With the latest version of the software that runs on the iPod, Apple has built in the Notes function We are going to use it to get your email onto your iPod.
As with getting news onto the iPod, you'll need to sync your iPod with a computer, because the iPod is not currently a networkable device. Using email on your iPod is not like having a Blackberry or Internet-enabled Palm; you won't be able to delete mail or answer it, but you will be able to read it. This can come in handy if you have a long commute—sync your email in the morning, and read it while listening to tunes. Once you get to work, you can delete or answer messages you've already read on your computer.
There are several programs for checking email on your iPod, and in this area, Windows users are actually ahead of the game for once! That's because using K-Pod (http://k-deep.com/k-pod.htm; donateware), you don't have to have an email client installed on your machine in order to sync your inbox with your iPod; K-Pod connects directly to your email server. On the Macintosh side, PodMail (http://www.podmail.org; freeware) will also let you read your email. As with K-Pod, you can transfer IMAP and POP accounts; however, for POP accounts you will need to use Mac OS X's Mail application as your email client. In addition, PodMail will let you check your .Mac email account directly.
On Windows
Let's get started with K-Pod. Once you start it up, you will be greeted by K-Pod's main interface window, shown in .
Figure 1. K-Pod's main interface window
Select the IMAP or POP protocol by clicking the appropriate radio button. If you aren't sure which protocol your Internet service provider (ISP) uses, give them a call. Most email providers use the POP-3 protocol. Here is the information K-Pod needs to get your email:
- Your username
Typically, your email address.
- Your email password
K-Pod allows authentication against your email server. Passwords are sent encrypted.
- Your email server name
This is typically mail.yourisp.com/net. If your ISP is Comcast, the server address is probably mail.comcast.net.
- Your iPod drive letter
Enter the drive letter Windows has assigned to your iPod. If you haven't activated the iPod's Disc mode, go to your iPod's preferences in iTunes and select "Enable disc use."
Now you're ready to sync! Hit the Sync button, and let K-Pod do its work. The program will connect to your ISP and download all the messages available on your email server to the Notes section of your iPod. K-Pod will not delete your messages from your email server, so there is no need to worry about your emails not showing up the next time you download them to your computer. Due to a limitation in the iPod's Notes protocol, you will be able to read only the first 4 KB of each email on your iPod. All is not lost, however, because 4 KB of text is approximately 600 words.
On the Mac
PodMail provides Mac users a few more options than K-Pod for Windows, including the ability to sync multiple email addresses at the same time and to limit the number of emails downloaded. You can enter any number of .Mac, POP, or IMAP email accounts by clicking on the plus icon in the lower-left corner of PodMail's main interface window, as shown in .
Figure 2. PodMail's main interface window
As with K-Pod, you will need to enter your mail server name, email address, and password. Click Save after you've entered all your data, and then click Sync to transfer your messages to your iPod.
Using either K-Pod or PodMail you can read your email anytime, anywhere on your iPod.
