgrading your iPod firmware

Starting your click-wheel iPod in disk mode

Hard-restoring your click-wheel iPod

Hard-restoring your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad

Chapter 14: How Do I Use Scripts to Get More Out of iTunes?

About Scripts and iTunes

Cool AppleScripts for Mac iTunes Users

Find duplicate tracks in iTunes

Easily use multiple iTunes libraries

Convert lossless to AAC for your iPod

Other cool AppleScripts

Cool JavaScripts for Windows iTunes Users

Appendix A: iPod and iTunes Resources

Apple

iLounge

Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes

iPhone Atlas

iPodHacks

Macworld

The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Music

Podcasts

Downloadable Video Content

Streaming Audio and Video

Appendix B: Third-Party Software

Adding lyrics

Tagging videos

Adding album artwork

Add-on visualizers

Converting audiobooks

Accessing Mac-formatted iPods on Windows machines

Video conversion

Recovering iPod content

Synchronizing iTunes libraries

iPod® & iTunes® Portable Genius, 2nd Edition

by Jesse David Hollington

iPod® & iTunes® Portable Genius, 2nd Edition

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-0-470-64351-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

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Trademarks: Wiley and the Wiley Publishing logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley and Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries, and may not be used without written permission. iPod and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

About the Author

Jesse David Hollington is an Applications Editor for iLounge.com, a site about all things iPod, iPhone, iPad, and iTunes where he covers iPhone and iPad applications, writes technical articles and tutorials, and pens a weekly Ask iLounge column responding to readers’ questions. Outside of the world of iPods, Jesse is also an IT Consultant working in the networking and collaborative services space and is an officer in the Canadian Forces Reserve working with Air Cadets in his spare time. Jesse lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with his wife Nina and their baby daughter Victoria Grace.

Credits

Executive Editor

Jody Lefevere

Project Editor

Cricket Krengel

Technical Editor

Paul Sihvonon-Binder

Copy Editor

Kim Heusel

Editorial Manager

Rosemarie Graham

Editorial Director

Robyn Siesky

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Barry Pruett

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Senior Marketing Manager

Sandy Smith

Project Coordinator

Patrick Redmond

Graphics and Production Specialist

Andrea Hornberger

Quality Control Technician

Laura Albert

Proofreading

Laura Bowman

Indexing

Johnna VanHoose Dinse

Dedication

To my beautiful baby girl, Victoria Grace, who is far more fascinated with an iPod than any other toy. May you always find the world around you to be a happy, magical, and exciting place.

Acknowledgments

With this Second Edition, my thanks goes out to the many people who have provided their support and encouragement and made invaluable contributions to the process. I would like to begin by thanking the team at iLounge: Jeremy Horwitz, Dennis Lloyd, Charles Starrett, and Bob Levens for their guidance, support and assistance both in the process of this book and in my work writing about the world of iTunes and iPods in general; Andreas and Lianne Bach and The Hatfields: Pem, Linda, Erin and Sarah, who quite possibly bought every copy of my first edition that could be found in Toronto to hand out to friends and family; and my editors, specifically Jody Lefevere and Cricket Krengel for their support and patience as I once again juggled this book alongside other projects and the responsibilities of being a new father. Last but certainly not least, my sincerest thanks and appreciation goes out to my loving wife Nina for her support, encouragement, and patience as I struggled with meeting deadlines and still squeezing family time into our busy schedules.

Introduction

Nine years ago, Apple Computer announced that it would be stepping into the world of digital media with a new portable media player that it chose to simply name iPod. While Apple was far from the first company to introduce a portable digital media player, its approach to digital media was unique. Instead of providing merely a standalone device, Apple provided the other pieces necessary to make the user experience work, starting with a Mac application to manage music content, and later, an online digital media store. This approach provided the average user with all of the pieces he needed to simply enjoy his music at a time when most other digital media players were simply too technical for many.

The result of this accessibility was that the iPod, which began its life as a niche media player for Mac users suddenly grew into a huge success. Support for Windows users was added, the reach of the iTunes Store increased, and eventually this little music player grew to support video content and games. Not content to stop there, Apple moved into the living room with the Apple TV and then expanded its reach even further and redefined the cellular phone industry with the iPhone, and most recently took the first steps toward redefining the mobile computing industry with the iPad.

Today, Apple continues to enjoy overwhelming success in the market, with sales of over 260 million iPods, 34 million iPhones, and over ten billion songs sold on the iTunes Store. Although some had dismissed the iPod as little more than a fad, the overwhelming success shows that there’s something there which speaks to the average user. Put simply, the iPod is a device that for the most part just works and allows you to spend more time enjoying your media content and less time managing it.

Out of the box, the iPod and iTunes are relatively straightforward to use; this is after all the primary strength of the brand. However, one would be mistaken in assuming that iTunes is nothing more than a conduit to manage content on an iPod. While Apple has done an excellent job of making iTunes simple for the average user, there is a lot of hidden power under the hood of the iTunes application, making it one of the best media management applications available, even for users who don’t own an iPod or any other Apple device.

