Introduction

Like the arrival of the Sony Walkman, which revolutionized the personal listening experience, Apple's introduction of the iPod in the fall of 2001 caught the world's ear. "With iPod, listening to music will never be the same again," intoned Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. But even outside the Hyperbolic Chamber, the iPod was different enough to get attention. People noticed it, and more importantly, bought it.

If you're reading this book, odds are you're one of these folks. Or maybe you've just upgraded to a new iPod—Classic, Nano, Shuffle, or Touch—and want to learn about all the new features. In any case, welcome aboard!

With today's iPods, you can watch Hollywood feature films and TV shows, play popular video games, display gorgeous full-color photos, and look up personal phone numbers. If you have an iPod Touch, you can also surf the Web, buy music wirelessly, and spend hours exploring the wonders of YouTube with no bulky computer necessary. You can quickly find out how to do all of that within these pages—and also learn everything you need to know about iTunes, the iPod's desktop software companion.

Three iPods can play video now: the latest Nanos, the Classic, and especially the smooth, sleek iPod Touch in all its widescreen glory. And all models still crank out the music—including the tiny clip-on iPod Shuffle, the loudest lapel pin on the market. But no matter which iPod you have, it's time to load it up with the music and other stuff that's important to you. Even the smallest model can hold hundreds of songs and play the Soundtrack of Your Life in any order you'd like.

Steve Jobs was right about the iPod. Things just haven't been the same since.