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iPod Reviews

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iPod Video

The iPod first appeared four years ago, and the features continue to grow, with each update.

The iPod with video playback was introduced on October 13, 2005. However, one should not necessarily consider this player a video player, but a great iPod music player, with video capabilities as a fantastic bonus. Nevertheless, the iPod with video playback is the most capable and feature-rich iPod ever produced by Apple.

Video Playback - The iPod plays back H264 and MPEG4 encoded video. The iPod's new display is larger than ever at 2.5 inches, giving it a resolution of 320x240. What video content can you play on your iPod? This area is limited, at least currently. You can buy music videos on iTunes at $1.99 per song, which will play beautifully on the iPod. Furthermore, Apple has made available select television shows, for download on iTunes. They cost $1.99 per episode, for titles including ABC's hits Lost and Desperate Housewives. You can also watch the episodes you purchase on your computer. If you want to put some of your own video, onto your iPod, you will need to use an application such as QuickTime Pro to convert the video to the specific requirements to play on the iPod. You can also find video podcasts, which will play on the new iPod. Even if you do not plan to view video on the new iPod, its primary purpose is to be used as the world's best music player. You can still benefit from the beautiful new display, for it will help you find your favorite music faster, and you can view the album art that accompanies your music.

Size of new iPod - Does the picture of the new iPod make it appear larger to you? Well, it did to me. The iPod looked wider, in the photos I saw. However, it is not. The height and width of the iPod are identical to the previous generation iPod with click wheel. The only change in dimensions is the depth. The new iPod is actually thinner than what came before it! Yes, this 30 gig iPod is thinner than the previous 20 gig photo model by 30 percent. What does all this mean? The iPod continues get smaller, making it even easier to carry.

New Software Features - Apple has added features, to the new iPod besides video support. First, they have a clock feature, which quickly allows you to view the time, in up to four different time zones simultaneously. Furthermore, there is a stop watch, and a screen lock, which you can enable to keep people from snooping on your calendar and/or contacts.

Battery - The battery life is one of the most important specifications that you, as an iPod user, are going to care about. This 30 gigabyte iPod sports a battery that will last up to 14 hours, when playing only music. Also note that repeatedly changing songs manually, and turning on the backlight will use up your battery considerably faster. Furthermore, the iPod's battery lasts a maximum of two hours, when playing back video. This version of the iPod no longer includes an adapter to charge the iPod, at an electrical outlet. You will have to buy that adapter separately, or always charge the iPod via USB 2.0. The charging works fine, from your computer's USB 2.0, but if you're traveling you might want the ability to charge, with the adapter. Also note that the iPod no longer supports syncing via firewire cable. You will have to use USB 2.0.

Mac or PC? This iPod works beautifully with either a Mac or PC. The iPod syncs your contacts, video, and music via the iTunes software.

Podcasting - The iPod continues to support podcasting. Podcasts are internet radio broadcasts, and there are thousands covering nearly every subject imaginable, and more are coming out every day. Podcasts are quickly becoming popular content on iPods around the world. Check them out, for this iPod supports Podcasts out of the box. There are also video podcasts, so with the new iPod, you will be able to watch video podcasts, on the iPod's display.

Appearance - The iPod is beautiful, but the back's chrome finish is prone to scratches, and the screen can become scratched as well. It is a very good idea to protect the back of the iPod and the screen in some way. There are many cases and protectors out there, and you will surely find something you like. The new iPod is available in a black or white finish. The black color is quickly becoming the most popular, but the white iPod is still the signature color. Do note that the black may show fingerprints and scratches more than the white iPod, much as a black car shows these blemishes more than a lighter colored car.

Audiobooks - You can store literally hundreds of audiobooks on here that you buy from iTunes, or Audible. The iPod even has a feature that can slow down or speed up the reading of the audiobook, so that you hear it at just the right pace.

Output - The iPod connects to your PC or Mac via the dock connector at the bottom of the unit. You will connect the included cable, to the computer via a USB 2.0 port. Furthermore, accessories are being made that will also connect to the bottom dock port, and you may purchase Apple's Universal iPod dock, for easy syncing to your computer. The dock (available separately) also includes s-video output, so you can show off slideshows and video, on a television. There are also iPod A/V cables available that allow composite video and audio output, for connecting your iPod to your television. This might interest you, not only to display slideshows on a television, but also to display TV shows or music videos on a television, which you purchased from iTunes.

