Customer Reviews

iPod and iTunes Hacks: Tips and Tools for Ripping, Mixing and Burning

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The hacks books are all about unique recipes and solutions for technologies, in this case, primarily the iPod. This book almost takes it a little too far. In particular I found the authors fifteen page step-by-step instruction on building a car console mount for an iPod. The other hacks are a bit more practical; using an iPod with Linux, streaming audio to an iPod, reading text on an iPod, replacing an iPod battery or using the iPod as a voice recording.

It's not just about the iPod. The book also has 50 hacks for iTunes. Including fun ones like putting album covers on your desktop, using the visualizer as a screen saver, and scripting iTunes with Applescript.

Despite the fifteen pages on building an iPod console the book is well worth the money for experienced hackers who want cool ideas for iTunes and the iPod.

I am really enjoying this book. It's a breezy romp through a lot of different technology all in some way connected to novel uses of the iPod. Many of the articles are simply features or aspects of using the iPod or iTunes that simply may not have been apparent. My personal favorites are the ones where the iPod is used with something else. Though I don't own a BMW nor do I have the inclination to fabricate fiberglass, it was fun to see how you integrate your iPod to a BMW, including its onboard computer and electrical system. Booting linux on an iPod is almost a punk gesture, one that you might not consider especially useful, but seeing how it has been accomplished is half the fun.

Its also a book about reverse engineering using the iPod as the center of several case histories. What is interesting is not just what you can do with an iPod but how you find out for yourself.

By all means buy this book if you want to twist your iPod(s) (you may need a few to explore it all) but ... even if you want to do nothing and just live vicariously through others accomplishments, buy it anyway.

I did find it really hard to play my iPod (which I enjoy doing while I read) and also to play with my iPod, something the book constantly challenged me to do. So, that's another reason to get two ... so you can listen to music on one and hack the other. Lots and lots of fun.

From "Importing Lyrics into iTunes and iPod" (#53) to "Install Your iPod in Your Car, Permanently" (#11). Plenty of things to tweak and try. If you like to tinker, pull things apart, or generally prefer to live outside the mainstream - you'll love this book.

Besides, who wouldn't want a book that contains the phrase, "Before I get into the specifics ... this hack is illegal." (#6)

I flipped through this in a local bookstore recently while trying to kill some time waiting for my girlfriend. Like most hack books this book contains a collection of some simple, obvious hacks and some that are slightly more complex. Most if not all of these can probably be found by doing a few targeted searches on the web or digging through news groups but the convenience of having it all in one bound book at your fingertips is probably worth the price. This book covers hacks for Mac, Win and Linux with the bulk of the "good" hacks for Mac only thanks to AppleScripts.

So far I have really enjoyed the "Hacks" series from O'Reilly, and without a doubt this book is no exception. For those who increasingly find that the Apple iPod has in someway changed their lives for the better, this book is a great companion to the iPod. 100 tips, tricks, and interesting projects to give the user, developer, or hacker in all of us the edge on how to tweak the most out of our favorite portable device. If you love your iPod (or if have recently purchased your very own) like I do, you should check this book out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

After the first few titles, the "Hacks" series quickly deterioriated. "iPodf & iTunes Hacks" is evidence of this deterioriation. There is no content of value here unless you are seriously obsessed with your iPod and your Macintosh. Yes, Macintosh. There is virtually nothing in here for the Windows user, although Windows has better than a 95% marketshare. Get the idea that this book is intended for serious Mac zealots? The author(s) make it crystal clear with numerous uncomplimentary remarks about Windows and Windows users along the "you're dumb if you don't use a Mac" vein. So better than 95% of the market is dumb . . . The book has a 2005 copyright, so the Windows version of iTunes was available, it was just ignored.

The author(s) (the volume is a compendium of attributed entries)were obviously desperate for content. Four pages are given over to iTunes Keyboard Shortcuts, something you can find in the iTunes help file. Fourteen pages are devoted to spending $400 - $500 on building from scratch a plastic center console for your car to hold your iPod. (The cost is for materials only: considering that you have to create a mold and so forth, the labor component would be considerable.) One the key components is an Apple logo decal. You can see this book is for people with a very peculiar mindset.

Other hacks are of equally dubious value, such as the one that shows you how to "clutter your desktop with click-to-play album covers from your iTunes library." Many of the so-called hacks are nothing more than referrals to third-party software which isn't free.

The devoted Macintosh fanatic, the kind of person who wants to decorate their car with Apple logo decals might find something of value in this book. I surely didn't. Except for strangeness like building the car console, everything in the book can be found on the web.

Jerry

While most of the hacks in this book are fairly benign, some are not for the feint of heart. In true hacker form, the author dismantles not only his iPod, but his car! You say you want to connect your iPod to a Linux machine? How about installing Linux right on your iPod!

This is a terrific book for anyone with the hacker spirit. But be careful. It will definitely leave you wanting to buy at least one more iPod to play with.

Well, I ordered a copy without checking out the publication details, and was dismayed to find this book was published back in 2004! (Which means it was probably written in 2003, which was the dinosaur ages of the iPod lineage.) So, unless you have an old iPod that still works, this book is totally useless.

I must say I love this book. If you have a iPod, GET THIS