The Iphone World

Posts Tagged ‘Guide’

Used cell phone stores are not only located in your neighborhood regions, but are also located all over cyberspace too. What’s really nice about online used cell phone stores is that they often have less overhead when compared to those used cell phone stores operating in physical locations. Since everything in terms of business is conducted online, online cell phone sellers have the liberty of offering significantly reduced prices to all consumers. Online used cell phone stores make cell phone purchasing options tremendously affordable. With the increasingly difficult economic times, consumers are seeking every avenue possible for saving money on all purchases including cell phones. If a consumer is seeking a first time buy or they are looking to quickly replace an old cell phone, used cell phone stores supply lower costing phones which can be shipped directly to the buyer’s home in a relatively short time. Pre-owned online cell phone stores have reputable sellers that ensure satisfying product quality. Often times, pre-owned cell phone stores and sellers will rate the condition of the products they are selling to and will also provide a full and comprehensive description of the device being sold. Whether seeking an Blackberry, TREO, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens, or Sony used cell phone device, there are used cell phone stores that have a plethora of high quality cell phones for sale. Consumers need to be careful about the used cell phone stores they select though. Not all stores have the same offerings and guarantees. It is up to the consumer to assess whether or not the used cell phone seller is reputable, and the consumer will need to make certain demands when it comes to product quality. Read the details of a return policy and/or refund policy as well. Checking out feedbacks left to a particular online seller will definitely help the consumer determine whether he is dealing with a reputable seller or not. Communication with the seller before the purchase will also help the consumer get the right product upon purchase. To learn more about Used Cell Phone Stores, I recommend you checking out Used Cell Phones for Sale. It is a specialized used cell phones for sale site that lists up to the minute deals on the used, refurbished and new cell phones and accessories of all popular brands. Be sure to try this website first.

Buying Ipod is just like buying a piece of enjoy-ment. The first criteria is to buy something you will enjoy. And full enjoyment of your new iPod means considering your music, your lifestyle and, of course, your budget.
• iPod Shuffle
• iPod Nano
• which iPod is Right for you?
should purchase a traditional Ipod. Available in 30gb and 60gb sizes, the Ipod will hold 15,000 or 30,000 songs respectively. If you don’t have enough songs to fill your iPod why not download some videos instead? Ipods now all support video, so you can download your favorite television show or music video and take it with you on the road. The battery on the Ipod will last up to 20 hours before giving out making it a great music and video player for long trips.iPod Shuffle
The Ipod shuffle is perfect for people who don’t want to carry around their entire music collection with then, but want something light and easy for working out and going out on the two. The ipod shuffle is about the size of a pack of gum, and comes with a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck and go hands free. The shuffle comes in two sizes 512mb and 1g, the 512mb ipods shuffle will hold 120 songs and the 1gb model will hold around 240.iPod Nano
If you want to keep it small, but also want to see your play list then an iPod Nano may be the right ipod for you. iPod Nanos are slightly larger in size than the shuffle but have their own color display where you can easily navigate through songs and play lists as well as view your pictures. Ipod nanos come in 1gb, 2 GB and 4gb sizes. The 1gb model will hold the same as a 1gb shuffle (240 songs) the 4gb version however will hold close to 1000. A new feature of the Nano is their integration with Nike. You can now use you Nano like a pedometer and track your workout as well as listen to some great tunes while you run. Which iPod is Right for You?
iPod fever catches a new wave of consumers every day. Coupled with the unrelenting success of Apple’s music download program iTunes, the iPod has become an unstoppable force in the world of mp3 and portable audio players.
Since its introduction into the world, other companies have risen to the challenge of besting the iPod, but have thus far been unable to attain the recognizable status and fame that surrounds the iPod like a magical aura, capturing the interest of all who fall within the mystical glow.
Apple now offers three different versions of its iPod, which has come quite a long way since its original 5GB model.

