Have you ever bought something, like a new car or a new kitchen appliance, and months (or even years) later, someone comes along and introduces you to a feature you never knew existed?
Well, if this has ever happened to you; she takes the head: you are not alone! There are so many features, devices, and settings on today’s modern gadgets, that it sometimes feels like you need to take a school course in gadgetology just to make sure you’re enjoying your item to its fullest.
So, in an effort to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of your iPod (whether you have one now or are in the market to buy one).
Some of these advantages may seem very simple to you, while others may be revealing.
Also remember: You may not be using a particular feature or benefit right now, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be an opportunity in the future for you to enjoy something new.
Here are some of the iPod’s advantages:
–> Size does matter!
While you obviously know your iPod can store your music on the go, you may not know how much room there is for some of the newer fourth-generation iPods on the market right now.
Current versions offer storage capacities of 20 gigabytes and 40 gigabytes, which is huge for most audiophiles. For added convenience, the new iPods also offer a new music menu and support for multiple playlists.
–> The random function
iPod’s shuffle feature lets you listen to music you’ve selected yourself, like listening to a radio station that plays only the music you like. That’s why Apple added the “Shuffle Songs” feature: This saves you from having to turn on shuffle in the iPod’s settings menu and then navigate through various levels just to be able to select songs.
–> Not just for music…
The iPod was originally marketed as a device for listening to music; And this made sense, since that wonderful teen demographic spends more than all other groups combined! However, as the iPod has matured, so has its target market.
The educational market has now become aware of the advantages offered by the iPod; and this is one of the main reasons why many people who would not otherwise buy an iPod find one in their pocket.
For example, take the case of Duke University in North Carolina. University officials provided 1,650 of the 20GB iPods to freshmen. These iPod sets came preloaded with campus information, orientation notes, and an academic calendar.
And here’s the coolest part: Duke’s iPods have adopted the iTunes store format so students can purchase academic materials, course outlines, language lessons, and of course, music. We look specifically at iTunes in the fourth section of this book.
In addition, there is also the market for audiobooks. We’ve come a long way from a folder full of tapes! Complete books can now be downloaded to an iPod and enjoyed on the go.
These audiobooks include everything from YA fiction to romance, business books to self-help, and everything in between.
So if you’re currently using your iPod just to listen to music, or that’s what you plan to do when you buy one, remember that it can, in fact, be used for so much more.