Simply Digital

Episode 7: VoIP

It seems like everyone is offering you alternatives for your plain old telephone system(POTS). From Vonage, to your broadband provider, they are all battling for your dial tone dollar and they are all using the same underlying technology — Voice Over Internet Protocol - VoIP

In episode 7, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave talk about what exactly VoIP is, how it works and why you might find it a good alternative to your regular phone line.

Show Notes

1. What Is VoIP?
   • VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol.
   • In the simplest definition, it means that you’re running voice conversations over a data network, such as the Internet.
   • When you use dial-up for Internet access, you are running your data over a voice network.
   • With a Broadband connection to the Internet, you’re using a high-speed data network.
2. Do I Have To Have A Broadband Connection To Use VoIP?
   • Yes. Technically you can run VoIP over a slower connection, but the call quality is very poor.
   • The good news is that broadband aka “high speed” Internet connections are becoming more and more prevalent.
   • Even mobile phone carriers are now offering high speed connections on your phone.
   • Analog Dave just recently moved to Cingular which markets a high speed data network called Edge. Dave couldn’t remember if his phone had Edge on it or not, because it wasn’t a priority for him. If it did, it was just Lagniappe.
3. A Little History
   • It used to be that voice networks were faster than data networks.
   • People are not very tolerant of problems with audio in a phone call. Delays, echos and things of that nature are quickly noticed by listeners.
   • Voice networks are great at point-to-point streaming. That’s what makes a call so reliable
   • Data networks are inherently different in that they transmit packets and those packets don’t have to be in sequential order.
   • With dial-up, you’re running data over a voice network because originally that was the fastest method for the average consumer.
   • Today, data networks have become so fast that we can now run voice information over a data network and still have a relatively high level of quality.
4. How Do You Use VoIP?
   • The most common method of using VoIP is to purchase a service such as Vonage, or Packet8
   • With these services, you purchase a “box” and connect it to your cable modem and then use a regular telephone to make calls via the Internet.
   • Michael’s mother recently switched to Vonage. She doesn’t have a standard landline phone. Instead, she uses her normal telephone and through Vonage can make calls to anywhere. She was also able to transfer her old telephone number to her Vonage account.
   • A breakdown of how it works can be found at this link, under “How Does Vonage Work?”
5. What Are The Advantages Of VoIP?
   • The number one reason is cost. VoIP tend to be less for long distance charges and for phone features
   • Features such as voice mail, callerID with Name and call waiting are included, so there are no extra charges for these services like there is for your traditional landline phone
   • Long distance charges are lower and in some cases included in your plan. This means that you can make unlimited long distance calls for a monthly fee.
   • Back in Analog Dave’s day, you had to call the operator to make a person-to-person call, but today things are much more fluid.
   • Many services also allow you to transfer your existing number. This means you don’t have to change your phone number if you move from a landline to a VoIP solution.
   • Since VoIP runs on a data network, it doesn’t matter what area code your phone number is. In other words, you can be physically in New York, but your phone number is an L.A. phone number.
   • You can also take your VoIP telephone adapter (”box”) with you when you travel so that your phone number travels with you.
   • If you travel a lot, you can look at getting a WiFi phone such as the WiFi UTStarcom F1000 for Vonage
6. Does All VoIP Solutions Cost Money?
   • No! You can use software on your computer to initiate a voice conversation
   • Instant Messengers are a great way to try out VoIP to see if it’s right for you
   • All you need is a microphone and headphones, or speakers on your computer.
   • We recommend something like the Logitech Stereo USB Headset 250 for better quality audio