The iPod manual or the iPod documentation as it is also known can be found in its most basic form along with your new iPod. For an iPod manual that has greater detail than what is found with your iPod you can go to the Apple site and find the appropriate iPod manual for your particular iPod.

The iPod manual which comes with your iPod should be kept safely somewhere you can lay your hands on it, because although it might be basic, it still has things in it which can help you if ever you need help dealing with a problem with your iPod. It will also have troubleshooting information which is invaluable to tell you what to do in the event that your iPod doesn’t start, or in case it freezes in the middle of doing something.

Your iPod manual will also have information on the various items that came along with your iPod, and will also most likely have the phone numbers of the Apple help centers which you can ring in an emergency. You will also find the iPod manual to contain the web address for the Apple site which you can also use to access help with your iPod, and even your iPod manual.

Beside this very helpful information your iPod manual will tell you how to load songs into your iPod. You will be given advice for the different makes of iPod. After all you want to play songs for your iPod Shuffle and not for an iPod Nano right? With the iPod manual you will get to know the different ways that you can accomplish getting all of the music that you want into your new iPod.

The iPod manual is also an excellent reference guide for how to operate the iPod for first time users of the iPod. This means that not only will you be told what the various symbols on your iPod mean but you will get to know the shortcuts. The ones like how to start your entire song list from the beginning rather than at the middle.

You will also be given instructions on how to charge your iPod battery so that you can listen to all of the lovely songs until you are near to charging the iPod. Now besides this information you will also be informed how you can place songs onto your iTunes songs library on your computer and from there onto your iPod.

It amazing what information you will find in the little booklet that is the iPod manual. As this handy little gem will contain many useful informational details do make sure that you don’t lose it or worse throw it away. You just might need it tomorrow.

All About iPodsMusic is in the air!So what is an Ipod anyway? Well, for one, it is music to our ears! Wouldn’t you agree? However, on a more serious note, the ‘ipod’ is a brand. It is a brand of portable music/ media players which are a technically advanced, compact version of our good old walkmans. The brand ipod was launched by Apple Inc on October 23, 2001, and has ever since been making waves in the music world. This rectangular gadget with a bright and clear screen stores and plays a large number of songs and videos for you without going through the hassle of changing CDs or cassettes, unlike the earlier walkmans or disk mans.Ipod BasicsThe first striking feature about an Ipod is its storage capacity. For instance, the capacity of an iPod Classic is 120GB which holds approximately 30000 songs while of course if you do not need that kind of storage you can always opt for medium range models. The wide screen in most of the models displays your play lists, song queue and helps you select which song or video you want to play. The large dial is the manual control dial of all the functions.The iPods  also come with iTunes, a program that will burn CDs, let you download music from Apple’s music store and convert songs into iPod format.Which iPod to chooseApple is the undisputed leader in the filed of ipods so largely you have to decide between its various models. However, if price is your consideration, then you might also look at the other MP3 Players produced by other companies available at very affordable prices in the market.Apple’s current line of ipod includes the iPod classic, the video feature enabled iPod Nano, the touch screen enabled iPod Touch, the screen less iPod shuffle and the latest, iPhone.To decide on which one is the best for you, you will first have to figure out what kind of usage are you going to have of your iPod. Whether you want to store a large number of songs or just a few favorites, do you want to use your iPod for viewing videos also or are you just happy with a basic music device. Once you’ve decided that, here’s the cheat sheet for you to select your dream music machine.iPod Shuffle: This is a gadget for people who want music with them but don’t need to carry their entire collection around all the time. There are two sizes available in it, one is 512mb which can hold around 120 songs and the other is 1gb which will hold around 240 songs. This is a an iPod without the screen and can give you difficulty in managing your play lists.iPod Nano: These are ipods with a display screen and a capacity of 1gb, 2gb or 4 gb. A cool feature of the ipod nano is its recent collaboration with Nike. The Nano can be used with Nike shoes as a pedometer and a media player both. You can also store and view your pictures in the iPod Nano.iPod Touch: This one comes with a touch screen and a capacity of 8GB/16GB/32GB. It is definitely for serious music lovers and has other features like downloading movies, audio books, games, office and notes.iPod Classic:  When it comes to storage, this is the mother of all iPods. With 120 GB of memory, it can hold up to 150 hours of video or 25000 photos.iPhone: The latest in Apple technology, this gadget is a unique combination of Apple phone, Apple IPod and an internet device.You can choose your iPod on the basis of what you want from it. You could be looking for a large storage space for your music collection form where you could directly listen to it or attach it to a music system to get a bigger sound affect or you could be looking for a musical device to entertain you a bit during your workouts-the perfect answer is available in one these iPods.