This book assumes that you understand that basics of media management and how to use iTunes itself and takes you deeper into the aspects of iTunes and the iPod that are hidden beneath the service, exploring the real power of iTunes and how it interacts with your iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices. By fully exploring what iTunes has to offer, you can discover how to better manage and get more enjoyment from your media collection.

Please note that some special symbols used in this eBook may not display properly on all eReader devices. If you have trouble determining any symbol, please call Wiley Product Technical Support at 800-762-2974. Outside of the United States, please call 317-572-3993. You can also contact Wiley Product Technical Support at www.wiley.com/techsupport.

Chapter 2: What Do I Need to Know about Purchasing Content Online?

Although many iTunes users still get their music the traditional way by purchasing CDs, there are many online music stores available that offer a massive selection of music and other media content that can be purchased through the convenience of your computer. Not all online media stores are the same, however, and it is important to understand the differences and limitations between them so that you can make an informed purchase and get the most out of your digital media experience.

Getting the Most Out of the iTunes Store

Getting Social with Ping

Using Other Digital Media Stores

Getting the Most Out of the iTunes Store

The first and most obvious source of content for your iPod or iPhone is the Apple online media store, which you can access directly from within iTunes. The iTunes Store began as a music-only store exclusive to Mac users in the United States. Today, however, it has expanded to support both Mac and Windows users in over 60 countries and includes a wide variety of media content such as music, audiobooks, podcasts, music videos, movies, TV shows, and even games and other applications for your iPod or iPhone. Although using the iTunes Store is not at all necessary for you to enjoy your iPod, it can be a very convenient source of additional content.

How to set up an iTunes Store account

Although you can browse the iTunes Store and even preview content without setting up an account or being signed in, you need an account to actually purchase anything from the store. To set up an iTunes Store account, you need to specify a payment method. This can be a credit card, a PayPal account (if you’re in the United States), or an iTunes Store Gift Card or Gift Certificate. This last option is especially useful if you do not have a credit card, because you can actually fund iTunes Store purchases simply using prepaid Gift Cards, which can be purchased at any Apple Store and many other retailers. Some restrictions exist on what Gift Cards can be used for, but they’re generally fine for purchasing music and video content.

To create an account on the iTunes Store, follow these steps:

1. Chose Store →Sign In from the iTunes menu. You should see a dialog box similar to the one shown in Figure 2.1.

2.1 The iTunes Store sign-in dialog box

2. Click Create New Account. The main iTunes window shows a Welcome screen similar to the one shown in Figure 2.2.

3. Click Continue. The iTunes Store Terms and Conditions are displayed, similar to Figure 2.3. These are specific to the country that you are registering for an iTunes Store account in. If your billing address is in another country from that which is displayed, you can click where indicated to change your selected country.

2.2The iTunes Store Welcome screen

2.3 iTunes Store Terms and Conditions

4. Click the check box that indicates that you have read and agree to the iTunes Terms and Conditions and then click Continue.

5. Fill in your personal information on the remaining screens. If you are using an iTunes Gift Card or Gift Certificate to create the account, you can specify this on the payment method screen instead of providing credit card information, as shown in Figure 2.4.

2.4 Specify iTunes Payment Method

Making Allowances

The iTunes Store provides a useful feature for parents who do not want to give their offspring carte blanche on the iTunes Store by setting up an account with a credit card. Instead, you set up an iTunes Store account normally for yourself and then set up an allowance under the Buy iTunes Gifts section of the iTunes Store. Your son or daughter receives an e-mail with the allowance amount and instructions on setting up his or her own iTunes Store account. Once this is set up, on the first of each month the specified amount is automatically billed to your credit card through your own iTunes Store account and credited to your child’s iTunes Store account. The effect is the same as buying a Gift Card for the account, except that the money is added automatically on a monthly basis.

Of course, you can modify or cancel an allowance at any time, and you can still purchase Gift Certificates to supplement the allowance credit for those special occasions when you want to give a bit more.

iTunes Gift Cards and Gift Certificates may only be redeemed at the iTunes Store for the country where they were purchased. This is something to be aware of if you travel to other countries. Gift Cards purchased while abroad may end up being of no use to you once you arrive home.

What you can do with content purchased from the iTunes Store

Traditionally, much of the content that you purchase from the iTunes Store is protected by the FairPlay digital rights management (DRM) system from Apple. The bad news is that this puts some limitations on what you can actually do with some of the content you purchase, but the good news is that the iTunes restrictions are actually some of the most generous of any DRM-laden online media store.

There is a distinction between iTunes Store Gift Cards and Apple Store Gift Cards. Apple Store Gift Cards may be redeemed for Apple product purchases at all Apple Retail Stores and the Apple Store (which is online), but cannot be used on the iTunes Store, although you can purchase an iTunes Store Gift Card from the Apple Store. Likewise, an iTunes Store Gift Card can only be used to purchase media content on the iTunes Store, and cannot be used at the Apple Store or Apple Retail Stores.