Overview

iPod Classic stands apart for its storage. Beauty, elegance, efficiency, and last but not the least, it is the memory capacity that puts it forward. With the storage capacity of 160GB, it can hold up to 40,000 songs. Many items such as the photos, videos, podcast can be stored intact and the user will land up finding still more space to add something. It could be because of some internal file compression technology used by Apple. Further, a few games are also added to give the extra mileage.

Design

The sixth generation iPod classic has got itself eliminated from the clear plastic. The main drawback noted in the plastic case is the higher sensitivity to scuff marks. But , this one comes with the anodized aluminum as used in the iPod Nano. The metal face is encompassed elegantly around the glass screen. It is a practical construction and avoids the occurrence of scratch marks on the screen. However, the rear stainless steel is still susceptible to finger prints.

The iPod Classic 7th Generation screen measures 2.5 inch diagonally and is a color LCD monitor with LED backlight. This renders a good visibility and clarity for the pictures and videos. We can understand the love for click wheel by Apple and hence the iPod classic is established with the click wheel as used in iPod Shuffle. The only difference is that an additional option such as the menu and the play/ pause is added to the click wheel, besides the forward and reverse button. But, unfortunately the volume control is hidden inside the menu options. It is not a smoother set-up, because the volume control is something that is highly preferred to be within the quickest reach, and can be cumbersome if it has to be altered through entering the click wheel menu options. The iPod classic can be turned on, by hitting any button on the device.

User Interface

The operation is simple in Apple iPod 7th Gen Media Player. It is just click and scroll. All the features are to be navigated from the main menu using the click wheel and the centre button. The details of the song, settings and information are contained within the menu. The selection is always made using the centre button. The main menu can be activated by pressing and holding it, an action animated from the iPod shuffle. The shuffle song option is also present. It is also possible to skip to any point of the song or the video using the centre button. A scrubber bar appears and the diamond icon represents the exact location of the item. Since the device can hold a good quantity of database, it is possible to search and pick the desired one using the search option. However the search feature is restricted to the music area only and it does not respond to videos or any other items. Something similar to that of a phone lock arrangement is possible in the iPod classic. By pressing the hold switch the iPod classic can be averted by activating from accidental touch. In case of poor video quality, the screen brightness can be adjusted, but prolonged brightness of the screen can affect the battery performance. The battery level is indicated on the extreme top right corner of the screen.

Features

Memory Capacity
The storage part is the alluring feature as far as this model is concerned. Apple iPod Classic 7th Generation Model’s memory is 160GB hard drive. The clearest reason for using the hard drive rather than the flash drive is the cost efficient storage. Most of such devices with flash drive memory fall in the expensive category. As per the latest technology, the iPod Classic picks up from the small sized drive to execute the commands. In addition to it, it runs on a complicated OS system. This aspect makes it susceptible to fail at certain occasions. This is the reason as why iPod classic though being the best amongst the iPod family to hold more songs, it is not integrated with the Nike+ usage. Even it is not highly recommended to be used during extreme conditions such as the running as it can lead to some mechanical failure. The usage of hard drive for storing the content has a limitation of drawing more power, External Hard Drives comes with the capacity up to 3TB. Meanwhile the flash drive memory gives better mileage and has several advantages. The main advantage is the speed and it gives a good operating experience. A smooth interface is maintained. Moreover, content like videos and games need a smart interface system and flash drive is the ideal choice. Further the energy efficiency of the flash drive is higher. Most of the Apple’s iPod models have drifted towards having the attractive flash RAM rather than the hard drive. The iPod classic hard drive has some hiccups such as stuttering during the playback. Though it is not of a major drawback, it is still a limitation.

Music capabilities
The music features is similar to that of any iPod family. The iPod Classic can be synchronized through the iTunes and songs be exported. It is possible to enter the song lyrics in to the iTunes in the plain text format. The same can be viewed while listening to the songs. Album art work can be displayed by the iPod Classic and hence if it is added it can be viewed. The music can be synchronized automatically or it can be managed manually. Using the rating system, if the user rates the song from 1 to 5, the iPod Classic can automatically creates Smart Playlist in the iTunes.

Podcast can be downloaded and organized and viewed effectively, it presumes from the place where it was left. Audio Books can be transferred to the iPod Classic and the play speed can also be set. The chapters can be navigated using the forward and the rewind button. By adding the iPod Radio remote accessory available for iPod Classic, it is possible to listen to the radio.

Video Features
The videos such as the movies or the TV shows can be rented from the iTunes, similar to that of buying songs. It can be brought using the Apple account or America Online account. But this option is limited to some of the countries only. Another interesting feature is the ability to watch the iPod Classic videos in the television. By purchasing an Apple AV cable, the iPod Classic can be connected to the television and the videos can be viewed in the large screen.

Photo Features
The photos available in the computer can be transferred to the 7th Generation iPod Classic. Since the resolution factor varies with respect to each picture, the iTunes shrinks the picture resolution. The full resolution is usually not added to the iPod classic and is added only when requested. Otherwise, it is kept in the best possible resolution applicable for viewing in the device.

Miscellaneous Features
iPod Classic 7th Generation release is configured with three games, namely Klondie, Vortex and the iQuiz. Any additional games can be brought from the iTunes. Furthermore, the iPod Classic can synchronise contacts, calendars and manage the To-Do List. Address book from Mac or Windows can be synced with the iPod classic through the iTunes. Voice memo recording can also be done. The voice memo quality can be pre-set by the user. However the recording will continue only for two hours.

Performance

The key feature of the iPod classic is the memory capacity. It can store up to 40,000 songs when stored in the AAC format at the usage limit of 128 Kbps. It can hold even up to 25,000 photos, but has to be shrunk to be fit in the iPod Classic. Apple has integrated wisely, the cover flow technology to flip through the songs rapidly. This is important criteria required, as the iPod classic storage limit is very high. The refresh rate and the response time is good, however iPod Classic does not exhibit the backward compatibility with respect to certain games aspect.

Verdict

It would be an understatement to say that the iPod Classic memory is good, but it is fabulous. The device is sturdy but not solid enough to be taken for gym activities.
The sound effects are not diluted in this generation, but we should say Apple has further enriched the quality. However, the volume control could have been retained in the main click wheel, which is quite a drawback. But, for certain reasons like the excellent storage limit and the music play back time, which runs up to 36 hours, people cannot keep their hands off from the iPod Classic.

iPod Classic 7th Generation – Technical Specification Table

Overview:

Apple launched its first iPod Shuffle during January 2005, a very simple one sans the click-wheel. The device was simple and primarily it maintained an easy to operate decorum and hence was highly welcomed by the elder people and the kids. The second generation shuffle was coated with metallic finish rather than the plastic one and the third generation was completely bland and faced issues with respect to the usability. Due to the design flaws it had been eventually forced to be recalled from the market, something that Apple rarely does. Until recently, the fourth generation iPod Shuffle is been pitched within a short span of time. It stands for the testimony of the lessons that Apple had learnt from the previous launch and carefully applied it in this model. Except for the additional memory space and some new features this shuffle takes up the similarity of the second generation model. Keeping the price index low, it is definitely competing globally and locally.

Design Parameters:

Wearable and portable could be the two words to describe the iPod Shuffle’s design essence. The fourth generation 2GB iPod Shuffle breathes a fresh air by amending the dimension parameters. It stands tall to a height of 1.14” and width of 1.24 and lighter to the weight of 0.44 ounce. The contrast difference to the previous generation shuffle is the increase in the height and decrease in the width and the weight. By making it slightly taller, there is a notable assurance in the grip. The body is made up of aluminum and gleams up in five different colors. The color contrast is suitably balanced between the body and the plastic control. Especially in the case of silver, the black colored click wheel control accentuates the appearance. Whereas in the case of the other colors such as the pink, orange, blue and green the inner control is touched with white and appears a bit duller than the body color. iPod Shuffle has not abandoned the metal clip on the rear side. It can be personalized using the engraving available from the App store.