One of the most complex repairs on an iPhone is a screen replacement repair, before you attempt this repair be sure to have sufficient time to complete the task, and have a clear working space for your iPhone and the replacement screen to sit in while working on them.

For a replacement screen repair it is necessary to completely disassemble the iPhone, therefore I would suggest that prior to commencing the repair get a few small pieces of paper in order to label your parts, and I particular the origin of the screws. Label them as follows; Metal Back Screws, aluminum back case, and motherboard – lay them out on the workspace in this order with a small space between them for the other iPhone components and replacement screen to lie in.

The tools and equipment required for this repair are; a case opener, a small Phillips screwdriver, a paperclip to eject the SIM tray and the iPhone replacement screen, once you have these to hand and the paper labels lined up. Be sure to have clean hands before starting the repair.

Firstly remove the SIM tray – do this by inserting the paper clip in the hole on the topside of the iPhone next to the power button, when the clip is inserted, the SIM tray should eject. Next, use the case opener to remove the plastic back of the iPhone. Lay these two components next to the paper labels, after you have fitted the replacement screen into your iPhone you will need to reverse the order of these instructions to reassemble the iPhone. For this reason, I would suggest placing them furthest from you next to the aluminum paper label.

The next step is to remove the two small screws on either side of the back securing the metal casing, and another screw located top, middle of where you removed the plastic back – placing these on the paper label. Once you have completed this, take the case opener again and carefully run it along both sides of the iPhone to loosen the back away from the frame – you will notice the metal back is secured by a wire ribbon, carefully detach this from the main section of the Iphone, not the metal back end.

The next step in the screen replacement repair needs caution – it is required to remove the iPhone antenna cable, secured by glue in three positions, carefully pry it loose of the glue spots. After this, you will need to remove 10 screws from around the sides of the iPhone, and place them on the paper label ‘Outside Case’ – after this remove the 3 screws securing the motherboard. You need to remove the motherboard at the same time as the battery as they are soldered together, once you have done this you can carefully detach the remaining iPhone frame.

The next step is to remove the LCD screen in order to fit the replacement screen – this is possibly the most difficult part of the repair and needs to be done with extreme caution. Loosen the 3 clips on the sides of the screen and slowly begin removing the LCD, you will see some wires are intertwined into the Iphone – carefully guide them through the frame and, they will slide right through.

Once you have completed this, take the iPhone screen replacement and insert it into the phone, carefully trace your steps to ensure that no errors are made when assembling the iPhone back to its original state.

This iPhone screen replacement guide was provided to you courtesy of iPhone Parts Pro – the online store for all your iPhone accessories, parts and spares to enable the fixing of your iPhone at home.

Communication? What pops up in our mind when we think of talking over phone for hours? Landline phones? They are out; the world we live in today is completely dependant on cell phone’s and anyone irrespective of age/sex wants a cell phone to stay in touch with friends, family and friends.

Cell phones along with cheap service providers make our life way easier than it already was. Doesn’t matter where my friend/family lives, in First world country or third world, be it anywhere the call rates compared to landline service providers are amazingly cheap and therefore, cell phone is one of the cheapest and handy way of keeping yourself in touch with your loved ones.

