iTunes

iTunes is more than a media player, it's an Apple-designed media platform that allows Mac owners to purchase movies, music, TV shows, and audiobooks. There's even a panel in the program for downloading Podcasts. Those short audio and video bites are described as episodic talk radio files. Anyone can host a podcast and become an amateur broadcaster. One more thing, in addition to all of these media-heavy features, iTunes is also the one and only device manager you'll ever need. If you own an iOS device, an iPhone or iPad, you'll need this software to maintain that device's various features.

With iTunes installed, you'll download Apps for one of your iOS mobile devices. Install the software first, log into your account, then associate an iPad, iPod, or iPhone with that account on the uncluttered interface. From here, there are options to either head on over to the App Store or the device manager. Create and load ringtones, load Apps, monitor Apple ID Device settings, and keep track of store purchases, all by calling up the management panel. This part of the program isn't accessed often, though. You'll spend most of your time browsing the iTunes Store. It's in here that you'll purchase songs or entire albums, look for movies and TV shows to buy, watch trailers, and download those free podcasts. This is also where the thousands upon thousands of iOS-compatible Apps are hosted.

In truth, this software is the second half of Apple's mobile device ecosystem. Sure, you can buy and browse media from an iPhone or iPad, but as soon as you plug one of these hi-tech gadgets into a Mac computer, it's iTunes that loads as your default media and device manager. Incidentally, the software also functions as a powerful media player and organizer. You can play a just purchased song, organize a whole season of a favorite TV show, create a playlist and drag songs into it, or use a Smart Playlist to perform as your own personal DJ.