iPod: The Missing Manual (Missing Manuals)
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6.4 iTunes on America Online
If you're an America Online member, you can use the iTunes Music Store without having to sign up for an Apple ID. Now, that doesn't mean you can use the Store for free (are you kidding!? ). It does mean, though, that you'll have one less name and password to keep in your brain. Now that Apple and AOL are buddies , there's even an "iTunes on AOL" area, as shown in Figure 6-11. You can get there quickly at Keyword: iTunes . Figure 6-11. The iTunes on AOL area of America Online has a music search engine that can take you right to any hits for sale in the iTunes Music Store. AOL members can use the AOL Wallet service to pay for iTunes Music Store binges (it's at Keyword: Wallet and also accessible from a pop-up menu in AOL 9.0).
To use iTunes with AOL, you need to download the iTunes software, if you haven't already (from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download). Click the Account Sign In button on the iTunes window. But in the Sign In box (Figure 6-2), select the option to use your AOL screen name instead of an Apple Account. Type in your AOL screen name and password.
If you have an AOL Wallet (see the box on the previous page), the bills go there; otherwise , you need to supply fresh credit card information to the iTunes Music Store. But whether you opt for AOL Wallet or fill in a credit card number directly in the iTunes Music Store, you can start shopping once you have iTunes installed and your financials worked out. In the iTunes On AOL area of America Online, you can search for artists, albums, and songs for sale in the Store; sample a variety of artists on AOL Radio; or even buy an iPod. The AOL Music Search section also has integrated links to music and musicians featured in the iTunes store, as shown in Figure 6-12. Figure 6-12. After you've done some research in AOL's extensive AOL Music area, click the link to see what's for sale in the iTunes Music Store.
You can browse AOL to find out more about the artists you're interested in. Once you've zeroed in on exactly what you want and know it's available in the iTunes Music Store, click the iTunes link to go shopping. Your copy of iTunes starts up, and you're swept into the Music Store to complete your purchase and download your music.
NOTE Exclusive tracks from Sessions@AOL ”recordings that were made live just for AOL ”are available in the Music Store alongside the other half million tunes. |
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