Nothing can be compared to the classic click-wheel navigational system which has gained so much of momentum. Up to an 18% size increase has been done to this click wheel; and this gives a better operating freedom, especially for broad handed individuals. The increased size in the click wheel has pushed the iPod Shuffle a bit taller than its contemporaries. The play/ pause button can be operated to lock the device when not in use. The fast forward and the rewind action can also be done.

As opposed to the previous generations, this Apple iPod 4th Gen Shuffle one is engineered from a single piece of aluminum. The body is entirely metallic besides the click-wheel. The top, bottom, rear buttons and ports are entirely metallic, thus giving a sturdy feel to it. The aluminum used in the previous releases were sort of matte looking and gives a polished look. Unlike many flimsy music players, iPod Shuffle can withstand pretty good amount of shock and fall. The metallic body further assures a better robustness while handling it. The metallic finish is not kept glossy, but still looks shiny, however some users complain the iPod’s rear side to be bit slippery to touch especially with wet fingers. Even the color selection has been carefully selected in a not so bright manner than compared to the predecessors.  The orange and the greens appear less catchy and Apple has kept the color key low, perhaps to bring about a good contrast between the metal body and the plastic control.

Regarding the length of the USB cable, it comes a bit short. It is cumbersome to get connected from the rear side of the desktop towards the front. The earphones length is compromised and cannot reach all the way from the ear to the waist. The in-line remote control that aroused moisture related issues during workouts is not added in this generation.

Despite the size, iPod shuffle successfully and conveniently integrates the buttons and controls. The volume button, song selection and the play and pause button retains the same place in the click wheel. The shuffle switch is accommodated on the top panel and it permits three stop sliding. The headphone port can be used to connect the unique USB cable thus lacking the flexibility of listening to music and charging at the same time.

Features:

Shuffle Switch
The shuffle sliding switch gives a cocktail of Playlist or the order that has been loaded. In the three way slide, the extreme left operation rings in a different way, and the middle order plays the songs in order and the right side push gives a randomized collection of songs. The shuffle switch has not undergone any major change and the same pattern descends from the first generation iPod shuffle.

Genius Playlist
Similar to any iPod, this one too needs to be synchronized with Apple’s iTunes (media management application). On connecting the iPod shuffle to the system using the USB cable, iTunes takes care of the rest. The complete synchronization and organization of the music content and ability to shrink the song’s storage capacity is the highlight feature of iPod family. Customization of the playlist for different activities makes it a perfect blend for any theme. The much adorned feature of the latest iPod’s, viz the Genius Playlist is introduced in the 4th generation iPod shuffle. On activating the genius Playlist the user can get a good blend of songs assorted as per their beat and sound level.

Voice Over
The idea to combine voice over feature in a screen-less iPod is great. The voice over is enabled with 25 internationally used languages and it conveys the name of the ongoing song or the Playlist, thus enabling the user to shuffle the Playlist quite sensibly. When compared to the third generation shuffle, that has employed the pressing of play/pause button; the fourth generation has gained a voiceover button that is placed alongside of the power switch. Voice over can be used in several ways such as, pressing the button instantly gives the Playlist title and pressing it twice gives a voice status of the battery level and hence the user need not remember the color code for the battery level.

Storage
The iPod shuffle 4th Generation can also be used as flash storage device and can store files in its decent sized folder. As stated earlier, the iTunes can zip the song size and manages a storage limit of 500 songs. On the contrary to the previous launches like launching the product and adding additional memory and selling it as either a higher or lower margin is refrained in the 4th generation. It straight away comes with 2 GB storage limit and splitting up with 1.88 GB of usable storage. But with the inclusion of voiceover, if it is activated, the iTunes will designate the song details and can add up to a minor space of 10MB for every song; even if it is negligible it can still lower the capacity slightly.

Battery Life
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery assures a run time of 15 hours. Apple states that it is achievable when the device is set at 50% volume and playing the songs randomly at varying bitrate. The battery performance is better than the third generation bud modest when compared to the previous (the 1st and 2nd) models which actually ran for a time period above than the claimed one. The average charge time scarps to 3 hours and an 80% charge is achieved within 2 hours.

Performance:

Transfer Efficiency:
The content transfer speed can be described as the average time required to transfer the data from iTunes to the iPod shuffle. It is slightly higher when compared against the previous model. A rough estimate of almost 6 minutes is necessary to complete the transfer and the synchronization process. A rather sluggish pace when compared against the iPod Nano. At the same time, the content refresh rate to select or eliminate the songs at one shot consumes up to eleven minutes. Considering the aggressive competition, many manufacturers sell the players with features such as radio, display screen etc… Apple claims the iPod shuffle 2GB 4th generation as the least priced iPod ever. Might be this could be the reason that the file transfer speed is bit compromised.

Audio Performance:
The audio performance is regarded as the iPod shuffle’s best catch ever in that particular genre. It is quite common for any manufacturer to save the best for the higher end models; however Apple had broken down that notion by designing the finest sounding iPod shuffle ever. Funny though, the sound effect is very prominent if it is used with good ear phones rather than Apple’s graded ones. The effect is tremendous and the iPod catches even the slightest click and trebles and gives the smoothest listening experience. The audio richness obtained in better quality ear phones must be taken in to consideration by Apple. At some point, aggressive competitors are definitely going to give a better audio performance using their enhanced earphones, even if their music player is not so efficient enough to pull to a remarkable output. Moreover, Apple has a nice theme to bring out an equal sound output from all the songs stored in the shuffle. The sound output from each song varies depending on the quality of recording. However iTunes irons it out by using the “sound check” option and it must be applied to the iPod shuffle. Once this minor set-up change is completed, all the songs would play in a relatively good and equal volume. Most of the iPod’s does not sync well with third part earphones, the 4th generation iPod shuffle is a stand out. The song transition is clean as the hiss sound is made completely inaudible and thereby creating a tranquil transit from each song. The voice in particular has a better bounce and stands apart from the background score. Another solace in this generation is that the user need not drain out money to purchase the remote accessory; it supports quite a good number of third party remote add-ons.

Verdict:

iPod Shuffle 2GB 4th generation gets the trendy look from the previous model. The features are rightly cooked and not overdone. So none of the inconvenience arises, because the device silently delivers the function it is indeed to be. Many annoying and unwanted accessories such as the picture capturing facility, or wider screen display are pulled away in this model. All these features are futile in a miniature sized music player. Not to mention, it is sold at a very competitive price. At the same time, many users prod that Apple could have added radio feature in to the shuffle as compared against many of its competitors. It is a good idea though, but the beauty of shuffle lies in the sleek and compact design, if radio feature is dumped, the signal strength could be weak or many buttons and controls in addition to the existing ones must be added. All these factors will compound the effect of user interface issues. Therefore, with the least complicated design and operating system, iPod shuffle indeed rocks the world.

Apple iPod Shuffle 2GB 4th Generation – Technical Specification Table

Overview:

The parent model Nano was simple and elegant, the first scaled up version looked tall and thin, the second version had a shiny aluminum body, the third generation is wide shaped with reduced height, fourth version was elongated and thin, and the fifth version breathed a larger screen than all the other fore-runners. And the recent 6th gen is in for a surprise!

Apple has bifurcated two product boxes. One is exclusively for the music lovers and the other for users who demand more besides music. The iPod Nano 8GB 6th Gen is designed to attract the music lover’s category. It ripped off some features from the previous model, but at the same time has got an edge over the predecessor.  iPod Nano (6th generation) smartly balances the battery life and playback time.

Design Parameters:

Apple iPod Nano 8GB (6th Generation) resembles like a mini TV and is almost a neat square when compared to its previous model. One can readily point out the design similarity with the iPod Shuffle, except for the wide screen. The iPod comes in sleek anodized aluminum and the customer has good selection options, as it brightens up in seven colors.

