iPod and iTunes Digital Field Guide

reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher

Author: Chad Fahs Wiley and Sons, Publishing 111 River Street Hoboken, NJ 07030 Booksite: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0764596799.html Released: October 2005. Pages: 240 $20 USD, $26 CND, £14 GBP,  18€ EUR ISBN: 0764596799 Strengths: Very visual oriented, comprehensive guide to iPod and iTunes. Field guide width is less wide then a textbook, which makes it easy to take with you in your laptop or briefcase. Includes information for setting and customizing an iPod, creating playlists (including smart playlists), recording music in non-MP3 format for better music appreciation. Full color beautiful screenshots and illustrations. Includes troubleshooting, choosing iPod accessories and much more. Great price. Those new to iPod and iTunes as well as those users who have used the hardware and software will find the booklet most useful as well. Weaknesses: Nothing.

The iPod music player started a revolution with portable music playing. iTunes  in addition, provides flexibility with importing  and exporting your music and enjoying your music. While quite easy to use, as each version of iTunes and iPod progressed, there was more to learn to use the hardware and the software, to the best for the user. But possibly some information will help you speed up the learning process, helping uncover many ways for using  iTunes and iPod. If so the excellent guide iPod and iTunes Digital Field Guide is a great resource.

This 240-page full color guidebook is written by Chad Fahs, is a certified Apple instructor, author of books for software and multimedia textbooks and in addition teaches college classes and consulting.  The breath and depth of his experience are amply displayed in the comprehensive manner in which the book has been written for teaching and learning about iPod and iTunes. Divided into 4 parts and 8 chapters, the book covers a full range of about iPod and iTunes topics. These are extremely well illustrated and informative. The red colored titles and other colored subtitles help to differentiate the parts of the text.  Use of black boldface headings in most paragraphs and the well-laid out text make this booklet a pleasure and easy to read. The colorful screenshots pertaining to the software, hardware and applications, are clear and sharp. The helpful text, takes the user through the information and learning process. While arrows and pointers are not use to highlight some of the screenshots, blue- highlights in many of the screenshots, emphasize the details highlighted.

Part 1, “Using the iPod”, has three chapters. The Chapter 1, “Exploring the iPod,” gives an insight into   the iPod and what it can do, Macintosh and Windows system requirements.  Chapter 2, “Setting Up the iPod,” shows how to start working with the device. Learn about battery use and charging it, setting up iPod Photo, transferring photos (on Mac and Windows) and connecting iPod photos with a television are discussed. Chapter 3, “iPod Basics and More,” gives information concerning the starting to work with the iPod.

Part 2, “Working with iPod Software,” investigates working with the software that is useful for working with the iPod or on your computer. Chapter 4 “iTunes Basics and More”, includes in-depth information on learning to use  iTunes. Learn about different type of audio formats, setting the set of 8  iTunes preferences, importing music from CD, working with CDTracks, and burning playlists.. Chapter 5, “ iTunes Music Store,” details how to import more music and this chapter shows you the way.

Part 3, “Getting the Most out of the iPod,” is most helpful for learning how to use your iPod to your full advantaged. In Chapter 7, “Special Tips and Techniques”, the iPod shows how it is very helpful for finding more information,  including finding and deleting songs, accessing and copying hidden files, backing up your music on DVD, working with  audiobooks and even how to create links and html in note files! Also learning to install iPod in your car, creating multimedia playlists for projects, capturing video , podcasting information and hacking your iPod with AppleScripts are all part of this chapter. Chapter 8, “iPod Maintenance and Troubleshooting”, is most helpful for keeping your iPod healthy and tuned up. Solving problems scanning the iPod drive, performing diagnostic tests are also included in this very useful chapter.

Part 4, the “Appendicies,”, has two parts;.Part A include “iPod and iTunes Resources,” while part B  has “Keyboard and Shortcuts”.

Beautifully written, this book is an in-depth guide that will help you with your iPod. Comprehensively written, this book is an impressive guidebook, especially for the price. I recommend this book for Macintosh and Windows iPod users. I recommend this book highly.