The iPod, invented by Apple and released to the public on October 23, 2001, is a digital hand-held device that allows for playback of audio, video, image, and text files. The iPod has progressed more than many other devices of the same nature and can store very large amounts of data. In this article, we will go over what an iPod is, how to use it, the iTunes Store, games for your iPod, file storage space, and the various accessories that you can purchase to aid your iPod in being one of the most popular pieces of technology in the modern world.
What is an iPod
An iPod is a digital music player created and distributed by Apple. The earlier models of the iPod consisted of a hard drive but as technology improved, the newer models were equipped with flash memory, which can be found in any USB-based device. Flash memory allowed for the iPod to be smaller in size while able to hold more information at the same time. The iPod should not be confused with the iPhone, which is similar in functionality but is capable of much more than just playing music. The iPod itself has expanded in its functions and now often contains a digital camera, voice recorder, and FM/AM radio.
User Interface
The iPod user interface is unlike any other. The iPod features a round selection tool on the front cover to allow for multiple uses. By pressing upward, you may select the menu; by pressing downward, you may play and pause music and videos; by pressing left or right, you may move left and right on the display screen; and by pressing the center of the selection tool, you may select a particular function much like the Enter key on your keyboard. Some iPod models allow for you to actually rotate this selection tool to improve functionality. Newer technology improves this user interface every year and you may now purchase models that allow you to move to the next song on your playlist simply by shaking the device.
iTunes Store
The iTunes Store is an online database of music and video files that you may download for a fee. The iTunes Store provides you with downloads that can only be played through your iPod as no other portable music player supports the Digital Rights Management that is encoded into every iTunes file. There is much controversy over the iTunes Store because of limitations on file playback. For example, the iPod cannot play music that is encoded with rival DRMs such as MSN Music and Napster. Because of this, Apple has removed their DRM encryption for over 80% of their files and and promises to remove the encryption for the remaining 20% in the near future.
Games
The iPod series has been in the gaming market since its introduction of the first iPod in 2001, which included a game called Brick. Since then, various third-party game manufacturers have created games specifically for the iPod. As technology improves and Internet becomes rapidly more accessible, as can be seen with the iTouch and the iPhone, the iPod is quickly becoming a handheld gaming device. The games that have been offered by the iPod so far have been rather primitive in style but as iTechnology expands in growth, more entertaining games will be a reality in the near future.
File Storage
The iPod originally has no format on it when you take it out of the box. Depending on what kind of computer you have, the format used may vary. If you first plug the iPod into a Mac computer, your iPod will be formatted in HFS+ where as if you first plug the iPod into a Windows computer, your iPod will be formatted in FAT32. Also, if formatted by a Mac computer, your iPod can serve as a startup disk for your computer. You can not simply move files from a computer to an iPod like most other devices. Because of the encryption, you must use a preapproved program to transfer the files. Usually, iTunes serves as the default transfer program for your iPod but several other providers have released similar programs that do this function for you. This is mostly used in cases where a user wishes to transfer pirated files from a computer that uses P2P software to an iPod.
Accessories and Features
Like many music players, the iPod can be equipped with various accessories and can come with many extra features that previous versions did not have. In this part of this article, we will go over these various accessories and features so that you may be better prepared in choosing an iPod.
FM/AM Radio
The iPod, as well as many MP3 players in general, comes with FM/AM Radio so that whenever you get bored of your playlist you can just turn on the radio and enjoy random songs in the genre of your choice.
iTrip
Griffin Technology's iTrip is an accessory for the iPod that allows you to play music through the speakers in your vehicle. iTrip works by converting the audio signals that come out of your earphone socket into FM radio signals that your stereo can pick up. The iTrip can broadcast these signals for up to fifteen feet.
External Speakers
You can purchase external speakers for your iPod that plug into your earphone socket and amplify the audio signal. These external speakers are relatively cheap and can work with even the smallest iPods. External speakers specifically built for the iPod include the iPod Hi-Fi, the iBoom, and the Bose SoundDock Digital Music System.
