Tips for your iTunes Music Store

iTunes is one of the most popular online music stores for the iPod.

Apple Computer has done a lot to try and get things right for the consumer including some innovative design electronics. With iTunes as your iPod music store you can construct your own digital music library and easily listen and arrange your collection of music files. You have the ability to create customized audio CDs and download your music to a portable Apple iPod digital music player.

Each song cost $0.99 (which may or may not change at some point), which makes it very competitive in terms of the price of CDs. ITunes is a free download for Windows XP, Mac OS X, and Windows 2000 from Apple computers website. You can also purchase videos from its built-in music store. ITunes also has the ability to provide playlists that a person can publish for others to use if they wish. The iTunes store has the capability to accept payment through credit cards, PayPal accounts, iTunes store gift certificates, the iTunes card and allowance account balances, all accepted as forms of payment.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of an iPod store such as iTunes.

1. iTunes Radio

There are many radio stations to pick from when your in iTunes using the 'Radio' button. If you happen upon some radio station you like, you can begin to stream it into iTunes by picking the Advanced -- Open Stream, and then and then manually putting in the URL.

2. Album Artwork

It is possible the have picture of the album that is being played to be displayed. You have the ability to add your own pictures and retain the music cover that was downloaded from the music store and keep it in place. If you like to do this, go to 'Get Info' and click on 'Artwork'. You can then add the image by going to where you have stored the image on your computer.

3. Edit Songs

If space on your iPod is limited then long songs can be kind of annoying. With iTunes you have the ability to edit your music by taking out the part you don't want. If you want to do that then go to 'Get Info' -- Options and then pick the start and stop point.

4. Shopping Cart

By default iTunes gives you the ability to buy music using the 'Buy' button when your at the store which lets you download instantly. For the most part most people would rather use the shopping cart to do the downloading of their music. To accomplish this go to 'Preferences -- Store' and choose ' Buy' with the shopping cart. When your at the Music Store inside the source pane will be the cart.

As an iPod Store It Has But One Challenge

One negative point that Apple Computer has is its decision to make all of its songs in proprietary AAC format. This means is that you can only play these songs either on your iPod or on your computer but nowhere else.

Despite the fact that iTunes was from the start created as an online store to service the iPod customers music requirements, the video iPod has spawned an entire new market for content that is that can be downloaded.