   • Instant messengers with voice support include Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger and MSN, but they are limited to voice calls to other IM users, not landline phone numbers. In other words, you can use Yahoo! Messenger to call other Yahoo! Messenger buddies, but not dial their home phone number.
   • Skype is another software product that has focused on VoIP and even supports calling a landline number and not just other IM users. You can even add a local telephone number in order to receive regular phone calls.
   • Simply Digital uses Skype for remote interviews and have been very pleased with the results.
   • Skype can do conference calls and is allowing free calls to US phone numbers
   • With Skypecasts, it will soon be possible to talk to up to 100 people at one time.
   • Skype, and other VoIP solutions often offer higher quality audio than a traditional phone call
7. Are There Downsides To VoIP
   • Reliability can be an issue. Depending on the service that you’ve chosen, you have to have power, an internet connection and in some cases a computer. Should any one of those pieces not work, you won’t be able to make a phone call.
   • Quality of service can also be an issue. Since you are relying on your Internet connection, should your broadband provider not provide you with a quality connection, you’ll run into problems. This can also be an issue if you’re a heavy data user.
   • Emergency services may, or may not work like a landline phone. It depends on your service. Skype for example DOES NOT SUPPORT emergency calls. Vonage and Packet8 do, but with some concessions. It’s best to look closely at your provider if this feature is important to you.
   • Integration with the global telephone number system isn’t there. A traditional landline phone meets a particular specification and VoIP does not meet that spec.
   • So if someone were to look you up in the phone book, or by dialing information they may not find your number.
8. Business Advantages To VoIP
   • The cost savings for large companies is much greater, due to long distance changes
   • Your corporate phone system can be completely integrated. Someone in New York and push an extension button and reach someone in Japan.
   • It’s complicated, but if have an IT department, then it’s what they do, so it’s not completely out of the question.
   • The beauty of a corporate VoIP solution is that you can extend your corporate phone system to where you need it to be.
9. For The Geeky Amongst Us
   • Check out the open source PBX solution Astrisk.
   • This is a do-it-yourself software solution that uses a PC to create a phone system.
   • Asterisk@Home (now called TrixBox) is a home version of Asterisk that is much easier to install and manage
   • Once you have an Asterisk phone system setup, then you can use a WiFi Phone, such as the Linksys WIP300, and extend your phone system to wherever you have WiFi.
   • If you’re a home user, you could take your home phone with you when you go on vacation
   • If you’re a corporate user, you could take your office phone home with you if you were working from home. This way, your secretary, or your boss could reach you the same as if you were sitting in your office.
   • There is still the limitation of having to have access to a data network in order to use it and a mobile phone may make more sense in the long run.
10. This Is Still An Evolving Technology
    • Things are changing almost weekly with VoIP
    • However, AT&T stopped marketing it consumer long distance awhile back and it not focused on it’s VoIP offering CallVantage. So clearly the large telephone companies see VoIP as the future.
    • The cable industry is big on VoIP and seeing big growth in bundling your telephone service with your cable TV and high-speed Internet services.
11. What Do The Simply Digital Guys Do?
    • Analog Dave is very non-bundled. He prefers the best product for each need. He still has a regular phone line with a traditional touch-tone phone.
    • As geeked-out as Michael is, he has the same thing. He uses Skype and is starting to play with Asterisk, but likes the sense of security knowing that should power go out, or a service fail, he could always pick up a phone and get a dial tone.
12. For More Information
    • VoIP eTailers: Voipsupply.com
    • Build your own VoIP solutions with Asterisk

