by Clint Rogers

Created on: October 20, 2009

Whether you recently purchased an iPod Touch or an iPod Shuffle, the new experience of this wonderful invention might leave you nervous at the thought of figuring out how it operates. If you're like most people, you just want to know how to upload music and get out the door. Well you don't need to worry because in a few simple steps you can be out the door with this new technology strapped to your arm or clipped to the waistband of your running shorts.

If you do not have iTunes already installed on your computer, either insert the iTunes disc that came with your iPod or, if no disc was included, go to www.apple.com to download the newest version of iTunes free of charge. iTunes will automatically install and leave you at the welcome screen that will show up every time it starts in the future. Once iTunes is ready to go, simply follow the steps below.

Import Your CD to iTunes

- Since CD's can't be directly imported into your iPod, the first step is to insert a music CD into your computers CD or CD/DVD disc drive while iTunes is running. You will know as soon as iTunes recognizes the CD because the song list and all the CD's info for song titles, artists, etc will fill into the remaining tables. Please note that if you are not connected to the internet the information will not fill in automatically and you will need to either enter the information manually for each song or wait until you connect to the internet in the future at which time the information will fill in for you.

- Next, at the bottom right corner of your iTunes screen the option to "Import CD" will appear. Click on it to let iTunes "rip" the CD to your music library. The songs will now import into iTunes. The progress of the import is displayed in the box at the top of the iTunes window. Once songs have been imported into your library a green check mark will appear next to them letting you know they're available to be copied or moved around.

- Doublecheck your iTunes library by clicking on the tab in the left area of your screen. If it shows up the music is now in iTunes and ready to be uploaded into your iPod.

Uploading Music to Your iPod

- You can leave iTunes running, but plug in your iPod with either the USB or Firewire cord if you have not already done so.

- Click on the library tab in the left iTunes window and single click on any song you want to transfer, holding down the mouse button.

- While still holding down the mouse button, drag the song to your iPod icon on the left and release the button. You have now copied your first song!

- You can also right click on single songs, select copy, right click on your iPod icon in the left window and select Paste, or you can hold down shift while left clicking on songs to select multiple songs for copying. Just like a single song, blocks of songs can be dragged and dropped onto your iPod icon for faster copying.

Apple and their iTunes software made it simple for people to quickly take advantage of their new technology without all the hassle in dealing with confusing software or hardware problems. Use your new iPod to get out the door and into a newer, fitter, more relaxed you!

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