iPod Reviews

Overview:-

Pros:

• It is smaller in size, light weight and slick.
• The feel and usability of the touch screen is great.
• One of the best browsers found on a portable device.
• The audio and video playback is amazing.
• A number of cool inbuilt applications.
• A very bright clear and sharp display screen.
• The hardware is efficient and reliable and devoid of bugs.
• The Flash based mp3 player.

Cons:

• Lacks proper up gradation from the 2nd Generation 8GB iPod touch; still does not have facilities and features like camera, OLED, etc.
• The battery is weaker than the 2nd generation model and thus the music playback time is also lesser  than the latter.
• Is a bit over-priced, with lack of certain desirable features.
• FM radio can only be accessed through online applications.
• A half-locked Bluetooth.

Review:

On 5th September 2007, Apple Inc. launched the iPod touch, a mobile platform with features like portable media player, Wi-Fi and personalized digital assistant. The iPod touch 3rd generation is a much evolved, redesigned edition of the same with many added features. It is no longer just a music and video playback device, as it boasts of its superior quality web browser and e-mail support and a very handy portable gaming device as well. The Apple’s third generation iPod touch is found in 8 gigabytes, 32 gigabytes, and 64 gigabytes capacity. Going by the hardware or designing modifications, the third generation iPod touch is more of an upgraded version of its second generation predecessor. But the new alterations in the hardware, along with a number of generous additions of software, and a high potential for additional functions surely makes the Apple iPod touch 3rd generation a very worthy and desirable device and is unquestionably far better than its predecessor in a number of ways.

Design:

The similar cosmetics:
The first noticeable thing about the third generation iPod touch (8 GB) is that the looks are not much modified and its appearance is more or less similar to the second generation predecessor of the same. A few etchings on the rear side of the 3rd generation iPod touch is the only distinguishable factor. Otherwise, the second generation of iPod touch and its successor are more or less mirror images of each other. The rear end of the predecessor model has four engraved text lines seated between an 8GB, 32GB or a 64GB plate along with a number of electronic certification logos. The text which is engraved is basically a serial number and has “All Rights Reserved” etched. On the contrary the previous version had a comparatively smaller badge to notify the capacity and had two lines of engraved text which states “Designed by Apple in California” and is followed by the serial number. Other than this minor difference, the two models are astonishingly similar to each other with their screens turned off.

The Casing:
The Apple iPod touch 3rd Generation (8 GB) sports a 3.5 inch glass-covered LCD screen which has a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels. Despite being a touch screen device, a few manual physical buttons have also been included like the hold switch located on the top, a volume controller button on the edge towards the left and a home button place below the screen to the anterior side. The bottom side of this iPod touch is otherwise same as its predecessor, sporting a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack port, and a universal dock port. A metallic chrome steel finish is found along the edges and covers the expanse towards the posterior surface.
The shape, design and dimensions of the iPod touch 3rd generation remain the same as its previous model. A flat glass front is well-set in a curved steel backside cover and the device is 4.3 inches tall, 2.4 inches wide and 0.33 inches thick. The curved steel surface cover gives a good feel when hand-held but is quite tipsy and wobbly when placed on another surface like a table. Overall, nothing new and thus nothing commendable about this latest edition in the Apple iPod family, which is too similar is resemblance to the Apple’s 2nd generation iPod touch.

The Screen Tint:
The screen color tint is another difference between the two models, though it is not a remarkable and reliable one as it might not be the same throughout its lifespan. On close observation we find that the predecessor model of the Apple iPod 8gb 3rd generation model has a yellowish tint on white screens, whereas the latter has almost neutral white color with a slight pink tint. “Negative Black” on the screen centre was another big problem for the first generation iPods which was subsequently changed for the better with every modification and the latest third generation model has a more generous shallow center viewing than its previous models. Thus, the screen hasn’t changed much though from its previous editions, but the color balance in the third generation iPod touch is definitely way better than the others.  The Apple iPod touch third generation definitely has a brighter, sharper, and high quality display better than its predecessors, which makes it very handy option not only for video playback but also for gaming purpose.

The Pack-ins:
The Pack-ins vouch for another difference in the iPod touch 3rd generation and its previous version. The Apple iPod touch 3rd Generation (8 GB) features Apple’s earphones and also includes with Mic and Remote, which are absent in the 2nd generation model. The earphones of the iPod touch include a hardened plastic plug shell and are greasier and more slippery than the previous version’s thick and soft coating of rubber. Other than this small change, look wise and function wise both the versions are similar with two volume buttons one for increasing and the other for decrease. There is also a multi-functional central button, with the help of which user can play, pause or skip a track and a microphone is also provided which is useful when it comes to voice recording and it also serves a few other purposes. Though, in the previous edition the usage of the same was pretty limited, in the newer edition of the iPod touch, it is capable of doing quite a bit more with some changes in the hardware and software which are discussed later.