The latest 6th Gen iPod Nano readily slips between your fingers and the pocket. It weighs around 0.35 inches and it is the thickest Nano ever. The clip on the backside enables the Nano to get fixed on to the shirt sleeve. The screen display is 1.6 inch wide and resolution is 240 by 240 pixels square, which is quite lesser than the previous model. As a result of reduced screen size, iPod Nano wisely got relieved from the regular title bar, and replaced with main icons on the screen. In Addition to it, the menus are arranged in a manner to maximize the visibility, and absolutely no cramming of items in the home page.  Moreover, inconvenience in viewing through the smaller view port is further compensated by using the apt color combination, icon size and font size. Nevertheless, the Voice Over option helps to navigate through the menus. By and large the menu selection is better than the Creative Zen X-Fi model, as it has a resistive screen and requires a firm press.

The traditional click wheel navigational tool in iPod Nano is replaced by the touch screen option. The user can move through the screen just by flipping two fingers on the screen. In contrast to the touch screen model, the click wheel facilitates the iPod Nano to be navigated casually without even looking at the screen once it is clipped on to the jean pocket. The users got tremendously familiar to this methodology and can do blindfolded. This would be quite a miss in the new iPod Nano. But the screen twisting feature on the touch screen swipes the display menus either sideways or upside down. So the iPod Nano need not be unclipped every time to select a menu, but rather can just look down and change the option. The touch screen can be rotated to the tune of 90 º in either direction and the user can get a good view even if it is placed upside down. For further search from the main menu to its contents a neat drag on the screen upwards or downwards or flick to jump for quicker selection is sufficient.
The sleep and wake button is placed directly on the top of the Nano. The volume up/down button is also placed upwards. The buttons are less complicated like with any iPod Nano generations.  On the bottom side 30 pin dock connector port is available, and adjoining to it is the 1/8-inch (3.5mm) headphone jack.

Characteristic Elimination from the Past:

Click Wheel:
The click wheel option is been replaced by Apple’s patented touch screen technology. The touch screen measures about 1.5 inches across. The touch screen technology is deployed in the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and is now integrated in the iPod Nano 6th Gen 8GB Capacity. The touch screen senses touch near the display and not on it.  Hence, it is easier to slide though the small screen by touching the edge of the iPod. The display is made thinner by diffusing the image generator and touch sensor at each touchable spot on the view port. To sum up, smaller yet a brighter display on the iPod Nano is achieved. The touch screen has added value to some features which was difficult in the previous Nano models. The photo viewing option was cumbersome in the click wheel model whereas it is simple to use in touch screen. The user just needs to flip through the screen, tap to zoom in or out. The touch screen also facilitates good FM tuning and the stations are readily set just by swiping the screen in clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

Video Capturing:
The video capturing feature was launched in the Nano 5th generation. During the launch phase, the sales picked up as most users found that interesting. But the overall usability results pointed out only the disturbance of having a video camera in the iPod Nano. It was because the screen size is small and the picture quality was not highly appreciable. Further, the screen size and an elongated slim model pushed the “click wheel” further down. This annoyed the iPod fans a bit, as they got accustomed to navigate click wheel placed within their finger reach, and need not search beneath. All these factors contributed to the elimination of video recorder in this model and as stated earlier Apple wanted to dedicate this iPod for sheer music lovers!

Games:
Games were purposefully eliminated in the Apple iPod Nano 6th gen primarily because of its size restriction. User cannot benefit good return on investment even if the games are inserted. The gaming experience cannot be stretched to the fullest, hence it was deliberately removed.

Features:

Apple has truly made it for music enthusiasts, because all the features are focused to enthrall that particular market segment. Even with limited options, each menu is designed to meet perfection that renders a great music listening experience.

Nano for Music:
The music can be categorized by albums, artists, genres or composers. Organizing the music content is easier and made quicker devoid of pressing the click wheel. As each song plays, a photo display of the song on the screen appears. The battery back up is almost 24 hours of non-stop music. The shake to shuffle option is also present and can listen to bizarre musical collections that can stir the user’s interests. The user can upload songs from the iTunes. The Genius Sidebar offers suggestion on new music by analyzing the user’s inclination. The song can be bought after a 30 second preview and can be easily loaded to the iPod.

Genius Playlist:
The genius playlist always cuts the boredom and peps up with exciting medley mix. It picks up a song adhering to the rhythm the user is listening to, and flocks it all to make an ultimate collection. It is possible to create Genius mix in the iTunes and later load on to the iPod. The loading time is negligible and quite faster.

FM Radio:
The FM radio introduced in the previous version is continued in the 6th gen iPod Nano Portable MP3 Player too, and is intended for global use. The manual tuning is carried out by flicking the tuner either left or right. The tuner pauses when it spots a station. Automatic scanning and signal recognition are possible, and the station is recognized in a matter of seconds. The station can be added to favorites. The headphones act as antenna. The reception is somewhat unclear at weak signals. The radio buffer feature which was introduced in the previous gen is also present.

In case of any interruption, by means of the radio buffer aka Live Pause the music can be paused. The buffer period is almost 15 minutes. The song resumes on activation and starts playing from the point of interruption.

Fitness Features:
The Apple iPod Nano sixth generation features pedometer like the previous model. The pedometer works with Nike+ iPod Sportkit. The iPod must be clipped somewhere and can begin the workout using the Nike+ running shoes. The pedometer along with accelerometer counts the steps taken. Prior to the workout, details such as weight, goal, and screen orientation can be set in the pedometer. Once the workout session is completed, an overview of the workout is readily available. Synchronization of the pedometer data to the Nike+website is also possible. The registration in the Nike website is free and this gives the user a good workout tracking and can be a motivational factor.

Accessibility:

The Accessibility helps individuals with disability to enjoy music. The Voice Over feature is the first gesture based screen reader providing an avid description of the menu on which the finger is placed. The accessibility is enhanced with 29 languages and it is indeed a global application.

Memory:

The number of songs which can be loaded on the iPod depends on the length and the bit rate encoded on the song. In the iPod Nano 8GB, an average of 2000 songs, assuming it is of lower bit rate can be loaded. On the other hand if the quality is high, the storage space is high, and hence the number of songs will be reduced.

Battery:

The battery is lithium-ion type and supports a play back time of almost 24 hours on complete charging. The iPod requires 1.5 hours on fast charge that builds up to 80% battery capacity, whereas a full time charge is about 3 hours.

Audio:

The audio formats supported includes protected AAC with the tune of 8 to 320 Kbps MP3, HE-AAC, Audible Enhanced Audio with formats 2, 3 and 4,  MP3 VBR , AAX, and AAX+, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV.

Accessories:

The product is accessorized with a pair of ear phones, USB cable, dock adapter, 3.5mm stereo headphone dock connector and a guide start-up guide.

Summary:

The iPod Nano family evolved at each generation by either adding a feature or eliminating one. The user might have acquainted with the product development concepts and strategies. Any organization constantly revamp its product lines so as to keep abreast with the latest technical evolution, overcome challenges faced in the previous releases and so on. But the most focusing factor is gathering the pulse of the users in different market segments classified broadly regional wise, gender wise, age wise, usability and so on. Agreeing to the above statement, Apple never loses it sight with respect to their customer requirements and demands. Hence, that is the reason that so many modifications with respect to design and feature are constantly carried out.

Apple wanted to differentiate their music player product lines intelligently in two ways. One set of products target the market that demands more than music in music players and the other category feel uneasy with new features hoarded on to their music player. This is basically because they might have good electronic gadgets supporting the purpose. To support this statement, there are many users who use mobile phones for taking picture, browsing and so on and they would want their iPod to perform just the function of music and utilities that support the same.

Apple iPod Nano 8GB 6th Generation – Technical Specification Table

The apple ipod rated number 1 when compared against the Zune HD, Sony Model and creative Zen. It is ranked excellent amongst its competitors.

