The Complete iTunes Guide

by Brad Larson  |  May 14, 2009

This new Guide aims to enhance a user's experience in using iTunes by offering valuable pieces of information plus some very useful tips and tricks. The guide is addressed both to the beginners and to the experienced users. The guide will comprise several “How To” articles, written in the most accessible manner, added along as we experience and test iTunes to the limits.                                                                                                                                                      

First of all I'll start by explaining exactly what iTunes does. Presented to the world in 2001, iTunes was developed as a software application meant to administrate the iPod's content: organize and play the musical, audio and video files. Moreover, if connected to the Internet, iTunes opens the door to infinite songs, games, videos, audio books, movies... and to much, much more, which awaits to be downloaded to the iPod.

iTunes is a free program and is compatible with the following operating systems: Mac OS X, Windows Vista and Windows XP. Although the newest version iTunes 8.1 has the iTunes Plus feature which allows all songs to be free of burn and to be played on a Mac or PC and copied over several multimedia gadgets, it permits music to be copied from the iPod to a Mac or PC, but only if that PC or Mac has a registered iTunes account. iTunes currently allows up to 5 computers to be authorized on one iTunes account, but you can not transfer imported music and video files between computers. So anyone might wish to backup his library, or transfer songs to another computer so he or she can restore playlists after a disk failure.

How to: Copy from iPod to Mac

Although Apple does not sustain such a practice, as it is in its detriment, more and more users find new ways to develop or access new softwares to facilitate the music, photo, video and even movie transfer from the iPod to a Mac or a PC and from the Mac or PC to the iPod. Some programs are both compatible with the iPod and iPhone. Practically, these programs / softwares are third party applications, without which such transfers would not be possible.

In order to transfer information from iPod to a Mac one should follow the basic steps:

1.The first step one should do is to check out the World Wide Web for trustworthy applications. Some  examples of applications are: “4Media” which is sold at a price of 29$ and allows also Mac to iPod transfer; “Senuti” - each license is sold for 18$ and includes the feature “Finding Songs” and “Playlists” - which reads and allows the transfer of playlists from the Mac to iPod; “iPodRip”; “YamiPod” and more other are to come.

2. After that, the chosen third party software needs to be installed on Mac.

3. Third step is to connect the iPod and start the program. In some cases the iPod / iPhone will be automatically recognized and the song transfer will begin.

As in the case of a Mac, also when it comes to transferring data from an iPod / iPhone to a PC, one needs a reliable third party application. The options are numerous and finding the right program can be problematic. Some examples are: a free option is - “Copy Toy” which is able to transfer audio and video files, plus playlists; for 19$ one can have the software “Music Rescue” - it also works fine on Mac; also don't forget about “4Media”.

The steps to follow are:

1. Download the third party software.

2. Connect the iPod to the PC with an Apple cable.

3. Select “No” when iTunes asks if you want to erase the iPod's content.

4. In the iTunes Preferences iPod Tab activate “Disk Use”.

5. Launch the third party application and select the directory in which you want to download the music.

6. Copy the desired songs, which will go in the selected directory.

Next articles in this series:

1. The Complete iTunes Guide
2. How To Fully Benefit from iTunes Preferences
3. Things you Can Do with your iPod and you Didn't Know

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