Features:

Hardware Changes:
Over the past year, Apple on its every iPod touch release gives an opportunity to cash in twice on the changes in hardware- once when the device is sold to the users, with its specifically mentioned features, and then again later, Apple offers a paid $10 “software update”, which unlocks the disclosed features and capabilities of the device. Apple, for the iPod touch 3rd generation, has promised to provide the users with just two specific hardware changes which includes a 50 percent acceleration in the performance and speed and a far better and hi-quality graphic detailing with the OpenGL ES 2.0. This iPod touch is definitely better than its other members in the family with a replaced high performance CPU and graphics processor with newer features and faster counterparts, thus enhancing the devices speed to approximately 800MHz and it also adds a handful of new features and special effects in its graphics interface.

Gaming:
These changes might not result in critical consequences, but they do give a boost to the newer edition to quite some extent. For example, when using the iPod touch for gaming purposes, users will notice a difference in the loading time for a game in both the models, which might range up to quite a few seconds. Thus, the 3rd generation device is truly much faster and when loading a big game this time difference might mount up to several seconds- result is while the game is still loading on the older model, a user will already be playing it when using the newer version.

Even if we forget the loading time difference, still the game performance also varies a lot in the newer iPod touch and on the brighter side. Even those games which push the second generation iPod touch’s graphic hardware to the threshold run smooth on the third generation device. It has a better frame-rate, greater speed and is smoother in the interface and also takes less installation and loading times. Thus, the Apple iPod touch 3rd generation is a way better portable gaming device than its predecessor though in certain cases the noticeable difference in the gaming experience is quite marginal to the users.

Graphics:
Another credential that the 3rd generation iPod touch from Apple can boast of is that it is the second pocket device launched by Apple which sports a hardware support for the OpenGL ES 2.0, a latest graphic technology which was first introduced in the iPhone 3GS. Due to the presence of the OpenGL ES 2.0, developers were able to use programmable shaders, which present a more optically realistic and impressive visuals and effects which is way better than what the previous versions of the iPod touch used to generate. The only problem is that not many games will be compatible enough to run in this device, other than a few handful mediocre games. But on the brighter side, the games that run and the future games to be released will be way better in quality and display and will give users an exciting gaming experience.

Performance:

Operating System:
The second generation version of the Apple iPod touch featured a 2.0 version OS, which has been upgraded to a newer OS of version 3.0 in the Apple iPod touch 3rd generation Media Player, which keeps it one step ahead in terms of software features and performance. Because of the presence of the newer 3.0 version OS, the iPod touch is now compatible with a huge range of software, and as a result of which it was possible to include Bluetooth in this device, which is capable of audio streaming in stereo and also supports multiplayer gaming when two iPods are interconnected using the Bluetooth feature and caters a cool experience of wireless gaming. Moreover, the device is now capable of including an application for Voice Memos, which is beneficial when it comes to voice recording via an external microphone. Other than this, a search feature which can intervene the whole system, Google street view and maps, and a widespread touch keyboard is present which is capable to mete out every keyboard compatible application. And on top of that, the iPod touch 3rd generation can also mould itself to work as a keyboard or as a remote control for Apple TV and the device also supports plenty of other features which can be enabled by a number of downloadable applications.

The Touch-Screen Interface:
Apple’s iPod touch 3rd generation is quite advanced in terms of usability and touch screen performance and is better than most other devices of its league, and this uniqueness has been maintained by Apple from the very beginning. Even when the first generation models were released in market, they were much better than its other rivals. Although now, other manufacturers who deal with touch screen featured devices like Microsoft, Sony or Samsung, have narrowed the gap between them and Apple in terms of designing, interface, speed and usability of touch screens. But still, the fluidity, easy and snappy operations and the impressive and captivating touch screen and usability and interface of the Apple iPod touch 3rd generation has kept it way ahead of its competitors in the international market.

Better Gaming Experience:
Moreover, to retain this high position, Apple is doing their best to modify, alter and re instill latest hardware and software modifications to enhance the performance, and are also pushing the speed barrier as far as they can to provide users with best experience in gaming. The Apple iPod touch 3rd generation claims a 50 percent processing power increase and also sports a latest Open GL graphic processor. Thus, the responsiveness and the loading and installation time for a game has been dramatically increased and quickened. A game that would take around 14 seconds to 15 seconds to load on the iPod touch’s 2nd generation model, takes a mere 7 seconds to 8 seconds loading time in the Apple iPod touch 3rd generation device. So, users who love gaming and prefer a handheld touch screen device which caters a great graphic quality and speed in gaming must have the Apple iPod touch 3rd generation in the priority list automatically.

Voice Memo:
The Apple iPod touch sports this unique feature which was not included in any of the previous editions of iPod by Apple, and this is really a worthy bonus application. The Voice Memo application is basically a voice controlled operational software, which enables the user to speak commands which the device detects and executes the demanded operation automatically. This feature can be enabled by pressing and holding the central button of the included earphones only and cannot be accessed from the iPod touch’s Home button. This will activate the Voice Memo feature and then when the user speaks command, the device will detect it and will follow the commands automatically. However, it is not absolutely perfect and efficient in detecting voice commands and analyzing it and in the initial stage it might seem to be quite awful. All the user has to do is follow the syntax and speak commands properly, and the device does a really appreciable job with the command analysis and execution of the same. The only drawback is that the dial command is not included in this device, but anyway, this special feature is really cool and chick and it places the 3rd generation iPod touch in a very high position amongst its competitors.

