1. Protecting your assets

So, you've just splashed your hard-earned money on a smart, new MP3 player? Now, it is useful to keep some more money to spend for the cover to make it shiny and new - not least after the horror stories about the nano scratchability.

2. Hearing any noise

Like elsewhere in hi-fi, neglect a key aspect of the system, the other components are below average. Even great MP3 players can be humbled by the low quality "freedie" headphones, they are sold with a rule. An upgrade to a budget of two phones can transform the sound. The £ 35 Sennheiser PX100s remain as good an investment for better sound.

3. Keep it alive longer

Pristine kit is useless if you're just caught with a dead battery, so that is Gear4 Pocket Power, which provides an extra eight hours of juice for your player while you are traveling to invest. It works with four AAA batteries from your computer calculated using> USB. Your trusty iPod will never let you down again!

4. The connection

The default port for MP3 player with your computer) via USB (Universal Serial Bus. The latest version, USB 2.0, high-speed connection that allows for a quicker transfer of files. Some MP3 players are only USB 2.0 compatible, so you make sure that your computer up to IT and, if it does not consider upgrading to speed things up. Firewire, which is common on Apple Macsanother fast transfer jack.

5. Use iTunes as a library card

Note that you do not need all your music files to your portable. iTunes is a desktop music library from which you choose specific music, action songs to your portable load. Connect your iPod, open Settings and click the iPod icon. Make sure you screen 'Music' and click on "manually manage" songs and playlists. "Once this is done, you can simply drag songs from your library to the selectediPod. This also means deleting music files from your iTunes can happen regardless of the connected iPod.

6. Cut your tunes

Bonus tracks on CDs are fine and good, but where's the fun to have to 10 minutes of silence before the next track to sit? Fret no more. You can easily get rid of uncomfortable silence with iTunes. Select the track driving, click on "File" and then "Get Info". Then select "Options" from the dialogue. The "Start Time" and "Stop Time"Options you can specify exactly when the melody starts and stops.

7. Keep tunes at the level

If it's a sure way to spoil your trip to work, it has been beaten twice as loud to the ears of a length as the rest. The solution? Get iTunes to sell music on the same volume. Click on "iTunes", then "Settings" and then "Play". Simply hook the "Sound Check" and iTunes will do its magic.

8. Freakin 'format wars

The generic term for digital musicPlayer, MP3 player, now is a bit confusing. MP3 is just one of many file formats you can choose to rip your music to would be good quality, I followed the three known systems Rank: AAC, WMA and MP3. Then there's the bit rate (ie, examine the quality of the file) to.

9. Upping your bitrates

The bit rate of a file refers to the amount of information (in kilobits) in every second of data. The higher the bit rate, the better the sound, but the filesare larger, and more storage space on the disk. For better sound, stay 192 and higher. To change this in iTunes, go to 'iTunes', then 'Settings', then 'Advanced'. Click on the tab "Import", and get fine-tuning that bit rate. Note You can not increase bit rates retrospectively: musical data can be omitted to be taken not later.

10. CD quality

Okay, now you know that (the bit-rate influence on the sound quality and also the size) of music files. So what happens if you wantthe best sound possible? If you have the room on your computer, there are a number of 'lossless' options that deliver the highest quality. Lossless codecs such as FLAC, Shorten and Apple Losslessmuse a variable bit rate (VBR), much higher quality sound. An Apple Lossless file will be about half the size of a CD-Audio music file (so you had received two complete albums on one CD, not one), but up to five times larger than an AAC file.

11. Tagging 'em up

Keep tabs on your title ofensure that they are denoted by ID3 tags. This is a means of integrating the relevant data such as artist and album details into your MP3 player files. Most titles are automatically recognized by iTunes, but adding tags (use 'Get Info' in iTunes) can be useful disguise when burning CDs.

12. Cut out the duplicates

If your iTunes confusing, try to display the "Select Duplicate Title". With this function you can easily delete tunes you have more than one copy, breakingSpace for new music. Go to the Edit menu and select "Show Duplicate Title". Easy!

13. Pick up a podcast

A podcast is an audio clip spread through the network and aimed at MP3 listeners. There is an abundance of free and paid-for podcasts available on iTunes, but you can also http://www.vitalpodcasts.com and http://www.podcastbunker.com. For automatic updates of new content, subscribe to your favorite podcasts, and they will get downloaded.

14. Taking Control

To avoidfrequent switching between iTunes and whatever you do on your computer at the time, try "imot. This lets you the basic functions, such as skipping or pausing tracks control, either by a menu of controls on your http://www.mkd.cc/imote toolbar or by using a series of hotkeys. A floating window will also tell you to follow the details of the tune you're listening to. For more information check out.

15. Clutter your desktop

Remember the simple pleasurerummage through your entry collectio and check out all that glorious album art? Clutter does the same thing for iTunes: Fill your desktop with album covers, then simply click on someone to start playing in iTunes. Clever! Head of http://www.sprote.com/clutter for the freebie software download.

16. Share tunes

MP3 does not need to last a lifetime. Why not ditch headphones and listen to your MP3 player is if your HI-fi system? The simplest way to use3.5-mm jack to RCA cable from the headphone port to an input of the amplifier. The Ichord of Chord Company is an excellent to combine, while Apple Universal Dock is also useful.

17. Docking Stations

If you want to your iPod as the primary "hub", it is worth, one of the myriad use docks to. The sound quality can certainly vary from dock to dock, while features such as remote control, the ability to load your iPod, and a line-in jackare worth it, looking for, too.

18. Wireless for sound

So first we had all our music stored on our computers. Then we took our pieces from our MP3 player. Then the 'phones went and shared our music collections. So what's next? How to send your tunes around your house? "There are now more affordable to install and easy to use and options, including Apple's AirPort Express or USB sonnet poet Bard who will work with each player.

19. RadioIPod

One of the iPod lacks, compared to many rival MP3 players on the market, an FM radio. Until now it is. The new iPod Radio Remote weighs only 15g, and acts as a link between an appropriate headset and USB connector, your iPod. Make sure that your iPod is the software update was v1.1, and - hey presto! Radio option will appear on the iPod, then you're in business.

20. MP3 your motor

God forbid, you should be without your musicCollection, if you're in your car! How about a simple adapter that uses your car, the portable cassette player to make the speaker system usable? Http: / / www.gear4.com Visit for more information. Otherwise, maybe you feel like doing something a little more permanent?

Daniel DWAS is the webmaster and editor of the http://www.best-ipod-online a site that reviews and buyers guide of iPod Video, Nano, Shuffle and cheap iPod accessories andhttp://www.ipod-insider.blogspot.com a blog that reports the latest news from Apple computer to iPod.

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