IPods for DELI

From Acorn

After we created these instructions, Apple updated iTunes from version 6 to version 7. The screenshots below are from version 6. You will find the same options in iTunes 7, arranged slightly differently.

Contents

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Out of the Box Experience

1. iPods formatted for a Mac will not work on a PC, iPods formatted on a PC should work on a Mac (we are now testing this). If you have a personal Mac, format your iPod on it. If you have a personal PC, format your iPod on it. If you do not have a personal computer, you can use the computers in Shain Library in the ATL, Neff Lab, or PC Electronic Classroom or in the Language Lab. It is suggested you then format the iPod on a PC, as it can then be used on both Macs and PCs.

2. Before connecting your iPod to your computer, make sure you have the latest vesion of iTunes (7.0.2 on Nov 25, 2006) and QuickTime (7.1.4 on Nov. 25, 2006). If you are in doubt, there is no problem reinstalling them, and the two programs are always installed together. The installer is at http://www.apple.com/itunes/

3. The iPod will be formatted the first time you connect it to a computer. The following screen will come up, now your can name your iPod (the name can be changed later). Deselect both checkboxes, it's best to sync the iPod manually to iTunes.


After you click "Next" you will see this screen:

Our staff will register the iPods, so click Done. Registration is required in order to obtain technical and warrantee support from Apple.

You will then be taken to iTunes.

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Setting Up iTunes

The default settings are NOT the best for our purposes. In iTunes Preferences, select the iPod icon, then the Music tab. Following are the changes you should make, you cannot make them unless the iPod is connected to the computer.

First, deselect all "Automatic updates", and select "Manual management of songs and playlists".

Usually, it's best to have iTunes open when the iPod is attached, and make sure that "Enable disk use is checked". This will allow you to also use the iPod as an external storage hard drive. See the screen below for the correct settings (these are on a Mac, a PC will have similar options):


Second, select the iPod icon, and the Podcasts tab. Here again, it's best to manually manage all your podcasts, as shown below.

We won't show the iTunes, iPod preferences for the rest of the tabs: Photos, Videos, Contacts, and Calendars, but in each case, set the preferences to manual management and synchronization.


Third, select the Podcasts preferences icon, in the top row. The defaults, below, usually work well:

Clicking the "iPod Preferences" button takes you to the previous screen, which you have already configured.


Now configure the Sharing preferences. Below are the default:


The above settings allow you to listen to other computers' iTunes, that are on the same network, that have allowed sharing. If you want to share your own files, select "Share my music", as shown below.

You can share your entire library, or selected playlists, and password-protect your files. You can share your music with only five different users every day.


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Setting Up iTunes, Advanced Settings

These settings are found under the iPod Preferences, in the Advanced section.

Under General, you should enable the first two check boxes, as shown below:


The other options are fine also, all the above are usually the default, so you don't have to change anything.

The next Advanced Option, Importing, is really the heart of iTunes and the iPod. The audio you purchase from the iTunes Music Store (iTMS), and that you will usually receive and distribute, will be compressed. This reduces the file size by a factor of 10 or more, without significantly lowering its quality. There are many ways to compress audio, the settings below usually work best for stereo music, and should be kept as the default settings for iTunes:

If you ever change these settings for a specific purpose, you should restore them to the above when you are done. Music purchased from the iTMS is always at the above settings, changing them will not affect the purchases. The setting only affect music you import from CD, or convert later with iTunes.

For most purposes, the Advanced:Burning default options are fine.

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Good Practices

1. Always have a backup of everything that is important on your iPod.

  1. In iTunes, use the command File>Backup to Disc. You will be able to back up your entire iTunes Library, or selected items, to a writable CD or DVD.
  2. We will keep backups of anything distributed by faculty, please contact us if you need another copy.

2. If the "Do not disconnect" warning is displayed on the iPod, do NOT disconnect. Perform one of the following:

  1. In iTunes, in the left hand Source panel, select the iPod icon, and click on the up arrow next to it.
  2. In iTunes, in the left hand Source panel, select the iPod icon, and click on the eject arrow in the lower right panel of iTunes
  3. On a Mac or PC, if the iPod is mounted as a drive, eject it as you would any other drive

3. In iTunes, from the File menu, create Folders and Playlists, and use them to keep your media organized. Media can be dragged and copied from the Library or a playlist to any other playlist.

4. For more information on the iPod and iTunes, a good place to start is the Apple iPod 101 site, and the downloadable Apple iPod Manuals. The "iPod Features Guide" is the one for your video iPod.

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Trouble shooting

Generally, the steps to solve iPod problems involve the 5 Rs: Reset, Retry, Restart, Reinstall, and Restore.

  1. Reset your iPod. First slide the Hold switch to on, and then to off. Then press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.
  2. Retry your iPod with a different USB port on your computer.
  3. Restart your computer, and make sure that you have the latest software updates installed.
  4. Reinstall your iPod and iTunes software. Download the latest versions of iTunes from the Apple web site.
  5. Restore your iPod using the latest iPod Updater. Restoring an iPod will erase all songs and files on your iPod and set it to its original settings. After restoring, you can transfer your music and files from your computer back to your iPod again.

The iPod Updater is also used to convert an iPod between Mac and PC formats, and is available at http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/

More troubleshooting information can be found at http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/

In extreme cases, if you get the "white screen of death", putting the iPod into Disk Mode may fix it.

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Advanced Synchronization

If you have more than one iPod, give each one a different name. Each iPod can have its own iTunes preferences. Anything set in the iTunes lPod Preferences is saved in the corresponding iPod, not in iTunes. This is true for all options: Music, Podcasts, Photos, Videos, Contacts and Calendars. The iPod name can be changed by selecting it and editing it in iTunes.

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