Accessibility:
This is another bonus feature included in the Apple iPod touch 3G device. This feature provides certain special software introductions, like the magnification option and the screen colour inversion option. Moreover, there is a Voice Over feature, which reads out the on screen texts, which is a very beneficial factor for the visually disabled users and there is also a mode called Mono Audio down-mixing, which merges both the left audio channel and the right audio channel into both headphones. This is useful to hearing impaired users, who can hear through only one ear. Pressing the device’s home button thrice enables the inversion and/ or the voice over mode, but not the magnification feature. The drawback of the inversion mode is that it reduces the clarity of the home screen, that is makes it less readable, but it enhances the working  of all other applications. This might be a problem as the small pixel size are already a problem for a number of users and the decrease in clarity will be highly dissatisfactory for them. But other than this, overall, the accessibility function is a great one and is surely unique.

The iTunes Factor:
The iPod touch 3rd generation allows users to browse, view, download or purchase content from the iTunes Wi-Fi store. All the users would need is to make sure of an available Wi-Fi connection and then they can access the iTunes Wi-Fi store, and once they are connected to it, they have a wide range of contents to download and purchase. Ranging from TV shows, to movies, podcasts, music videos, audio books, music, and educational content, users have a wide range to explore. One can browse through or search for any song, album or artists in the music catalogue and can browse through a wide variety of movies. In order to purchase a content from the iTunes Wi-Fi store, users will have to provide their iTunes password as a default security measure. Downloading any content is very easy and even if a download is interrupted, it picks up from the same point once the device’s Wi-Fi connection is established. When a download is completed, it is instantly accessible in the iPod touch and the downloaded media files automatically transfer to the computer’s iTune library, when a user synchronizes it with his PC. The iTunes Wi-Fi store is a handy feature and downloading and purchasing contents are also very convenient and the best part is that this user friendly feature has no drawbacks as such.

Nike + :
The iPod touch third generation is not complimented with the Nike + application features that were altered in the Fifth generation device. But it is still capable to link up to the Nike’s application called Nike + Sensor, which tracks the users movement while in running motion and can also be used for music playback control in the later versions. Though there is a doubt regarding the fact that the application called Heart Rate Monitor would be included in the software update by the manufacturer, but the possibility of that happening is high. Other than this, the Apple iPod Touch does support a number of other fitness applications, which are not developed by Nike. Thus, the iPod touch third generation device definitely offers more software upgraded stuffs than other such prevalent devices in the market.

Audio:
Considering the amount of effort that Apple has made in rendering the graphic quality and the processor speed and performance, the quality of the audio device and enhancement is not much developed or enhanced. It is the audio quality, where other manufacturers like Samsung and Sony leave behind Apple’s latest devices and that too with a sharp contrast, even with the marginal list of preset EQ featured by the Apple iPod touch. The device has a built in stereo speaker and also has a built in digital clock with timer and alarm. Though in general terms, the balanced audio quality with smooth sound will be satisfactory to most users, many of them would be dissatisfied with the 3rd generation iPod for this drawback. Though like most other iPods in the market, the Apple iPod touch 3rd generation also supports most audio file formats like MP3, WAV, AIFF, AAC ( along with the protected files ), and Apple Lossless, but still it does not support WMA files. Although, Apple iTunes software is provided in the pack which can convert the WMA files to MP3, but still, the lack or the limited audio controlling scope is surely a bit of disappointment.

The Bluetooth:
The Touch 3rd generation’s one very long awaited feature is the A2DP stereo Bluetooth audio streaming capability which is complimented with a OS 3.0 modification. The Apple iPod touch’s Bluetooth device can be very easily and conveniently paired with other Bluetooth accessories, which includes a speaker system, stereo headsets, and car stereo. Moreover, the device stores all previously paired Bluetooth devices record in its database, which can be found in the Settings menu of the iPod touch. The wireless range, which is approximately around 30 feet, and the audio quality of the Bluetooth device is quite appreciable and another interesting factor is that even the audio from the video playbacks applications are quite easily and conveniently transferred over the Bluetooth almost as easily as transferring a music playback. But, the Apple iPod touch’s Bluetooth device disappoints us when it comes to the AVRCP control. Apple has not fully implemented the control of Bluetooth AVRCP, whose function is to allow user to use other AVRCP compatible devices for audio playback remotely. The strangest part is that the Apple iPod supports play or pause functions over a AVRCP compatible device, whereas, other controls for the same, like volume increase or decrease, and the skip functions are not present. Another crucial factor is that, keeping the Bluetooth device on harms the battery life of the device greatly. If the Bluetooth device is on for quite sometime, it decreases the battery life to quite an extent.

