Before you can transfer files to your iPad from your computer, you must store those files in the iTunes program on your computer. To get the files into iTunes on your computer, you can buy music and movies from iTunes on your computer, or you can get them from another source. For example, you can get a copy of an audio or video file from a friend, or you can download an audio or video file from another source such as Amazon.com. Most people capture photographs using a digital camera or a mobile phone, which they can then transfer to their computer.
Note
You can also buy and download songs directly to your iPad using the iTunes app on your iPad. In most cases, movies and TV shows are too big to download directly to your iPad, so you'll first need to download them on your computer and then transfer them to your iPad from the iTunes program on your computer, like you're doing in this section.
No matter where you get your photo, audio, and video files, you must make sure that any files you import into iTunes are stored in file formats that iTunes (and your iPad) can recognize. Table 18-1 lists the most popular file formats that iTunes supports for each type of file.
Table 18-1. Common Audio and Video File Formats Recognized by the iPad
File Type | iPad-Compatible File Format |
|---|---|
Photo | BMP, JPG, GIF, PSD, TIF, SGI, and PNG |
Audio | MP3, AAC, WAV, MOV, AIFF, WAV, Apple Lossless, and AA (Audible.com audio book format) |
Video | MPEG-4 and MOV |
Note
To convert files into one of the file formats recognized by the iPad, you may need a special audio/video file conversion program such as Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) or Handbrake (http://handbrake.fr). Programs such as iPhoto or Photoshop Elements can convert graphic images to a compatible file format for your iPad.
To import an audio or video file into the iTunes program on your computer, follow these steps:
Run the iTunes program on your computer.
Choose File ▸ Add to Library (Mac OS X) or File ▸ Add File to Library (Windows). An Add to Library dialog appears.
Click the file that you want to import into iTunes, and click Choose (or Open). Your chosen file gets loaded into iTunes. Depending on the type of file you chose, your file may appear in a different iTunes category such as Music or Movies.
Note
Alternatively, you can simply drag your files from Finder or Windows Explorer into iTunes. With photographs, you don't need to import them directly into iTunes. Instead, you can store them in iPhoto (on a Macintosh) or in any folder.