Customer Reviews

iPod & iTunes For Dummies, Book + DVD Bundle

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dummies books are well known for being well laid out, with large print and useful tips. While this one isn't as entertaining as the others I've read, it's well-written and clear about using iTunes and iPods in every possible way, from battery life to plug-ins to what you can legally share and how to do it. (It also covers the iPhone, AirTunes, and Apple TV, which I didn't read.) I was clueless about iTunes at the start (hence, getting this book), and now I'm using the program like I've had it for years.

The only fault of the book, and why I docked it a star, is how each section covers every media at once. The author says he wrote the book to be read from start to finish (though, as he says, you can easily skip about), but as soon as he tells you how to load songs off a CD, he doesn't tell you how to play them or sort them, but jumps right to adding audio books, subscribing to podcasts, updating podcasts, scheduling podcast updates, and adding videos. You start into it, and by the end you're either tired of reading the same actions or have gotten confused over all the new information 'cause you haven't yet played a single song yet. Also, when you do get to the chapter on Playing Content, they put the Party Shuffle playlist, including how to open it in a new window, four chapters before we're even told what a playlist is.

The Table of Contents is very clear and helpful in flipping about, but why not have one chapter that collects all the sections on podcasts, another for photos, and another for videos, rather than having them scattered through a dozen chapters?

But again, overall the book is easy to learn from and very in-depth. One really does need a good book to learn all iTunes and iPods can do, and just the DVD alone is a hundred times better than what you can learn from the iTunes Help section or the Apple site.

Note: The book covers iTunes 7.7, and the DVD is up to date with iTunes 8, with its annoying Genius feature.

The DVD

The 90-minute DVD covers all the basics, and it's very helpful to watch on your computer, since you can pause it, click over to iTunes, and carry out the same actions.

Once you get through the intro, which is basically a commercial for the DVD, you can click on Finding Your Way Around iTunes and get information you can start to use. The sections on Importing Music and Ripping from a CD are good, and the Managing, Searching, and Sorting sections are even better - right to the point.

I also like how they highlight sections of the screen when they want to show you something, but the small black arrow pointer could've been larger, and the iTunes screen they show you is slightly blurry in each section, which can get hard on the eyes after a while. Still, a very useful addition to the book.

Update: the Dummies website says the DVD was made to be watched on a TV, which would explain the lack of resolution. Also, it says you have to click on each title twice if viewing on a computer, but that's no problem.

Bonus Chapters

There's also five bonus chapters online, covering everything from earlier iPods, streaming radio stations, and using separate hard drives, which anyone can check out and will give you an idea of how the book is laid out. Just go to the Dummies website, search for iTunes, click on the 6th edition (not the 6th edition with DVD), and click on Bonus Chapters.

(Almost)

Finally, I was disappointed in the book/DVD's coverage of the AAC Import settings, and if you feel like reading the technical aspects of that, I've included it in my Comments.

The DVD didn't really get me excited, just limited info, but the book was great and covered all versions of the iPods as well as the iPhone. It's a lot easier to follow than Apple's instructions.

for Dummies(6th Edition)


Strengths: Covers about iPod, iPhone and Apple TV model available the latest version of iTunes. It's a good guide to begin with anywhere and find information in that section. There is a helpful front tear (cheat) sheet has information about shortcuts, visual icons target additional information, tips and techniques. Good breadth and depth of information. Last section is most useful for intermediate to advanced users but possibly before chapter 16 as well. There are also companion sites for bonus chapters. Five helpful bonus chapters are located at an alternate dummies website. Comes with 90 minutes step-by-step DVD with instructions concerning how to make the most of your iPod and iTunes. Music Match, PC iPod users may find the information about this application useful.

Weaknesses: Black and white, text and screenshots did not "brighten up the instruction". Too many words in places that don't show/ define the helpful information more easily ( some of these are nested inside the long paragraphs, in and around, Tips and Remember extra notes). Hierarchical shortcut methods would have been easier to notice and read if they were in bold face.

