iPod Pop Culture

The ipod is most lovable and sought after gadget and has attained the popularity of pop culture. Much like Walkman in its era, iPod has become youth icon. Before you do actual purchase of ipod, it might be good idea to know how does an iPod work?

What made ipod so popular after all we already have mp3 players in market. The size, capacity, portability and ease to use made iPod so popular. Although Apple's iPod is categorised as music player but in actual sense it does more than a record player. First iPod can play music files both audio and video, it can store music songs in digital format much like as computer stores data in the form of "0" or "1" (binary data). The iPod from apple can play any music format(AIFF, AAC, WAV, MP3) beside mp3 format.

iPod to store hours of music in small device is another reason why it has become popular over record players, which can store maximum 1 hour of music on CD. The speed with which it searches songs from thousands of songs on ipod, easy interface with computer to download music from iTunes and above all features to organise music in categories are few more reasons "why iPod is so popular" among gadget lovers. Apple company has used compression method to store large music files by compressing it on ipod device, this method allows more and more music to be stored on small device. This way consumer has more variety and choice to listen music without changing music records, all in one place. Apple's iPod identifies these compressed files, on iPod device by using "digital audio chip" (DAC) to create digital audio files which are transmitted to head phone (listening device).

iPod storage feature - Apart from technology features ipod comes with sleek hardware design, the ipod is so sleek that it can fit in your shirt's pocket. Again I will give reference of walkman days, why it became so popular. The main reason was its miniature size, one could carry walkman while jogging or at work, the portability, accessibility and ability to run on a battery gave people freedom from wire attached music players.

The current iPod family comes in wide variety of storage sizes. Current iPod storages ranges from 2 GB to 80 GB, the more space the more songs, videos or movies you can store on iPod. The battery in iPod is rechargeable and can last for long time. IF we take stats for average iPod user, you might need battery replacement in one or two years for optimal performance.

The last part of this article is transferring files from Computer to your iPod. This is mostly easy as long you don't go for custom option. In order to do transfer of audio or video files you need apple's iTunes software. Install iTunes software on your desktop or laptop. Once installation is complete hookup iPod to your computer or laptop through USB port. The system will identify new hardware and iTunes will detect iPod connected to computer. The itune software will sync up with connected iPod, first it will check for battery strength and then it will transfer new music or video files on your iPod.

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List of audio File Format

What is audio file format or how a music file is stored in audio format. The audio file format provides container to store audio data on device, the device can be computer, music player etc. The audio data can be stored in device in compressed or uncompressed format. The decompressed format is used to reduce the file size on device. One would like to have more and more music files on music players by compressing their file size.

Types of formats

The current format for music audio files includes wide variety of formats with advantages and disadvantages. The current list of audio file formats are categorized into three major groups

list of "Uncompressed audio formats"
1. WAV 2. AIFF 3. AU

List of "lossless compression format"
1. FLAC 2. APE 3. WV 4. TAK 5. TTA 6. WMA

List of "lossy compression format"
1. MP3 2. Vorbis 3. Musepack 4. WMA 5. AAC

1. Uncompressed Audio Formats

The well known uncompressed audio format (PCM) is stored as WAV on Windows system and AIFF format on MAC operating system. The PCM stands for "Pulse-code modulation", which is a digital representation of an analog signal. The PCM has been used in digital phone systems and in computer as digital audio format. Because of its digital sampling WAV format is very flexible and can store recording in original format.

2. Lossless audio formats

Many Music audio formats compress the audio data so that more and more songs can fit on device. The audio compression comes in two forms, one is "lossless compression" and other is "lossy compression".
The lossless audio format retains every bit of information of original recording ad nothing is lost. Since no data is lost during conversion that is why "lossless audio format" can not make converted or compressed file as small as file compressed during "lossy compression" method.

3. Lossy audio format

Under lossy compression method some of the audio information is lost as compared to the original, this makes converted file much smaller. The information which is lost during "lossy compression" is not very important and is least important to the file. One of the format which uses this method of compressions MP3 file format.

Audio File Format

MP3: The most popular music format is MPEG Layer-3 format. This is popular for downloading and storing music. Because of Lossy compression the download file is much smaller then the original.
WMA: – The Windows Media audio format is popular with windows system, it was designed by Microsoft.
WAV: To open files with these formats you need ATRAC3 drivers.
RA: This format is "Real Audio format" and is used to stream audio over the internet.
RAM: This is used to store a link to the internet address where actual audio file is stored.
DSS: Digital Speech Standard files.
MSV: – Memory Stick compressed voice files.
DVF: This file is commonly used by Sony dictation recorders.
MP4: Apple uses this format for downloading music from their iTune store with digital right management.
iKlax – Multi-track digital audio format, allows mixing and volumes arrangements.
GSM: This file format was designed for telephone use.
DCT: This audio format is used for dictation, it's header portion can be encrypted.
VOX: This audio format uses the "Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation".
AAC: This audio format is based on MPEG2 and MPEG4 standards.

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