This is the perfect handbook for all iPod and iTunes users, from the absolute and utter novice to the hippest technology buff. Covering everything from the history of the iPod's development, to case studies of how people have successfully used iPods to further their careers, to how to use your iPod for PowerPoint presentation, its all here in a clear, easy-to-use and understandable format.

The first section of the book explains the history and development of the iPod, its meteoric rise in popularity, and the many manifestations the iPod has had along the way to becoming the world's number 1 selling digital music player and the forerunner of the portable multimedia revolution.

While fascinating, I suspect most readers will flip right past this section to the nuts and bolts of the book which begins in Section 2, The Basics of Your iPod. For initiates into the digital world, this section is solid gold: not only does Bradford cover how to use the click wheel and how to turn the iPod on and off, he explains in detail how to navigate the iPod's display menus and screens. Each submenu of the main menus are listed are discussed. Section 3, 4, and 5 explain iTunes--what it is, how it can be used and what you can do with it. You'll learn to how to use iTunes with an iPod or computer, how to backup music from your hard drive or CD, how to sync content from iTunes software to your iPod, and how to compile smart playlists and burn CDs.

The final sections of the book cover every aspect of working with iPod photo and iPod video, how to create your own podcasts, iPod games, and even includes an extensive list of iPod accessories. All of the instructions are written in a plain, numbered format and are light years better than the tiny booklet that comes with your iPod. In fact, this handbook is probably the best way to get the most out of your iPod and iTunes experience.

A few months ago, I was interviewed about how I use my iPod. Of course, I use it for listening to music, but that is not the primary reason I got one. I wanted an iPod so I could listen to my writing podcast on the go.

I answered Contel's interview questions via email and thought no more of it. This week I went to my mailbox and found a book: The iPod & iTunes Handbook by Contel Bradford. At first, I thought it was a book from a guest who was asking to appear on my podcast. After opening the package I was confused for a moment. I had not had a recent query from the author of that book. Then, it dawned on me. This is the book that I gave an interview for. Not only did Contel give my full response, but book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about using an iPod or downloading from iTunes.

I have a MacBook and a PC. One day I was using the PC and my husband was using the MacBook to download songs from iTunes. Later he wanted to transfer them to my iPod for a trip we were about to make. Big problem. Neither of us could figure out how to get the purchased songs from the Mac onto the iPod without erasing everything I already had on the iPod during the sync. Guess what? How to manually sync only certain songs is described on pages 76-77 in Contel's book!

From the basics of how to turn off or unfreeze your iPod to tips and tricks about changing the album art, this book contains it all. It even includes a detailed history of how the iPod and iTunes came into existence and the features available on each model.

I really appreciate the chance to be featured in the book along with many of my writing friends, but I also know I will be using this book as a much-needed reference manual.

Mr. Contel Bradford's The iPod and iTunes Handbook is a bold attempt at exploring the portable multimedia currently making waves in our world. The advent of iPod and iTunes has undoubtedly re-engineered the way we enjoy and exchange music, videos and other files.
The Handbook explicitly gives comprehensive information on iPod: which includes iPod history; how it works; viewing photos on iPod; playing audiobooks on iPod; leaving voice memos on iPod and other iPod functionalities and iPod accessories. Step-by-step instructions on iTunes installation, downloading and accessing are all presented in a way that it makes it easy for anyone to play and enjoy music and videos. You could find how to legally share music, and how you could rip or burn your CDs.
This Handbook should be a companion to anyone who cares about the enchantment of music. In it, there is a goldmine of practical information on multimedia in general.