Apple iPod Touch 8GB 4th Generation  Overview:

When compared to the 3rd Gen 8GB iPod Touch model Apple has certainly focused to increase  the speed, features, and usability. The processor used in 4th gen is Apple A4chip and the operating system is OS 4. This allows multitasking operations without lowering the performance and preserves battery life than compared against the 3rd Gen model. Below listed is the catchy features of the 4th gen model that is not present in the previous model;

• Face time – Built-in webcam gives a live update of your interesting happenings in life to your friends and family
• Retina Display- High pixel density (960 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch) producing sharper screen clarity.
• High Definition (HD) video recording
• Web Browser –Wi Fi

Design:

Anyone who had witnessed the design trend for electronic devices would definitely swear that the sleeker it gets the better it looks! The 4th gen iPod is certainly slimmer than her forerunner. The iPod Touch 4G is only 7.2 millimeters thin with 3.5 inch wide screen with multi Touch display. The sleeker model is not a scratch resistant and we strongly recommend the usage of silicone skin for the new iPod Touch. The HD widescreen Retina display is great for reading books or other documents Online, as the user can see the full width of a web page on the screen. The keyboard is dictionary enabled and tracks as we type. The user can work with  word, spreadsheet and even presentations. The discernible buttons are located on the top and upper left edge and are user friendly.

Retinal Display:

The clarity of the image on the iPod Touch cannot be even compared to other iPod products or even with any of its competitors. This was achieved through a pixel size of 78 micrometers wide. Pixel with respect to visual technology can be described as the aggregation of small colored blocks that builds up the larger image that we see. The closer the pixels are packed the greater will be the quality. Apple with its unique “Retinal Display” technology makes it hard to differentiate between the real and image on the iPod. This is because, the pixels are closely packed to the tune of 326 per inch. It is aptly called Retinal display as our human eye stops identifying the pixielation above 300 pixels per inch mark and the resultant image looks very real! Further more, you can enjoy the LED backlighting facility and light sensor that conveniently fine-tune the brightness of the screen. So, it is an overall a good experience while playing with games or reading iBooks etc.

iPod Touch 8GB – Technology Bits:

Apple does a lot a research before the product design. Yes the new 4th Generation iPod Touch dishes out  numerous  features that is not available with any MP3 player. As stated earlier, this is possible only when the organization is completely in sync with the market requirements. There are lot many technical aspects infused to make this product look better and well ahead of its competitors. Listed below is a gist of the technical aspects

Face time:

Prior to discussing the face time feature in iPod, it is important to understand the history of the same. Face time is a technology launched by Apple for its iPhone family. The facetime in layman definition is a “video calling” facility. The video calling alias video conferencing facility has revolutionized the calling experience, as the user can speak to the person and virtually see them. The limitation to this facility is that it is compatible between users with iPhone 4. Nevertheless Apple has promised to release an open standard permitting other companies to develop around it. Now for the real fun part, Apple decided to integrate the facetime technology in its iPod. But why it would do something like that, answer is simple- stay connected and keep the social networking active! The most common scenario where iPods are used is during traveling. Most of the folks never miss a chance to plug in their iPod’s so as to overcome the boredom and the inbuilt Face Time technology permits to capture what you see and can readily share it with your friends , provided they have the same iPod.

How it Works:

The pictures can be shared between the new iPod Touch to new iPod Touch and between the new iPod Touch to iPhone 4 over Wi-Fi. Face time can be activated by entering the respective Apple ID and email address. Video call between iPod  Touch and iPhone over Wi-Fi is done by sending an invitation to the concerned. The conversation will be perfectly synchronized with the video.

Factor Powering Face time – Two Camera Design:

Face time is all geared up to substantiate user’s requirement for taking pictures in either ways. The iPod Touch 8GB Fourth Generation is equipped with  two cameras, one in front and the other in the rear, supporting photos and video recording. Using the “Camera swap” option, the user can switch from the front camera to the rear camera. The VGA quality camera with high definition video recording with 720 pixel ultimately produces good resolution. The regular misconception with the VGA quality camera is distortion and clarity reduction during printing, as the image will be enlarged. But as far as Apple iPod is concerned ; the picture quality will sufficiently scrap through, as the pixel is quite good. The frame rate is 30 frames/ sec that can capture fast movement and gives a finer video look. Picture brilliance is enhanced by a backside illumination sensor. The sensor ensures quality  in either bright or low light settings.

A4 Processor:

The chip that is the backbone of Apple’s iPhone 4 is integrated in the 4th gen iPod model. When compared to the previous processor chip used in the 3rd gen, the A4 chip speaks for speed. The A4 processor consists of A8 core that runs at higher clock rates. Clock speed is the measurement of a processor’s rate and higher the clock rate assures the ability to process commands at a faster rate.  The A4 processor renders multitasking without compromising the speed especially the graphics, and the gaming experience is highly appreciable. As per the Apple CEO comment, “ web browsing is a great experience and similar to that of using a laptop”

iOS 4.2:

The operating system used in iPod Touch 4th Gen is iOS 4.2 that, was developed basically for iPhone. The iOs 4.2  gives a better edge in Game  Centre, multitasking and many more. Below is the list of advantages that promotes the overall iPod Touch package;

• Core Animation
• Gesture Recognizers
• Rapid app switching
• Organize Folders
• Password protection
• Email
• Game Center
• iBooks – Read books on your iPhone
• A wide-range of graphic capability

Safari- Web browser:

Yet another great addition to the iPod Touch family is built-in wireless access to the web namely, Web Safari. The A4 chips take care of the speed. Perhaps, this is the only iPod with this feature and definitely a bonus for constant web browsers  on the move as they need not carry a laptop! The usability is Good, devoid of typing the text as it is a Touch screen and the user can rotate the device 90 º or zoom in for finer details.

Game Centre App:

The new Game Centre app in the 4th gen Touch iPod makes the entire gaming system as yet another socializing hub. The games can be downloaded from the App centre with an Apple ID and charges inclusive.Game Centre highlights the active players playing and would be a massive hit among youth who would like a group competition or something. The auto match facility searches for players playing any particular game globally thereby a group can be formed for better competition.
The characteristic feature of the game centre is inbuilt three axes Gyroscope + Accelerometer. The feature makes it possible to rotate the phone’s graphics in clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This feature gives the user a great gaming experience, especially with respect to 3D games. The advanced motion sensing features such as user acceleration, full 3D Altitude,Rotation gives an upper hand in gaming technology. Greater motion gesture coupled with good precision gives a better edge with respect to the gaming experience in many ways. The speed and loading time is comparatively faster than previous model attributed to the A4 chip processor and iOS 4.2 operating system.

Common Features:

Besides the afore said unique features that Apple has incorporated in the model, the rest of the features remain the same like the previous model with some fine tuning.

iTunes:

The audio quality is appreciable in the new iPod Touch.The music can be downloaded on the iPod Touch 4th Gen Media Player through iTunes over Wi-fi. The wi fi feature permits the user to access iTunes store and can download songs, movies, TV shows, audio books, free podcasts,Browse New Releases, Top Tens, and Genres. The downloading process is simple and child’s play. The loading time is negligible. One more interesting item is the iTunes ping , through which you can follow friends and know what song they are listening to and can even suggest songs. It also gives an update on concerts of favorite artists playing close by and an overview of friends attending the same. A very cool friends networking! Selecting songs will be easy through “cover Flow” feature. The user needs to turn the iPod Touch on its side and flick the fingers through the play list and can select any song.  Moreover, the genius play list categorizes songs that fall in a particular rhythm and makes a play list. The play list can be further altered by the user. Through voice control, the user can use spoken commands to navigate the play list.

Nike +

Workouts can be completely relaxing with the iPod Touch . The user needs to slip in the iPod Sensor in the Nike + Shoe and start the workout. The sensor informs the user the time, distance and calories burnt, and also provides a voice feedback on the progress. The 3rd gen model lacked the cardio workout feature which is included in the 4th gen. Most of the fitness centre equipments such as treadmills,s tar steppers, elliptical are compatible with Nike +  iPod sensor. The user can also update friends on their work out data and can even form a team of fitness sensitive individuals.This becomes quite an advantageous for the user as they can monitor their workout pattern and at the same time enjoy music.It creates a sense of being in track with the fitness regime.

