Connecting and Configuring an iPod on Your Computer

In order to load music onto an iPod, you must connect the iPod to your computer so that the music files can be moved from your iTunes Library onto the iPod.

Tip

If a Dock was included with your iPod, you connect the cables to the Dock and then insert your iPod into the Dock to connect it. See "Connecting an iPod to a Computer with a Dock" on page 34.

To do this, you connect one of the cables supplied with your iPod to your computer. All iPod cables have the Dock connector on one end. You connect this to the iPod's Dock port located on the bottom of the iPod (see Figure 2.4).

Figure 2.4. You use the Dock port on the bottom of the iPod to connect it to a computer.

How you connect an iPod depends on the type of connections your computer has and the specific iPod model you have. The three types of connectors you use to connect iPods to computers are six-pin FireWire (all Macintoshes), USB 2, and four-pin FireWire (see Figure 2.5).

Figure 2.5. These are the ports you might use to connect an iPod to your computer.

Connecting an iPod to a Windows Computer

Connecting an iPod to a Windows computer requires that you decide on the type of connection you will be using. The following three options are possible:

• Six-pin FireWireIf your computer includes a six-pin FireWire port, you can use that to connect it to the iPod. This has the advantage of also charging the iPod at the same time.

  Caution

  

  When you connect an iPod to a computer using USB 2, it is not charging and so uses battery power. You can run the battery down if you use your iPod while it is connected to your computer.

  
  

• USB 2If you have a computer that supports USB 2, you can use USB 2 to connect your iPod to the computer. USB 2 is slightly faster than FireWire, but your iPod won't also charge its battery when it is connected to your computer in this way.

  If you want to be able to charge your iPod and connect it to your computer with USB 2 at the same time, you will need to purchase the iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 cable. This cable is actually two cables linked to a single iPod Dock port connector. You can connect the USB 2 cable to your computer and the FireWire connector to the iPod's power adapter. This enables you to charge the iPod while it is also connected to your computer. You can purchase the iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 Cable at the Apple Store (http://store.apple.com/).

  Note

  

  As soon as you connect an iPod to your computer, the iTunes application will open and will begin transferring music in your iTunes Library onto your iPod. Of course, if you don't have any music in your iTunes Library because you haven't added any to it yet, this won't do very much. You will need to build an iTunes Library before you can transfer any music onto your iPod. To get help with this, jump over to Part II of this book and read Chapters 1116. After you have created an iTunes Library, you can transfer its music to your iPod.

  
  

• Four-pin FireWireIf your computer includes a four-pin FireWire connector, you can use that to connect the iPod by using an optional six-pin to four-pin adapter. This method is not as desirable as using six-pin FireWire because it doesn't charge the iPod while it is connected to your computer, and it is slightly slower than USB 2. You should use this option only if one of the others isn't available to you.

Assessing Your Windows Computer for an iPod

The first step to deciding which connection type to use is to determine which types are supported by your computer. There are a couple of ways you can do this.

Look at your computer to see which ports it includes. If it has at least one six-pin FireWire port available, you don't need to do anything else because this is the method you should use. Because a six-pin FireWire connection also charges the iPod when it is connected to your computer, this is the best option. If your computer doesn't support six-pin FireWire, consider adding a FireWire PCI card. These are relatively inexpensive at around $40 and require only a few minutes to install.

Caution

You can't use a four-pin FireWire cable with an iPod mini even if you get an adapter for it. With a mini, you can only use six-pin FireWire or USB 2.

If you don't see a six-pin FireWire connector, locate the USB ports on your computer. Unfortunately, you can't tell by observation whether a USB port supports USB 2 or USB 1 because the ports are identical in appearance. Check the documentation that came with your computer to determine if it supports USB 2. If you can't find that information, contact your computer's manufacturer. If your computer does support USB 2, you are in good shape.

If your computer doesn't have a six-pin FireWire connector and doesn't support USB 2, look for a four-pin FireWire port. If it has one, you might be able to use a six-pin to four-pin FireWire adapter to connect your iPod to your computer.

If your computer doesn't have any FireWire ports and does not support USB 2, you'll have to add a PCI FireWire or USB 2 card to your computer before you can connect an iPod to it.

To use an iPod with a Windows computer, you must also be running Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or Windows XP Home or Professional.

Using Six-Pin FireWire to Connect an iPod to a Windows Computer

If your computer has a six-pin FireWire port, use the FireWire cable included with your iPod. Connect the Dock connector end to the Dock port on the iPod and the FireWire end to the FireWire port on your computer. The iPod will immediately be mounted on your computer. Skip to the section titled "Configuring an iPod on Your Computer" on page 31.

Using USB 2 to Connect an iPod to a Windows Computer

If your computer supports USB 2, use the USB 2 cable or the accessory FireWire/USB 2 cable you purchased to connect your iPod to the computer. Use a USB 2 port that is on the computer itself rather than one that is on a keyboard, monitor, or other peripheral.

