Last updated 12/14/2004

iPod & iTunes Hacks

iPod & iTunes Hacks
Author: Hadley Stern
Publisher: O'Reilly
438 pages ...$24.95
ISBN: 0-596-00778-7

This book contains more than 100 'hacks" pertaining to the iPod and/or iTunes. I will try to give you some idea of the wide variety of hacks, but I don't think I can advise you as to how useful this book would be for you.

Included as "hacks" are instructions for building a permanent iPod holder for your car, instructions for building a cardboard protective case for your iPod, and instructions for building an FM transmitter or your iPod. These are just three of the 22 hacks in the first chapter on iPod Hardware which includes tips for caring for and using your iPod hardware.

The second chapter, on Non-iPod Hardware covers nine hacks including streaming music with Airport Express. There are other chapters on iPod Software, iTunes, and AppleScript for iTunes. But, the chapter titles give you little idea of the variety in the contents. The final chapter, Beyond iTunes, includes manipulating audio using the terminal and playing music files from the command line. It includes making a custom mix CD, and streaming your music collection over the Web, and via iDisk.It includes backing up your music collection, and getting your record collection into iTunes. The final hack is creating our own Audiobook.

Whether you should buy iPod & iTunes Hacks depends upon how useful the hacks will be for you, and I cannot tell you that. Will you need instructions for replacing our iPod's battery, or for integrating your iPod with your motorcycle?

If you are interested, you can learn more about iPod & iTunes Hacks , including the list of hacks, by going to:
http://www.oreilly.com