Video Features:
The iPod touch is a perfect partner for a user who is looking forward for a device which is portable and sports numerous features and has a quality video playback. The Apple iPod touch is highly compatible with most video formats and users have unlimited access to video playbacks. Users can load  TV shows, video podcasts, iTunes movies, which are on a rental scheme or can also watch endless number of free videos offered by the YouTube widget in the iPod or can include any other third party applications in the device. The angles of viewing might not be as good is it was in the 2nd generation model, but still is not worth a mention in the negative side, because it is still good enough for its purpose. And moreover, the minimum angular problems in viewing are well justified as a counterpart to the iPod touch’s notable improvisation and improvement in the contrast and the colour balance. The colour balance modifications are really cool are worth mentioning as it is way better than its predecessor and moreover, the colour balance is less prone to wash out when the device is subjected to high brightness settings.

The Battery Life:
Comparing the Apple iPod touch 2nd generation and 3rd generation device, the battery life for the latter is slightly diminished. This might be an effect of the faster, performance oriented and more efficient processor or the fact that newer software have been included, like the Bluetooth. Software applications as well as the high powered processor demands more charge, and maybe because of this reason, music playback hour rating has been reduced to 30 hours which in case of the 2nd generation model was 36 hours. However, video playback rating has not been whittled down and it stays steady like its predecessor at an estimated 6 hours.

The Touch 3rd generation is advanced and has a provision which interrupts video playback when the battery charge is low. Thus, it is tough to claim the actual video playback time for this device, as to check it, it is required that the video has to re-picked a number of times, which makes it inconvenient to judge the exact video playback time.

Box Accessories:

The Apple iPod touch 3rd generation (8 GB) device comes along with a few packaged accessories: USB 2.0 cable, a dock adapter, a pair of earphones and a Quick Start Guide.

Warranty:

The Apple iPod touch 8 GB third generation device comes with a standard one year manufacturer’s warranty.

Verdict:

A very portable, handy and user friendly device which boasts of quite a number of features and hardware and software modifications. Though, going by the design, there is nothing remarkably different in the Apple iPod touch 8GB third generation model from its predecessor of the second generation, but comparing the speed, efficiency, usability and performance, this device fares far better than the others of its league. Moreover, the accessibility features are worth mentioning . There are some notable upgrades in the software features and it sports a very good interface. Moreover, the graphic quality is also a plus point which will be a source of attraction to the hardcore gamers. With a weight of 4.05 oz it is not very bulky and is comfortable for grip. Though, it has a reduced audio playback time of 30 hours, whereas its previous version had 36 hours of playback time, and the audio quality is also the same without any improvements, still is quite good enough for its usage. The display is also bright, clear and sharp. And the iPod touch 3rd generation flaunts a Bluetooth device which is capable of audio streaming and comes handy in a number of things and also supports wireless multimedia gaming. The Wi-Fi connectivity is also very strong and browsing, viewing and downloading is a very convenient. The only big drawback of this device is the lack of camera, which is something disappointing for users.

Basically, a user looking forward to a portable device which will give him access to a horde of entertainment within the basic limits, the Apple iPod touch 8 GB is a very good option. If a user is not desperate for a camera in the device and is content with storage of 8 GB complimented with a remarkably high quality graphic system with a very good Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection and most importantly a very speedy, efficient and powerful processor, then the Apple iPod Touch 8 GB ( Third Generation ) is probably the best suitable option.

Check latest iPod Reviews, Ratings and Exclusive Apple iPod Touch 32GB Second Generation Review in our website.

Apple iPod Touch 3G 8GB - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Apple
Model Name	iPod Touch Third generation
Device type	Digital portable media player
Dimensions (H x W x D)	4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33 inches
Weight	4.05 oz
Color	Black with Polished Aluminum rear
Display	3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display
Display resolution	480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 pixels per inch
Capacity	8GB Flash memory
Capacities available	8GB, 32GB and 64GB
Supported audio formats	AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless,AIFF, and WAV
Playback modes	Playlist, One track repeat, Shuffle
Response Bandwidth	20 - 20000 Hz
Other media feature	JPEG photo playback, variable bit rate compatibility
Supported video formats	H.264, MPEG-4
Additional Features	Notes, Calendar, Cover flow, Phone Book, Voice Memo, Date display, Web Browsing, Nike + iPod support, Multi-touch interface, USB 2.0.
Wireless	Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) Nike + iPod support built in Maps location-based service7 Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
TV	Support for 480p and 576p component TV out
Input and output	Dock connector 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
Headphone Type	Binaural ear-bud
Impendence	32 Ohm
Battery Type	Lithium Ion rechargeable
Battery backup	Music playback time: Up to 30 hours when fully charged Video playback time: Up to 6 hours when fully charged
Battery charge time	Fast-charge time: about 2 hours (charges up to 80% of battery capacity) Full-charge time: about 4 hours
iTunes version	iTunes 9 or later
System Requirements	Mac : Mac computer with USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later Windows: PC with USB 2.0 port, Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
Box contents	iPod touch Apple earphones Dock connector to USB cables Quick Start Guide
Warranty	One year

To start with, we would like to brief you with what has happened with the iPod classic sixth generation so far. Steve Jobs introduced the sixth generation iPod Classic to the world on an iPod centric event on 5th September 2007. This sixth gen classic featured slightly thinner body made of different material, signature white color replaced by silver color, a cover flow with more graphics and a dramatically improved battery life. This version was released in 80GB and 160GB capacities. But then, on 9th September 2008, the thicker 160GB model was dropped in the favor of a thinner 120GB and this model also had Apple’s Genius and audio recording capabilities, but there were no firmware updates were given to the previous two models. And then, just prior to its rock and roll event in 9th September 2009, the price of the 120GB version was dropped and a new 160GB version was introduced with the same slim profile of the 120GB version.
In the following review, let us have a detailed look at this latest 160GB version of the sixth generation iPod classic.

