New iPods take music to a new level

IF YOU can't wait until next year to get your hands on an iPhone, Apple's latest iPod, called the iPod Touch, might interest you.

It's one of four new iPods just released by Apple to much fanfare and hype.

The iPod is already the leading digital music player in the world. It has sold more than 100 million units in its five-year lifetime. In most markets it commands more than a 70 per cent market share.

Coupled with the iTunes Store, the iPod is easily the best choice for a digital music player.

The new iPod line-up has something for everyone, from the budget-conscious occasional music listener to serious roadies who need to carry around their entire music collection in their pocket.

The Shuffle kicks off the revamped iPod range and keeps its diminutive good looks and price.
At $99 and in five colours, the Shuffle is the perfect music player to throw in your bag and use while commuting to work or at the gym.

It's so small you hardly realise you're wearing it. With 1GB of storage and 12 hours of playback time you can have your favourite 240 songs with you where ever you go.

Next in line is the third-generation Nano. Shorter and wider than the previous model, the new Nano now does video as well.

With a new high-resolution two-inch display that is 65 per cent brighter than before, the new Nano is perfect for watching video podcasts or other videos you find on the internet.

It also has a new user interface that includes Cover Flow, Apple's ingenious way of browsing your music with album art.

The new Nano comes in two sizes (4GB and 8GB), five colours and starts at $199.

You don't need to worry about battery life either.

With 24 hours of music playback and five hours of video playback, the new Nano will get you from here to just about anywhere else in the world on a single charge.

In a first, the new Nano also supports video out, so you can plug it into your TV and use it to display video and photos on your big screen at home.

The regular iPod, which used to be the flagship of the iPod family, takes a step back and has been re-badged the iPod Classic.

The Classic is the only iPod that still ships with a hard drive, and now comes in 80GB and 160GB varieties.

It's been given the same metal casing of the Nano but retains the original form and familiar 2.5-inch display (with the same 320×240 resolution as the Nano).

Like the new Nano, the Classic receives the new user interface that supports Cover Flow and generally enhances the visual experience.

The 80GB version ($349) now provides 30 hours of audio and five hours of video playback. The 160GB version ($479) has a whopping 40 hours of audio and seven hours of video playback.
Last, but certainly not least, is the iPod Touch. It's a great compromise iPod for people who can't wait for the iPhone experience, or who don't want the phone functionality.

THE iPod Touch comes with the same high-resolution 3.5-inch wide screen display as the iPhone and includes WiFi and Mobile Safari. It ships in an 8GB and 16GB variety and starts from $419.
It works exactly the same way as the iPhone works with a multi-touch UI and finger-flicking action.
You have to see it to believe it.

Along with new iPods, Apple introduced the new iTunes WiFi store for the iPod Touch, which lets you browse and buy any music from iTunes over a WiFi connection.

If you buy music on your iPod Touch, it is automatically synced back to your computer when you connect it.

All of the new iPods except the Shuffle contain the standard 20-pin dock connector, ensuring compatibility between third-party accessories and the new iPods.

However, if your accessory is designed to provide video-out functionality, chances are it won't work because Apple has changed the way this feature works on the new iPod line. If this is an important feature for you, you'll need to buy a $79 dock from Apple.

Also, if you've invested in games for the previous-generation iPod (with video) you'll need to buy these again at full price because the old ones won't work on your new iPod.

If you've been hesitant about jumping into the digital music age, now is the time.

With an iPod that suits any budget you are sure to find something that fits your requirements.

And if you already have an iPod, now might be the time to consider an upgrade. The new iPods have been completely redesigned from the ground up and are gorgeous to look at and even better to use. And they put the competition to shame.