Novice/Intermediate/Advanced



Itunes and iPods have single handily changed and continue to change our thinking about music. This book is a guide to allow music lovers to "get up to speed " about hardware and software development Like many, I have used iTunes since it first came out. I am mainly interested in finding out helpful information about current development with the iTunes and other music developments that I did not know about.

The book includes 22 chapters which span a full range of ideas and information about iPod, iTunes and more. The author, a composer and touring musician, has written books related to computing, desktop publishing and multimedia including for Garageband and more. The main intent was to see if I could learn and more " pearls of wisdom".

There is a nice introduction ( interesting historical information about the first iTunes). Part 1 deals with setting up and working with media content while Part 2 focus is on managing your media content. Part 3 keys on the iPod but also now included the iPhone while while including Wifi information which continues to be be important to me and others. Part 4 includes iPod and Iphone and using these devices on the road. Part 5 outlines additional ways to work with your iPod while includes, "The part of Tens" ( information on problems, solutions and tips )about iPods, IPhones, Apple TV and web resources. The index includes Musicmatch Jukebox, managing the library while the bonus chapter 3, includes advanced Music match techniques.

Conclusions

This book is easy to read and provides much that is useful to beginners and intermediate users. The basics are well covered with helpful hints. But I did not see anything really enlightening in my case.
But the best part I6 found that might be most useful, were the chapters beyond 16: updating your iPod, iphone and Apple TV ; resetting an iPod touch or iphone; synchronizing personal info with your ipod and iPhone.

I'd recommend this book for someone who wants to update their knowledge about their home and multimedia, with iTunes and some of the other equipment. However much of this book looks like previous versions for the most part. If you don't' have an iPhone or iTouch, you won't use those two chapters near the end.
Loads of good information about wireless information, sound and music ideas including nice section about utilizing the equalizer, encoding audio, enhancing your music library, mobile iPod on the move and more. Ten iPod problems and solutions is well done. If you use the PC version of iPod and use Music Match to work with your iPod music library, this book also me helpful for you. If you have a PC, iPod and iTunes this may be most helpful.

All in all, this book is a good resource library for most who are starting with iPod and iTunes on a Mac or PC. But it just did not have enough new information for my particular needs. Most will find this version of this book helpful if they are first time readers of this guide. However if you are like me and don't have an iPod, iTouch or Apple TV player just the iTunes, you already may know most of the information. The bonus DVD did not give me more information that I already knew. Sometime extra multimedia can be over kill. But like I said, if you are still looking for added insights, especially if you are a new comer or have limited use of iTunes or just purchasing iPhone, iTouch, you may find the book and DVD more helpful then I did. It just did not have enough new information for me "even with the fluff".

I always thought I was tech savvy, but after getting a Touch and trying to set it up with my old cds, I found myself struggling. This book helped me get my head wrapped around the concepts of iTunes and the iPod. I'm still having problems ripping cds, especially compilations or collections and it hasn't answered that issue. I still have multiple albums in my library that hold the songs of an individual artist on a compilation album and I can't seem to get them back together under one album. Its a minor frustration so far. As a general primer for someone trying to learn the iTunes and iPod universe it does a fine job.

Apples help function reminds me of when personal computers came out in the 80's and you had to be a computer engineer to understand the user manual. These books are written for more than dummies and are very helpful.

VERY disappointed in this book. Thought it would be a better reference book to learn more than the basics of the iPod. Doesn't help me there. And the DVD...ha. What a joke.

item was received ahead of expected date, very well packed and in good condition. thank you for your attention to this order.

One very important piece of information is missing from this book, and it should be a caveat printed on every page: "Apple only allows ONE WAY to accomplish any task. There is no flexibility." If the book had provided this at the beginning, the information in it would have been a lot more helpful. Only after I figured out Apple's inflexibility was I able to apply lessons offered in the book.

Very little help. I learned just as much just playing around on ITunes and making mistakes. The DVD was a little better.