Dimensionally thinner:

As we had mentioned earlier, the iPod Classic 160GB sixth Generation has thinner dimensions of (H x W x D) 4.1” x 2.4” x 0.41” and weights just 140 grams. The model still retains the 2.5” display of resolution 320 x 240 pixels and the click wheel is same as that of the one that we had seen previously in the iPod classic fifth generation, still made out of plastic. Though the front of the device is made out of scratch resilient anodized aluminum, the rear side of the device still has the scratch and fingerprint attracting polished metal.

The arrangement of the ports is exactly the same that you would find in the previous models. You get the hold switch and headphone jack on the top and the dock connector port is bottom mounted.

To brief about the design and physical characteristics of the iPod Classic 160GB September 2009 model, except for the thickness of the device, it has not improved by much this year. No other colorful Classic iPods have ever materialized and so, the silver and black look very dull next to the continuously evolving iPod Nano family. We feel that Apple is simply doing nothing to glamorize Classic as the only real improvements made to the device are internally with its features.

An updated user interface:

Apple had updated the user interface for iPod Nano third generation and Classic in such a way that it has more happenings than just a black text on a white background. Though the fourth generation nano dropped that and moved forward to have a new interface, the latest classic has maintained the same with no changes. The first and second level menu options are shown on the left side of the screen and its right side is used for the album artwork.

Screen:

When music, videos, photos or podcasts on the left of the screen are highlighted using the click wheel, you will be able to see the picture or the album art floating on the right. As you enter the third level of the menu, the whole screen becomes white except for the blue cursor and the black and grey text. The playlists have small grey song tallies, the artists have small artist names and art icons, the songs have artist’s names and the genres have the artist and album tallies. The videos too have the icons and appropriate summary information. The split screen menu is especially of great use in the settings menu of iPod classic. Some of the menu options like clicker, shuffle and repeat that might have confused the users of past, have appropriate explanations next to them.

Cannot adjust the EQ:

The EQ (equalizer) feature which has been long neglected by apple still does not allow the users to adjust it. However, the various presets are now having a bar style visual indicators of how they work, assuming that the users already know what the bars are supposed to represent.

New options will be kept unused for long:

Two new options have been added to the video settings menu that enables you to select alternate audio and subtitles for the video files. And these features totally depend on the kind of video you are watching to have encoded audio or subtitled data, which are very uncommon. This feature has been added in the Nano too, but not in the iPod Touch or the iPhone.

A tint of OS X leopard style:

When you go though the menu, you will be able to feel that Apple has included a bit of its Mac OS X leopard style design. The search function that was introduced in the fifth generation iPod gets a clean matte overlay bar and in addition to this the usually glassy scroll bars and volume level indicators look more solid. The now playing screen of classic looks increasingly outdated, while the new nano and iPhones use their entire screen widths for its huge album art, the iPod classic continues to feature a perspective angled album art that is inspired by the Apple TV. This screen is now less detailed. When the device is continuously playing, an odd looking clock, play icon and battery indicator appear as the screen saver.

Interface as a whole:

Though the new interface is fine, it is a little odd to use as it looks as though the menu has been cobbled together from the earlier and much more powerful products of Apple. For instance, the cover flow is the cut down version of the one found in the iPhone, but then works with more of button clicking. Though the interface is much faster than what we had last year, we feel that it is a bit slower than the new iPod Nano or iPhones.

No change in standards supported:

The sixth generation iPod Classic 160GB Black, Silver Color Media Player still plays the same audio, podcasts, video and photo that it had been playing the in the previous generations, there have been no new additions of formats or even an up-graded on-screen video. The quality of audio and video remains to be unchanged.

Addition of Genius:

The only new addition that Apple has made to the new interface is a feature that can already found in iPhone, iPod Touch and the Nano, “Genius”. As you might be already aware, Genius feature allows you to automatic playlists of similar music, just by selecting the track and holding down the center button for a second, and then choosing the “Start Genius” option. For the very first time, it is necessary for you to be connected to iTunes to import Genius data from your library, but from then on, it creates a smart playlist from the current song’s genre.

Improved audio:

In the last year’s model apple had improvised on audio by replacing the wolfson audio chips that was found in the prior iPod models with the Cirrus Logic chip. And hence, using the same high end earphones on both the models developed a noticeable difference in audio hiss; this made the new iPod Classic sound much clearer. This improvement urged apple to replace the chips of the new iPod Nano and the iPod Touch too.

Video remains to be the same:

And unlike the Audio very less had been changed in the video of the last year’s model. You have to pre-select if you have to take up the entire screen or display in a letterboxed widescreen mode. The quality of video is same as that of the 2007 model. The brightness levels in the videos are same but are a bit softer in both widescreen and full screen modes.

