iPod and iTunes 2009

The latest version of Apple’s do-everything media program is iTunes 9. 

A quick tour: Status field, Volume and Song Navigation controls. The left pane is the source list. Buttons along the bottom are + for new Playlist, Shuffle, Repeat and Show Album Art. Click the green grow button to make the iTunes window smaller. View items as List, Grid or Coverflow. In list view click the triangle next to Name to see album art for each entry.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/tutorials/ - video-jukebox

 (Play iTunes Player Tutorials: Explore the iTunes Player)

 The iTunes Music folder can be placed in the Shared folder on a Mac so that all user accounts on that Mac can share the same music library. Version 9 of iTunes enhances home network sharing.

Ripping a CD means converting its recording into digital files on the computer. Before ripping, open the iTunes Preferences. Choose AAC because it has a big sound with a small file size. It is even better than mp3. AIFF is the usual audio format, and these files are large and have a big full sound.

 After ripping a CD, get song titles and other information online. Get CD Track Names from the CD database maintained by www,gracenotes.com. Play a song by double-clicking it. All subsequent checked songs will play in order. Click the repeat button to have continuous music. Click the shuffle button to hear the checked songs in random order.

Create a new playlist by clicking the + Button. Re-name it and drag songs into it. Before clicking the burn button, go to iTunes Preferences. Choose audio CD and the songs are burned in the big AIFF format. Choose mp3 and more songs will fit on the CD. The Data CD or DVD setting is for burning a backup of the iTunes files, not for listening. Assemble your own greatest hits playlist and burn it. Remember to place a checkmark next to all the songs to be burned.

The iTunes application can serve as a repository for your video collection. Use HandBrake to copy your own videos to an MP4 file. Add this file to the Movies section of the iTunes library. Sync the movies to your iPod for viewing on the go. Get HandBrake here: HandBrake.webloc

(Play iTunes Store Tutorials: Explore the iTunes Store)

Visit the iTunes Store. The categories include Music, Movies, TV Shows, Music Videos, Audiobooks, Podcasts, iPod Games and iTunes Latino. Log in with your email address and password. Search for the artist Mat Maher. Singles, albums and apps are offered. Purchased Music goes into the Purchased playlist. Remember to burn a CD of your purchased music.

If your hard drive fails, Apple won’t let you re-download the songs because of data loss. Also, don’t sync your iPod when your iTunes library is empty because of a hard drive failure. All your songs on the iPod will disappear. Songs only go one way, from the computer to the iPod. Use another program called iPod viewer to restore the songs from the iPod to the computer.

Since iTunes 7.3 it is possible to transfer purchased content from your iPod to your computer. Connect up the iPod to the computer with the empty library, and you are presented with two options: Erase and Sync. Don’t to this or the iPod will be synced with an empty library. The other option is what you want, Transfer Purchases. You can play the purchased content only if the computer is authorized to play content purchased with your iTunes account. Only 5 computers can be authorized for each iTunes account.

(Play iTunes Player Tutorials: Sync to iPod Tutorial)

Connect the iPod to the Mac. In iTunes select the iPod in the source list. Click the iPod button in to bottom of the iTunes window. This is the iPod Preference box. Here you may choose to update only selected playlists. Check the box to Enable Disk Use, and the iPod functions as a portable hard drive to carry files from home to work. Drag and drop files onto the iPod window with the iPod selected in the source list.

(Play Sync your iPod or iPhone Tutorial)

When an iPod misbehaves, Apple has instructions for the 5 R’s for troubleshooting iPod problems. They are Reset, Retry, Restart, Reinstall, and Restore. In iTunes under Help drag down to iPod Help.

(Play Movie: Troubleshoot_iPod)

(Play iTouch Guided tour Movie)

Invite members to tell how they use their iPods. Include demonstrating Jack’s iPod connected to the video projector.

In conclusion, iTunes 9 is compatible with OS X 10.4.11 or later and QuickTime 7.6 or later. It is free from Apple.com.

(Play iTunes 9 Tutorial)