by Nausherwan Korai

Created on: October 17, 2009

The iPod is probably the only device that allows such easy and simplistic access to a downloadable database of music, through iTunes ofcourse, and through that one program you are able to search for a song, download it, and copy (sync) it to your iPod, making the whole operation as easy as anything. The whole process can infact be broken down into a number of steps:

Open iTunes

As this is the software which will help us achieve both the download of the song to the PC and from the PC to the iPod lets open it up. To open iTunes (for windows) click on Start > All Programs > iTunes, or alternatively click on the quick launch icon for iTunes or the desktop one for it. For Macintosh users, click the Apple icon, find iTunes on the menu, and open it, or click its icon.

Search for your desired song

Using iTunes, click on Store > Home, this will bring you to the Apple store. Proceed to sign in to your account and then search for the song you desire. Once you have chosen, complete the transaction process and wait for the song download to complete. Also, a new Free Single is given away by the Apple store every week, so be sure to check that out.

Get ready to sync

Once you have completed the download, it is automatically added to your iTunes library. If you have an older version of iTunes, go to your Music tab and make sure you have pressed a cross next to your new song so that when we sync the library with the iPod, it is copied to it. If you have a newer version of iTunes, this step is unnecessary.

Connect your iPod

Using the usb cable for your iPod, connect it to your PC. Wait a while, as the iPod initializes and completes its sync. Now go to your iPods tab, then move to the Music tab and select "Sync all music", and click on the sync button. Wait the few seconds required for the new song to transfer to the iPod.

Disconnect your iPod

Once the sync is complete, click on the little eject icon next to the name of your iPod, and wait for it to disconnect. Once it has disconnected, remove the usb cable and exit iTunes.

And there you have it, you have successfully downloaded a song from iTunes onto your PC and from that to your iPod. On a last note, I'd like to remind everyone that downloading songs from sites which give them for free is illegal, unless there is a prearranged agreement between the artist etc. with the website. Similarly purchasing pirated CD's and selling them is a crime in most countries around the globe.

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