At first cell phones, when introduced were pretty much expensive, and there were lots of people who couldn’t afford keeping a cell phone for themselves. But now thanks to market structures and monopoly, competition is at its peak and every other cell phone manufacturer throws a new cell phone with all the best features in the market at affordable prices. So that’s just great for users who earlier just dreamt of owning one!

How one does buy himself/herself a cell phone, Online? Through a retail outlet? I’d like to update you with the best ways of buying a cell phone, which might be of help.

a) Internet: well when it comes to cell phone than yes I must say that life without internet is also incredible, the worlds not just known as world now but “E-world.” Online shopping is one of the way to buy a cell phone where you can find several websites that offer you the best deals/packages with a wide range of choice at discounted rates. Buying online is just a click away, type in the keyword lets say “Cheap cell phones or cheap used cell phones” and our friend google one of the best search engine would pull in a lot of websites with having the best ones on the first page. And therefore I strongly recommend everyone to give the first priority to internet for purchasing of electronic items as the E-world has lots to offer at discounted prices.

b) Used Cell phones: you can also buy the cell phone in person but for that you have to be very careful about the cell phones condition and performance. But you can surely get the best deals around if you give it a try, one can always find users who know how to use a cell phone and maintain them as well.c) Carrier Store: Carrier stores is also an cost effective way to buy cell phones but for that one should have an account over there which lets one avail all the deals they have there.

The cost effective ways mentioned above will definitely help everyone in picking up the best cell phone deal, so give it a try and get yourself something you deserve! Enjoy!

In the box

Together with your iPod classic, you have

What you also need

To use your iPod classic, you must have a computer.

Mac

A Mac requires

PC

A PC requires

Features

Your iPod classic has

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.

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.

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.

Charge your iPod classic by

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.

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.

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

View lyrics while a song is playing by

With iTunes, you can make your own 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 automatically creates playlists of songs that go well together. To activate Genius

To set up an iTunes Genius playlist

iTunes must be able to support the song file format.

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.

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 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.

To place digital media in your iTunes library, you can

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

To switch on your iPod classic, press the Click Wheel or the centre button. The main menu then appears.

To switch off your iPod classic, press and hold play/pause (?II).

To navigate the menus of your iPod classic, use the Click wheel and the centre button.

iPod Basics and Purchasing Guide

So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? Please take the time to read this brief article which will at best help you get the most out of your new iPod, and at the least, help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions. This article is written out of my personal experience with iPods.

1. What is an iPod?

An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. Basically, the MP4 format is a proprietary format only recognized by Apple products, such as iPods and QuickTime™. In order for music to play on an iPod, it must be in MP4 format. Apple’s music download site, iTunes™, offers music only in the MP4 format. The iTunes™ software which comes with an iPod will convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, so they will play on your iPod. An iPod will not play MP3 files, neither will Windows Media Player play MP4 files. Both the Nano and Video iPod will store and display photos, but a video iPod is needed to play video files.

2. What is iTunes?

® Apple hosts the world’s largest music download site called iTunes™. As of March 2006, over 1 billion files have been downloaded for use in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers music files for 99 cents each, and you need not download an entire album, but can select only the music files you want and download it into your computer. The iTunes™ software in your computer is the vehicle by which files are loaded into the iPod. Simply place your iPod into its dock (which is attached via USB to your computer), start iTunes™ and your iPod is updated automatically with new music, playlists, Podcasts and so forth. I have tried other music download sites and have not found any which I like as well as iTunes™, even though they may offer music cheaper than iTunes™. A basic search will locate alternative music download sites.

There are a variety of other files available on iTunes™ called Podcasts. These are audio or video files which include news broadcasts, informational programs, comedy programs and many others. The great majority of Podcasts are free, and others are not.

3. What You Get

iPods come with the following:

iPod with battery

Earphones (called “earbuds”)

A generic pouch for the earbuds

A docking station (to transfer files and charge the iPod)

iTunes™ software CD

Instruction manual

4. What You will Need

Every iPod user will need a case, and we strongly recommend a screen protector.

Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) Video iPod are susceptible to scratching, and the black units seem to show scratches worse than the white ones. This is true of both the iPod housing AND the screen. Nothing is worse than having your iPod blemished with unsightly scratches, especially when it is easily avoidable by using a case and screen protector. Having your unprotected iPod floating around inside your purse or in your pocket will absolutely cause your iPod to quickly accumulate scratches both on the housing and on the screen. Be warned! This is not really a defect, but just the way it is.

5. Using iPods in your Car

Most people quickly realize that it would be great to be able to have their iPod play music through their car stereo. No longer would they have to mess with CDs or tapes. How many CDs would you have to carry to have your entire music library with you in the car? You can take it all in the palm of your hand with an iPod. So, how does one play music through their car stereo? There are several options.

First, there are cables available for most car stereos which plug into the iPod and the other end of the cable plugs into a port on the back of the stereo. Removal of the stereo is usually required to accomplish this task. Also, the wire used to connect your iPod is exposed. It does, however, sound great! Some car stereos have a line input on the faceplate. In this case, all one needs to do is use an adaptive cable from the headphone jack of the iPod to the input on the stereo. In both of these scenarios, the iPod will run on its internal battery unless a car charger is used as well.

Second, (and by far the most popular) method, is to use an FM transmitter to transmit a signal from your iPod to your FM radio and play it as if it were a radio station. There are a variety of FM transmitters from several manufacturers. We recommend using a unit which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod port. The plug-in units consume power from the iPod battery and seem to produce a weak signal resulting in poor audio quality. A docking unit (such as the Griffin RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in place, charges the iPod and produces a strong signal. The RoadTrip™ also features a removable FM module which allows it to plug into your computer. You can therefore listen to FM radio through your computer without having to install software.

6. Using iPods at Home

iPods can easily play through your home stereo. One can simply use an adaptive cable which plugs into the headphone jack of the iPod and into the stereo input of your stereo. In this setup, the iPod is operating on battery power unless the iPod is also plugged into a charger.

Docking your iPod is the preferred method, and there are a variety of docking solutions available. The iPod docks into a base which charges the iPod, and an output jack on the base connects the iPod to your stereo via a cable. Some units offer remote controls for your iPod and others do not, but often these remotes are weak and have very limited range and field of reception. We have found that some television or stereo programmable remote control units can be programmed to work with certain iPod docking systems, while others work partially or not at all. It is worth trying if you have a programmable remote.

Some docking units also have a video output for use with the 5G Video iPod, which allows one to watch videos or photos stored in the iPod on a television. We have found that the picture quality is poor on large screen televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. Using a dock with S-video output will provide a far superior picture than units using an RCA connector. As of now, iPods do not support high definition.

There are speaker systems which contain their own amplifier and operate as a stand-alone unit with an iPod. These are not all created equal. Our testing has found that a high price does not always equal high quality. We have found $150 systems which in our opinion sound significantly superior to $400 units. It is best to listen to the various systems before making your selection; or if buying online, follow the recommendations of the seller IF they have tested the systems and can provide you with recommendations based on testing results.

There are alarm clock radios (such as iHome™) which allow you to go to sleep listening to your iPod and wake up to it as well. We have tested the iHome™ and others, and found iHome™ to be our unit of choice.

7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod

When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it a high ranking on the “Dumb-O-Meter.” Who wants to watch a movie on a 2.5 inch screen? However, after having used one, I have recanted my original opinion. It is now my iPod of choice. Unfortunately, iTunes™ and other MP4 download sites usually have little to offer in the way of legal movies which are formatted to play on an iPod. ITunes™ does have some short films, music videos and television shows, but not much else.