Overall, this is another excellent product from Apple Computer. The design is elegant, simple, and intuitive. It will provide hours of entertainment and convenience. Enjoy your iPod experience.

iPod Photo

The use of CD Players is beginning to fade while digital music players are becoming more popular. Just like the Sony Walkman was the number one CD player in its time, the Apple Ipod has become the favorite of all current digital music players. Apple Ipods are convenient because they are smaller than CD players, they can hold thousands of songs, and they provide a simple way to organize music.

The small size of an Apple Ipod is easy to store and carry around just about anywhere. Traditional CD players are much larger and therefore, are more of a hassle to carry. Ipods can fit into jean pockets and sweatshirts with no problem while CD players are bulky and uncomfortable to carry. The smaller size of the Ipod contributes to the light weight, making them much lighter than a CD player. Despite their smaller size, they have a larger, more accessible screen to show each title of each song.

Ipods may be small but they can hold thousands of songs inside of it. It is more likely to lose a CD due to scratches and skips than it is to lose a song in an Ipod. Because an Ipod has the ability to hold thousands of songs, it is no longer necessary to carry large CD books around. It is less expensive to invest in an Ipod and buy individual songs than it is to buy a whole CD with only a few worthwhile songs.

The great organizational system of the Ipod makes finding those worthwhile songs simpler. CD players make for a stressful time when searching for long lost CDs. Ipods archive hold all old songs in memory. They can even be organized by music genre, artists, and albums so there is no need to worry about where those old CDs went. Creating music play lists is much easier than creating a new CD every time a popular song is released.

Apple Ipods are more practical in today's world. They are more convenient in so many ways including their small size, their large capacity to hold music, and their easy ability to organize songs. CD players, in today's hectic world, are obsolete. They are just no match for an Ipod that can do so much more.

iPod Nano

When one finds the iPod line hasn't changed much in a while, just wait a few days, and you are likely to be blown off your feet. Apple is constantly innovating, and pushing the limit, in order to bring you the world's greatest products.
Apple CEO and co-founder, Steve Jobs, calls the creation, "impossibly small," and "magic." While it might be a stretch to refer to the Nano as impossible or magic, it is the first reaction one has, when they see the product.
Size - The iPod Nano's size is its greatest attribute. Its depth is slightly less than a number two pencil. In fact, the iPod Nano is thinner than the iPod Shuffle. Of course, it is also significantly less wide and tall, than the original iPods, and the iPod Mini it replaces. Weight is another jaw-dropping figure. The iPod Nano is almost four times lighter than the iPod Photo 20 Gigabyte player.
It seems and feels even smaller in person, but everything fits together beautifully as well. The seems around the edges are very neat and nearly impossible to notice. When holding the iPod Nano, you really get the feeling that you are holding something of appreciable quality.
Reliability - The iPod Nano will prove to be incredibly reliable. Why? The Nano uses solid-state flash memory, which means there are no moving parts, in the player. The original iPod and iPod Mini used miniature hard drives, while still a good solution, they were bigger and could become damaged, when taking a hit. A lot of people who were upset that their iPod with a hard drive went out, would likely not have any problems, with the iPod Nano.
Storage - This 4-gigabyte iPod Nano is the best value. It is only $50 more than the 2-gigabyte model, so you get twice as much storage, for only $50 more. Don't forget you can also backup important files to your iPod, so you may find some extra space valuable. The 4-gigaybtes is capable of holding approximately 1000 songs.
Display - The display on the new iPod Nano is fantastic. It features a nice resolution, and color. You can view your photographs, or the album art, from your music. There are also the standard iPod games to play, in color.
Click Wheel - The click wheel continues to make iPod the most convenient and easy-to-use music player around. The smaller wheel works as easy and efficiently as ever.
Color - White is the traditional iPod color, and the white-colored iPod Nano will match many other Apple products. However, the black iPod Nano is an intense and sleek finish, beautiful in person. It might show scratches and fingerprints more easily, but it looks so great that it may be the most popular color choice of this new player.
Battery Life - Battery life is always an important feature. After all, what good is it having 1000 songs in your pocket, if you can't listen to them? The iPod Nano lasts 14 hours, on a single charge, under ideal conditions. Ideal conditions are allowing the playing to play on its own, without accessing menus regularly, which turns on the backlight and drains the battery. Even with regular fiddling, you should last well over ten hours.
Overall, Apple truly hit a home run, with the iPod Nano. Some companies follow, and some companies innovate and change the world. Apple is one of those companies. The iPod Nano is destined to become the best selling music player in the world, and it will be for good reason.

