There's a lot more to learn when it comes to more advanced use, of course, but the things that follow below are what you're likely to need to know in the first days or weeks of having an iPod.

Download and install iTunes (instructions for Windows | instructions for Mac). ITunes is available at Apple's website.

The iPod nano is a small, thin, light iPod that features a color screen. It is the smallest iPod that has a screen and a mid-priced offering in the iPod line.

On The Go Playlists let users create custom playlists on their iPods, rather than needing to create them in iTunes and then sync that playlist to their iPod. This is a neat feature if you're away from your computer and want to DJ a party or just make a mix that suits your mood or locale.

Because songs are recorded at different volumes and with different technologies, the volume that they play back at on the iPod can be different. This can be annoying - especially if you've just turned up the volume to hear a quiet song and the next one half deafens you.

There are a few things that you want out of a good iPod sport case: light weight, good looks, ease of use, and a good fit are among the most important items.

If you just got an iPod Video and haven't had an iPod before, you may be looking for a very common button found on most consumer electronics: the on/off switch. Well, stop your search because the iPod Video doesn't exactly have an on/off button.

If you just got an iPod nano and haven't had an iPod before, you may be looking for a very common button found on most consumer electronics: the on/off switch. Well, stop your search because the iPod nano doesn't exactly have an on/off button.

One of the exciting features of the video-equipped iPods (the 5th-generation iPod, the iPod Classic the iPod touch, the third-generation nano, and the iPhone) is the ability to watch TV shows.

Thanks to its bigger screen and landscape orientation, the iPhone is a much better device to watch movies on than any previous version of the iPod.