The iPod Touch - How to Customize the Home Screen

The iPod Touch - How to Customize the Home Screen
By Brandon R. Cornett

The iPod Touch is one of Apple's hot new products. It's sort of like an iPhone, but without the phone part. In other words, it's a handheld multimedia device you can use to play music, watch movies and surf the web.

But it doesn't come cheap. Prices run from around $300 to $500 plus, depending on how much memory you want (among other add-ons). So with that kind of investment, you obviously want to get the most out of your iPod Touch, and that involves customizing it to suit your needs. In this article, I'll teach you how to customize the home screen of your device.

Once you take your new iPod Touch out of the box, the first thing you should do is charge it up using the charger cord that came with it. While the device is charging, you can familiarize yourself with the instruction booklet that came with it.

Easily Customize Your Home Screen

Customizing the home screen is one of the first things most users want to do with their iPod Touch. The home screen (as Apple calls it) is what you see when you first turn your device on. It's the main screen with all of the icons on it. These icons represent the various features of the iPod Touch -- web browsing, email, weather, music, etc.

You can adjust this screen in several ways. For one thing, you can rearrange the icons to put the ones you use most often at the top of the screen. To do this, you first need to open the editing feature for the Touch screen. Do this by touching and holding any of the icons. When all of the icons begin to "wiggle" back and forth, this tells you the home screen is ready for editing.

Remember, the key is to touch and hold an icon on the main screen. That's how you "unlock" the icon editing features of your device. Many people tap, tap, tap away with no success. You have to touch and hold. A good way to remember this is that a tap is like a left-click with a computer mouse, while a touch-and-hold is like a right-click with a computer mouse. Okay, moving on.

Once the icons are wiggling, you can do several things. You can rearrange them, as we talked about, delete them and more. To rearrange the icons, simply touch them (one at a time) and then drag them to where you want them on the Touch screen. Essentially, this lets you prioritize your icons based on the way you use the device.

You can also use this technique to move certain icons to another home screen (you can have more than one), or to delete the icons from altogether. When you delete an icon from the main screen, that does not mean you are removing the program from your iPod Touch entirely ... it just removes the icon. In that way, it's similar to removing a shortcut from the desktop of your computer (it only removes the shortcut, not the program itself).

Customization By the Numbers

So let's sum up these instructions with some good old-fashioned numbered steps. Here is how you can customize the home screen of your new iPod Touch.

To rearrange the icons:

1. Turn your device on and go to the home screen (it usually comes up first).
2. Touch and hold any icon on that screen (weather, email, web browser, etc.).
3. The icons will begin to "wiggle" back and forth when they are ready for changes.
4. Rearrange the icons simply by dragging them where you want them.
5. When you are done, press the home button (the square) to save your changes.

I hope you've enjoyed this guide to customizing your iPod Touch, and I wish you lots of enjoyment with your new device.

For more helpful tips and the latest info on everything iPod related, visit http://www.vstinternetsolutions.com

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Picking the Best iPod Skins

Picking the Best iPod Skins
By Chris Ryerson

iPods have had an amazing rise to stardom that started back when they were first introduced in 2001. In a very short time these have set the standard for digital audio players. This market has been so large that everyone and their brother now have an iPod.

One of the best parts about iPods is the plethora or wide range of aftermarket products. You can now customize, tweak and trick out your iPod to your hearts desires. You might go with something simple to something very wild but no matter what you choice are there will be a product to your liking.

An iPod skin is often seen as one of the most important accessories and aftermarket products out there. There are many manufactures that will offer a wide variety of iPods skins for every make and model of the iPod including the iPod Mini, iPod Shuffle, and iPod Nano. No matter what the skin looks like or the model that you have the skin has one main purpose. The main purpose other then being stylish is to protect your iPod from wear and tear including scratches and drops.

So which is the best iPod skin for your particular needs? Well, it largely depends on your tastes, style and desires. You can get a completely custom and wild look using a custom printable iPod skin also known as iPod Tattoos. If you are looking for something a little more sedate or subdued with classic style then you might want a leather skin or case.

Silicone iPod Skins

These are great little skins that offer tremendous protection and durability. They are made from silicone and thin vinyl. They are great for a variety of reasons. The silicone insulates the iPod from battery heat and keeps the iPod much cooler. These carrying cases often feel soft and rubbery or almost sticky to the touch which is great because you can get a good grip on them. Even if you hands are sweating or moist you can grab your iPod to switch to the next tune or adjust the volume without worrying about dropping it.