"The iPod and iTunes Handbook"

I have owned an iPod for about a year now, and was really surprised at how helpful this guide was! I am competent (maybe not efficient though!) at getting music onto my iPod, but there is so much more you can do! If you want to know all the ins and outs of your iPod this is the guide for you!
This book provides so many tips to get your iPod performing its best. iPod radio wasn't a function I used much before reading this guide. Now I do because it showed me how to add radio stations through iTunes that did not appear on the iPod. There is good music to be found aside from mainstream pop using this feature.
If you have never listened to or viewed a podcast, but are curious this book is very informative. Comedy Central and the New York times both have some very good podcasts, and this guide shows you exactly how to get them. The best part...they are all free!
This book teaches you how to share your music and access shared music, it explains how to load photo and video (even home video for Mac and Windows), how to create slide shows, and how to run the slide show on your TV, it explains how to manually and automatically sync all media formats to your iPod, how to use audio books, how to rip audio books from cassette to iPod, how to set and use your equalizer, how to download and play games (including cheats), how to use sleep timers and alarms, how to record and use voice memos, how to use your iPod as a hard drive, and more! It gives tips and tricks for everything!
If you want to do everything possible with your iPod and iTunes, this book is a wonderful resource!

The way we listen to music has evolved over the years from great clunky phonographs that, whatever their charm to some people, forced listening to be a major operation and rigidly communal, all the way to the intimate, private, and portable iPod. The world is in love with iPods--small, streamlined, even stylish. But for some of us, those of us not members of the thumbs generation, for whom "backlight" brings to mind more of the theater than of a small cellphone or iPod screen, the job of managing this simple modern convenience remains all but impossible.

Our iPods come with manuals and "help" features with their software--but the more intricate, and sometimes even the most simple, operations remain opaque to some of us. What is a shuffle? How does one get a film from a DVD into an iPod? You can record on an iPod?! How does it work with iTunes?

In this extremely easy-to-follow book, these questions and many more are comprehensively answered. This book contains information for everyone--it assumes nothing, so that my Grandpa who still can't figure out how to turn his iPod on could profit just as much as my cousin, who uses hers every day but needs some advanced tips on getting the most out of it with the calendar and voice memo features. Divided into short chapters and prefaced by a clear and simple table of contents, this book is eminently navigable, useful as a reference work when you have an emergency--for example when your iPod freezes--but it is also incrementally written so that by reading it straight through you will not feel like you are reading the dictionary but like you are gradually learning a subject.

Even apart from these obvious benefits of utility, the beginning of this book--a history of the iPod--makes a good read. It's a success story, but not just that--it chronicles the rise of digital music and also the pitfalls of legality and music sharing that come together in the history of this device. The iPod is a fundamental part of our culture not merely as an icon and ubiquitous commodity, but as a rally point for some of the most violent debates about commerce, copyright and the music industry.

This book will open the world of iPod for the first time to some people and open it further for others. It is useful for almost anyone--and absolutely necessary for my Grandpa.

I give it a five.

The iPod and iTunes Hanbook is very comprehensive, clean, and well-structured. Bradford's narrative procedure allows the reader to feel comfortable with the technology. Providing step-by-step instructions in this narrative form entices the reader, thus providing them with vital information in regards to "how to" operate their iPod and iTunes software. The beginning starts with a brief, yet extensive history to the creation of the iPod/iTunes mania throughout the various generations--both for Apple and for the customer. The discussion of many of the features un-utilized by the average American is useful information for those customers who are looking to get the full use of their iPod or iTunes, especially with the newer generations of the iPod, including videos.

The best feature is the case studies throughout. They inspire the reader to want to learn how to really use their iTunes/iPod to their advantage, especially as a freelancer--writer, poet, etc. The generation of the iPod/iTunes has taken over the market and is expanding. The text reflects this well by mentioning Apple's continued development, but also notes that Apple shouldn't "fix/change something that is broken," unlike its counterpart--Microsoft.

Chapter 10 seems like a great idea to explore "what else is out there" for the iPod generation; though slightly misplaced, I'd suggest this chapter to be moved to the end of the text. It's not as interesting to the reader as the "Tips and Tricks" (Chapter 13) chapter--which most American teenagers would enjoy--explaining the expanding electronic/internet world, including using "YouTube on Your iPod."

Overall, if you're looking for a handbook to demonstrate the essentials of your "i" generation or teach you something new, this book has it!