Tools required:

* Mac desktop or laptop with a wireless card or AirPort card
* Working iPod Touch or iPhone

If you have a wireless router this tutorial does not apply since the signal broadcast by your wireless router should be able to be detected by the iPod Touch. If you have a wired router or no router at all but you do have an AirPort or wireless card; this tutorial is for you. For this tutorial, both devices will be labeled as the iPod Touch, but the iPhone can also use this same technique.

Even when I'm at home, I enjoy using some of the applications on my iPod Touch; some of which require an internet connection. A few of these applications show which apps are on sale or free, and I prefer these sometimes rather than the layout in iTunes. In order to use these specific apps I have to connect to the internet using the iPod Touch. Simply connecting the iPod Touch to the Mac only connects the iPod to iTunes but does not share the internet connection, even with Internet Sharing turned on. As long as your Mac has a wireless card, you can allow your iPod Touch or iPhone to connect to the internet. If your AirPort card or wireless card is not already on, you need to first go into System Preferences and the Network pane:


(diagram 1)

Select AirPort and turn on your wireless card. This diagram shows that the AirPort is already turned on:


(diagram 2)

You can also use the menulet at the upper right-hand part of the screen to turn on the wireless network:

(diagram 3)

Now go back to the main screen of System Preferences and into the Sharing pane:

(diagram 4)

Here you'll be presented with a few options. Select the heading on the left-hand side marked "Internet Sharing":

(diagram 5)

If you're using a cable or DSL modem, you want to make sure that "Built-in Ethernet" is selected where it says "Share your connection from:". Now where it says "To computers using:" you'll need to check off the AirPort box. Even if you're using a third party wireless card it will still show up as AirPort. Moving forward, you can also click on the "AirPort Options..." button:

(diagram 6)

You can create a name for your device that your iPod Touch will be connecting to (where it says Network Name). The above example shows that I named my Mac Mini as the network/device name. For security purposes you can set a password, which will be required when any devices attempt to hitch a ride from the same connection, including the iPod. Be sure to click OK on the Mac screen when you're finished. Lastly, back on the Sharing screen, click the box next to Internet Sharing to enable it, and you'll be presented with a pop-up. On the pop-up, press the Start Button, then the Internet Sharing selection on the left-hand side will have the box checked next to it. Now the AirPort menulet at the upper right-hand part of the screen will appear as the following:

(diagram 7)

Selecting this menulet should show the name of your network:

(diagram 8)

Now on your iPod Touch or iPhone, select "Settings", activate WiFi if not already activated, and in a few seconds your network will appear under "Choose a Network...":

(diagram 9)

The lock icon to the right of the network name indicates that a password is required to connect to it. Once you enter your password, your iPod will remember the password from that point and you should not need to enter it again when connecting to your network. Select your network from the list. A pop-up will appear first if you've set a password for your network, otherwise it will connect in a few seconds. Now press the Home button on your iPod Touch, select Safari or another internet application and use the connection to your liking!

If you have to restart your computer at any time, Internet Sharing is enabled at startup if you've kept the box checked next to it in the Sharing Pane. However, the menulet for the wireless network will default to a non-connection (see diagram 3) and your iPod Touch will not be able to connect. This results in having to go into System Preferences, then the Sharing pane, then uncheck and recheck the Internet Sharing box every time you boot or restart your Mac. Thanks to the Apple program Automator, you can record the steps to turn on Internet Sharing so that the Mac does this for you automatically. Even if you're not fond of simple programming, the Automator's Record function makes it so simple.

First, go back into the System Preferences and ensure that Internet Sharing is on, then close all windows (Alt + Command + W). Next, open Automator and select "Custom" from the prompt. In the upper right-hand corner click the Record button. You'll see a transparent, floating Automator status window usually in the upper left-hand part of your screen. Now open System Preferences, click on the Sharing Pane, click on Internet Sharing, then close the System Preferences window. Now, click the Stop button on the floating Automator status window. Now back in Automator, click Save from the File menu, create a name for the program, select a place to save your program from the "Where:" drop-down menu, and where it says "File Format" be sure to save it as an application rather than a workflow:

(diagram 10)

To have your Mac perform this action when booting up, go into System Preferences and select the Accounts pane:

(diagram 11)

Select your account and click on the "Login Items" at the top. Click on the plus symbol below the listed Login Items and select your Automator program from the location where you previously saved it so that it gets added to the list of Login Items:

(diagram 12)

Now when you start up or reboot your Mac, you'll be presented with the curosor going through the motions of activating Internet Sharing without you hitting a single key. From there your iPod Touch will be able to connect to your Mac and hitch a ride on your Internet Connection!