Typically silicone types of skins will run anywhere between $20 to $30 dollars. You can get a wide variety everything from glow in the dark to simple solid colors.

Hard Plastic iPod Skins

The skins in this category often run around $8 to $15 dollars depending on the make and model. You can also get them in a wide variety of colors and styles. You can easily find models with lanyards or belt clips to attach your iPod to which is a handy feature.

The only problem that has been noted by many hard case users is the case being made of plastic tend to be more slippery when wet then the silicone models. So you will want to be careful when holding the iPod in a hard plastic case so you don’t drop the unit.

Leather iPod Skins

These are the cream of the crop for iPod users and many of the older generation of iPod users favor the classic styling of leather and the look and feel over the squishy silicone variety. These can really range in price between $20 all the way up to $200. Kate Spade has a line of leather iPod skins which is very classy and stylish.

You will want to try the iPod skin on if at all possible to get used to the look and feel of it. Make sure that you can access all of the features on the iPod unit itself as you do not want anything covered up. For example if you want access to the jack port and docking connector without having to remove the skin. The most important thing is to try a few different skins out in the store or read reviews if you are shopping online before making a purchase. Find something that fits with your own style.

Find more great info on iPods including tips, tricks, products reviews and news at http://www.vsinternetsolutions.com You can also read more articles on iPods like the iPod Nano, Shuffle, and Mini here

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How to Hack Your iPod: Six Great iPod hacks

How to Hack Your iPod: Six Great iPod hacks
By Daniel Dwase

The iPod is a deeply personal device. The music, contacts, calendars and notes you store on it reveal a lot about your personality. From playcounts to playlists, our iPods can tell others what we enjoy, how we think and even who we are. But if you truly want to transform your iPod into an engine of extreme personal expression, why not customise it?

Hacking your iPod – whether it’s modding the case, installing custom software, or tearing it up and doubling the memory – can transform the ubiquitous music and media player into something unique.

Note: You should be aware that trying any of these tricks carries the risk of ruining your device.

1. Penguin power

iPod Linux is the essential hack, table stakes for many of the other hacks you might want to try. It fully supports iPods in generations 1-3, and has been successfully installed on all others with a display. You should grab ‘Podzilla’, which will add a graphical interface to iPod Linux. There are multiple versions of Podzilla available from which to choose. Once installed, iPod Linux and Podzilla will let you boot your iPod to a barebones Linux mode. Furthermore, it will serve as the foundation for many other hacks.

2. Wikipedia on the go

Everyone loves Wikipedia. It’s free, user-built encyclopaedia with entries on more topics than Britannica. It’s a great information resource, but what if you’re away from your desk? Now, you can get it on your iPod and carry Wikipedia with you everywhere you go. Unfortunately, it’s not yet available for all models of iPods; nano and video users are left out for now, and since there’s no display on the iPod shuffle, there’s no point in installing Wikipedia. First, you will need to install iPod Linux.

3. Double your memory

Not content with the 4GB of memory on your iPod nano? Why not double it. First, you’ll need to buy a broken nano from eBay. Crack it open and remove the memory. Then open up your working nano, solder the memory chip from the broken nano to the empty pad in the working one, seal it back up, and perform a factory reset. You’ll now have a working nano with 7.2GB of space.

4. Mobile movies on the go

Transfer movies on DVDs to your iPod easily and free using a free software (HandBrake) available for both Mac and Windows. Be warned though: unless you use an analogue capture method, it’s illegal to rip DVDs you own onto your iPod.

For Mac (and Linux) users, get a free copy of HandBrake. Handbrake is already available as a Universal binary – good news for those who have a new MacBook, Mac mini, or imac – and can rip video from DVD directly to MPEG-4 video, the format you’ll need to watch it on your iPod. Windows users need to make a few extra steps. Get a DVD ripping program such as DVDFab Decrypter or DVD Decrypter. Convert your video to AVI using a decoding tool. Finally, convert the AVI file into MPEG-4 video that can play on your iPod using Videora iPod Converter.

