Breen tells all: 'Secrets of the iPod' reveals the power in Apple's digital device
November 21, 2003 | by Chuck La Tournous
You'd be hard pressed to find more useful Mac knowledge packed into a more genuinely nice guy than Christopher Breen. Besides possessing a wealth of personal information about Steve Jobs that borders on the creepy (he swears it came from cramming for last year's Mac Braniac Challenge at Macworld San Francisco, but I'm not so sure), Chris has the rare ability to explain highly technical, complex information with a homey, "ah now I get it" effectiveness. Rarer still, he can explain the simple stuff you should already know without being insulting or condescending. (At least that's how he explains it to me.)
Now wouldn't it be great if you could find someone to write about Apple's iPod who had Chris' Mac knowledge and writing skills, and was also an accomplished musician and composer?
You guessed it; Breen fills that bill, too. A popular musician in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris plays the keyboard with his band, System 9, and the ever-popular Macworld All-Star Band.
Breen's latest book, "Secrets of the iPod: Third Edition," is a perfect marriage between his Mac and music personas. In it, Breen deftly -- and readably -- guides the reader through three generations of Apple's pocket-sized audio player. Secrets, you say? Of the iPod? What secrets could such a simple device possible harbor? Breen himself asks those questions in the introduction to his book. ("Gee I can hardly wait to read its companion volume, Secrets of the Hamilton Beach 4-Slice IntelliToast® Toaster!" he responds in typically self-effacing fashion.)
But secrets the iPod does have, as Breen reveals with a couple questions of his own:Your iPod refuses to start up, displaying a folder icon with an exclamation point. How do you fix it? Your iPod won't hold a charge. Is it broken? How do you configure your iPod to boot your Macintosh? The problem with devices that are incredibly simple to use is that they are often incredibly difficult to diagnose when things go wrong. Breen shows you what can go wrong and how to deal with it, including a full description of the "key commands" that let you enter the geeky realm of iPod diagnostic tools.
But "Secrets of the iPod" is much more than a "Chilton's Repair Manual" for Apple's audio player. Breen describes not only the iPod and how to use it, but how to make it interact with the things like iTunes, the iTunes Music Store, iSync, Address Book and peripherals like speakers, transmitters and adapters that give it power and versatility beyond other mere MP3 players.
For the philosophical iPod owner, there's even a discussion of music sharing, how to access the hidden files on your iPod, and why sometimes it's OK to copy your music from one place to another, despite what the RIAA may want you to think. Breen's take on the issue from a musician's point of view is very interesting, and may surprise you.
Replete with screenshots, and photos of iPods in various stages of undress, "Secrets" is well-laid out in a light, readable format. Sidebars stand out well against the rest of the copy and the book makes good use of margins, callouts and icons. Both the table of contents and index are comprehensive and easy to follow.
There's also another reason to buy "Secrets" that's worth the price of the book on its own: Breen has made "Of Eve," his album of piano solos, available for download to readers of his book. It's a wonderful collection of touching songs that have the remarkable ability to alter my mood or perfectly reflect the one I'm in. I wish he'd make more.
In Secrets of the iPod, Breen clearly and compellingly demonstrates the power and versatility that's easily hidden behind the iPod's simple design and interface. It would be a shame to own an one without letting Chris Breen show you its secrets.
Secrets of the iPod, 310pp
Peachpit Press/TechTV Imprint
List Price: 19.99
RandomMaccess Amazon Price: 11.99
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