Audio Feature:

The key selling aspect of using Apple iPod Touch 4th Generation 8GB Capacity Player is the listening experience. Apple always exceeds the standards to retain the audio quality. The audio quality and the frequency range is good, and additional features such as Shake to Shuffle, Volume Limit, and Sound Check creates good audio effect. It supports the audio file format similar to previous model such as AAC (protected and unprotected), HE-AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV.

Bluetooth:

iPod Touch Fourth Generation Portable Media Player is equipped with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, though 802.11n operates on the 2.4GHz band. The 3rd generation iPod Bluetooth is traditionally carried down to the fourth generation as well. It supports peer to peer connectivity for applications, Audio / Video Remote Control to control devices when connected to Apple TV and Hands free.  The AVRCP supports pause, play, next track and previous track functions. The user can overcome the limitation of AVRCP remote control by including a third party Bluetooth helper. It can be purchased from the App store and provides an additional benefit of controlling the track and with increasing the volume and so on.

Encryption:

The iPod Touch can be protected through Data protection feature that offers a secure hardware encryption.The user needs to provide password to safe guard email, attachments or any confidential matter. On occasions of  misplacing the iPod at public places and do not want anybody to access any details from your iPod Touch ; the Remote wipe deletes all the data provided. At the same time it is advisable to include a iPod Touch back where from the data can be restored. The Touch iPod also permits the user to set passcode through remote access. Likewise, the parental controls can restrain kids to access you tube, camera and other services as applicable.

Locate iPod:

Misplacing is a common occurrence with device like this. The iPod can be breezily located, through find my iPod Touch facility. The procedure is simple, the user needs to enable ”Find my iPod Touch” in the settings menu. At instances of misplacing the iPod, the user needs to log on to me.com from any web browser or iPhone or iPad and key in the details. An approximate destination of the iPod Touch can be located on the map. The user can send a test display on the screen with the user’s contact number on occasions of misplacing it. The user can even activate a sound to locate the lost iPod.

VoiceOver screen reader:

Voice Over is the world’s first gesture-based screen reader. This fantastic feature enables the visually impaired individuals to use the iPod at ease. Unlike conventional voice over functions, the communication gap between the user and the device is largely reduced. The voice over includes contextual information about the objects adjacent to it. Hence , the user need not struggle to locate. On employing a Bluetooth keyboard; the user can control the iPod without even Touching the screen. The voice over goes global with In built 25 languages and provides words and suggestions while texting or drafting a Email. The virtual control tool rotor is highly beneficial while proof reading a document. The voice over can be activated through iTunes. The drawback faced in the previous model is the reduced clarity in magnification feature. The 4th gen is really backed up with HD pixel size and retina display technology which takes care of the clarity even during magnification.

Miscellaneous Features:

Certain miscellaneous features such as contacts, calendar, calculator, weather reports, investments etc.. are available. Maps enabled iPod Touch assist in locating places of the user interest as the user needs to type the requirement. The Wi-Fi connection gets across directions in finding Address and Suggests the best mode of transport. By planning ahead using this Facility the user can be relieved from getting stuck in traffic. Similar to google maps, the iPod Touch gives a satellite image, and the user can Zoom or pan.

Battery Life:

The battery life is greater than the previous model and can render 40 hours of music and 7 hours of video on a single charge, solely attributed to the usage A4 chip processor. This is one of the selling factors and quite an improvement from the previous models.

Memory:

The iPod Touch 8Gb has 6.83Gb free space due to the iOS and formatting. It can hold up to 1,750 songs,10,000 photos,10 hours of video. Since HD video recording is involved, it might take some more space than the usual case.

Accessories:

iPod Touch 4th Gen,with additional accessories would be beneficial in many ways. If you already posses these items, then go ahead and unleash the advantages! Below is the listed accessories that would give extra benefits to your iPod.

Airport Express

There are definitely some good surprises when you employ the iPod Touch with Airport Express. Airport Express is an extreme base station and permits almost 10 networked users to work and inclusive of a feature called AirPlay. The speaker connected to Airport express gives a rich sound output. The procedure is simple as you have to tap the DJ wireless with airport express menu in the iPod. AirPort Express enables wireless printing option too.

Airprint

Airprint is a wireless printing technology from Apple , and can print with just a Touch of the iPod screen.AirPrint enables to print email, photos, web pages, and documents from the iPod Touch 4. The iPod Touch detects and connects to the Airprint enabled printer in the wireless network. Aiprint is a multitasking application. The user can continue with printing and parallel listen to music or browse the net as it supports multitasking function. Airprint is compatible with number of wireless printers from HP; however the airprint software is compatible with e-print machines. Apple AirPrint prints more than one item at a time. The Print Center queue flawlessly carry out the printing job.

Box Accessories:

In the package along with The Apple iPod Touch 4th  generation (8GB) device the buyer gets a 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.

Summary:

From the user’s perceptive, a music player will be advantageous if it could incorporate a set of mixed features available on other gadgets such as phone, computers etc.. But just mere dumping the features to give it a great look might make the product a junk. The features are added in a manner that compliments the basic requirement of the iPod viz listening to music. Features such as Face time ,Web safari, Nike plus perfectly synchronize your overall hearing experience.Social networking is further enhanced by the above said features. Locate iPod and the security encryption are added as solutions to recurring problems with gadgets getting lost. The speed and the multitasking efficiency is high when compared to any other model in the market. Additionally, the Voice Over feature used in the 3rd gen is enhanced in the 4th gen model and makes it a unique device that can be used by visually challenged people.  Well, the Touch  iPod 4th Gen has it all  except the calling facility.

Apple iPod Touch 8GB Fourth Generation – Technical Specification Table

Pros:
•    Extremely light
•    Macro size
•    Synthesized voice feature
•    Improvised support for podcasts and audio books

Cons:
•    The tiny remote control on the headphone is the only means of operation
•    Battery life is not great
•    Very few features

Review:

Usually an official announcement related to any of Apple’s products is preceded by a wave of rumors and speculations, accompanied by at least a couple of spy shots. However, surprisingly, that was not the case with the 4GB version of the iPod Shuffle from Apple, which was officially unveiled in March 2009, with very few rumors related to the MP3 player hitting the internet before this date. No, Apple has not branched out into making MP3 tie clips, the minuscule tablet of anodized aluminium is in fact, the 3rd gen Shuffle. Apple’s third generation shuffle is a radical revision of an entry level iPod. The controls have been moved to the cable under the right hand ear bud, with just the Shuffle, Continuous Play, Off switch on the device itself. While this 3rd generation Shuffle is available for just around 100 USD, it is the smallest MP3 player you will be able to buy right now. Though the unique size and uncommon, remote-controlled design of the latest Shuffle will not be everybody’s cup of tea, consumers looking for the next best thing to an invisible iPod will thank the minimalistic style of the iPod.

Design:

A tie clip MP3 Player?

At the very first look, you might feel that the iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation looks almost like a practical joke, as though somebody is simply trying to prank you that their tie clip plays MP3s. The 3rd generation of the shuffle takes things a bit further than the previous two models though, and now even their last iPodian relic, the circular controller, has been removed. This shuffle measures a macro bit larger than a paper clip; (H x W x D) 18 x 46 x 8mm, and does not have a hint of button, knob or screen. This minuscule device could easily get lost in your pocket or bag if you’re not careful. Available in a range of colors including silver, black, pink, blue and green, the anodized aluminium shell has a brushed finish, with a completely plain front. There is also a special edition stainless steel shuffle. The sides are rounded and the whole device feels like a solid metal bar. You will find the headphone jack sitting on the top edge, along with a switch that controls playback modes shuffle or consecutive, followed by the power. The slider on top is small and it’s easy enough to hit if you have any degree of dexterity. Just be glad that, Apple does not expect you to control the volume and playback of the Shuffle using mind control that is not yet, at least. Finally, there is a tiny battery status LED between the earphone jack and switch.

The Evolution:

It is quite funny to see how the iPod Shuffle has evolved over the years. To be honest here, we would pick the 4 year old original shuffle as our favorite; only because it has a built in USB connector for charging. We also loved the second gen shuffle for our love of the metal case. The latest iPod shuffle seems to almost be a merging of the two. It retained the metal body, but has reverted back to a vertical form. No USB connector though.

