iPod: The Missing Manual, 8th Edition

Chapter 7. Shop the iTunes Store

People have been downloading music from the Internet since the 1990s, from sites that were legal and others that were, well, not so much. Music fans loved the convenience, but record companies saw potential profits slipping down millions of modem lines. They fought back by suing file-sharing services and other software companies for aiding and abetting copyright infringement.

The need for a legal music download site was obvious, but most early efforts resulted in skimpy song catalogs and confusing usage rights. Things changed dramatically in April 2003, when the iTunes Music Store went online to sell legal iPod-ready digital versions of popular songs for 99 cents a pop. In January 2009, Apple announced it was even doing away with restrictive copy protections built into most songs in the Store. This liberating act gave customers unlimited uses for their music and even the ability to play them on (gasp!) non-Apple players.

Now simply called the iTunes Store, you can find millions of songs, plus full-length movies, TV shows, audio books, podcasts, iPod Touch applications, video games, music videos, and more on its virtual shelves. It’s all custom-tailored for the iPod, and best of all, once you buy a title, it’s yours to keep. This chapter shows you how to find and use what you’re looking for, and get more out of the Store.

Getting to the iTunes Store

Compared to paying for gas, fighting traffic, and finding a parking spot at the mall, getting to the