When you load a CD into your computer’s CD-ROM reader, it automatically loads iTunes and then, if it’s set up with its default, will begin loading the audio files onto the hard disk drive. But what happens if you have downloaded an audio book file from an Internet site directly to your hard disk drive? There’s an additional few steps because of the digital rights management (DRM) restrictions.

If the audio books you have downloaded are subject to DRM and you need to enter a password etc when you first use them, you need to open them initially on your hard disk and complete the signature process.

Next, burn the files to a CD-ROM using Windows Media Player (Windows operating systems come with Windows Media Player as a free add-on) or some other software program that will burn CD-ROMs. Leave the CD in your computer CD reader.

Open iTunes and on the left side of the screen you will see the title “Audio CD” under Devices. Look to the bottom right of the iTunes screen for a button that says “Import CD”. Click that button and iTunes will begin to download the audio book files from your CD to your hard disk.

If the audio titles that are imported simply state Track 1, Track 2 etc, right click on them and select Get Info and then rename them to something you can better understand, for example, Wonderful_Ways_to_love_a_Granchild_ Part 1.

Make a new Playlist with the title something like “Audio Books” and drag the newly titled files into that playlist. Then, when you want to find them on your iPod, you will find it much easier.

Depending on whether you have your iTunes program set for Automatic or Manual Synchronisation, when you attach your iPod, iTunes will automatically begin copying the audio book files and Playlist title to your iPod. If it’s not automatic, you will need to highlight the audio book files and select the Synchronise option.

Because audio book files can be huge, I tend to zip them and backup a copy to my external, portable hard disk drive which I use to store data instead of bogging down my laptop hard disk drive. If I need them again, I can quickly unzip and download or listen to them directly from the hard disk.

If you collect a lot of audio books and want to keep them, you need to get a storage device specially for them as they take up a lot of room and, let’s face it, once you’ve paid for them you don’t want to lose them.

This article should help you copy files from your hard disk drive to your iPod so you can enjoy them any time, anywhere … one of the distinct advantages of audio books. I also like the fact that I can store them electronically and not in a bookshelf (no dusting or tidying up and little space!).

Happy listening.

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Copyright 2007 Robin Henry | First published February, 2007

Robin Henry is an educator, human resources specialist and Internet entrepreneur. The most recent among his online endeavours is Download-Audios.Com a division of Desert Wave Enterprises which he operates out of his home at Alice Springs, Central Australia. At present, however, he is temporarily in the United Arab Emirates.

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iPod video downloads are one of the most popular media files people download next to music downloads. iPods used to be very basic in function and can only play music. With the improvements in iPod technology, we are able to view movies and videos on our new iPods. The generous disk space on our new generation iPods allows us to store up to 50 movies, each about 2 hours long. It is so convenient to watch a good video on iPod without carrying bulky DVDs or players. Here are some quick tips for iPod users who intend to download iPod videos.

There are many places where you can find iPod video downloads. The most established is iTunes and it is definitely not a stranger to you. iTunes now have more than 200 TV shows and you can download each episode of your favorite video at $1.99. Others like Amazon and Walmart are also popular sites to find video downloads.

There are some individual websites that offer iPod video downloads for private viewing. Most of them are amateurs who are experimenting with video filming and there have been some interesting finds reported at these websites. In fact, from time to time, you may have received them via email from your friends.

You may have gotten your iPod video downloads from sources other than the major stores such as home made videos. But when you try to play them on your iPod, you realize that you cannot. Do not panic. The likelihood is that your video file format is not compatible with your iPod. iPod can only read MPEG4 and H.264 video files so this means that you need to convert the files first.

While there are many paid versions, you would be pleasantly surprised to find freeware that are just as powerful in converting video files to iPod compatible format. Free iPod Video Converter V1.32 and Utralshareware do a pretty neat job in converting popular video formats so that you can enjoy DVD/VCD and AVI, MPEG, WMV, RM, DivX, ASF and VOB video files using your iPod.

Visit my blog to find out more about iPod video downloads and where you may access to new DVD quality iPod video downloads.

The content of this article is provided for the purpose of education and illustration only and is in no way associated with Apple, iTune, or any company or subsidiary of Apple. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

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Davion is a successful webmaster and author. Find out how you can access to unlimited ipod video downloads - full length DVD quality videos easily from home at ipod-videodownloads.blogspot.com.

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