Worst set of image features:

Though the performances of audio and video are impressive, the sixth gen iPod Classic 160GB Capacity has the least impressive photo display quality in the iPod family. The photo thumbnails are displayed against an attractive dark grey background and they are displayed on a very easy to view 5 x 3 grid. Though you get fewer thumbnails of 15 than on the iPod nano or iPod Touch (20), but we also have to mention here that they are much larger than that of Nano’s and is a little easier to see.

The only advantage ever the classic has over Nano is that it has a bigger display and so the photo details are easier to see on the display of classic than on that of Nano. However, Nano can enjoy the benefits of the accelerometer, but the classic cannot do the same. Yet another inability is that, the Classic does not have the zoom effects of the iPod Touch and iPhone Photo applications. Not to mention, the transition effects that Classic has are the worst in the family and they include cross fade, fade to black, zoom out, wipe across, and wipe center.

Hardware changes in iPod Classic 6th Gen:

The only significant hardware change that has been made to the iPod Classic 160GB 2009 model is in the headphone port input. As in the case of the new iPod nano and the Touch, the headphone port has been changed subtly changed in order to support the latest microphone and remote control accessories.  The classic can also be used with the stereo headphones that includes both a mic and a single button for track play/pause functionality, which now can be pressed three times to skip backwards a track, or two times to skip forwards.

Voice Memos:

By connecting the headphones to the Classic, you get the Voice Memos menu option and the old dock connector based accessories continue to bring up the same menu and work. Unlike the iPod nano, the iPod classic’s Voice Memos feature offers two quality choices; low or high for the recordings it makes, creating one as a monaural 22kHz and the other as a stereo 44kHz file, both in WAV format.

Games support:

There is no difference between the previous model and this one in terms of built-in games or games support. The 160GB black, Silver iPod Classic comes with trivia game called iQuiz and a Solitaire game called Klondike, both the improvements are on the previous generation iPod games. The single best title Apple includes with the iPod classic is Vortex, an updated version of the classic game Breakout.

The extras:

All of the Extras previously found on the iPod classic remain in the 2009 model, as well. They are Clocks, Calendars, Contacts, Alarms, Notes, Screen Lock and Stopwatch. Clocks fits up to three nice-looking transparent clocks on screen at once. They are displayed on top of a gray map of the Earth, and can display the current times in countries and cities all across the world.
Huge improvement in capacity and battery with no change in price:
One of the features that got us most exited with the previous year’s 80 and 160GB models was that, these models were not only packed with the largest capacities of the iPod family, but they also had the best battery life that Apple had ever offered. Previously, you would get a 30GB classic with battery life of fourteen hours for $249 and now you get an 80GB classic with thirty hours of audio run time for the same price. And Apple has managed to do the same this year too, the $249 iPod Classic now has 100% more capacity using a single platter 180GB hard disk as a replacement for the 80GB disk.

Battery life:

The 160GB iPod classic has a battery life that is better than ever before. The built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery gives an audio playback time of 36 hours and video playback time of six hours when fully charged. Apple usually gives the minimum life in its specifications so you can always expect much higher rate than what is specified. By charging for about two hours, the battery gets 80% charged and full charging takes about four hours.

Package contents:

The package of the device is same as that of last year. It comes in a cardboard box, which is more common with the current iPhones and iPod Touches. In fact, there is one difference, the box is white instead of the trademark black and uses a foam padded interior with a hard plastic shell to hold the 160GB classic on its place. Beneath it, you will find a sealed white paper pouch with the three white colored iPod accessories (a pair of iPiod earphones, a USB to iPod dock connector cable and the universal dock adaptor), instructions, safety instructions and apple stickers.

Warranty:

Apple offers sixth generation iPod Classic 160GB one year standard warranty.

Verdict:

Frankly speaking, we would not recommend the Apple iPod Classic 160GB for now. This is not because of any new deficiencies that the iPod has, but is solely considering all the other members of the iPod family. The only two developments that this new model has got are the fair competitiveness in battery life with its predecessor and an additional 37GB at the same price. Said that, this Classic model has fallen back considerably as far as features are concerned when put into comparison with the less expensive Nano and Touch siblings. As Apple itself had suggested, Storage Capacity is simply the only main reason you could consider the Classic at this point.
The Apple iPod Classic 160GB is recommended only for those who need a large collection of music at once and cannot wait to spend on the upcoming high capacity versions of the iPod.  There is no doubt on the fact that it is a good iPod, being very fast, capacious and a long running iPod , but we also have to accept the fact that it does much lesser than ipods that were once its subordinates.