An easy solution for this is to convert your own DVDs into a format that the iPod can play. This can be accomplished by means of a software product called a DVD to iPod converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo and others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD in your computer, start the converter program and let it convert the movie to iPod format. Then, move the converted file into your iTunes™ video list. The next time you dock your iPod to your computer, it will load into your iPod. Some converter programs will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV and other computer video formats for use on an iPod. This can allow you to convert your family videos and view them on your ipod. IPod movies are great for entertaining children on the road, for the business traveler stranded at an airport or for long airplane trips.

DVD converters we recommend are available here.

8. iPods and your PC

The music files for your iPod are stored in two places: in your PC in the iTunes™ program, and in your iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose your hard drive or have to reformat, you will loose EVERYTHING contained in your iTunes™ folder, including all of the songs you have purchased from iTunes™. Furthermore, iTunes™ does not offer the means to re-download songs you have purchased for free. You will have to buy them again. Neither does the iPod come with a means to load files into a computer. Fortunately, there are software programs which allow you to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC or from one iPod to another. These programs are usually titled “iPod to PC”, or something similar. If your computer crashes, you will kick yourself for not having this program to restore your music files back into your computer.

IPod to PC programs we recommend are available here.

We hope you found this article helpful.

iPod Basics and Purchasing Guide

So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? Please take the time to read this brief article which will at best help you get the most out of your new iPod, and at the least, help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions. This article is written out of my personal experience with iPods.

1. What is an iPod?

An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. Basically, the MP4 format is a proprietary format only recognized by Apple products, such as iPods and QuickTime™. In order for music to play on an iPod, it must be in MP4 format. Apple’s music download site, iTunes™, offers music only in the MP4 format. The iTunes™ software which comes with an iPod will convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, so they will play on your iPod. An iPod will not play MP3 files, neither will Windows Media Player play MP4 files. Both the Nano and Video iPod will store and display photos, but a video iPod is needed to play video files.

2. What is iTunes?

® Apple hosts the world’s largest music download site called iTunes™. As of March 2006, over 1 billion files have been downloaded for use in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers music files for 99 cents each, and you need not download an entire album, but can select only the music files you want and download it into your computer. The iTunes™ software in your computer is the vehicle by which files are loaded into the iPod. Simply place your iPod into its dock (which is attached via USB to your computer), start iTunes™ and your iPod is updated automatically with new music, playlists, Podcasts and so forth. I have tried other music download sites and have not found any which I like as well as iTunes™, even though they may offer music cheaper than iTunes™. A basic search will locate alternative music download sites.

There are a variety of other files available on iTunes™ called Podcasts. These are audio or video files which include news broadcasts, informational programs, comedy programs and many others. The great majority of Podcasts are free, and others are not.

3. What You Get

iPods come with the following:

iPod with battery

Earphones (called “earbuds”)

A generic pouch for the earbuds

A docking station (to transfer files and charge the iPod)

iTunes™ software CD

Instruction manual

That is all.

4. What You will Need

Every iPod user will need a case, and we strongly recommend a screen protector.

Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) Video iPod are susceptible to scratching, and the black units seem to show scratches worse than the white ones. This is true of both the iPod housing AND the screen. Nothing is worse than having your iPod blemished with unsightly scratches, especially when it is easily avoidable by using a case and screen protector. Having your unprotected iPod floating around inside your purse or in your pocket will absolutely cause your iPod to quickly accumulate scratches both on the housing and on the screen. Be warned! This is not really a defect, but just the way it is.

5. Using iPods in your Car

Most people quickly realize that it would be great to be able to have their iPod play music through their car stereo. No longer would they have to mess with CDs or tapes. How many CDs would you have to carry to have your entire music library with you in the car? You can take it all in the palm of your hand with an iPod. So, how does one play music through their car stereo? There are several options.

