The highly-touted Genius function comes not only to the iTunes 8.0, but to iPhone 2.1 software. To install it, however, you must have Genius downloaded it onto iTunes using your iTunes account. The iPhone must then be synced to that iTunes. Again, iPhone Genius does not automatically download with iPhone 2.1 software, but with syncing of a Genius-enabled iTunes. (And we discussed Genius on regular iTunes in the second-to-last column.)

Once you're set up, Genius is added as one of the iPhone Playlists. Touch the iPod icon, then the Playlist tab.

Genius will now be the first option. Hit Genius and your music collection with be shown, in alphabetically order, listed by song. Select a song you would like to use and the software will make a playlist for you with comparable songs, just like the big brother version on the PC/Mac.

There are a couple minor differences between the iTunes Genius and the iPhone Genius, the first simply because of size. As you may have experienced on iTunes, sometimes Genius can't find enough comparable songs to make a comprehensive playlist.

For instance, it is difficult, if not impossible to make a Hank Williams-inspired Genius list if you only have three country/western songs - or, at the very least, to make a good list. The iPhone can only hold a few thousand tracks, so expect to see the "Try Again" message often.

Second, the iPhone Genius setup is slightly different. Once you select a valid song, Genius will create an up-to-25 song playlist. Press "New" to use a new Genius track and press "Refresh" to mix up the song playlist or randomly add in new potential songs from your iPhone music collection. Tap "Save" to save and name your Genius playlist.

About the Author
A regular writer for Playboy and New York Post, Damon Brown wrote the "Pocket Idiot's Guide to the iPhone" (Alpha/Penguin Books), the first book on the iPhone. His next book, "Porn & Pong: How Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and Other Sexy Games Changed Modern Pop Culture," is out now.