EXCLUSIVES

iTunes & iPod Tips For Mac Masters
By A. David Cooper
December 2003

Let's get a few things straight at the outset. Hacking iTunes, whether by legitimate third-party software, or by your own Apple Scripting hand, is usually bad news. Apple made the software near-perfect and sealed up most of the loose ends, so any extras you may have a hankering to add on are probably more trouble than they're worth. Having gotten that out of the way, now we can discuss a few choice iTunes and iPod tips and tricks to make your Stealth Disco performances rock even harder.

iPod Flipstand

Let's start out with a few of my non-iTunes specific favorites that cater more toward the iPod side of things. First, there's the iPod Flipstand (www.speckproducts.com). As a technology writer, I've tried more iPod cases than I care to remember. If there's an iPod case out there with pink frills, rhinestones, a note pad on the back and a lip balm attachment, trust me, I have reviewed it. So I can say with confidence the best iPod case I've used so far is the iPod Flipstand. The unit has a built-in belt clip, a sturdy plastic casing, and a great front interface that gives you access to the iPod scroll wheel and view screen without having to remove the iPod. All that, and when you get home you can leave your iPod in the case and prop the unit up. Hands down this is the most useful, well-designed iPod case I've touched so far.

naviPOD

Okay, I've already put my foot in my mouth. When you get home you will have to remove the iPod from that handy case in order to use the incredibly cool naviPOD (http://www.drbott.com). The naviPOD is a user-friendly, foolproof remote control for your iPod. You just plug the iPod into this little unit, and then begin moving about freely controlling your iPod wirelessly. This device gets ten extra cool points because the actual remote looks like a little flying saucer Ð very futuristic Ð perfect for your Dr. Evil impersonations.

iTrip

Then there's the iTrip (www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/). What can I say about this tiny, James Bond-like device that will convince you I'm not over-hyping it? Let's just say that the iTrip is like watching magic. Even someone like me, who is surrounded by cutting-edge tech, is impressed by the simplicity and ingenuity of this unit. The iTrip allows you to take over any FM radio with you iPod and play your tunes through its system. Now I have so much fun visiting the homes of my friends and freaking them out by hijacking their sound systems.

iTunes Insight

Once Apple updated iTunes with the iTunes Music Store, many failed to notice a subtle change in the superficial aspects of the application. In the dock of Mac OS X, the iTunes logo changed from a happy-go-luck pink, to a blatant money-green hue. The tacit message has been sent: iTunes is now all about serious business. Luckily, this change in tone hasn't diminished iTunes ability to be one of the most fun applications on the Mac OS X platform.

iTunes To iChat AV

Now Playing In iChat is an iChat AV to iTunes tool that integrates the two great Apple applications into a nice little package. When you start iTunes, then start up iChat AV, you'll be able to view and show others using iChat what you're listening to on iTunes. You just insert the script into your iTunes scripts folder located in home > Library > iTunes. It will then appear in iTunes' scripts menu, where you can select it by clicking on its name.

iTunes Visualizer

If there is one thing about iTunes that I'm absolutely in love with it's the Visualizer. This is the feature in iTunes that allows you to view random animated graphics while you listen to music. I have fired up iTunes, started the Visualizer and literally zoned out for hours looking into the truly fascinating kaleidoscopic images that move in concert to the rhythm of whatever music you're playing. But what's really going on behind all those pretty colors? Well, one simple keystroke can end all the mystery. Start iTunes, select the Visualizer option, and while the Visualizer is playing, press your "H" key. You'll then see a menu pop up that will tell you things like how to control the frame rate of the animations and who made what particular animation. Here's one nifty trick: turn on the Visualizer, press the "H" key, then when the menu pops up press the "?" key. Another menu will appear at which point you can then click the "R" key repeatedly to randomly change the designs flowing across your screen. It's really quite addictive, and beautiful.

iTunes Easter Egg

Finally, I thought I'd throw in an iTunes Easter Egg that has been whispered about, but not widely acknowledged. It's not super sexy, but entertaining nonetheless. Open the About iTunes window. Then, while credits for the software team are scrolling, click the Option key and you'll see that you can make the text flow backwards in real time. If you're completely juvenile, like me, you'll probably use the function to scratch the text back and forth like a DJ might.

Okay, there's your road map to fun with iTunes and the iPod. Now get out there and have fun!