What Is a Digital Booklet on iTunes?

The iTunes Store offers a "digital booklet" with the purchase of many complete albums. The booklet provides a PDF version of the paper booklet you would receive if you bought the album as a CD. These booklets are listed with your Purchased music. New versions of the digital booklet are also taking shape with the release of interactive applications for the iPod Touch and iPhone.

Digital Booklets

Apple offers iTunes Store customers the chance to download a "digital booklet" with the purchase of some complete albums and other media through the store. For people who missed getting a paper booklet with lyrics, photos, etc., with the purchase of a CD, the digital booklet is meant to fill that need. The first album to be available with a digital booklet was "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" by the band U2.

PDF Files

With the purchase of some albums on iTunes, you will also receive a digital booklet. This booklet comes in PDF form and can be accessed from your Purchased media list in iTunes. Double-clicking the booklet will activate your default PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader on a PC or Preview on a Mac, and open the file. You will then be able to view the contents of the booklet on your computer and even print it if desired.

Types

The typical digital booklet behaves like any other PDF formatted for printing. However, some artists are now offering interactive booklets with their albums. These interactive booklets can be accessed by iTunes Store customers who have iTunes 8 installed on their computers.

Features

Most digital booklets include the same basic facts found in the typical CD insert, such as song lyrics, photos, recording details, acknowledgments and other information from the artist. The new interactive booklets may include video and links to websites.

Use on iPods

Some users have been disappointed that they cannot read the digital booklets on their iPods. The current iPod software doesn't include a way to view PDFs in their entirety (unless you buy additional software), but the text can be viewed by using the Notes feature on the iPod. So song lyrics, if nothing else, should be visible on the iPod.

Warning

Your digital booklets will not sync to your iPod through iTunes. You'll have to move them to the iPod manually if you want to view them on the iPod.

Potential

Apple is also now making interactive booklets available as applications for the iPod Touch and iPhone. The band Snow Patrol was the first to participate in this new feature.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Apple Support: Using Booklets in iTunes