For 10 years, iTunes has brought listening pleasure to people’s computers. Originally introduced in January 2001, the first version of iTunes worked only with Mac OS 9 operating systems, but later that year, Apple added support for OS X and for iPods—and that’s when iTunes really took off. Subsequent versions of the software included the addition of the iTunes Store, support for Microsoft Windows, and cool features like Cover Flow view, which lets you browse your album covers as though you were flipping through a rack of CDs, and Genius playlists, which analyze your preferences to create great-sounding music mixes.

With iTunes 10, Apple has done it again. For one thing, Apple has declared the victory of digital music over physical CDs by removing the background CD from the iTunes logo. But that’s just window-dressing. There are also TV show rentals; Air Play, which lets you stream music wirelessly to external speakers; improved syncing; and a new version of Apple TV. But the real innovation in iTunes 10 is Ping, which brings music-oriented social networking into iTunes. Ping lets you connect with friends and your favorite artists—sharing recommendations and reviews, following news, finding local events, and more. It’s a great way to connect with others through your common interest: music.

Whether you’re new to iTunes or have been using it for years, this book gets you up to speed—fast—with getting the most out of iTunes.