diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/apple/driver.py b/src/calibre/devices/apple/driver.py
index 76ecce3a8e..48e078c47d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/apple/driver.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/apple/driver.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import cStringIO, ctypes, datetime, os, re, shutil, subprocess, sys, tempfile, t
 from calibre.constants import __appname__, __version__, DEBUG
 from calibre import fit_image
 from calibre.constants import isosx, iswindows
-from calibre.devices.errors import UserFeedback
+from calibre.devices.errors import OpenFeedback, UserFeedback
 from calibre.devices.usbms.deviceconfig import DeviceConfig
 from calibre.devices.interface import DevicePlugin
 from calibre.ebooks.BeautifulSoup import BeautifulSoup
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from calibre.utils.date import now, parse_date
 from calibre.utils.logging import Log
 from calibre.utils.zipfile import ZipFile
 
+
 from PIL import Image as PILImage
 from lxml import etree
 
@@ -41,7 +42,29 @@ class DriverBase(DeviceConfig, DevicePlugin):
     # Needed for config_widget to work
     FORMATS = ['epub', 'pdf']
     USER_CAN_ADD_NEW_FORMATS = False
-    SUPPORTS_SUB_DIRS = True   # To enable second checkbox in customize widget
+
+    # Hide the standard customization widgets
+    SUPPORTS_SUB_DIRS = False
+    MUST_READ_METADATA = True
+    SUPPORTS_USE_AUTHOR_SORT = False
+
+    EXTRA_CUSTOMIZATION_MESSAGE = [
+            _('Use Series as Category in iTunes/iBooks') +
+            ':::'+_('Enable to use the series name as the iTunes Genre, '
+                    'iBooks Category'),
+            _('Cache covers from iTunes/iBooks') +
+                ':::' +
+                _('Enable to cache and display covers from iTunes/iBooks'),
+            _("Skip 'Connect to iTunes' recommendation") +
+                ':::' +
+                _("Enable to skip the 'Connect to iTunes' recommendation dialog")
+    ]
+    EXTRA_CUSTOMIZATION_DEFAULT = [
+                True,
+                True,
+                False,
+    ]
+
 
     @classmethod
     def _config_base_name(cls):
@@ -97,6 +120,11 @@ class ITUNES(DriverBase):
     #: The version of this plugin as a 3-tuple (major, minor, revision)
     version        = (0,9,0)
 
+    # EXTRA_CUSTOMIZATION_MESSAGE indexes
+    USE_SERIES_AS_CATEGORY = 0
+    CACHE_COVERS = 1
+    SKIP_CONNECT_TO_ITUNES_DIALOG = 2
+
     OPEN_FEEDBACK_MESSAGE = _(
         'Apple device detected, launching iTunes, please wait ...')
     BACKLOADING_ERROR_MESSAGE = _(
@@ -295,7 +323,7 @@ class ITUNES(DriverBase):
         if not oncard:
             if DEBUG:
                 self.log.info("ITUNES:books():")
-                if self.settings().use_subdirs:
+                if self.settings().extra_customization[self.CACHE_COVERS]:
                     self.log.info(" Cover fetching/caching enabled")
                 else:
                     self.log.info(" Cover fetching/caching disabled")
@@ -718,6 +746,14 @@ class ITUNES(DriverBase):
         if DEBUG:
             self.log.info("ITUNES.open()")
 
+        # Display a dialog recommending using 'Connect to iTunes'
+        if not self.settings().extra_customization[self.SKIP_CONNECT_TO_ITUNES_DIALOG]:
+            raise OpenFeedback("The recommended connection method for Apple iDevices " +\
+                               "is to use the 'Connect to iTunes' method described in the <br />" +\
+                               '<a href="http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118559">Calibre + Apple iDevices FAQ</a>.<br />' +\
+                               'After following the Quick Start steps outlined in the FAQ, restart calibre.')
+
+
         # Confirm/create thumbs archive
         if not os.path.exists(self.cache_dir):
             if DEBUG:
@@ -1787,9 +1823,7 @@ class ITUNES(DriverBase):
         as of iTunes 9.2, iBooks 1.1, can't set artwork for PDF files via automation
         '''
 