5. iPod to TV

Want to watch content from your iPod on your TV? You can easily do so by purchasing a £15 iPod AV cable from Apple or use a standard mini-jack to three-plug RCA cable. These cables cost between £7-10 from outlets such as Maplins (www.maplins.co.uk). Set your iPod to output to TV, plug in the cable via the mini-jack, and plug the RCA connections into a TV using a non-standard setup. Apple outputs the iPod’s video to the red cable – rather than the traditional yellow. So you’ll want to plug the red cable into the video (yellow) plug on your TV, the yellow cable into the white plug, and the white cable into the red plug. This is an easy hack that anyone with an iPod can try.

6. Pac attack

Thanks to iPodMAME, you can play Pac-Man on your iPod. This hack will install a version of MAME, the arcade game emulator program, on your iPod. As with the Wikipedia hack, iPodMAME requires that you first install iPod Linux. The program comes with romsets (the set of files including all the game data) including one for Pac-Man. PodMAME should work with any iPod with a colour screen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Dwase

Details of iPods and Accessories

Details of iPods and Accessories
By Suraj Kumar

The different models of iPod are just some of the leading portable audio players in the world. This is not surprising because the iPods changed the way people view mp3 players. The players that were available in the market, prior to the invention of iPods, can only play mp3 audio files. You cannot listen to audio files that are encoded in another format. You cannot rip your favorite audio CDs and listen to the songs from those albums. You have to convert the files into mp3 before you can listen to them with your mp3 player.

But with the invention of iPods, you can now listen to your music - be they mp3 files or not. Not only that, but you can also watch music videos, TV shows, and even movies! The latest models of the iPod even allows you to surf the internet using the Safari web browser with their WiFi connection compatibility.

Given the many things you can do with your iPod, it is not surprising that after many hours of use, you will need to recharge the batteries. Charging the iPod does not consume too much time, especially when you consider the fact that you can use the iPod for many hours. In addition to the charger that comes with your purchase of the iPod, you can also find several chargers for the iPod available in the market today. Some of them can be plugged in your car's cigarette lighter socket, in your computer's or laptop's USB port, or the regular electric socket.

These are the general types of iPod chargers available in the market today - solar-powered, wall outlet or mains, in-car, and USB retractable charging cable.

The solar-powered iPod charger, as the name implies, requires solar energy or sunlight. This iPod charger is particularly useful if you will be outdoors, especially during the summer, and you have no access to an electric source. Most solar-power iPod chargers are compatible with the different iPods such as iPod classic, iPod mini, iPod Touch, iPod U2 edition, iPhone, and other iPods. They are not recommended for use with most first to third iPods.

The mains or wall outlet iPod charger is, of course, the iPod charger that you can use whenever you will be in a place with an available and working electric socket. You don't have to wait for long to get the battery of your iPod recharged. The most convenient thing is about this charger is that you can leave it as you attend to other things. Charging stops as soon as the batter is full.

The next type of iPod charger is the in-car, which is convenient if you're in a hurry and can't charge your iPod at your house or apartment. It's also useful when you're having a roadtrip or whenever you'll be travelling by car for hours.

Lastly, the USB retractable charging cable. It is portable, small enough to fit in the pocket of your jeans, and compatible with most iPods.

http://www.vstinternetsolutions.com has the best deals on iPods and accessories available on the web. Reviews, News, and the Latest Fashion.

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Download Free iPod Video Games

Download Free Ipod Video Games - A Quick Overview
By Sean Hamilton

Unfortunately there’s more to downloading free Ipod Video games than you might first think. Ipods are a big part of today’s world, so naturally there are about a billion ways to get some free games to put on it, but a lot of them may harm your computer or Ipod or worse. I’ve put together some tips for you so you can keep your Ipod healthy when looking for those free game downloads.

Downloading Free Ipod Video Games Tip 1- Stay on the right side of the law. We’ve all seen the thousands of torrent sites offering everything under the sun as a free download, but did you know how illegal they are? It’s pretty risky because anyone can find your address and things from your online details these days, so if the authorities want to track you down, they will. As well as that, there’s also the moral side to it-many video game companies are struggling financially-by stealing their games you are banging nails into their coffins!

Downloading Free Ipod Video Games Tip 2- Find a reputable site. There are thousands if not millions of sites in the world that will offer free downloads of this and that and anything else that’s popular. Some of them are downright shady, with lots of popups and ads which force you to click them just to clear your screen etc. This is not cool-I don’t trust any site with popups as I think anyone who treats a site visitor like that has no respect for them. Be very careful when searching for possible download sites.