A Final Note:
If you’re interesting in trying VoIP, then start with Skype to see if you like it. Skype has good quality audio and will let you get a feel for what it’s like without having to spend any money.

If you like it, but find having to use a computer, then try a service like Vonage, or Packet8. These services give you more of a traditional phone experience and offer a lot of features for less money.

1 comment September 27th, 2006

Episode 6: The Changing Face Of Television

With the advent of digital video recorders and being able to download your favorite sitcom, the face of what we know as television is changing. In this episode, the Simply Digital guys look at all the different ways that you can watch TV.

In Episode 6, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave explain the basics of all the ways that the medium of television is expanding. From the VCR to the DVR, there are a lot of new technologies that make watching television easier and more accessible than ever before.

Show Notes

• Television has changed quite a bit since the Golden Age of Television, when there were only three TV broadcasters in the US.
• Today you can watch TV just about anywhere. In fact, sometimes NOT watching television can be a challenge.
• Analog Dave considers himself a reformed “TV Junkie”. Until he had kids, Dave never wore a watch because, based on what was on television, he would know the approximate time. His first TV show that sticks out in his head was the Howdy Doody Show
• Michael’s first memory of television is the Storyland - The Buckskin Bill Show and growing up was influenced by Looney Tunes
• Whereas Analog Dave is a reformed TV Junkie, Michael is still hooked.
• With the advent series television being created by paid cable networks, such as HBO and Cinemax, the landscape of television content drastically changed. Specifically, series such as “The Sopranos“, “Sex and the City” and “Six Feet Under“, are prime examples.
• These new series raised the bar in terms of quality, as well as the level of storytelling
• Michael feels that the series finale of “Six Feet Under” was the best series finale of all time.
• The reason for this topic, is the fact that technology has evolved to a point where HOW we watch television is/has changing/changed.
• What Are The Different Ways You Can Watch TV?
  1. Broadcasting
     • A network airs a show at a given time and you have to be present to watch it.
     • It’s a shared event with your community because we all experience it at the same time.
     • If you’re unable to be present when the show is aired, you must pre-set a recorder, such as a VCR, to record the show for you.
  2. Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
     • The evolution of the VCR is the digital video recorder
     • The most known brand is the TIVO
     • What makes a DVR different from a VCR is that they record to a hard drive instead of a tape and they have more advanced recording features
     • Most DVRs support subscriptions that download all the content programming for all the networks in your area. Think of it as having the TV Guide built into the DVR.
     • Since the DVR has so much more storage space, it can record a LOT of television based on your personal habits.
     • Instead of having to remember to record your favorite show each week, put in a tape, etc, a DVR can be set to record your favorite show all the time, regardless of the network, or show time. how can it do this? Well, it has a “TV Guide” built-in.
     • A favorite feature of a DVR, is being able to fast-forward through commercials
     • Most owners of DVRs claim that it’ll change the way you look at television, because every time you sit down to watch television, your favorite shows are on because they’ve already been recorded.
     • A DVR can be a real boon for people who want to watch TV during the daytime, because Michael’s opinion of daytime TV is that “It stinks!”
     • Many parents have been known to take their DVR with them when they go on vacation so that they have all of their children’s favorite shows when they’re away from home.
  3. Video On Demand
     • Video On Demand (VOD) is a service offered by cable television providers.
     • It’s similar to a DVR in that content is available when you want to watch it (versus the broadcaster’s schedule), but it’s different in that the content is downloaded from the cable provider.
     • You typically have to pay for the content
     • Every program on your cable network is available, only select programs
     • Movies are a popular form of VOD
  4. Digital Video Disk (DVD)
     • DVDs have recently become a huge source of revenue for television broadcasters
     • It used to be that syndication was the only additional source of income other than the initial broadcast. DVDs have changed all that because it’s a very big market now.
     • For people who don’t have HBO, DVDs are a great alternative. You can rent or buy the season and watch that way.
     • DVDs are also great for shows that didn’t reach a mass appeal and were cancelled early.
     • Most DVD’s offer additional content, such as “behind the scenes” or sometimes even prequels to the next season, which is great for avid fans.