The clip:

The clip, probably the best feature of the 2nd generation device, is back. A hinged, chromed metal clip runs the length of the shuffle on one side and includes a slot for attaching a lanyard or key chain. This clip is a sturdy one and it should not have any issues staying attached to whatever you decide to attach it to. Being mirror polished, it gives the model a bit of flash that was not present in the 2nd gen model and it seems to grasp onto things a bit stronger than before. An Apple logo is engraved on the clip, and you can also have some custom engraving done on orders placed via Apple’s online store. We really wish Apple would fire the person responsible for using chrome accents on their products. Yeah, we have a personal issue with chrome. Excuse us for a moment while we polish our smeary fingerprints off the clip for the billionth time.

Controls on your Headphone:

The stereo earphone jack is a standard 3.5mm size, but you will not be able to use any old ear buds with this shuffle. The ear bud style headphones that are bundled with the shuffle include a remote control on the cable, just below the right ear. The controller is basically a 1.125 inch long plastic piece that hangs about 4.5 inches from the end of the Right earbud. As you can imagine, the remote has three controls, two for volume control that is up and down, and a central button with multiple functions. If you press the centre button once, it pauses the music playback, pressing it twice, you can skip forward and three times to skip back. Fast-forwarding within a track can be done by double clicking and holding. Using the multifunction button for playback is not difficult, but it might take some time getting used to. It is not Apple’s typical intuitive system, but it is not exactly rocket science.

The headphone cable offered is about 90cm or say, 3 feet long, and this should be more than enough, considering that the shuffle is meant to be clipped to your clothing. Yes, you guessed it right, if you happen to loose this headphone-controlled design, you also lose control of your iPod. However, there is no real panic here as you can always purchase Apple’s own replacement ear buds for a shuffle cost, but it is also possible to grab third party headphones and adaptors for even less.

Features:

As you can expect from most upgrades and versions, the third generation version of the shuffle too offers a set new features over previous models.

Voice Over:

For one, this is the first shuffle that tells you what you are listening to, which is certainly not a small accomplishment, considering the player does not have a display. The iPod Shuffle 2GB/4GB 3rd Generation has employed a synthesized voice to announce artist and song title info whenever the headphone clicker is held down. iTunes automatically downloads and installs the software and uses its own text-to-speech engine to generate the voices. This VoiceOver feature of the Shuffle has support for fourteen languages, so if you have a large collection of French pop, for example, it will pronounce the song and artist with the correct accent. The voice quality depends on the type of computer and operating system you are using. Now, do not come to a conclusion that since the shuffle can speak, it can respond to your voice, it cannot. So, we recommend you not to go talking to your iPod like a crazy person.

The voice feature will come in extremely handy useful when a great song pops on and you could not identify, but it is good that the Shuffle does not announce each song automatically. The voice does a good job of pronouncing song and artist names. It is not very helpful with confusing names, but for something like “Saturday” by Fall Out Boy, it is more than adequate. It talks on the fast side but once you get used to its quirks it should be OK, even if you just use it to get to your podcasts. If you just cannot stand the thought of a talking iPod, it is possible to turn off the feature with the help of Apple’s iTunes software. To activate it, you just hold down the centre switch on the controller for a couple of seconds.

Compatibility:

The third generation Shuffle is a pure, unadulterated digital audio player. You will not find any FM radio, voice recording, and, obviously, no photo or video playback. The audio formats supported include MP3, AAC, Audible, WAV, AIFF and Apple Lossless, but not WMA or FLAC.

Memory:

The diminutive iPod shuffle packs a generous 4GB of storage. Out of the box, the shuffle has 3.77GB of available space, with no option for storage expansion. While added storage is always appreciated, consumers complained that they would have liked to see some 2GB shuffles available at a lower price. And, Apple has given ears to this and has released the model with 2GB capacity too. For one thing, 4GB might be too much for people expecting to use their shuffles only at the gym or while running errands. As far as the numbers go, the 4GB 3G shuffle can hold about 1000 tracks. Other than the addition of 2GB models in the market, the shuffle is unchanged from the player that debuted in March. And that is no bad thing.

Sync:

Yet another latest 3rd Generation iPod shuffle feature is its ability to sync and navigate between multiple playlists, audio podcasts and audio books. To accomplish this feature, Apple makes use of the VoiceOver feature and headphone remote, announcing your playlists, podcasts or audio books one by one if you hold down the clicker for approximately 3 seconds. Once VoiceOver starts listing your content, just press the clicker again to select the content you want to play. If you simply have a tonne of playlists, you can make use of the remote’s volume keys to quickly skip back and forth through the list.

Audio Books Playback:

Note that the shuffle handles the playback of audio book and podcast content differently to playback of music files, and assumes you might prefer to always play this type of content sequentially , that is even if the playback switch is set to shuffle. Audio book and podcast content is always kept out of the start-up music mix of the Shuffle, ensuring that a stray chapter never ruins the mood of your workout. But, if jogging to classic literature is your kind of thing, you will be glad to know that any audio book that has been synced to the shuffle is treated as a separate playlist. Podcasts all get thrown into a shared podcast playlist, and play in order of show title, not release date. Like any other iPod or eBooks for that matter, the shuffle automatically resumes your podcasts or audiobooks where you last left off, allowing you to enjoy them in small doses without the hassle of scanning back and forth to find your place.

Transfers:

It is also worth mentioning that the shuffle can be used on your computer in disk mode, allowing you to store and transfer files without interfering with the audio content on your iPod. Yes, you guessed right, you cannot access the music files stored on the shuffle without going through iTunes, which means the iTunes version 8.1 or later is a required download for the shuffle. The moral of the story being that you will not be able to escape iTunes.

Performance:

In our tests, the iPod Shuffle seemed to be working fine, but there was a complaint from most users. Since most people use the Shuffle for running and working out, they say that the volume of the device progressively maxes out and, in addition to this, the remote would fail to respond. For instance, when the volume is attempted to be reduced, there will not be any response. Our theory is that, since the remote control bumps against the neck as you run, it causes the + volume to continuously be activated. Thus not allowing other input to be given because the + has been hit so many times that other inputs are not accepted. Now, this is nothing less than pure frustration.

Audio Quality:

The audio quality of 3rd gen Shuffle has improved noticeably better than that of the previous generation, and even sounds comparable to that of the fourth generation iPod nano and second-generation iPod classic. Older-generation shuffles have sounded a bit tinny, but the third generation is an improvement. It sounds fuller, and the bass is deeper and stronger. The sound has a fuller range, with better bass response and less background hiss. The shuffle had a signal-to-noise ratio of 75dB (where the higher the number indicates a cleaner sound). The improvement in audio quality is hard to notice using the bundled ear buds, and standard headphones lack the remote control that is essential for adjusting volume and skipping tracks. However, a consolation here is that, when the shuffle is connected to a standard pair of headphones and then powered on, it automatically starts playing music at the volume level it was last set to.

Additional expense:

Some third party accessories like replacement headphones, headphone adaptors and remote equipped auxiliary cables had hit the stores for the third generation shuffle as soon as the actual device came into the market. Now that Sony, Klipsch and others have announced compatible headphones, and Belkin and Scosche are making adaptors for other third-party headphones, that’s no longer as much of an issue. If you expect to use the shuffle with an existing pair of headphones, a home stereo or a car stereo, please do keep in mind the additional cost of some of these accessories to be added to the purchase price. Replacing your headphones is expensive and because the inline aftermarket option will inevitably be $20+ a lot of people who are particular about their headphones will be ending up skipping the shuffle and moving up to the Nano.

Package contents:

The package contents of the third generation iPod Shuffle includes the controversial ear buds, USB charge cable, quick start guide and Mini Apple stickers.

