iPod Review

iPod Product Information – Review & Buyer’s Guide

Overview

iPod changed the way we listen to music, and the way we buy it, and the way we store it. The basic principle of music on the move started with the Walkman in the 70s but this is not just a simple updating of that concept, it’s a total revolution which has brought us many undreamed of benefits. We can now not only listen to our music (in superb quality) wherever we are, we can now buy it online directly from the iPod and we can buy just the tracks we want, individually, for just a few pence. Not only that but we can do the same thing with films, TV shows and audio books. An iPod can hold an incredible amount of music, video and photographs (up to 7,000 songs!) making it a great way to store all your music & photographs and have access to them on the move. The iPod touch shares many of the same functions and features of the iPhone (apart from the phone), giving you internet access via WiFi and many of the same applications from the App Store. The smaller iPods also have some pretty neat tricks up their sleeve – the tiny iPod shuffle can talk to you and tell you what song is currently playing and the iPod nano will even connect to your trainers (yes honestly!) and monitor and record your workout as well as playing your music on the run.

The different iPod models compared

iPod shuffle

iPod shuffle is the baby of the bunch – the smallest and cheapest iPod. 4GB capacity (1,000 songs). Tiny size and weight means it has no room for a display so it talks to you instead. With no display, obviously you can’t watch videos or see photographs like the other models. This iPod is for music only. £59 at the Apple Store.

Buy iPod shuffle at the online Apple Store – £59

iPod nano

iPod nano is the smallest iPod with a display. Available in 8GB and 16GB versions holding 2,000 and 4,000 songs respectively in a beautiful curved aluminium case. 2″ widescreen display which flips from landscape to portrait when you turn the iPod. The built-in accelerometer which senses which way up the iPod is also allows you to pay some nifty games by tilting and moving the iPod. Don’t like the track that’s playing? Just shake it and it shuffles on to the next track!

Buy iPod nano at the online Apple Store – from £107

iPod classic

This is the big one – 120GB capacity holds up to 30,000 songs and hundreds of hours of video. Vivid 2.5″ display, massive capacity but no accelerometer or landscape/portrait mode like the nano. If you need the massive capacity nothing else will do, otherwise the nano and touch are much more up to date with more features.

Buy iPod classic at the Online Apple Store – £175

iPod touch

iPod touch is the pick of the bunch. Available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions storing 1,750, 3,500 and 7,00 songs respectively, this iPod is basically an iPhone without the phone. As well as all the music/video/photo capabilities of the others, this one adds WiFi and internet access, direct downloading from iTunes without a computer, and internet access.

Buy iPod touch at the Online Apple Store – from £165

Secondhand iPods
If you’re interested in a secondhand iPod instead of a new one check out the secondhand iPod listings on MacBooty. This site finds the best deals on iPods on eBay and saves you from having to sort through all the eBay listings yourself.