-        # self.settings().use_subdirs is a repurposed DeviceConfig field
-        # We're using it to skip fetching/caching covers to speed things up
-        if not self.settings().use_subdirs:
+        if not self.settings().extra_customization[self.CACHE_COVERS]:
             thumb_data = None
             return thumb_data
 
@@ -2673,8 +2707,7 @@ class ITUNES(DriverBase):
 
             # Set genre from series if available, else first alpha tag
             # Otherwise iTunes grabs the first dc:subject from the opf metadata
-            # self.settings().read_metadata is used as a surrogate for "Use Series name as Genre"
-            if metadata_x.series and self.settings().read_metadata:
+            if metadata_x.series and self.settings().extra_customization[self.USE_SERIES_AS_CATEGORY]:
                 if DEBUG:
                     self.log.info(" ITUNES._update_iTunes_metadata()")
                     self.log.info("   using Series name as Genre")
@@ -2716,7 +2749,7 @@ class ITUNES(DriverBase):
             elif metadata_x.tags is not None:
                 if DEBUG:
                     self.log.info("   %susing Tag as Genre" %
-                                  "no Series name available, " if self.settings().read_metadata else '')
+                     "no Series name available, " if self.settings().extra_customization[self.USE_SERIES_AS_CATEGORY] else '')
                 for tag in metadata_x.tags:
                     if self._is_alpha(tag[0]):
                         if lb_added:
@@ -2768,7 +2801,7 @@ class ITUNES(DriverBase):
             # Otherwise iBooks uses first <dc:subject> from opf
             # iTunes balks on setting EpisodeNumber, but it sticks (9.1.1.12)
 
-            if metadata_x.series and self.settings().read_metadata:
+            if metadata_x.series and self.settings().extra_customization[self.USE_SERIES_AS_CATEGORY]:
                 if DEBUG:
                     self.log.info("   using Series name as Genre")
                 # Format the index as a sort key
@@ -2927,7 +2960,7 @@ class ITUNES_ASYNC(ITUNES):
         if not oncard:
             if DEBUG:
                 self.log.info("ITUNES_ASYNC:books()")
-                if self.settings().use_subdirs:
+                if self.settings().extra_customization[self.CACHE_COVERS]:
                     self.log.info(" Cover fetching/caching enabled")
                 else:
                     self.log.info(" Cover fetching/caching disabled")
@@ -3075,6 +3108,38 @@ class ITUNES_ASYNC(ITUNES):
             only_presence=False):
         return self.connected, self
 
+    def open(self, library_uuid):
+        '''
+        Perform any device specific initialization. Called after the device is
+        detected but before any other functions that communicate with the device.
+        For example: For devices that present themselves as USB Mass storage
+        devices, this method would be responsible for mounting the device or
+        if the device has been automounted, for finding out where it has been
+        mounted. The base class within USBMS device.py has a implementation of
+        this function that should serve as a good example for USB Mass storage
+        devices.
+
+        Note that most of the initialization is necessarily performed in can_handle(), as
+        we need to talk to iTunes to discover if there's a connected iPod
+        '''
+        if DEBUG:
+            self.log.info("ITUNES_ASYNC.open()")
+
+        # Confirm/create thumbs archive
+        if not os.path.exists(self.cache_dir):
+            if DEBUG:
+                self.log.info(" creating thumb cache '%s'" % self.cache_dir)
+            os.makedirs(self.cache_dir)
+
+        if not os.path.exists(self.archive_path):
+            self.log.info(" creating zip archive")
+            zfw = ZipFile(self.archive_path, mode='w')
+            zfw.writestr("iTunes Thumbs Archive",'')
+            zfw.close()
+        else:
+            if DEBUG:
+                self.log.info(" existing thumb cache at '%s'" % self.archive_path)
+
     def sync_booklists(self, booklists, end_session=True):
         '''
         Update metadata on device.