To use the USB 2 cable included with the iPod, plug the Dock connector end into the Dock port on the iPod and the USB 2 end into the USB port on your computer. The iPod will immediately be mounted on your computer. Skip to the section titled "Configuring an iPod on Your Computer" on page 31. Make sure you insert the Dock connector end of the cable into the iPod's Dock connector port so that the icon on the connector is facing toward the front face of the iPod. If you attempt to force the connector in upside down, you can damage your iPod.

Caution

Because the iPod will charge when it is connected to your Mac, you need to use a powered port, which is one located on the Mac itself. If you use a port on a FireWire hub or other FireWire device, it might or might not be powered.

To use the iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 cable, connect the Dock connector end to the Dock port on the iPod (this cable is not supported on a iPod mini). Then, connect the USB 2 cable to a USB port on your computer. Connect the FireWire end to the iPod power adapter and then plug the power adapter into a power outlet. The iPod will immediately be mounted on your computer. Skip to the section titled "Configuring an iPod on Your Computer" on page 31.

Note

I don't really recommend using four-pin FireWire. It doesn't perform as well as USB 2 and doesn't charge the iPod battery like six-pin FireWire. You can purchase a FireWire or USB 2 PCI card for just a few dollars more than the adapter you need to use four-pin FireWire, so you won't save much money by using it.

Using Four-Pin FireWire to Connect an iPod to a Windows Computer

To use four-pin FireWire, you will need to have a four-pin to six-pin FireWire adapter. Connect this adapter to the FireWire end of the iPod's FireWire cable. Next, connect the Dock end to the Dock connector port on the iPod. Then, plug the four-pin end of the adapter into your computer. The iPod will immediately be mounted on your computer. Move on to the section titled "Configuring an iPod on Your Computer" on page 31.

Connecting an iPod to a Macintosh Computer

All Macintoshes produced in the past several years have at least one six-pin FireWire port. You can use the FireWire cable included with your iPod to connect it to your Mac. Connect the Dock connector end of the cable to Dock port on the iPod. Then plug the FireWire end of the cable into a FireWire port on your Mac.

Many Macs also support USB 2, but because the iPod will charge when you use a six-pin FireWire cable to connect it to your Mac, you should use FireWire instead of USB 2. However, if you don't have an available FireWire port, you can use the USB 2 cable included with the iPod or the iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 cable to connect an iPod to your Mac. See the section titled "Using USB 2 to Connect an iPod to a Windows Computer" on page 30 for information about using USB 2 to connect an iPod to your computer.

Configuring an iPod on Your Computer

The first time you connect an iPod to your computer, the iPod will turn on and immediately be mounted on your computer, iTunes will open, and the iPod Setup Assistant will open (see Figure 2.6). Type a name for your iPod in the text box. You can use any name you'd like; this will be the name of your iPod when it is shown in the iTunes Source List. Check the Automatically update my iPod check box if it isn't checked already. Then click Finish (Windows) or Done (Mac). iTunes will update the iPod and will transfer all the music in your iTunes Library onto the iPodif it can.

Figure 2.6. The trusty iPod Setup Assistant is ready to do its work.

While music is being transferred, the iPod icon on the iTunes Source List will flash red (see Figure 2.7). You'll also see information about the transfer in the iTunes Information area at the top of the iTunes window.

Figure 2.7. If this book were printed in color, you would see that the iPod icon in the iTunes Source List is flashing red to show that music in the selected playlist is being moved onto the iPod.

If all the music in your iTunes Library will fit on the iPod, the process will complete without any further action from you. When this process is complete, you will hear a "whoosh" sound and you'll see the "iPod update is complete" message in the information area at the top of the iTunes window. The "OK to disconnect" message will also be displayed on the iPod's screen. When you see these messages, you can disconnect your iPod from your computer. Squeeze the buttons on each side of the Dock connector end of the cable and remove the cable from the iPod; the iPod will be ready to use. You can leave the cable plugged into your computer if you want to.

Caution

While you have an iPod connected to your computer, you will see the message "Do not disconnect" on the iPod's screen. You should wait until the file transfer is complete or eject an iPod before you disconnect it. You'll learn more about this in the next chapter.

If there is more music in your iTunes Library than can fit on the iPod, you will see a message telling you that the iPod doesn't have enough room for all your music (see Figure 2.8). In this case, iTunes will create a playlist of music that will fit on the iPod and then transfer this music to your iPod. This is fine for now; in later chapters, you'll learn how to choose which music is transferred onto your iPod. Click OK to close the message window.

Figure 2.8. Because I had more music than can be stored on an iPod mini, iTunes lets me know about it.

iTunes will move the playlist it created (whose name will be the name of your iPod plus the word "Selection") onto your iPod. When this process is complete, you will hear a "whoosh" sound and you'll see the "iPod update is complete" message in the information area at the top of the iTunes window. The "OK to disconnect" message will also be displayed on the iPod's screen. When you see these messages, you can disconnect your iPod from your computer. Squeeze the buttons on each side of the Dock connector end of the cable and remove the cable from the iPod; the iPod will be ready to use. You can leave the cable plugged into your computer if you want to.

Note

A playlist is a collection of songs. You can use iTunes to create your own playlists and then listen to those playlists on an iPod. There are also a couple of playlists you can create and manage on the iPod itself. You'll learn about these later in this part of the book.