First, there are cables available for most car stereos which plug into the iPod and the other end of the cable plugs into a port on the back of the stereo. Removal of the stereo is usually required to accomplish this task. Also, the wire used to connect your iPod is exposed. It does, however, sound great! Some car stereos have a line input on the faceplate. In this case, all one needs to do is use an adaptive cable from the headphone jack of the iPod to the input on the stereo. In both of these scenarios, the iPod will run on its internal battery unless a car charger is used as well.

Second, (and by far the most popular) method, is to use an FM transmitter to transmit a signal from your iPod to your FM radio and play it as if it were a radio station. There are a variety of FM transmitters from several manufacturers. We recommend using a unit which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod port. The plug-in units consume power from the iPod battery and seem to produce a weak signal resulting in poor audio quality. A docking unit (such as the Griffin RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in place, charges the iPod and produces a strong signal. The RoadTrip™ also features a removable FM module which allows it to plug into your computer. You can therefore listen to FM radio through your computer without having to install software.

6. Using iPods at Home

iPods can easily play through your home stereo. One can simply use an adaptive cable which plugs into the headphone jack of the iPod and into the stereo input of your stereo. In this setup, the iPod is operating on battery power unless the iPod is also plugged into a charger.

Docking your iPod is the preferred method, and there are a variety of docking solutions available. The iPod docks into a base which charges the iPod, and an output jack on the base connects the iPod to your stereo via a cable. Some units offer remote controls for your iPod and others do not, but often these remotes are weak and have very limited range and field of reception. We have found that some television or stereo programmable remote control units can be programmed to work with certain iPod docking systems, while others work partially or not at all. It is worth trying if you have a programmable remote.

Some docking units also have a video output for use with the 5G Video iPod, which allows one to watch videos or photos stored in the iPod on a television. We have found that the picture quality is poor on large screen televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. Using a dock with S-video output will provide a far superior picture than units using an RCA connector. As of now, iPods do not support high definition.

There are speaker systems which contain their own amplifier and operate as a stand-alone unit with an iPod. These are not all created equal. Our testing has found that a high price does not always equal high quality. We have found $150 systems which in our opinion sound significantly superior to $400 units. It is best to listen to the various systems before making your selection; or if buying online, follow the recommendations of the seller IF they have tested the systems and can provide you with recommendations based on testing results.

There are alarm clock radios (such as iHome™) which allow you to go to sleep listening to your iPod and wake up to it as well. We have tested the iHome™ and others, and found iHome™ to be our unit of choice.

7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod

When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it a high ranking on the “Dumb-O-Meter.” Who wants to watch a movie on a 2.5 inch screen? However, after having used one, I have recanted my original opinion. It is now my iPod of choice. Unfortunately, iTunes™ and other MP4 download sites usually have little to offer in the way of legal movies which are formatted to play on an iPod. ITunes™ does have some short films, music videos and television shows, but not much else.

An easy solution for this is to convert your own DVDs into a format that the iPod can play. This can be accomplished by means of a software product called a DVD to iPod converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo and others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD in your computer, start the converter program and let it convert the movie to iPod format. Then, move the converted file into your iTunes™ video list. The next time you dock your iPod to your computer, it will load into your iPod. Some converter programs will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV and other computer video formats for use on an iPod. This can allow you to convert your family videos and view them on your ipod. IPod movies are great for entertaining children on the road, for the business traveler stranded at an airport or for long airplane trips.

DVD converters we recommend are available here.

8. iPods and your PC

The music files for your iPod are stored in two places: in your PC in the iTunes™ program, and in your iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose your hard drive or have to reformat, you will loose EVERYTHING contained in your iTunes™ folder, including all of the songs you have purchased from iTunes™. Furthermore, iTunes™ does not offer the means to re-download songs you have purchased for free. You will have to buy them again. Neither does the iPod come with a means to load files into a computer. Fortunately, there are software programs which allow you to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC or from one iPod to another. These programs are usually titled “iPod to PC”, or something similar. If your computer crashes, you will kick yourself for not having this program to restore your music files back into your computer.

IPod to PC programs we recommend are available here.