Front Row - Front Row is a program included with Macs that is used to access media files on the hard drive via remote control. Through Front Row, users can access their iTunes libraries, iPhoto libraries, DVDs inserted into the computer's DVD drive, and movies stored on the hard drive.

The Griffin Amplifi iPod speaker system has more sound technology packed into one compact speaker system than your iPod itself. The contemporary speaker design will fill your room with rich, powerful sound while you sit down and relax with the included remote control. And although the Amplifi is designed with iPods in mind it’s not exclusive to iPods - you can connect any MP3 player via the 3.5mm jack. So no-one will be denied listening to great sounding music via the Amplifi!

To begin moving songs from your CDs to iTunes and your iPod (a process called ripping), open iTunes. Be sure that your computer is connected to the Internet. Then insert the CD you want to import into your computer's CD/DVD drive. Your computer will think for a few moments, and then will show you this screen. If you are properly connected to the Internet, the CD name, artist name, and song titles will all display in this window.

When you buy anything from the iTunes store - a song, an album, a video, an audio book - you are able to play it on up to 5 computers. The computer you bought it from is the first computer authorized to play that file. Here's how to authorize other computers to play the file.

For many users, iTunes is a great program for managing songs, videos, and connections with their iPods. However, some users are frustrated by iTunes's limitations or want to add features such as the ability to move songs to and from their iPod. These users need programs that are iTunes alternatives.

EMusic is one the major competitors to the iTunes Store for delivering legal song downloads to iPod users. eMusic distinguishes itself from iTunes by offering a flat-fee monthly plan, rather than a per-song price. To learn more about eMusic read my review of the service. Once you've done that, if you decide to become a member or just try eMusic's free trial, here's a step-by-step guide to downloading music there.

Apple today pushed out new bug-fix updates for a few of its newest iPods. The company released updates for new third-generation iPod nano as well as the recently released iPod classic. While the details from Apple are sparse, it appears to be a bug-fix only update and available via iTunes (sync tab). Yesterday, Apple's iPhone-store-credit pages showed a few graphics for an unreleased iPhone v1.1.1 software update, which has not yet surfaced, but will likely bring support for iTunes Mobile Store -- already available via the now shipping iPod touch.

Amid all the hooplah at Apple's September 12 press event, the company released the second generation of its wildly popular iPod nano. Thanks to its new anodized aluminum casing, the new model looks much like the now-defunct iPod mini, but much, much slimmer. Improvements over the first-gen nano include a brighter screen, longer battery life, and my personal favorite-gapless playback. The 2GB model comes in silver only while the 4GB model comes in silver, green, blue, or pink. And the 8GB model comes in black only (the 1GB model has been dropped). This revamped nano still lacks an FM tuner, a voice recorder, and video playback, so other premium flash players such as the popular SanDisk Sansa e200 series still have the iPod trumped on features. But then, the Sansa e200 doesn't do gapless, support lossless compression, or support Audible audiobooks. And the nano syncs with your Microsoft Outlook (2003 or later) contacts. One major difference between this generation of the nano and its predecessor is that the new model has picked up the optional recording capability of its full-size sibling; using an optional microphone adapter from Belkin (and soon others), you can create voice or line-in recordings on the iPod nano. Now that the player comes in an 8GB capacity, this is a significant new feature. It's a good bet that this will be Apple's most popular iPod yet, and with good reason. SLIDESHOW (10) Slideshow | All Shots

An iPod software update released by Apple over the weekend tackles many of the performance issues noted in initial reviews of the new iPod nano and iPod classic. Apple revamped its iPod line two weeks ago, and the first reviews of both the nano and the iPod classic -including those published at Macworld -cited sluggish performance in those models. Specifically, when moving between screens, the iPods would sometimes hesitate. Additionally, moving in and out of Cover Flow was a less-than-speedy exercise. And once in Cover Flow, album art didn't draw as quickly as it could have.

Like the first iteration of the iPod Nano, the 4GB second-generation Nano ($199 as of 1/9/07) is small. It weighs 1.4 ounces and measures roughly a quarter-inch thick--thin and light enough to be barely noticeable sitting in your shirt pocket. Its brushed metal case with rounded edges is arguably more stylish than the plastic case of the first-generation model. Apple's signature scroll wheel has been shrunk to Nano-size proportions, but the wheel's smaller size doesn't impair navigation of the intuitive menus. The new Nano is better for viewing photos and video because it has a brighter screen than the first-generation model. Still, at just 1.5 inches, the screen isn't well suited for extended viewing.