Congratulations on your new iPod nano! In a few minutes we'll have you uploading music to your iPod nano and ready to roll. More interested in playing videos, games or audiobooks? No worries. Once you're uploading music to your nano you'll know how to upload all the other goodies too.
1) Get the music onto your hard drive
Most of us start out with our iPods by loading up the CDs we've collected over the years, so let's start there. Copy the files from your CDs onto your computer's hard disk so it'll be available to your iPod manager. Note: If you use iTunes and have "Copy files to iTunes music folder" selected, you can skip copying the files to the PC -- just having the CD in your computer's CD drive will be enough.
2) Bring the music files into your iPod manager software
What's an iPod manager? For most of us it's the iTunes software Apple provides you for free. If you don't have it on your computer already to go the Apple website and download iTunes. It's a good starting point for new users, and it's free!
It's important to know that you can download music from any vendor (Amazon, eMusic, etc) and still use iTunes to move files around. You don't have to buy from the iTunes store unless you want to.
Quick tip: If you want iTunes to put a copy of the file in the main iTunes library directory, choose Edit, Preferences, Advanced from the menu and click the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library." I like to do this to make it easy to find my music files. I know that music files anywhere else on my hard drive aren't part of the iTunes library and can safely be deleted.
Okay, you're ready to import the music to iTunes. There's several ways to import, but the most common is to click (from the top menu) File, Add Folder to Library, and find and select the directory that contains your music. Click the "OK" button to add the music to the library's music list. You can also use the Control + O keys and select single files to add.
3) Connect up the iPod
You probably already did this, but just in case: connect your iPod nano to your computer with the the USB cable that came with your nano. You'll know the connection's successful when the left-hand menu in iTunes shows your iPod.
Now, decide if you want to let iTunes handle synchronizing with your iPod or if you want to handle things manually. I like the "manually manage" approach -- it lets me decide which files to move to my nano. It also lets me synch up different computers to just one iPod.
4) Now to upload music to that iPod nano
Are you going to let iTunes manage the uploads? If so, you're ready to start. Click your iPod's icon, select "Sync" in the lower right corner, and iTunes handles the rest.
If you want to manage uploading manually, click your iPod's icon, select the "Manually manage music and videos" checkbox on the iTunes screen. (Don't worry, this is a one-time setup step -- you won't have to do it again.) Now all you have to do is select the music (or play lists) you want from your iTunes library and drag it onto the iPod icon.
5) Be sure to eject your iPod
Eject from iTunes by clicking the button at bottom right of the screen. THEN disconnect from your computer.
6) Find more cool stuff!
Okay, you know how to upload music to your nano. Go forth and find more cool games, videos, books, or music for your iPod. See my web site for suggestions of where to find great downloads for reasonable prices.
1) Get the music onto your hard drive
Most of us start out with our iPods by loading up the CDs we've collected over the years, so let's start there. Copy the files from your CDs onto your computer's hard disk so it'll be available to your iPod manager. Note: If you use iTunes and have "Copy files to iTunes music folder" selected, you can skip copying the files to the PC -- just having the CD in your computer's CD drive will be enough.
2) Bring the music files into your iPod manager software
What's an iPod manager? For most of us it's the iTunes software Apple provides you for free. If you don't have it on your computer already to go the Apple website and download iTunes. It's a good starting point for new users, and it's free!
It's important to know that you can download music from any vendor (Amazon, eMusic, etc) and still use iTunes to move files around. You don't have to buy from the iTunes store unless you want to.
Quick tip: If you want iTunes to put a copy of the file in the main iTunes library directory, choose Edit, Preferences, Advanced from the menu and click the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library." I like to do this to make it easy to find my music files. I know that music files anywhere else on my hard drive aren't part of the iTunes library and can safely be deleted.
Okay, you're ready to import the music to iTunes. There's several ways to import, but the most common is to click (from the top menu) File, Add Folder to Library, and find and select the directory that contains your music. Click the "OK" button to add the music to the library's music list. You can also use the Control + O keys and select single files to add.
3) Connect up the iPod
You probably already did this, but just in case: connect your iPod nano to your computer with the the USB cable that came with your nano. You'll know the connection's successful when the left-hand menu in iTunes shows your iPod.
Now, decide if you want to let iTunes handle synchronizing with your iPod or if you want to handle things manually. I like the "manually manage" approach -- it lets me decide which files to move to my nano. It also lets me synch up different computers to just one iPod.
4) Now to upload music to that iPod nano
Are you going to let iTunes manage the uploads? If so, you're ready to start. Click your iPod's icon, select "Sync" in the lower right corner, and iTunes handles the rest.
If you want to manage uploading manually, click your iPod's icon, select the "Manually manage music and videos" checkbox on the iTunes screen. (Don't worry, this is a one-time setup step -- you won't have to do it again.) Now all you have to do is select the music (or play lists) you want from your iTunes library and drag it onto the iPod icon.
5) Be sure to eject your iPod
Eject from iTunes by clicking the button at bottom right of the screen. THEN disconnect from your computer.
6) Find more cool stuff!
Okay, you know how to upload music to your nano. Go forth and find more cool games, videos, books, or music for your iPod. See my web site for suggestions of where to find great downloads for reasonable prices.
About the Author:
Wondering where to go for top-notch music and game downloads? Head over to Lydia Vaughn's review of the best sites for downloads for your iPod nano at Nanos Reviewed. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
