John Hesch

Santa was nice to me this year and brought a 30 gig Video iPod for Christmas. This is my first iPod and so I’m pretty excited. One of the first things I noticed is how minimalistic the iPod controls are. Pretty cool, but takes a little getting used to. The other thing I noticed is Apple doesn’t provide much instruction on how to use the iPod so I went looking for cool iPod stuff on the Internet.

I’ll try to remember to pass along the cool stuff I find.

First stop is a support section of the Apple website called iPod 101. It’s a series of tutorials explaining everything you want to know about operating an iPod. Here are some of the topics.

• iPod Anatomy - If you’re just starting out, these beginner courses introduce you to the physical side of iPod, as well as its innards (in the software sense). Discover all the wonderful things you can press, plug, scroll, and slide while navigating your iPod controls and menus. Plus, learn how to charge the battery and update your iPod and iTunes software.
• Crank Up the Tunes - Ready to put your ’Pod into play? These lessons introduce you to iTunes and show you how to fill your iPod with songs, podcasts, and audiobooks. Learn how to sync iPod with iTunes, play audio files, create playlists, subscribe to podcasts, add album art and information, rip music from CDs, set preferences, and more.
• I Need More Music - If your collection of CDs and music downloads just won’t do, you can shop for more music, purchase music videos and TV shows, and buy audiobooks from the iTunes Music Store—and you don’t even have to change out of your jammies to do it! Get the complete tour of the Music Store, find exclusive stuff, download free tunes, and more.
• Show Me My Photos and Videos - If you have an iPod with a color screen, you can load up your portable player with your own pretty pictures—even videos on certain iPods. These lessons show you how to sync your photos and videos to your iPod, view images and videos on your iPod, and even show them off on your TV.
• Maximize My Experience - iPod is more than a digital music player. You can put it to use as a portable disk drive and personal data assistant (if your iPod has a display). Find out how to sync contacts and calendars, play games, use the stopwatch, set clocks in multiple cities, and add notes. And for all iPod owners, learn how to optimize your iPod battery life.
• My iPod is Sad (or Alarmed) - Sometimes things don’t go quite the way you planned. Sad iPods, exclamation point-stamped folders, or even your computer’s refusal to acknowledge your iPod’s existence can drive anyone nuts. For those times, this section will help you troubleshoot common issues and dispense tips to keep you and your iPod happy.

If you’re new to the whole iPod experience be sure to check the iPod 101 site out.