Battery and Life:

Coming to the all important charging part, the shuffle comes with a short 10cm, that is, a 4” USB adaptor that connects between the headphone output and your system USB connector. This means, you will charge the Shuffle the same way that you charge the previous version, through the 3.5mm headphone jack. This time there is not a small dock included though. As soon as the Shuffle is plugged in, it charges the internal battery and syncs content with iTunes. The shuffle has been rated at ten hours of playback time, which is unfortunately two hours less than the previous generation, but still, it has enough juice to get you through a week’s worth of casual use, and as always, it will charge 80% of the way in 2 hours and it will be fully charged an hour after that.. The short USB cable will not take up much space in your gear bag, but the fact that you have to carry around a proprietary charge cable when you travel, is a bit annoying.

Warranty:

Apple iPod Shuffle comes with one year manufacturer’s warranty for parts and labor.

Conclusion:

In comparison to the other sub $100 MP3 players on the current market, like the SanDisk Sansa Clip or Creative Zen Stone Plus, the microscopic design of Shuffle is just not enough to make up for the limited features, relatively high price, diminished battery life, quirky navigation and a headphone remote system that reeks of planned obsolescence. MP3 players like the shuffle that are directly aimed at the gym and jogger crowd are particularly susceptible to issues of headphone fit, comfort, and wear and tear, and Apple’s headphone remote needless to say, complicates the process of replacing or upgrading the shuffle’s earbuds. This is not to say that the headphone control is a bad feature, but also having controls on the actual device would help avoid navigation related confusions and improvise the usefulness of the product in the long term.

The third generation Shuffle has plenty of positives going on its pros site, such as the aluminium and steel construction, which is quite sturdy, the unobtrusive design, a whopping 4GB of storage, and the VoiceOver technology which allows you to control playback without taking your eyes away from what you actually doing. However, sacrifices have been made elsewhere to achieve the small size and minimalistic design, and we having a hard time giving the third generation shuffle a whole hearted “Recommended”. Determining if this iPod shuffle is better than the last one will depend on whether you can deal with the controls or not. It is certainly not something that will have existing shuffle owners throwing out their device to buy, but for $80 you get a beautiful device that can hold 1000 songs, play podcasts, and speak to you.

iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation – Technical Specification Table

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

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.

Check other Apple iPod Reviews in our website.

iPod Classic 160GB 6th Generation- Technical Specification Table

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.

Check latest iPod Reviews, other iPod Nano Reviews in this website.

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

iPod Classic, formerly called  ‘iPod video” had its fifth generation iPod released in the year 2006 that generated waves with its amazing storage bank of 80GB. Hearing 20,000 songs or playing 100 hrs of video could not get any better. This super-power gadget is designed to be trendy and the features are eye-catching.

Outlook

You have the Apple iPod classic 80GB black, all in scratch prone polycarbonate and metal enclosure with a shiny black color, thick enough as a wafer. The visually rich graphical user interface with ‘cover flow’ is a treat to users. Explore your iPod with the click-wheel to navigate, select the track and volume-control. The screen is scratch-prone and a finger-print magnet, hence, we would highly recommend a protective cover.

Design

The physical appearance of the updated version of the iPod classic 80gb has not changed from the original fifth generation. It still looks sleek with its dimensions being (H x W x D) 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.55 inches and weighs just 5.5 ounces. The iPod is having a soft and shiny plastic fascia and a metallic rear design, both of which, as we mentioned above are scratch prone. Apple can take as example a product of its own kind, the Nano which has a scratch and print proof aluminium casing. This 80GB version of the Apple iPod Classic is available in white and Silver shades.

Classic sports a LCD display of 2.5″ having a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. Another improvement that had been made was in the area of the display brightness which has been improved by up to 60 percent. The previous model had a good level of brightness but the increased brightness gives the display a better appeal. Backlights are comparably brighter for the Apple iPod classic 80GB which can be restricted only for viewing videos and photos to save up on battery. Screen brightness can be increased clicking the ‘select’ button, twice.

Enhanced interface:

One of the most impressive design improvements in Apple iPod Classic 80GB 5th Generation is the dramatically enhanced menu system with a strikingly attractive split-screen main menu which has the selected track on the right half and the picture related to the album on the left. The same split-screen magic can be viewed for other menu items too, such as podcasts, photos and movies.

The ‘cover flow’ system makes its classic debut with an emphasis on album-artwork. The noticeable lag found in the cover flow makes it quite an engaging, yet slow way to browse your music.

Features

Support for video, music playbacks, photos, podcasts and games, remain unchanged though the classic encompasses many of the features seen in portable video players. It recognizes and skips chapter-markers and can automatically resume video playback where you last left off. A small touch which is easy to miss is the newly evolved music shuffle function which helps you to randomize songs until you find an artist you enjoy.

iPod classic 80gb Fifth Gen from Apple  uses the iTunes version 7 which was initially released with a lot of bugs and then later updated with the corrections made. The iTunes store contains a huge library of audio and video entertainment which can be synced to the new Apple iPod classic 80GB. Audio-books available at the iTunes store will cater to the needs of voracious readers who wish to have their slice of reading through the iPod.

The classic is another seamless integration of various other pleasurable features which includes three interesting games, that include Tetris, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Pac-Man giving you yet another way to stay distracted and unique photo slide-shows which can be put up along with music to make one’s still-memories come alive. One enhancement that Apple has to consider in the games sector in its next iPod is that, the start-up time of the games has to be reduced; currently it is 12 seconds which is no-good.

Apple iPod classic 80GB fifth generation has a built-in search mechanism, enabling to locate the song of your choice based on any available category within the bat of an eyelid. One of the categories that you might frequently use is the alphabet style instant search which creates a list of the albums, artists and tracks with the starting letter being the first alphabet that you have entered. You would have real fun in watching the results come-up dynamically as you enter each letter. But, remember that you will have to hit on the done button in order to browse through your search results, which might at times be quite annoying.

The absence of gapless playback is one of the criticisms that Apple had to face with its previous models. This updated model of Classic has well responded by including gapless playback which is a great news for the dance music lovers.

The headphone has been enhanced and sounds good, but they found it really hard to stay firmly in ears.

Performance enhanced:

Taking ‘sound quality’ into consideration, though users do get 20 equalization presets to choose from, there can still be room for improvement. The 2.5 inches of screen is having a greater resolution, making it very impressive. Apart from the increased storage and upgraded interface, the enhanced battery life makes it a more mature iPod, many steps wiser than its predecessors.

Battery and included accessories:

The battery life has been increased largely by around 75% from its predecessor. Now you get up to 6.5 hours of video life and about 20 hours of audio life. By boosting its battery life, Apple  iPod classic has become more appealing.

Apple has done a good job by reducing the accessories that comes in the packaging. The package contents include the Apple iPod Classic 80GB itself, a set of ear buds that are newly designed, a proprietary USB cable, a soft case, and a dock adapter. You will not find a separate power adaptor which you will have to get for some extra dollars. iTunes software is also not included which will end-up as a head ache for users those who do not have access to the net.

Final Touch

Address book, built in clock, calendar and 21 languages completes the look of the Apple iPod classic 80GB fifth generation with screen-locking facility as the icing on the cake. An ultimate blend of use and aesthetics, it is a top-tier product and a listener’s dream come true.

Verdict:

Apple has given a great deal of consideration in reducing the price of this fifth generation classic with a lot of under-the-hood improvements, yet it does not completely satisfy the video lovers. The absence of any major improvements such as the FM radio, wireless recording, the small size of the display which limits the video viewing experience with a very narrow video-format compatibility, the use of proprietary USB cable and the scratch prone body are all the negatives that makes us hesitant to highly recommend this product of Apple. Some of the improvements that are most welcome by us includes the enhanced video battery life, brighter display, gapless playback, instant search and enhanced games which give the product an excellent value.

The cost of the ipod is the seller point, Apple has certainly made it very affordable.

Check latest Apple iPod reviews, Apple iPod Classic 160gb Reviews in this website.

Fifth Generation Apple iPod Classic 80GB – Technical Specification Table

The second generation of iPod touch has almost sealed the gap between the iPods and the iPhone. If you are a technology lover, then ipod-touch 32GB might be just the right one that you are searching for. The volume control and the internal speakers were the two desirable features that were available in the iPhone and that has now been included in the iPod Touch.

