iPod: The Missing Manual, 10th Edition

Chapter 7. Shop the iTunes Store

MUSIC FANS HAVE BEEN DOWNLOADING SONGS FROM THE INTERNET since the 1990s, from sites that were legal and others that were, well, not so much. People loved the convenience, but record companies saw potential profits slipping down millions of modem lines. They fought back by suing file-sharing services and other software companies for aiding and abetting copyright infringement.

The need for a legal music-download site was obvious, but most early efforts resulted in skimpy song catalogs and confusing usage rights. Things changed dramatically in April 2003, when Apple opened its online iTunes Music Store, selling legal, iPod-ready digital versions of popular songs for 99 cents a pop. In January 2009, Apple even did away with the restrictive copy protections built into most Store songs. This liberating act gave consumers unfettered use of their songs and even the ability to play them on (gasp!) non-Apple players.

Now simply called the iTunes Store, the media emporium’s virtual shelves stock millions of songs, plus full-length movies, TV shows, iPod Touch programs, audio books, eBooks, podcasts, music videos, and more. It’s all custom-tailored for the iPod, and best of all, once you buy a title, it’s yours to keep (rentals, of course, come with a time limit). This chapter shows you how to find and use the media you’re looking for, and how to get the most out of the Store.

Get to the iTunes Store

COMPARED WITH BUYING GAS, fighting traffic, and finding a parking ...