Which iPod is Right for You?

Which iPod is Right for You?

It's been ten years since the first iPod hit the scene, with its 5GB hard drive, monochrome display, mechanical scroll wheel, and Mac-only software. Compare that with the current line of players, and it's clear: The iPod has come a long way, baby. Especially when you consider how much the MP3 player market has shrunk in that decade. Apple clearly dominates, and each year, the pool of contenders gets smaller and smaller. The latest casualty: The excellent Zune HD, which Microsoft discontinued earlier this month. Microsoft is instead concentrating its efforts on its mobile phone business. Its Windows Phone 7 handsets integrate Zune features.
Even Apple is of the same mind. Every iPhone and iPad comes with a built-in iPod, and it seems that the company is focusing on those segements of its business. As a result, the stand-alone iPod MP3 player line saw very few updates this year. The most notable change: The top-of-the-line iPod touch got a lower price and an upgrade to iOS 5, Apple's latest mobile OS, which brings a host of new features including iCloud wireless syncing. Oh, and now it comes in white in addition to the standard black.
The iPod nano also dropped in price and gained some very modest interface changes.  The middle-sibling player shrunk to the size of a couple of postage stamps last year, and it lost its video capture and playback abilities along the way. There's no more room for a click wheel, so you navigate the nano via its 1.54-inch touch screen, swiping to move between screens, and rotating a finger to switch the display's rotation. The icons are bigger with this year's updates, but you still can't pinch to zoom, like you can on the iPod touch or an iPhone, though. The addition of a clip to the back of the nano (like you'll find on the even-smaller shuffle), along with its integrated Nike+ fitness features, seem to say that Apple is targeting the workout crowd here.
This has left an interesting hole in the iPod lineup: Now, if you want to watch and record video on your iPod, you'll need to cough up at least $199 for an 8GB iPod touch. The lower-end iPod shuffle stays the same, with minimal controls and no screen, while the unassuming iPod classic remains unchanged with its spacious 160GB hard drive and click wheel controls. It also supports video playback, but not video capture, for $249.

Posted in: Portable Audio