     • The downside of watching television via DVD is that you often have to wait a year before the DVDs are released. If a series is returning for another season, then that is the time that the previous season is released.
     • Michael and his wife watched the entire series of “Sex and the City” on DVD via the NetFlix service.
  5. Via Direct Download
     • Through Apple’s iTunes, or Google Video, you can download television shows directly to your computer.
     • Some content is free, but most of it has to be purchased. Prices range from $.99 to $1.99
     • The attraction of downloading television because it’s instant and advertising free.
     • This is a great way to catch an episode of a television show that missed, or forgot to record.
     • Michael has watched the entire series of Battlestar Galactica by downloading it through iTunes and watching it on his computer.
     • If you don’t have a computer-centric lifestyle, you can use a video iPod and connect it your television quickly and easily.
     • Mobile devices, such as the PSP, or a Palm, can play television and movies too.
     • Michael used his Tapwave Zodaic to share the shows “Hustle” and “The IT Crowd” with his nephew. Great UK shows that he might never have seen otherwise.
     • Other than the video iPod, most mobile video devices require a few extra steps in order to get it on your device.
     • Some mobile telephone carriers are now promoting television for your mobile phone.
     • Apple has pre-announced the iTV, which is a Mac mini style computer that has been specifically designed to hook up to your television. This will bridge the Internet to TV gap that currently exists.
     • iTunes does currently offer streaming, so if you have an additional computer hooked up to your TV, you could stream video from your main computer. The actual performance can be questionable though, so a wired connection is recommended.
     • Although not specifically television per say, “viral video clips” have become quite popular through sites such as YouTube and Google Video, so video on your computer is more-and-more commonplace.
     • When you purchase video on the Internet, you are downloading a file to your computer.
     • The videos that Michael referenced on YouTube have already been removed.
     • The bottom line is that television is changing and becoming more fluid. Especially when the major networks are earning more per episode with an iTunes download than they are with the original broadcast.
     • The new distribution model appears to be
       • Broadcast an episode
       • Sell the episode the next day via iTunes
       • Run re-runs of the episode throughout the year
       • Sell the DVD of the previous season just before the start of the next
       • Syndicate the series after reaching a certain number of episodes
  6. If you’re really into television, then you should really check out TV.com. It’s run by C|net, but all of the content is generated by users.
  7. Michael is the editor for “Hustle” and “The IT Crowd“, as well as several actors.
  8. You can see “Hustle” on AMC in the US.
  9. The Slingbox
     • The Slingbox is a device that you hook to your television. It allows you to “sling” your TV to computer(s) in your house.
     • You can also “sling” your TV to remote computers over the Internet.
     • It even allows you to watch TV on your SmartPhone.
     • It’s the opposite of what Apple’s iTV is supposed to do. Instead of bringing the Internet to your TV, you’re bringing your TV content to the Internet.
  10. Analog Dave Trivia:
      • When color TV first came out, people would watch the test pattern because it was in color and so few TV shows were.
      • Then on Sunday night, Bonanza came on in color, which had to be amazing in its day due to the opening titles alone.
  11. Remembering TV From “Back In The Day”
      • Michael thinks that shows like “That 70’s Show” are educational for kids who didn’t grow up during that time.
      • There was a time when there were no TV remotes for example.
      • When the first TV remotes came out, the buttons were actually switches that clicked when you pressed a button. Hence, remotes today are still sometimes referred to as “clickers.”
      • Dave doesn’t think that “That 70’s Show” is all that accurate though (and he should know)
      • Michael remembers the first “fancy” TV that he saw. His neighbors had a large TV (small by today’s standards) that had a telephone built into it. You could answer your phone with the remote and talk to the person on the other line like a speaker phone. There wasn’t caller ID, so you didn’t know who was calling though.
      • Michael wonders why TV’s no longer have a telephone feature. He thinks it would be cool. Especially if it came with caller ID.
      • If you can send a text message to a kids tv show, you should be able to answer your phone through the TV.
      • AOL is now offering older TV programs for free online. This is a trend for older programs.
      • The TV show that Analog Dave and Michael couldn’t remember was Harsh Realm.
  12. It drives Michael crazy that shows like “”Veronica Mars“” can’t be scheduled better when competing against hit shows such as “Lost“. Also that more hit series don’t schedule themselves like “24“, with all episodes aired in order without interruption.