iPod Mini

iPod mini was the hottest gadget last year & the best mp3 player around. Looks like this will be true even in 2005. There is absolutely no competition for the iPod's, no other player is even half as good.

Pro's:

Very good audio quality. Support for normal mp3's (unlike Sony).
Small size (smaller than most cell phones like much-talked-about-Motorola-Razr).
Extremely well designed.
Very intuitive interface (award winning touch wheel and minimal buttons).
Available in many colors.
iTunes is one of the best music software around (rate songs, keep play count, easy-sync with the iPod).
Excellent screen for such small size.
Recharges from a standard USB port with the same cable as used for the upload of songs. No need to carry around a charger now.
Tons of innovative accessories in the market.
Good battery life, about 10-14 hrs depending on how much you surf around on it. Of course we all want more and there is no end to that demand.

Cons:

The battery is internal with no easy replacement chances.
Colors on the new Mini, except Silver are a bit gaudy.
Doesn't come with a wall charger any more and takes longer to charge from USB port. You always need to be around a computer or pay extra for the charger.

iPod Shuffle

Price - The iPod Shuffle is cheaper than most flash-based MP3 players having the same amount of memory.
The famous iPod elegance and simplicity - all iPods are designed so well, are easy to learn and a joy to use.
Size/weight - even compared to other flash-based players, the iPod shuffle is small and very, very light.
Plays AAC files - This is the real selling point for people who already own iPods and have a substantial library of music already in AAC format. You might not feel too comfortable bringing your $300, 6-ounce iPod to the gym, with its delicate hard drive and other moving parts. Now you can load 6 or more workouts' worth of tunes onto a device that weighs less than 1 ounce and has no moving parts. While there are many such flash-based players on the market, the iPod shuffle is the only one that can play tunes from your existing collection of iPod-friendly AAC files.
Amazing sound quality for such a tiny device

Cons:

No LCD display to help you navigate among the songs on the player. Say you load 100 songs on your iPod shuffle. Once you unplug it from your computer, the only way you have to navigate to a specific song is to keep forwarding to the next song until you find the one you want.
No FM tuner or voice recorder. Many other flash-based MP3 players have these features (though none as inexpensive as the iPod shuffle).
Battery life rated at "up to 12 hours" is low for flash-based MP3 players. Competitors typically achieve 15-20 hours. However, to be fair to the iPod shuffle, the competing models usually require you to use AA or AAA batteries, which add to the weight of the device.

OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Despite its name, the iPod shuffle does not force you to listen to your tunes in random order. Using the iTunes software on your computer, it's easy to create a play list or download specific songs you choose to your iPod shuffle, and then listen to them in the order in which they were downloaded to the player.
If you're not familiar with the iTunes software, it is very well-designed and easy to use. (If you'd like, you can download it free from itunes.com and start using it now, before even buying an iPod, to see how you like it!) iTunes makes it easy to manage your library of MP3 and AAC files, and download and manage the music on your iPods. iTunes is also your portal to Apple's online music store, where you can download almost any song for 99 cents or almost any album for $9.99. However, the iTunes software does NOT push you to shop at Apple's online music store - you don't ever have to see if you don't want to.
There are two ways to charge the iPod shuffle's battery - you can plug it into your computer's USB port, or you can buy a $30 adapter. If you plan on taking your iPod shuffle on a trip, but won't have a computer, then you'll probably need to factor the cost of the adapter into your purchase decision.