Though it may have started out simply as a way to play CDs and MP3s on the computer, iTunes is now much more than that. From the programs that manages your iOS devices to perhaps the leading store for digital downloads on the entire Internet, iTunes is a complex, powerful tool -- which means there's a lot to know about it. The articles below will help you learn the ins and outs of iTunes.
1. The Basics
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These basic articles will help you get up and running with iTunes, from installing the software to creating an account to help you start downloading from the iTunes Store.
2. AACs, MP3s, and CDs
Besides working with your iPod or iPhone, iTunes has powerful features as a music library. Use these articles to learn how to add songs to it from CDs, how to burn your own CDs, and some of the hot issues in digital music.
- How to Copy CDs to iPod and iTunes
- Burning CDs Using iTunes
- Adding Folders of Music to iTunes
- Changing iTunes CD Import Settings
- How Do I Convert iTunes to MP3?
- AAC vs. MP3, A Sound Quality Test
- AAC vs. MP3: Which to Choose for Ripping CDs
- How To Categorize and Edit Song Information
- How To Burn a Gapless CD in iTunes
3. Playlists, Sharing, and iTunes Genius
Part of the fun of iTunes is creating playlists, sharing music with friends and family, and discovering new music with iTunes Genius.
- Creating iTunes Playlists
- Creating Smart Playlists in iTunes
- Using iTunes DJ
- Always Skip Songs When Shuffling in iTunes
- How To Removing Tracks from Shuffle in iTunes
- How Many Times Can I Burn iTunes Playlists?
- How and Why to Rate Songs in iTunes
- Is iTunes’ Shuffle Mode Truly Random?
- How to Use iTunes Home Sharing
- How to Set Up iTunes Genius
- Creating Playlists with iTunes Genius
- Using iTunes Genius to Discover New Music
- How to Turn Off iTunes Genius and Its Sidebar
- How to Turn on iTunes Library Sharing
- How to Make an iMix
- Using Sound Check with iTunes
- How To Set Gapless Playback in iTunes
4. Backing up and Transferring iTunes
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One area in which iTunes is pretty complicated is transferring one iTunes library to a new computer, or restoring a library from backup after a crash. This gets especially complex when iPods and iPhones are involved. These articles sort out some of the confusion for you and help you figure out what to do.
- Transferring iTunes Library to Other Computers
- How Do I Transfer my iTunes Music to a New Computer?
- How to Backup iTunes to an External HD
- How to Restore iTunes From Backup On An External Hard Drive
- How to Merge iTunes Library From Many PCs to One
- Top Programs to Transfer iPod to Computer
- My Hard Drive Crashed, I Lost Everything. What Do I Do?
- Can I Give Away an iPod and Let the Recipient Have the Music?
- Reviews of iPod Copy Programs
5. Using iTunes with iPod, iPad, & iPhone
The basics of using iTunes to manage an iPod, iPhone, or iPad are just that - basic. But there are a number of advanced features and tricks that can make life easier and more fun.
6. App Store
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As anyone with an iOS device knows, the App Store is the thing that makes the platform truly versatile and exciting. And while app reviews are one part of using the App Store, there's more to it than that.
- Getting and Installing Programs from the iPhone App Store
- How to Sync Apps to the iPod touch
- How to Remove iPhone Apps
- Can I Get iPhone Apps Without iTunes?
- iPhone App Reviews
- Do I Have to Buy an iPhone App for Each Compatible Device?
- Should Users Pay for Using iPhone Apps on Multiple Devices?
- Can iPhone Apps Be Synced to Multiple iPhones and iPod touches?
- Can I Redownload Apps Purchased from the App Store?
7. iTunes Store and Other Digital Music Stores
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While iTunes may be the first name that springs to mind when you think about buying music downloads, it's far from the only online music store that works with the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
8. iTunes for Parents
There are probably no gadgets hotter with today's pre-teens, teens, and young adults than the iPod, iPad, and iPhone. Some parents may have concerns about what their kids can access with these devices, but there are tools that can help.
9. iTunes Troubleshooting and Help
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Because iTunes is such a complex and powerful program, there's a lot to understand about what can do wrong and how.
- Fixing the iTunes Exclamation Point
- Why Is There a Delay in iTunes Store Billing?
- Can I Redownload an iTunes Store Purchase?
- Can I Redownload Apps Purchased from the App Store?
- When I Import a CD to iTunes, the Songs Have No Names. Why?
- Paid For iTunes Store Item, But Download Never Happened
- My iTunes Store Purchase Didn’t Download Completely
- My iTunes Store Purchase Won’t Play
- Getting iTunes Support for Purchases by Reporting a Problem
- When I Import a CD to iTunes, the Songs Have No Names. Why?
- Tips on Recovering iTunes After a Hard Drive Crash of Theft
- Are iTunes Movie Rental Downloads Interruptible?
10. Miscellaneous iTunes Issues
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Some things that don't fit the categories above, but that you may be interested in.