A Final Note:
iTunes and Google Video are great ways to play with downloadable video. Often times you can find free content, so you can try out these new services without spending any money. For DVR and OnDemand, be sure to check your cable or satellite service provider because they are always running specials to get you to upgrade and add these features.

One thing to remember is that in spite of all this new technology, TV broadcasting will continue. New media just expands the market, it doesn’t limit it. So if anything, in years to come, we’re simply going to have MORE content and viewing options. Isn’t being entertained great?

4 comments September 20th, 2006

Episode 5: Weblogs

This week, the Simply Digital guys discuss weblogs or blogs. It seems these days that just about everyone has a blog of their own and even corporations are getting into the blogging game. Weblogs are now in the mainstream and no longer just a geeky fad, so if you’ve ever thought about having a blog of your own, this is the podcast for you.

In Episode 5, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave explain the basics of weblogs: what they are, how they work, and how you can get one of your own. There are many different types of blogs and many of them are even free.

Show Notes

• Analog Dave doesn’t have a weblog, although it sometimes feels like almost everyone does.
• Michael Ashby’s blog is at www.mashby.com
• Show Topic: Weblogs
  1. What Is A Weblog/Blog?
     • According to Blogger:
       

       A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.

     • In other words, a blog can be anything you want it to be.
     • What made blogs so popular, is that the tools used to blog make publishing to the web very easy.
     • Slashdot and Engadget are examples of commercial blogs. Although Slashdot existed long before their were blogs, it is still done in the blog style.
  2. Why Would You Want To Read A Blog?
     • In all honesty, Michael didn’t see the appeal of blogs when first introduced to them by Mike Rohde.
     • Blogs do get the bad rap of being just personal diaries filled with nothing but boring personal minutiae.
     • However, there are plenty of great weblogs out there if you give them half a chance. Especially if you find out a good friend has a blog.
  3. Why Would You Want To Start A Blog?
     • If you have an extended family, you can use a blog to keep them up-to-date.
     • If you’re passionate about a particular topic, then you can create a weblog that deals specifically on that topic. So if you have strong feelings about politics for example, then you can create your own personalize soapbox to voice your views and opinions.
  4. What Types Of Blogs Are There?
     • A Traditional Weblog
       Which is where you post text in the form of articles. mashby.com is a good example.
     • A Moblog
       Which is where you post photos instead of text. Camera phones are perfect for this type of blog. Laura Burstein’s moblog is a good example.
     • A Podcast
       Which is an audio weblog. You record your voice and then post it online for people to listen, or subscribe to. Simply Digital is a good example of a podcast.
  5. What Topics Could My Blog Be About?
     • It could be personal, much like an online diary.
     • It could be cultural, such as sports, or theatre.
     • It could be topical and focus on a specific niche, or topic, such as model trains, gadgets, woodworking, etc.
     • It could be corporate, such as WinMarkets. The CEO of Rubicon Consulting wanted to add a “voice” to her company and have a little bit of fun with it.
  6. What Is A Corporate Blog?
     • One of the key features of a blog is that they can create a dialog between the author and the reader.
     • For that reason, many companies see blogs as a way to communicate directly with their customers and have a conversation with them.
     • A good example is Google’s Blog. Most people won’t read a press release, because it’s typically nothing but “marketing speak”. However, with a blog, since it’s written in a more informal style, customers are more responsive to it.
  7. What Makes A Blog Popular In Search Engines?
     • It really depends on what you’re writing about, but Google and other search engines love blogs because they are updated often.
     • If you write on fairly unique or esoteric topics, then your ranking can be pretty high. Case in point, Michael wrote an article on Grandpa’s Wonder Pine Tar Soap and it’s quite popular with search indexes. (You Can Buy It Here!)
     • Do a search for yogurt packaging and you’ll find an article from our friend Mike Rohde at the top of the list.
     • The most important thing about creating a popular weblog is to post regularly.
  8. How Does A Blog Differ From Mainstream News?
     • Blogs are not held to the same standards as traditional news outlets.
     • Blogs are typically referred to as “grassroots”, or “citizen journalism”, but should be taken with a grain of salt. You have to consider the source, so don’t believe everything you read.
     • That being said, blogs can often do a better job at reporting what’s happening than traditional sources. A good example of that was Interdictor’s Live Journal blog. There was more accurate coverage during Katrina than on any of the major three news networks.
     • So for every example of someone complaining about the lack of quality found in weblogs, there are plenty of examples of people doing really good work as well.
     • If you’re looking for “hard news”, then you’ll want to search CNN over Google.
  9. Where Can You Start Your Own Blog
     • Blogger is a very popular place to start, because it’s free.
     • Another great place to start a free blog is Vox.
     • TypePad is a good blogging solution if you’re looking for a more professional look and feel. It’s a paid service, but works very well.
     • If you prefer to host your own weblog on your own web server, then WordPress, or MovableType will give you everything you need. (Simply Digital uses WordPress for this web site)
     • If your blog is going to be on a certain topic and there is a large web site dedicated to it, then chances are you can create your blog there. It may not have as many features, but you’ll probably garner more traffic when you’re starting out. Michael’s TV.com Blog, or the Cork’d Wine Journal are good examples.
     • Yahoo 360º and Google Pages offer blogs are part of their service offerings.
     • If you’re a Mac user, you can use the iWeb software to publish to your .Mac account.
     • MySpace is very popular “community style” blog systems. LiveJournal is similar in nature to MySpace.
  10. How Do I Make My Blog Popular?
      • Write about what you are passionate about.
      • Write frequently
      • In time, people will find you. Childhood friends, others that share your passion.

