Using an iPod is easy once you know how. Follow the tips in this article and you’ll be uploading music (games, videos, audiobooks, podcasts) like an expert.

1) Load the music files onto your computer

Most of us start out with our iPods by loading up the CDs we’ve collected over the years, so let’s start there. Copy the files from your CDs onto your computer’s hard disk so it’ll be available to your iPod manager. Note: If you use iTunes and have “Copy files to iTunes music folder” selected, you can skip copying the files to the PC — just having the CD in your computer’s CD drive will be enough.

2) Bring the music files into your iPod manager software

You’ll use an “iPod manager” application to handle moving files to and from the iPod. Apple’s free iTunes software is the iPod manager most of us use. You’re welcome to look at the other options — Wikipedia has a pretty good list. If you’re new to iPods I suggest you start with iTunes. Once you know what you do and don’t like about iTunes you’ll be in a better position to decide whether you want to look for a different iPod manager.

By the way, using iTunes to manage iPod files does NOT keep you from buying music from other companies — I buy music downloads from three different vendors but use iTunes to move them back and for from my iPod.

If you like to be able to find all your iPod music in one location on your computer, set up iTunes to copy all files into the library location. It’s an easy configuration: choose Edit, Preferences, Advanced from the menu and click the “Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library.” This is handy if you’re going to pull music from CDs — let iTunes manage copying the files off the CD for you.

Now it’s time to import to iTunes. One of the easiest ways is to click File, Add Folder to Library, and select the directory (or CD) holding your music. Click the “OK” button and iTunes will import the music to the library. You can also use the Control + O keys and select single files to add.

3) Connect your iPod nano

You probably already did this, but just in case: connect your iPod nano to your computer with the the USB cable that came with your nano. You’ll know the connection’s successful when the left-hand menu in iTunes shows your iPod.

How you upload the music depends on whether you’re letting iTunes manage your iPod or have elected to “manually manage” your iPod. I prefer the “manually manage” approach because it lets me to pick and choose which files to move to my nano. It also allows me to pull files from multiple computers to the one iPod.

4) Now to upload music to that iPod nano

If you decide to let iTunes manage the uploads, click your iPod’s icon and select “Sync” in the lower right corner.

Will you manage uploads manually? You’ll need to do a quick, one-time setup. In iTunes, click the nano’s icon and select “Manually manage music and videos” on the iTunes screen. Now you just select the music you want and drag it onto the iPod icon. Voila! The music uploads.

5) Last step: Eject your iPod before disconnecting

Never disconnect your iPod nano without ejecting it first. Not taking that extra minute risks corrupting the files. Eject from iTunes by clicking the button at bottom right of the screen.

6) Find more cool stuff!

Now that you have the hang of it, it’s time to go find more music, podcasts, games and videos for your iPod nano. I get my podcasts via iTunes, which has a terrific list. Music, games and videos, on the other hand, can be found in a lot of other stores for very reasonable prices. See my web site for suggestions.

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