iPad 2: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition

Chapter 11. Organize and Sync Media Files with iTunes

iTunes is a master of many trades. It’s a repository for all the audio, video, book, and podcast files in your media library. It converts compact disc tracks into digital files for iPads, iPhones, and iPods. And it has its own online mall that you can pop into any time of day or night to buy the latest Stephen King audiobook, grab a copy of the new U2 album, or rent a digital download of The Social Network.

Another cool feature of iTunes? It syncs any or all of your media to your iPad. You may have already dabbled in a bit of this in Chapter 7 with the iTunes App Store, or in Chapter 8 when you read up on the iBookstore. This chapter focuses on iTunes basics: downloading Store purchases to your computer—and then getting what you want over to your iPad. (For more on mastering the art of iTunes, see Chapter 12.)

So if you’re thinking of syncing, flip the page.

The iTunes Window

iTunes is your iPad’s best friend. You can do just about everything with your digital media here—convert songs on a CD into iPad-ready music files; buy music, movies, and TV shows; add apps; listen to Internet radio stations; and more. Here’s a quick tour of the iTunes window and what all the buttons, controls, and sliders do.

The gray Source panel on the left side ...