This is the
iPod Cooked QA.
The first step of cooking is to sort some of the answers into the
questions bins
1. what is the ipod? is it a mp3 player ? is it a computer ?
The iPod fits the classic definition of a computer: it has
- a CPU processing unit
- a data store (both RAM and Disk)
- an input device (wheel, buttons, music instrument,
firewire, USB)
- an output device (earphones, display, firewire, USB)
It also has an iPod operating system, and well as
application software to play music files, manage media. rights, and other things.
The iPod can play a number of music formats.
- wav (?? aiff ??)
- Apple Lossless
- iTunes Music Store (protected AAC / m4p)
- iTunes Ripped AAC (unprotected AAC, selectable quality)
- iTunes Ripped mp3 (unprotected AAC, selectable quality)
- mp3 (unprotected mp3, selectable quality, ripped by your
favorite software)
Note: The exact list of formats depends on the model iPod. e.g. the
iPod shuffle doesn't support wav format.)
2. how do ipods and itunes interact
iTunes is the basic iPod management tool. It also carries the burden
of digital rights management. As such, iTunes makes
it very easy to put music onto your iPod legally, and very difficult to
do other things.
- how do you transfer mp3s from an ipod to a computer
- how many computers can i use with one ipod
- how many ipods can i connect to my computer
- how can i swap music from one ipod to another
- what is an authorized computer ?
- how do i authorize my computer
- how do i deauthorize a computer
- how can you steal music with the ipod
3. how do you use an ipod
- how does one use the ipod shuffle
- can the ipod shuffle store files as well as music
An iPod can be used to store data and/or music. When you are storing
data, the iPod acts as an externally attached disk drive. Initially,
your operating system will mount the disk drive normally. On a
Macintosh, a disk icon will be displayed on your desktop. On a windows
machine, the disk drive will be assigned a letter.
Once the operating system mounts the disk, it then passes along the
information to iTunes (if it's installed.) iTunes then starts up to do
music management.
- how does one connect the ipod to speakers so others can listen
along
- Easy way : If your radio or stereo has a minijack input, you
can connect the earphone plug from your ipod to the audio to the radio
directly -- this works for my $99 Tivoli radio. Just put the volume on
the iPod down so you don't blow out the input of the radio.
- Medium way : Griffin makes a small radio broadcaster that lets
your iPod broadcast to, for example, a car radio. About $30,
- Round-about way : The Apple Airport Express has a feature
called AirTunes that lets you connect your iPod to a PC, your PC to an
Airport Wireless Router, and then, the wireless router to a stereo.
About $110.
- Classy way : Several stereo manufacturers make iPod based
stereos. JBL and Bose come to mind.
- what is the best way to keep the earbuds from falling out of your
ears
- Easy way : buy the next more expensive model ear
phones such as the iPod In-Ear Headphones, about
$40.
- Better way : buy good headphones; the better the headphone, the
better the sound.
- Best way : Bose (noise canceling) headphones. About $400.
- can the iPod photo display .swf flash files? can support files be
found?
- how do i get music off an ipod
- how do i get it to sort by genre / artist, etc?
4. how is my ipod formatted
- can the ipod shuffle store files as well as music
- if i reformat my ipod, will i lose my music
- what is the difference between the PC and Mac iPods
- how do i change the name of my ipod
- is there anyway to add an input device for the ipod for monkeying
around
- how do i change the menu on my ipod.
- can i get wifi for my ipod
- how does the ipod work with air tunes
- can an ipod work with linux
- can i put linux on my ipod
5 care
- can you replace the battery on your own ?
- how volitile is the date stored on an ipod ?
- how fragile is an iPod to shaking, vibrations, impacts, etc?
- an iPod's battery life is somewhat short lived.
6. why are these so friggin popular
- i want an ipod
- why don't i have one?
- the u2 ipod is pretty
- the ipod can change your life
- apple makes iPods
- can store data and music
Here are the "answers" that people contributed ...
- iTunes synchs with iPods
- you can reset your ipod (...)
- you can diagnose your ipod
- there are issues with recovering DRM protected files (how can i
back them up)
- the ipod can change your life
- it plays many songs
- the u2 ipod is pretty
- i want an ipod
- know that iPods are an apple product
- know that they hold music and sometimes pictures
- know that it can be hooked up to iTunes
- my iPod is mini in size, so it's not big enough for my music
collection, which sucks.
- there is a lock on the ipod mini so when it's in my pocket i
don't accidentally change the song or shut it off.
- the earbuds tip muggers off. don't wear your earbuds in big
cities.
- you can manually fill your ipod with music by turning off the
automatic library update.
- there is an ipod preferences button at the bottom right corner of
the iTunes screen when your ipod is plugged in.