The first generation iPod touch which was released along with the fourth generation Nano was just seen as an MP3 player for people who could not afford the iPhone 3G. But, this 2nd gen iPod Touch, looks just identical to the iPhone and has most of its functionalities except for the ability to make calls or surf the web using 3G. But, if you are looking only for a MP4 player and not a phone, then the good news is that, the music played in iPod touch sounds better than the one played using iPhone.

Little design tweaks:

The design tweaks done to the second generation touch are very minimal. The iPod touch 32gb has a very slim and extremely compact design with its dimensions being 62 x 110 x 8 mm. It has an all metal and glass design with its new stainless steel back and feels very expensive as it looks to be. One factor that can easily spoil the reputation of a MP4 player is if it sports a bad screen. But, Apple wisely has employed the same scratch resistant 3.5″ screen that is found in the iPhone. However, we would advice you to buy a protective case as the body of the iPod is still glossy which means scratch and smudge magnet but this time around, it feels less fragile than its previous model. Apple seems to have known it previously as it has included the cleaning cloth in the package. Viewing angles on the second-generation iPod Touch seem better than the previous model, while color balance and brightness seem about the same.

Physical controls:

Coming to the physical controls, there is a button in the front face of the Touch that calls the main menu and it also sports a deactivation button found in the top left edge of the Apple iPod Touch 32gb 2nd generation. There is a volume rocker available for you in the right side of the Touch that enables you to adjust the volume on a fly. Touch has the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, which means, you can use any standard minijack headphone connection. The speaker that is included in Touch is not visible form outside.

The incredible interface- seller point:

As we all know, the main selling point of both the iPod Touch and the iPhone lies not only on its incredible load of features, but also on the interface. There are a lot of other devices that offer a better load of features with better audio and video features, but Apple’s multi-touch interface of the Touch can never be matched by any other device. The menu is predominantly icon based as is the case of the iPhone, but since Touch is basically a player, the emphasis is placed more on the music, photo and video playback. Apart from the physical volume control, you can bring-up an onscreen volume slider with a double click over the main menu button. The volume screen thus appearing can also be used for playing, pausing and skipping your music. When you flip the iPod touch on its side, a scrolling Cover Flow view of your library is shown with large album covers. Zooming of the pictures with a pinch of your fingers and gliding through your music cover makes you realize that you are certainly in the 21st century. A lot of attention has been paid to even minute details.

Ambient light sensor:

The ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness to suite your ambient light in your surroundings. And as a result of this feature, you can save your battery life efficiently.

Features:

The biggest blunder that an iPhone owner can  ever make is to invest on the iPod Touch as it is simply the same. If you do not own any then lucky you as you can get all the exquisite features of the iPhone without any costly contracts. The list of features that touch offers, makes it more of a pocket PC than a player.

PDA like features:

Apart from audio and video playback, the other features that iPod Touch 2nd Gen from Apple offers you are, a photo viewer, Safari web browser, email reader and an integrated Wi-Fi music store. The other miscellaneous features available are, calendar, weather, maps, notes, stocks, contacts, clock, calendar and notes. The iTunes App store is the new feature that allows you to download in install a wide range of applications such as games, voice recorders, radio players, social networking tools and much more. This feature can be accessed either form your PC or the iPod touch itself. If the list of features that Apple offers you for the iPod touch is not enough for you, you can also opt to use a lot of other third party accessories known as, “Made for iPod” which include Bluetooth transmitters, battery packs, speaker systems and audio or video docks.

The genius software:

The 32gb Apple iPod Touch Black also has the Genius feature that allows you to create a play list of 25 songs that have similar characteristics of that of a single song. This is a real fun feature for you to enjoy on if you have a really large database of songs. The play lists that you had created using the genius software can be saved in your touch if you like the collection and they get synced automatically with your iTunes in your PC. But for this, you have to remember to enable the genius feature in your computer else, the play lists would not sync.

Upgrade worthy?

If you ask us the question if it is worth an upgrade from your first generation iPod Touch to this Second generation model, here is our answer. By spending just over 20 dollars, you will get all the software that is included in the 2nd generation Touch. But there are still a few things that you cannot get unless you spend on the Touch that is, the built-in speaker, Nike plus support, the GPS capabilities, camera and headphone jack microphone input. The inclusion of Nike plus proves Touch to be a good companion to the regular exercisers.

The external speaker and audio:

Apple iPod Touch 2G 32gb Black enjoys the fact that it was the first ever iPod to include a speaker for music and video. The sound from the external speaker is good but cannot be said as spectacular. The amount of attention that had been paid to the design has not been shown on the audio quality. The sound enhancement options form its competitors like Sony Walkman are far beyond the reach of iPod Touch which has only the average EQ presets included. The audio though is smooth and balanced and does not suffer from degradation which would satisfy most of the listeners. This second generation does not use its traditional ventilation and interestingly does not create any new holes in the case for ventilation. Rather, it is using the metal back surface of the iPod touch as a speaker, sort of like an NXT flat panel audio system. You can feel a very slight vibration when the music is put on a very high volume, but otherwise, you cannot feel any difference.

With the addition of the external speaker, games are going to be more fun. One disappointing fact is that the Touch still cannot stream flash video or audio content through its safari browser.

Video quality:

If you are a video freak, Touch has a lot to offer you. You can load you iPod Touch with video podcasts, music, TV shows, and even watch ever-ending amount of video using the included You Tube widget. Apple iPod touch’s video feature is identical to that of the iPhone’s iPod feature. The screen quality is much superior to that of its previous version. This second generation iPod display is brighter and differentiates the colors well and also does not suffer from the “negative black” (the dark colors become reflective washing out the details in the process) problem that was experienced in most of the previous Apple iPods. The TV-out feature is still absent in iPod touch. This means that you have to either buy an expensive authentication chip-based video cable, otherwise a similarly overpriced docking device in case you want to watch iPod-stored videos on an external display.

Supported formats:

The supported audio formats are, MP3, AAC (including protected files), Audible, WAV, AIFF, and Apple Lossless with no support for WMA. The MPEG-4 and H.264 are the video formats supported, and it still does not play back hi-def video than the 640×480 files.

ITunes WiFi:

The iTunes WiFi store allows you to view, purchase and download music. Only music is allowed and no movies, pod casts or games. In order to purchase you will have to enter your iTunes password for the sake of security. Once the download is complete, it is instantly available for you to listen and the next time you sync your iPod, it is transferred to your PC. This feature is almost flawless as even interrupted download continues when the WiFi connection is re-established.

Regarding the iTunes, as you know it is the music software exclusive to Apple iPods with the most number of both pros and cons. You will need the iTunes 8 to use the iPod Touch. If you are new to apple iPods and hence to iTunes, then just have a go through before you actually use the product.

Battery life:

Coming to the battery life, the iPod Touch has 36 hours of audio playback and 6 hours of video playback. Yet, the performance is mode when the WiFi is turned off. The battery performance has been increased considerably from the pervious version which had 22 hours of audio playback and 5hours of video.

Box contents:

The box contents include Apple earphones, USB-to-Dock Connector cable,  Universal Dock Adapter, an adapter of version 16, two Apple logo stickers, a safety and warranty booklet and a quick start pamphlet. Apple has a thinner and cheaper cleaning cloth, and the package also lacks the small plastic stand for viewing video. The media synchronization software is not included and so you will have to download iTunes from web. Apple iPod Touch second generation comes with one year warranty.

Verdict:

Apple iPod Touch 32gb second generation is one of the best iPods in the current market. If you are planning to buy one, then this would be a great choice for you. But if you already own the first generation touch or an iPhone, then this may not impress you much with only upgrades in display and battery life. The new apple ipod touch  makes you feel good but its price may not please you much.

Check the reviews of  iPod Classic 160GB, Shuffle 1Gb, Nano 4GB 2nd generation in our website.

Apple iPod Touch 32GB 2nd Generation – Technical Data