Tips on Computer Technology

By: Bill Michiling

Welcome back. This week we learn a little more about Apple’s new killer music software, iTunes!

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Since last weeks column I have received a lot of questions about iTunes. I will attempt to answer some of them in the column.

What is iTunes

The best way to find out what it is is to download it from Apple. It is about a 2MB download, so even on a 56K modem the download should be fairly short.

Apple’s itunes is a FREE software package that can be downloaded from Apple’s servers at: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download

The software iTunes is very similar to SoundJam. In fact I believe the author of that fine software package is now working for Apple and was instrumental in developing iTunes.

In short iTunes allows you to “rip” songs from music CDs, create play lists, upload songs to your Mp3 player, play the songs on your Mac, create your own music CDs with a CD burner, & listen to streaming music from the internet.

Ripping is when you take a song or songs from a music CD and transfer them to your computer.
So now you have a small idea what iTunes is all about. Lets get to some of the questions.

How can I get a song from A CD?

Apple has made this as simple as possible. With iTunes running, insert your favorite music CD into the CDROM of your Mac. Itunes will them read it and go out over the internet and get the song title information for you. Remember the title information is not stored on the CD.

Click on the CD then select the songs you want, then click the import button. They will show up in your library. Simple huh? Like to see that in a
QuickTime movie? Then point your browser to:http://www.apple.com/itunes/theater/import_cd.html

How to get songs into my Mp3 Player

Now that we have ripped some songs from a CD, we can put them into our Mp3 player.

Just connect your mp3 player via the USB connection. When it shows up in iTunes, click on the songs you want to put into your player and drag them to the player. It could not be simpler! Remember you can use the Apple key to make non contiguous selections.
Want to see an example of that in a QuickTime movie? Then point your browser to: http://www.apple.com/itunes/theater/mp3_player.html

How can I burn a CD

If you are fortunate to have a CD burner that is compatible with iTunes then you can create your own CDs!

Now that you have your songs in your library, all you have to o is select which songs you want to put on your CD and then click “Your CD”, then click the Burn CD button.

Point your browser to: http://www.apple.com/itunes/theater/cd_burn.html to see a QuickTime movie example of this.

Just imagine, you can now create CDs with the songs you want to listen to in order you want them.
Remember these CDs you are creating will play on any consumer CD player!

How do I listen to internet radio

Point your browser to: http://www.apple.com/itunes/theater/radio.html for an example of this.

You can also use iTunes to search your play lists to find specific songs. Itunes is the equivalent of a $200 software package that is free for the downlaod.

Note: Itunes is only for the Macintosh, sorry Windows users. Not to worry though, I am sure the Mac users will help out their Windows friends. It is also the most friendly music program I have seen to date. So now you can really make use of all those downloaded mp3 files! The value of your mp3 player has just jumped big time!!

One final note. Do you know what music looks like? With iTunes you can SEE the music. Check it it out. I will leave this up to the user to figure out.

ENJOY iTunes………….

If you need help getting any products send email to: bill@mespn.com

Have a wonderful week.
See you here and on the web next week.

Bill Michling is a computer professional and welcomes any comments or questions you may have. Just send email to: bill@mespn.com or michling@usa.net.

You may also go to Marianas Electronics and ask help from the friendly staff there, or call them at: 234-5424, Just ask for Annie, Jun or Joseph.

For world access this Wednesday column is also on the Saipan Tribune website at: (http://www.saipantribune.com) or at the mespn.com site at: (http://mespn.com/forms/tech_Articles/ ), now connected to the internet via broadband T1+.