iTunes A to Z part 3

[i can fly 1]

Song Options

Select a song in your library and choose Get Info from the File menu. In the Options pane, you’ll find a handful of settings you can apply to just that song. Adjust its volume, assign an equalizer preset, rate it, set the start and stop time. Even tell iTunes to remember the playback position, skip the song in shuffle mode, or include the song as part of a gapless album.

iTunes Mini Player

Get iTunes out of the way without stopping the groove. Click the green button in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window, and the window transforms into a mini player. Click the green button again to return the iTunes window to its full size.
Party Shuffle

The Party Shuffle feature creates a dynamic playlist from either your entire library or a specific playlist. Review upcoming songs to reorder or remove on the fly, or add songs to the mix at any time.
Convert a Song to MP3

When you import unprotected WMA files or music from CDs, iTunes saves them as AAC files. Easily convert them to MP3 in a few clicks: Select the song you want converted, then choose “Create MP3 Version” from the Advanced menu.
Control Playback from the Dock

You don’t need to be in the iTunes window to use simple playback commands. Right-click or Control-click the iTunes icon in the Dock to bring up a contextual menu that lets you pause, skip, mute, and more.

Radio

Back to top Listen to Streaming Radio

Click Radio in your Source List and access hundreds of streaming radio stations from 26 different genres. Just double-click a station that interests you, and it begins streaming. Stations with lower bit rates are ideal if you have a low-bandwidth Internet connection like dial-up.

Add a Station

Say there’s an Internet radio station you love, but it’s not included with iTunes. Choose Open Audio Stream from the Advanced menu to add the station to your library. Paste or enter the station’s URL in the dialog that appears and click OK.


Video Playback

Back to top Playing Video

iTunes plays videos downloaded from the iTunes Store, such as your rented movies, purchased TV shows and movies, and video podcasts. iTunes also plays QuickTime-compatible files (labeled “.mov” and “.mp4”). In iTunes preferences, you can designate whether your videos play full screen or in the iTunes window.

Onscreen Controls

Move the pointer while a video is playing to bring up onscreen controls that let you play, pause, scan back or forward, and adjust volume.

Alternative Audio

Some videos feature alternative audio in other languages. Change the default audio language in the Playback pane of iTunes preferences. Quickly switch the language while your video plays by using the onscreen controls.

Accessibility

Back to top Enhanced Screen Reader Support

iTunes 8 enhances screen reader accessibility. With VoiceOver in Mac OS X or Window-Eyes for Windows XP and Windows Vista, browse and play everything in your iTunes library. You can also purchase and download content from the iTunes Store, including iTunes U. And create and maintain your iTunes Store account.

Closed Captioning

Show closed captioning in videos by changing playback settings in iTunes preferences. Select “Show closed captioning when available.” Search for closed-captioned movies in the iTunes Store by using Power Search and selecting “Search for movies that contain closed captioning.”


iTunes Store

Searching

Back to top Search

The iTunes Store makes it easy to find what you're looking for. It uses an interpretive, find-as-you-type search function that returns results in a list that dynamically changes as you type.


Power Search

Search for items in the iTunes Store as though you were using a fine-toothed comb. Power Search lets you search using multiple criteria. Find movies, for instance, by title, actor, director, producer, description, year, and rating.

Sharing

Back to top Tell a Friend

You might come across something in the iTunes Store you’re certain your friend will like. Just click the Tell A Friend link. The iTunes Store opens a page for you to compose a message that is emailed to your friend, complete with a link to the item.
Create a My iTunes Widget

My iTunes widgets are simple, self-updating add-ons for your web page, social networking profile, or blog. Use My iTunes to share your top reviews, favorite artists, and new music, movies, and TV shows from the iTunes Store with anyone who visits your site.

Send a Gift

Surprise those you care about with the gift of entertainment delivered immediately to their inbox. Look for “Gift This” links in music, movies, TV shows, music videos, audiobooks, and iPod games. Click Gift This Music, for example, to purchase songs or an entire album as a gift that your recipient redeems.

Create and Publish an iMix

Share a playlist by creating an iMix and publishing it on the iTunes Store. Select the playlist. Choose Create iMix from the Store menu. Enter information about your playlist and click Publish. Display your iMix on your blog, social networking profile, or website. Just click “Publish to the Web” on any iMix page, and iTunes builds the Flash code for your website and creates a feed of your iMix.

Purchasing

Back to top Create an iTunes Store Account

To purchase items from the iTunes Store, you’ll need an iTunes Store account. Click Sign In near the upper-right corner of the iTunes window. Then click Create New Account and follow the onscreen instructions. If you already have an Apple ID or AOL account, you can use the same name.
1-Click or Shopping Cart

By default, purchases from the iTunes Store are set to “Buy and download using 1-Click.” That means your items are purchased as soon as you click the “Get...” button. If you prefer one transaction for all your iTunes Store purchases, change your Store settings to “Buy using a Shopping Cart” in iTunes preferences. Your “Get...” buttons change to “Add...” buttons, and a Shopping Cart appears in the Store section of your Source List.
Redeem Gift Cards and Gift Certificates

Redeem your iTunes Gift Card or gift certificate easily and begin making purchases right away. Just click Redeem in the Quick Links section of the iTunes Store and enter the code for your card or certificate. The balance of the card or certificate appears next to your iTunes Store account name in the upper-right corner of the iTunes window. Purchases are debited immediately so you’ll always know your current balance.

Buy Using an Allowance

Allowances arrive monthly in a set denomination. The balance appears in the iTunes window next to your account name, so you always know how much is left to spend.
Authorize and Deauthorize

Purchases you make from the iTunes Store can be played on up to five computers that you authorize using your iTunes Store account name and password. To authorize or deauthorize a single computer, choose Authorize Computer or Deauthorize Computer from the Store menu. If all 5 authorizations are being used, you can deauthorize all your computers at one time by choosing View My Account from the Store menu and selecting Deauthorize All.
Review and Rate

Liked something you bought from the iTunes Store? Write a review about it. Didn’t like something? Write a review about that, too. First, create a nickname for yourself in your iTunes Store account information. Then just click the Write a Review link on the item’s page to leave feedback and a 1- to 5-star rating. Your nickname appears next to your review.

Purchased Playlist

Your first iTunes Store purchase creates a playlist called Purchased in the Store section of your Source List. Future purchases will be added to this playlist.