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Review: iPod - The Missing Manual

Submitted by jcost on Sun, 12/17/2006 - 17:56.

If you are looking for an extra stocking stuffer to go along with that iPod sitting under the tree, look no further. iPod - The Missing Manual, from New York Times Columnist, J.D. Biersdorfer, hits a home run with this one.

Totally revised and up to date with all of the latest iPods, you will quickly learn the basics and move right into more advanced features of iTunes and your iPod. Full color photos and to the point tutorials make this the indubitable book for getting the most out of your iPod.

Overview:
iPod - The Missing Manual covers all of the latest and greatest iPods, including the 2nd generation iPod Nano, 5.5 Gen iPod with video, and the matchbook sized iPod Shuffle.

In 11 short and easy to read full color chapters, Biersdofer covers the full scope of iPod functionality. You start with taking the iPod out of the box, creating perfect playlists,leaning the ins and outs of iTunes, and finish up with how to integrate the iPod into your car.

This edition is full color with step by step tutorials. The layout of the pages, easy to read text, and vibrant images make reading a how-to book exciting. Just about every page contains a different topic, and simply by flipping through it, you can easily locate what you are looking for, or discover something totally new.

iTunes Coverage:
One thing in common all iPod users have is iTunes. Every iPod owner must use iTunes to sync their music, photo, videos,& calendars. The book covers both platforms (Mac & PC), which work essentially the same. Arguably, the Mac version is more reliable than the Windows version, at least from reports I frequently hear & my own experiences with it.

Since the iPod and iTunes are so tightly integrated, you need to have a working knowledge of iTunes to use your iPod to it's fullest abilities. Luckily, the author knows you need to understand more than how to turn the click wheel, and fully covers iTunes 7 as well. Coverage for iTunes 7 is exceptional. Whether you are on a Mac or PC machine, you will be covered.

This book covers all of the basics, and even goes into detail on some of the lesser used features, such as making iTunes wish lists, setting up allowances, backing up your music library, and locating duplicate songs.

The author covers all of the latest iPods, and how to get the most from each edition. Since each iPod has features specific to it's model, not everything will be applicable for users with one particular model of iPod.

For example, there is a page that covers converting video into a format that your iPod with video and iTunes can understand. The Nano & Shuffle don't play video, but you could use this feature with iTunes. You just won't be able to transfer it to iPods that cannot play video.

Conclusion:

This edition is physically smaller in size, and more compact. With the full color tutorials & simple explanations, you can't go wrong. This is absolutely the best edition of this book to date. If you are getting someone an iPod for the holidays, or have one yourself, and want to expand your knowledge, this is the book to do it.