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iTunes + iPod
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Links open in a new window for convenience
Much has changed in the music world since I started my first web page dedicated to MP3 on 31 December 1999. You can still find my original introduction to digital music and the annoucement of the initial launch of iTunes at MP3 - iTunes.
You will no doubt notice that I was very enthused about digital music, comparing it to the vinyl records we listened to only a few years before, while CDs eventually became the medium of choice, largely due to better sound quality, physical format and ease of storage/use -- I described several digital players which one could download for free on the Internet and listen to webcasts of just about anything from anywhere in the world, from local news to international sports, from the golden oldies to the top 10, trance, house, rap, country, folk to the tango and classical music. The players have changed a lot since then, and the increased interest in online music and creating a virtual play list has sparked a renaissance in music circles, young and old alike, as well as legal battles in which the industry attempted to control illegal downloads, but that is another story which I am sure you all know.
Then, on 8 January 2001, at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, Steve Jobs announced the new Mac operating system, OSX, as well as an entirely new music app, iTunes, which was immediately available as an online download. Right after his keynote address was when I got my start with iTunes, and a year later a friend surprised me with an iPod for Christmas.
I do not want to get into the technical specs of the iPod, as those who are interested in these details can find that information elsewhere, through, what I call, a Giggle search -- or at the handy iPod related links, below. I just think it might be useful to highlight some of the current features of the Apple iTunes Music Store and its associated iPod for the beginner -- either a PC or Mac user who has not yet tried the iTunes app. It is totally FREE, and may be used offline for an astounding number of things.
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OK, so you have seen the TV ads -- I don't have a TV at home, but a week ago when I went to a friend's place to do some laundry, I snuck in some viewing while I was waiting, and the first thing that came on was this fabulous iTunes / iPod commercial! Online friends have been raving about it since it first appeared, but actually seeing it rocked! The corresponding posters and billboards are known worldwide, and have even been imitated Your curiosity gets the best of you and
click on my link, above -- assuming that you do not already have
the iTunes application program loaded on your computer, the link
will take you to the download site -- |
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if you already have iTunes on your computer, my link, above, will take you directly to the iTunes Music Store and you can browse and sample selections all day long -- it is very addictive! it actually loads right on the neato screen of your iTunes player! Here you can see a screen shot of my iTunes player as it loads, with my personal playlists listed on the left -- |
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in a flash, the Store appears, and what you now have in front of you is a wonderous vast selection of audio visual options to choose from -- search over a million vocal and instrumental tracks by type of music, recording artist, see the most downloaded iTunes and albums, check out the latest Billboard charts, , the playlists of the artists themselves, check out more than 8,000 audiobooks, watch music videos and movie trailers, find popular public radio programs -- and much more every Tuesday the Store offers a new weekly selection as a FREE download |
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the day I started planning this page it was Marc Broussard, so I naturally downloaded it for free -- another mega kewl option allows you to download the album cover graphics right onto your player screen, and it appears when playing that artist's tune even when you are offline! As you continue reading down, you will see the album cover that I got with this selection -- |
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little did any of us imagine or hallucinate, years ago, what this revolution in personal computers would offer us so many levels of knowledge and entertainment -- and the not too distant future will offer yet more surprises -- incidently, all of the pics in this section are screen shots which I took automatically with the click of a couple keys, right from my eMac monitor desktop. I already mentioned audioBooks, in passing -- now this is another perk to give you an incentive to actively make use of the iTunes Music Store -- let's say you are making dinner in the kitchen, or working in the garden -- listen to a favorite book, or a new one being read, perhaps, by its author while you slave away! Bill Clinton's recent best seller is there, read by him! Some online friends of mine play the audioBooks in the car or van for their kids when they are travelling away from home -- it keeps the little dears quiet on those long trips, while they listen to something they have an interest in -- here you can find Beatrtix Potter classics, as well as Disney storytellers -- and innumerable soundtracks galore -- you will have the kiddys intently listening or singing for hours, instead of constantly asking, "are we there yet?" -- with iTunes loaded on your laptop, you have instant access to any of these options, where ever you happen to be |
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some of the other personalized options include those shown on the left -- the Allowance link allows you to set up a monthly dollar amount for your son or daughter who may be away at college, which may be redeemed for the iTunes products of their choosing -- and the Gift Certificate sure beats getting or giving another ugly tie or blouse that the receiver will never wear! isn't it nice to find the support link readily available? On many other web sites, it is virtually impossible to find! about the only thing missing from the iTunes Music Store is an iKarioke option, allowing us to sing along to the original words of the tune! |