A Final Note:
If the idea of starting a weblog sounds like something you’re interested in, then start with one of the free services (such as Vox) out there to see if blogging is for you. Better to start with a free service that you can cancel should the idea wither on vine, rather than invest money in something that could just be a passing fancy. Play with it, kick the tires and see if writing, or posting photos is your “cup of tea”.

If you find that blogging to be more fun than a barrel of monkeys, then you can always move to something with more features, or control. What’s great is that you should be able to move your old posts to your new blog fairly easy.

If you’d like more detailed information on blogging, Paul Stamatiou has written an excellent article on the subject at this link.

5 comments September 13th, 2006

Episode 4: Apple iPods

After the visit from a family friend, the question was posed “What is an iPod?”. To answer that question, the Simply Digital guys cover all the basics of the current mobile media players that Apple has to offer. From explaining what makes an iPod so great, to covering all the types of media you can download and where you can enjoy your digital music - Michael Ashby and Analog Dave give you everything you need to know about Apple’s award winning mobile media players.

Show Notes

1. What Is An iPod?
   • An iPod is a mobile media player.
   • It primarily plays music, but some iPods can play video as well.
   • Analog Dave refers to the iPod as the “Jello” of mobile media players, because although iPod is a brand name for Apple, many people use the term “iPod” for all mobile media players. Much like people refer to all gelatin as “Jello”, or all photocopies as “Xeroxes”.
   • For the purpose of this podcast, we’re only going to cover the Apple iPod series of players
2. How Do You Put Music On The iPod
   • The iPod synchronizes with free software provided by Apple called iTunes
   • iTunes is available for both Windows and Mac.
   • iTunes is the software that manages the music on your iPod and you can get music/entertainment a number of ways:
     • You can take any of your current CDs and import (sometimes called ripping) them into iTunes. This is legal to do.
     • You can purchase music through the iTunes Music Store.
     • Each week, Apple offers free music for you to download.
     • You can use it to subscribe to podcasts.
   • The iTunes music store is estimated to be the #2 music retailer in the US.
   • Even if you think you’ll never purchase music online, iTunes is still a great digital music manager and worth the install.
   • You do NOT need to own an iPod to use iTunes. It’s free for anyone on Windows or Mac to download and use.
3. The iPod Makes Your Music Mobile
   • Once your music is digital, it can be a bit more “fluid” and more than likely, you’re going to want to make it mobile.
   • Depending on the model that you purchase, you can often make your entire music collection mobile and take it with you.
   • Instead of being limited to just the CDs that you happen to have with you in the car, you could listen to a world of music
   • You can listen by artist, album, genre, or create your own custom playlists. For example, you could choose to listen to just music from the 70’s.
   • Since more data is included in a digital file, that information is indexed by iTunes and your iPod, so it gives you a great deal of flexibility.
4. The Current iPod Product Line
   • The iPod Shuffle ($70 - $100)
     • 512MB Model, which holds approximately 120 songs.
     • 1GB Model, which holds approximately 240 songs.
     • The Shuffle is the smallest model, about the size of a pack of gum, but has no display.