Downloading Free Ipod Video Games Tip 3- Look for a site with a clean appearance that is not chock full of ads. That’s usually a sign of professionalism, and when we are looking to download stuff, we only want to deal with the professionals. Only then can we be sure that our downloads will be top speed and all in working order. There is nothing worse than waiting hours for a slow download only to find that it doesn’t work.

Downloading Free Ipod Video Games Tip 4- Pay for quality. I know this is an article about free games, but sometimes you may have to pay an admin fee or something to make sure you get the best download speeds and quality. There are more and more sites like this springing up, and I’ve found a few very reliable ones that I use all the time, and you can find a list of them at http://www.ipodlowdown.com I was doubtful about paying upfront at first, but I’ve downloaded stuff worth much more than I paid, so it’s a win-win situation. If you’re interested in finding out which free sites are the best ones, please check out the links below.

That’s all you need to know about downloading free ipod video games. It can be a tricky world to get into, but once you know the reliable sites the world is your oyster! If this article has been useful why not refer it to a friend using the link on the top right?

You can get more info on the Latest in iPod accessories and games at http://www.vstintersolutions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_Hamilton

How Good Are iPod Touch Games?

How Good Are iPod Touch Games?
By Ray Fitch

The iPod touch and the iPhone have been dubbed the biggest inventions since sliced bread. These days you just have to have one. I choose to have the touch since I refuse to be locked into AT&T's high rates with the iPhone...but that's another story. One of the great features I love about the it is that you can play games on this device. I had an iPod, and I know that there were a few fun games on it to kid around with, but the iPod touch games takes it to a whole new level.

At first I thought the iPod touch games would be just regular tic TAC toe or Packman type games. However I was way off from the truth. There are some games on the this device that I never would have imagined being able to implement on such a small console.

In the past I am usually one to play a game or two on my cell phone while waiting for an appointment or a class to start, but the iPod touch games makes you take the time to play them! One of my favorites is tower defense. If you would like a good demonstration of how good the games are on this device then be sure to try this one out. I guarantee that you will be hooked after a few minutes.

So to sum it up, these iPod touch games are way better than I expected. Some of these games can compete with games found on consoles such as Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. If you want to test out the power of these games here are a few that are definitely worth checking out:

· Moto Racer
· Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D
· Field runners
· Warfare Incorporated

Check out BestofIPodtouchgames.com for all the latest news regarding anything iPod! While you're there check out the video on how to JAILBREAK your iPod touch and play TONS of FREE games! http://www.vstinternetsolutions.com

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New, smaller iPod Shuffle gets the power of speech

Half the size of the last generation but with twice the capacity, the latest Shuffle boasts a novel way of letting you know what track you're listening to: It talks.

Available now for $79, is billed as the "world's smallest music player," and indeed, it looks tiny—just 1.8 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches, or (as Apple helpfully notes) a little smaller than a AA battery.

Gone is the circular navigation pad from the last-generation Shuffle; instead, you get a new in-line remote on the earphone cord, which includes volume up/down buttons, plus a center control that lets you pause and skip tracks. Not bad, but here's the only problem: Third-party earphones won't work all that well with the new Shuffle, or at least not until someone makes a pair with a compatible in-line remote.

Also new: VoiceOver, an intriguing attempt to replace the Shuffle's missing LCD display with a computerized voice that tells you the track name and artist of the song you're listening to. Just press and hold the center key of the Shuffle's in-line remote to hear VoiceOver speak.

The new Shuffle also gets playlist support—at last—thanks to VoiceOver. Here's how it works: Keep holding the center key and VoiceOver will tell you what playlist you're listening to, followed by a list of all available playlists; click again when you hear the playlist you'd want to select.

Interesting … although , VoiceOver isn't without its quirks. The voice itself sounds a bit robotic, and for some strange reason, Apple decided to give VoiceOver a male voice when synced with a Mac and a female voice for PC music lovers. Strange—why not give everyone the chance to choose for themselves? (Perhaps they will; guess we'll find out soon.)

That said, I like the fact that the new Shuffle (available in silver and black flavors) comes with 4GB of storage for $79, just $10 more than the old 2GB version.

So, what do you think? Like the new Shuffle? Thoughts on VoiceOver? Fire away.

For more information regarding iPod accessories, check out http://www.vstinternetsolutions.com

The best place to find out the latest info on the newest in iPod accessories and devices.