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OK, so you are now offline and boot your iTunes app -- this is my iTunes player screen showing the album cover for the FREE iTune of the week that I downloaded -- all of the accompanying information about the track is also added automatically -- as a matter of fact, when you load your own CDs while you are online, you automatically get the tracks on the CD as well as other data from the iTunes database, which saves you loads of time from typing it all in yourself! You can add some personal dats, also, such as how you rate the tune, where you obtained it and when, and anything else you might like to add -- so now you have seen some of the simple basics of the iTunes music app and the iTunes Music Store, and you think that getting an iPod might be your next big step -- DO IT! |
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the iPod is a miniature hard drive based player, unlike some which use a memory card or stick -- there are several hard drive capacities available, as well as different colors, which are really kewl -- they all have a buffer, which means that you can even wear the iPod on your belt while jogging or exercising, and it won't skip a beat while listening to your playlist! the scroll wheel is extremely handy to use in navigating among your hundreds of tracks, and it can be done with a single finger, even while driving (although I do not recommend it) -- it can be used as a backup for text and spreadsheet files and folders taken from the office to home to work on, or even as an emergency reboot disk for your computer -- many colleges are giving incoming freshmen an iPod to use for recording lectures, taking spoken notes, organizing personal files and data, and, of course, for their music interests -- I could use it as backup for the hundreds of html text and photo files in this web site! |
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when you are away from home taking digital photos with your camera, the pics may be stashed on the iPod to clear your Flash Card for another batch of pictures Motorola has teamed up with Apple to include iTunes on their next generation of cell phones, and Hewlett-Packard has a license to produce the iPod under its own brand name -- rumor has it that other companies may follow the example of H-P |
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few of us may drive a BMW, but the iPod has been incorporated in a central, driver accessable mount for use as a car stereo unit in some of their latest models -- Volkswagon has done the same thing, and there are accessories which allow the iPod to also function as a radio receiver while on the road at home or in the office, the iPod may be connected to the stereo system, and DJs are using them as the main source of music for clubs and special occasions such as wedding receptions, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, etc. now comes another fabulous option |
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computers and related electronic equipment connected together in what they call a network usually causes an actopus-like maze of wired connections which can be unsightly, and a confusing mess to figure out what is connected to what and where -- WiFi is changing that -- with AirPort Express you can link the contents of your iPod wirelessly with your home computer and stereo system! You do not have to rewire your entire house to listen to ambiental music anywhere in your home or office -- this is what Apple has to say about it -- Enjoy your iTunes music library in virtually any room of your house. Share a single broadband Internet connection and USB printer without inconvenient and obtrusive cables. Create an instant wireless network on the go. Extend the range of your current wireless network. How many devices do you need to do all this? Just one. It fits in the palm of your hand, and easily stashes in a briefcase with your laptop when travelling -- it needs no complicated setup procedure, it just works right out of the box, as does all of Apple's ground breaking and innovative technology! |
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while surfing online one sees many ads by companies whose products are unrelated to technology, offering iPods as prizes or bonuses for those who buy their wares -- whether they are selling flowers or offering news and information about whatever, you can try to click a button that changes colors, attempt to smack Mario or join a buyer's club or something -- they are all getting in on the popularity of the iPod -- hey, so you like great ice cream, no? Just about everybody does -- well Ben & Jerry's was actively promoting voting in the 2004 American Presidential elections, and when you signed up to take the oath to vote in November, you were automatically entered in their iPod giveaway offer! many college bookshops offer sizable discounts if the student purchases an Apple laptop or desktop and an iPod -- that, in addition to the usual student discount, helps make the purchase even more worthwhile and affordable! Apple started an iTunes Affiliate program just before the Labor Day holiday (September 2004), for web sites to be reseller providers of these exceptional iTunes Music Store services |
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if you find that this web page has been informative and has helped you in some way, please find it in your heart to click my eBay seller link, below -- I always try to list unusual items throughout the year at low opening bids
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I have included some useful iPod related links for those who may like to see what else can be done with them
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Turn Your LPs or Cassettes into CDs - |
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iPodFrance - |
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iPodSurfer - |
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iPoding - |
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iPod Daily - |
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iPod Hacks - |
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MP3 - iPod to Mac - |
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Questions
and comments may be emailed to the editor of Apple Bytes at 
Editor/Webmaster - Sonny
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COPYRIGHT © 2002 - 2007 by *
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-- once installed
on your computer, you can immediately begin loading your favorite
music from your CD collection and organize them into your own
different folders according to kind of music or whatever
-->> 
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G5
iMac, the perfect
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