     • There is a switch on the back that allows you to play your music randomly, so you can “shuffle” your music instead of having to listen to it in order.
   • The iPod Nano ($150 - $250)
     • 1GB Model, which holds approximately 240 songs.
     • 2GB Model, which holds approximately 500 songs.
     • 4GB Model, which holds approximately 1000 songs.
     • This model is almost as small as the Shuffle, but features a color display
     • The Nano comes in either Black or White
     • The Nano can also hold photos
   • The iPod
     • 30GB Model, which holds 7,500 songs.
     • 60GB Model, which holds 15,000 songs.
     • Comes in Black or White
     • Can hold photos as well as video
     • You can download television shows, such as “Lost” and play them on your iPod
     • With a video cable, you can connect the iPod to your television and watch the videos full screen!
5. Is Video Really Worth Considering?
   • If you’re new to digital media, then you may find video a bit “out there.”
   • However, you can listen to a video just as easily as you can watch it. So if you’re a big fan of an artist, then paying an extra $1 to get the video may make sense
   • Downloading television is a GREAT way to catch a show you’ve missed.
   • Since you can connect the iPod to a television with a video cable, you can watch it full screen, anywhere, so what’s not to like?
   • Griffin Technology is coming out with the TuneCenter makes connecting your iPod to your TV very easy.
6. There Are Many Ways To Enjoy Your Music
   • With the included earbuds, of course.
   • Many new model automobiles come with an “mp3 input” that allows me to
   • Use any radio, including your car stereo, to broadcast your music using the Griffin Technology iTrip.
7. Can’t I Use Other Devices To Make My Music Mobile?
   • If you have a PDA, mobile phone, or SmartPhone you CAN use those devices to listen to your music.
   • You don’t have to purchase an iPod to make your music mobile
   • In our experience, however, the iPod offers a superior listening experience because of it’s integration into iTunes.
8. The iPod Only Works Purchased Music From iTunes
   • If you end up purchasing music, the iPod is only going to be able to play music from the iTunes Music Store.
   • If you use music services, such as Napster, the iPod won’t be able to play purchased music. So, you’ll want to look at something like the Creative Zen.
   • This caveat only applies to purchased music. If you import your music from CDs, then you don’t have to worry about it.
9. Protect Your Investment
   • Not only is a case a good idea, but actual screen protectors are highly recommended.
   • The latest edition of iPods have a tendency to scratch. Especially if you just throw them in your pocket.

A Final Note:
After getting an iPod a few years ago, Michael found that it completely changed his life and his relationship with his music/entertainment. Even though newer models have come out, his 3rd generation iPod is still going strong.

That being said, if you’re new to digital music, try just playing with iTunes first. There’s plenty of free things that you can download and it’s a great way to see if you like the idea of digital music. Once you have enough music, or TV shows, you’ll inevitably want to make your entertainment mobile and then you’ll have a better idea of which iPod is right for you.

Just remember to focus on the number of songs that the iPod can hold, not the memory size. 240 songs is a lot easier to understand than 1GB. Also, the prices for iPods tend to be pretty consistent, so wether you purchase one at the Apple Store, Target, or Amazon.com, the prices will probably be about the same.

Add comment September 6th, 2006