iPod and iTunes: The Missing Manual, Third Edition

Copying Contacts from the Macintosh

Many of the popular Rolodex/calendar programs for both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X can export data to vCard format for transfer to the iPod. And for those that don’t, there are other ways to extract the information so that your iPod is as au courant as your iMac or iBook.

Tip

If you’re using Mac OS X 10.2 or later, you can use Apple’s free iSync software to synchronize information with your iPod automatically. If a Mac is the hub of your digital lifestyle, Chapter 11 is for you.

Palm Desktop 4.1

Palm Desktop for Mac OS X lets you export your entire Address List module to a vCard file in a few swift clicks. Just choose File → Export and, in the Export dialog box, select Addresses from the Module pop-up menu, as shown in Figure 8-6.

Figure 8-6. The Export dialog box in Palm Desktop 4.1 for Mac OS X lets you save a copy of your entire address book in one fell swoop. You can save the file right into the Contacts folder on the iPod (if it’s attached) or save it to your hard drive and drag it into the iPod’s Contacts folder the next time you have it hooked up to the Mac.

Then, from the Format pop-up menu, choose vCard. Finally, click Export to copy all the entries in your Palm Desktop Address List into one file. (You can drag the file into the Contacts folder on the iPod or save it there directly when exporting.)

Tip

If you’re in the mood for a little light mousework, ...