Hacking iPod + iTunes

My new book, Hacking iPod + iTunes, is now available! There are a few iPod books out there, but I wanted to write one that's different. I'm interested in the odd edges and obscure features of the iPod and iTunes, so I wrote about that and didn't spend any time on the basics, which are well-covered in the other books. It was great fun to write, and I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I have a thorough section on how to see and move the songs on your iPod using only the Finder, no Terminal and no third-party software, which as far as I know nobody has described before. I also have a long list of sources for legitimate free music; descriptions of some of the wackier software, accessories, and cases you can get for your iPod; and an extensive section on Note Reader features, including a full description of museum mode, which lets you replace your iPod's main menu (that's how I did my Super iPod hack at ADHOC last month).

There are some reviews already at Amazon, two good ones and one bad. I'm grateful for the good reviews, but disappointed about the bad one because it seems like the reviewer saw the title, expected a more deeply technical book, didn't get one, and so trashed the book for not meeting expectations rather than reviewing it for what it is, or simply returning it. I wish I could respond, or even contact the guy, but I don't see that Amazon's review system has a way for me to do that, other than writing my own shill review. Of course, people seem to be buying the book anyway, and I've gotten a bunch of positive e-mail about it, so it looks like it's working out OK.

If you read the book (thank you!), please leave a comment to let me know what you think, and I encourage you to post a review on Amazon. And please let me know of any nifty iPod or iTunes news or other stuff -- I'm posting those at the book's site.

Comments

[Buzz Andersen]

Any mention of PodWorks (http://www.scifihifi.com/podworks)? I always get a giddy little thrill when I see it in print :-)...

[Jerome Rainey]

Congratulations on the new book! I still have a copy of your book on Macintosh programming, the one that came out just before the Mac Plus. That had the best description I ever read on how memory works in a Mac.

I'll check out the new one.

[Asher Kahn Band]

We have been reading blogs all over the internet about iTunes/digital downloading in hopes of finding others that share an interest in this young form of music purchasing.

Our name is the Asher Kahn Band and we recently partnered with the American Cancer Society to offer "Down With Disease: Download For The Cure".

Everytime our song "We Get Bigh" is downloaded from Audio Lunchbox or iTunes, all proceeds go to fight cancer! Its an easy way to give back.

Please consider our song "We Get Bigh" next time you are purchasing from iTunes or Audio Lunchbox.
Help us help each other.

For more info go to our website at www.asherkahnband.com

Peace,
Asher Kahn Band

[mike fullerton]

Congratulations Scott! I learned to write software for the Mac using your books. Hmm, now I'm writing Windows software (not sure what that means :-)... Seriously, your books are great, I can't wait to read your new one!

-Mike