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iPod Classic 160GB 6th Generation- Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Apple
Model Name	Apple ipod classic 160GB
Generation	Sixth Gen (sept 2009 edition)
iPod Type	iPod Classic
Media Player Type	Hard drive based digital player
Dimension (H X W X D)	4.1” x 2.4” x 0.41”
Weight	140 grams
Body Enclosure material	Anodized Aluminium
Display	LCD color
Resolution	320 x 240 pixels
Diagonal size	2.5 inches
Colours available	Silver, Black
Storage media	Built-in hard disk drive
Capacity	160GB ( can hold up to 200 hrs of video )
Supported photo standards	BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD (Mac only)
Supported audio standards	WAV, AAC, AIFF, Audible, MP3, Apple Lossless
Supported video standards	MOV, MPEG-4, H.264
Audio output	Headphones - binaural
Connectivity	Docking connector Headphones Component vide Composite video
itunes	itunes 7.6 or later versions
Additional features	Genius Battery level indication hold button volume limiter playback speed control date display phone book calendar upgradeable firmware built-in games notes photo wallet USB 2.0 compatibility Cover flow
Supporting OS	Windows vista Windows XP Home or Professional with Service pack 2 or later
Battery	Rechargeable Lithium ion battery
Battery life	Audio playback: 36hrs Video playback: 6shrs
In the box	iPod classic Earphones USB 2.0 cable Dock adaptor Quick Start guide
Warranty	1 Year

The expert of MP3 player Manufacturers Apple, has again come forward with its own new style and bashy iPod Nano 16GB Fourth Generation games and music iPod. The iPod Nano 4Generation arrives in a diverse range of 9 fulgent and enthralling colors. The new model has a slim tapered body making it much easier to clasp compared to Apple Nano 3G which is small and squarish.

What is new:

The Nano 4G 16gb capacity incorporates a new tool with a tilting sensor for producing a genius playlist and the font size of the menu has been altered which makes it more legible for visually impaired. However, there was a lot of demand to upgrade the device to company’s iTunes 8.0 version software. It is doubtless that new iPod Nano 4G is exceedingly good in user-interface and software features. However, with the upgrades made to the product, it is still an affordable iPod.

The thinnest iPod ever:

Apple iPod Nano 16GB Fourth Generation is incredibly light-weighted and extremely slim in pattern with its hi-tech visual aspect. The physical changes are stark when directly compared to Nano 2G. The design of Nano 4G is not as soft as second generation model with its curved edges. It has a seamless metal finish. The Nano 4Gen feels like a dull knife in hand with radiuses better for grip but not for comfort. As in the case of Nano 2G, you cannot easily slide Nano 4G in your hand. Seeing the new model some may feel as if Apple may eventually design new models, sharp enough to create paper cuts. Now the screen has been covered with curved glass providing it improved resilience against scratches. Even though the glass is lustrous and reflective the viewing quality has not been diminished. The body housing coating is going to retain long, when compared to its plastic predecessors.

Comes in a spectrum of colors:

For the first time in Nano history, Apple has introduced 9 different colors roughly named as- black, silver, pink, blue, green, red, purple, yellow and orange. None of the color is identical to earlier models. You can select them without having to pay much for the frills.

The display, dimensions and connectivity:

Despite the changes in the new model, dimensions of iPod Nano 4G has not been altered much, as a result the viewing quality remains the same. Apple has correctly described it as the thinnest iPod and the Nano 4G measures about 3.5 inches in height and 1.6 inches in width and with thickness of 0.25 inches, which incurs that it is the thinnest, narrowest and tallest iPod to earlier nanos, each has a very minute difference which can only be recognized when kept side by side. The LCD screen measures about 2 inches, with blue and white LED back light and a one inch sliding wheel control option. At the bottom of the device the dock and headphone connections are made and sliding-hold switch has reappeared on the top of the iPod.

Change in the GUI:

The change in font size made it more comfortable to use by people with 20/20 vision. As Apple has flipped the screen on its side compared to the other older versions the user interface had renovated a lot.Now the music playback screen provides full-screen album art in default. Cover flow view is brisker than earlier model which in return offers you to view menu in alphabetical order for easy pick when you flip through your selections.

Features:

The most significant and special features on Apple iPod Nano 16GB Fourth Generation MP3 Players are the introduction of genius playlist, the tilt sensor to shuffle through your choices, the application of voice recording and the synthesized choice for visually challenged to read the text.

Even though the iPod Nano 16 GB 4th Gen has held back almost all the major features from its former models like music, podcast playback, video options, photos, calendar, alarms, stopwatch, contacts, the gaming characteristics, making notes and clocks, Apple has imparted some new features to the new model which makes it more obligating than its rivals.

Genius playlist:

To embark on, we will start with most special feature of the model which is the twinkling Genius playlist that permits you to create your own 25 songs automatically. It is very easy to use it. All you have to do is select your best-loved song and press firmly over the “Start Genius button” in the menu till it enables and the result is fun. The playlist collection can be transferred into your computer to listen if the iTunes’ Genius feature is enabled. In few instances you may find it a privacy issue, which might lead you to abort the function from computer.

Tilt sensor:

One of the other interesting features of Nano 4G is “tilt-sensor” through which if the iPod is tilted or hardly shaken the player shifts to shuffle mode and allows you to select randomly from the available playlist. We can even deactivate it by pressing the switch firmly or shake to shuffle from the settings menu in the iPod. This feature also allows the cover flow music to be activated when turned to its sides. The video playback can also be altered to the direction you turn the screen.

