The iPod is a great way to listen to your music while you're on the go.
listening music image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com
The iPod is one of the most popular MP3 players on the market and its seamless integration with other Apple products makes it a great choice for many people to enjoy their favorite music. If you have an iPod or if you are thinking about getting one, you should be aware of some the player's key features.
How Can I Get Music on My iPod?
The most common way to get music on your iPod is to sync the device with your computer. Additionally, the iPod Touch allows you to directly purchase and download music from the iTunes online store. Syncing with your computer requires the iTunes app on your computer. Downloading music from the iTunes store requires your iPod Touch to be wirelessly connected.
How Do I Sync My iPod With My Computer?
You can sync music to your iPod using iTunes, which is available for both Mac and PC. If you have music that doesn't contain digital rights management (DRM) protection, you can sync the music with as many iPods as you want. If you have DRM-protected music, you can "authorize" iTunes on that computer and then sync it with as many iPods as you want. Unfortunately, you cannot use most other media players, like Windows Media Player, to sync with an iPod.
What Type of Music Files Can My iPod Play?
The iPod is compatible with AAC, MP3, WAV and AIFF file formats. Note that AIFF is a format used almost exclusively on Mac computers. Of course, iTunes automatically uses file formats compatible with the iPod, so when you sync with iTunes, your iPod will automatically be able to play your music files.
Can I Sync Music From My Mac and From My PC?
You can sync music from a Mac and a PC under some circumstances. The iPod is compatible with Macs as well as PCs, so you can certainly sync music using iTunes on either type of computer. However, the iPod's data must be in the correct format for a Mac or a PC, so if you sync your iPod with one, you'll have to "restore" the iPod to use it with the other type of computer, which deletes all data on the iPod. In other words, if you sync with a Mac, you can't sync with a PC without first restoring the iPod and vice-versa. The only exception is the iPod Shuffle when using Windows FAT32 formatting, which is compatible with Mac iTunes.
How Much Music Can I Get on My iPod?
The amount of music you can store on your iPod will depend on the capacity of your iPod and the sound quality of the music files. One of the most common qualities for MP3 files is 128 kilobits per second, which offers good quality sound for most needs. At that rate, you will get about 250 four-minute songs per gigabyte of storage. If you use 160 kilobits per second, which is essentially CD-quality, you'll get about 200 four-minute songs per gigabyte.
What Adjustments Can I Make to the Music Quality?
You can use an equalizer to change the feel of the music. The iPod has over 20 presets for its equalizer, so you can easily find one that fits the type of music you like and the type of sound you like. Another option is to standardize the volume of your songs. Often, recordings are made at very different volumes, especially from album to album, and this can lead to abruptly loud or soft music on your iPod. You can use the "Sound Check" option to keep the music volume uniform.
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Photo Credits
- listening music image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com
