How to Sync Apps to the iPod touch

Besides its great features as a music and media player, the iPod touch is appealing to so many people because of is its ability to run programs from the App Store.

These programs ran the gamut from games to ebook readers to informational tools to social networking apps. Some cost a dollar or two; thousands are free.

But, unlike traditional programs, apps downloaded from the App Store can’t be played on your computer; they only work on the iPod touch and iPhone. Which leads to the question: how do you put downloaded apps onto the iPod touch?

1. The first step is to identify the app you want to download. Go to iTunes and select the App Store. You can do this in the Applications menu at the left or, in the iTunes Store, from the left-hand store menu.
2. Once you’re there, search or browse for the App you want in the way you’d normally use the iTunes Store.
3. Download the app and pay for it, if it costs money.
4. It will automatically be added to your iTunes library in the Applications section on the left and be ready for syncing to your iPod by default.
5. Sync your iPod touch with the computer you’ve downloaded the app onto and it will automatically be added to your iPod touch. Now it’s ready to use.

Apps Not Approved by Apple

That process only works if you’re buying apps from the App Store. There are other iPod touch programs that haven’t been approved by Apple for listing at its Store. In fact, there’s even an alternative app store, through a program called Cydia.

Those apps can only be installed and used if you’ve gone through a process called jailbreaking, which opens up the iPod for use with non-Apple-approved software. This process is tricky, though, and can cause problems with the iPod touch that can be so serious that an iPod needs to have all its data erased.

Though you can find apps that do some pretty interesting things for jailbroken iPod touches, I’d caution you to be very careful in pursuing this path. Only try it if you’re expert with your iPod and willing void your warranty or take the risk to really mess up your iPod touch.