Easy video recording:

Another feature of concern is voice recordings that are made fairly easy in iPod Nano 4Gen 16GB Audio/Video Player. You can add headphone jack with a microphone input. But it is mandatory to make sure that the headsets are compatible with Apple. The earphones that come along with device does not have built-in microphone and are unaltered.

As we had mentioned earlier, the additional advantage of merging a new feature for visually challenged is excellent. By enabling the synthesized voice available in the device, they can hear how to use whole menu, necessary picks and other playback information. An equally important modification is made by increasing the font size, which makes reading very easy.

Audio features:

The variation of audio is not very large compared to its earlier models. There is nothing outside the master settings. Although there is no improvement in audio, certainly there is a difference in the bass and range. Surely it is good for ears.

MP3, WAV Files, AIFF, AAC, Audible Files are the audio formats supported by the iPod Nano 4th Gen Music Player and the list also includes protected files and Apple Lossless files. The player does not support WMA music but this can be easily come over by converting them to MP3 files by using software available in iTunes.

The fourth generation Nano iPod with the 16GB flash drive can store about 4000 songs and upper limit of 14000 images which are iPod viewable.

Video features:

The 2 inch LCD screen with a multicolored selection of the nano provides both portrait and landscape modes of viewing. Nano 4G screen resolution is a maximum of 320 X 240 pixels with featured 204 pixels per inch. The curved glass screen is little glowering but the picture quality is good in brightness and lucidity. This also requires specific file format like all other video playbacks. H264, the MPEG4 video format in MP4 or MOV or M4 file format with a picture resolution of 640 X 480 are the suitable video formats. There is a caption shown in a clear and visible, white and black contrast font when the video is played.

The 16GB capacity of the iPod Nano is capable of holding 16 hours of video and saves all of its data using a USB flash drive.

Some concern for other languages too:

The Nano 4G is multi-lingual and supports a diverse range of languages at its user interface. The most significant languages in the device are the English, the Russian, the Czech, the Danish, the Dutch, the Finnish, the French, the German, the Greek, the Hungarian, the Italian, the Japanese, the Korean, the Norwegian, the Polish, the Portuguese, the Simplified Chinese, the Spanish, the Swedish, the Chinese and the Turkish.

Package Particulars:

The packing is not altered from its last two models.  The Apple iPod Nano16GB 4G comes with clear plastic box with a white cardboard insert which contains the device, a pair of ear phones, a USB cable of 2.0 version, one Dock adapter and a guide for quick start. It also contains dock connector and a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack as an input and output accessory, two apple stickers, a warranty and a safety pamphlet.

Power and Battery:

Apple iPod Nano 16GB fourth generation device runs on a rechargeable built-in lithium ion battery. It has a music playback time for 24 hours and video playback of 4 hours. The iPod can be easily recharged by connecting USB to the computer or by a power adapter which is to be bought separately. It normally takes one and half hours to charge 80% of battery and maximum of three hours to charge full battery.

Verdict:

Doubling the third generation nanos 4GB and 8GB capacities to 8GB and 16GB and with the wide range color options available at lowest cost at this point, retaining all the features of earlier models, additional interesting features of the new model, its new appearance makes us feel that it is worthy having a Nano 4G. As we know nothing is perfect, the device also got some not so great features like belittled video battery life. You can also take advantage of its reduced thickness, stylish shape and use the new Nano by upgrading it to iTunes 8.0 version and its sound quality. However these issues take away only little from which otherwise an excellent mid-range music player. And it is pretty sure that it is giving good challenge to its competitors. The Nano 4G is good on eyes and wallet and even cannot be beaten in its hardware and user interface design. If you are looking for something small, colorful, full of features Apple iPod Nano 16GB fourth generation is of brilliant value.

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Apple iPod Nano 16GB 4G - Technical Specifications, Features

Manufacturer	Apple
Model Name	IPOD 16GB Fourth Generation
Product Type	Digital Player
Colors	Red, silver, orange, black, green, pink, purple, blue and yellow.
Dimensions (W x D x H)	1.5 in x 0.2 in x 3.6 in
Weight	1.3 ounce
Body Housing Material	Aluminium
Memory	Integrated 16GB
System Requirements	Microsoft Windows Vista with Apple MacOS X 10.4.11 or later version, or, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition are the preferred requirements.
Compatible audio CD formats	AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible 2, 3 and Apple Lossless or AIFF or WAV format.
Video formats	H.264, MPEG-4 with a digital graphic equalizer.
Softwares	iTunes version 8.0 or later with an iTunes stores account and drivers and utilities.
Digital Features	An MPEG-4 playback with JPEG photo playback and it is also Variable bit-rate compatible.
Additional Features	A Motion sensor, a calendar with Cover flow, a volume limiter, Genius technology and built in games, Nike with iPod support, a USB 2.0 version compatibility, and a battery level indicator. It also has a built-in digital clock with alarm and stopwatch.
User Interface	USB port with 2.0 compatibility
Input and Output	1 external USB cable, one docking station and one 3.5mm mini phone stereo binaural headphone set.
Battery	Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Power	3 hours of recharge time
Warranty	One year