iPod Nano

There are portable digital music players and then there is the iPod. The iPod has dominated the MP3 Player market since its launch in 2001. Just as bursting of the sun from behind dark clouds makes for a memorable picture, similarly music from the iPod sounds better than on any other player!

The iPods have been around for so long now that we have begun to take them for granted. They are not just small and good-looking, but they are responsive, can hold lot of music, are hip ‘n cool and come in many colors to match moods. The iPod Nano is the latest offering, in a world gripped by iPod fever, from Apple’s bushel.

The iPod Nano is a hybrid version of the popular iPod Shuffle, the now discontinued Mini and of course the full sized colored iPod. The Nano uses flash memory rather than a hard drive for storage and can hold close to 1,000 tracks. While some people may find the slow speed of the controls a bit nagging one can’t really complain about the dexterity of the iPod Nano to move from one screen to the next especially while viewing pictures.

The battery for the Nano holds good for up to 14 hours. Many people may buy the Nano for it thin looks than its performance. Though, at 0/27 inches from front to back, the Nano is so small (3.5 X 1.6 inches dimensions) that it can fit neatly, inside a business card wallet! Despite its petite size and light weight (just 1.5 ounces), the iPod Nano in no way feels delicate or flimsy but is rather strong with a polymer front and stainless steel back.

The iPod Nano comes with some extra features like the Stopwatch and Screen lock, which are not found in the other iPods. The 2GB iPod Nano can be yours for $199 while the 4 GB Nano is priced at $249.

So why an iPod Nano? ‘Cause there simply isn’t another cooler iPod on the planet!

iPod Shuffle

In the portable music player market, the iPods rule the roost and have been testing our now jaded sensibilities long enough. High priced iPods are not easily affordable. But this is about to change. Not content to dominate the high and middle end digital music market, Steve Job wants a grip on the lower market segment as well and thus released the very small and very affordable iPod ever, the iPod Shuffle.

The Shuffle is available in 512MB and 1GB capacities with a tag of $99 and $149 respectively. However, the most remarkable thing about the Shuffle is not its price or its size, but the lack of display. Yes, the Shuffle is a display-less iPod! The lack of display means that there is no navigation required. However, a simple three-position toggle switch on the back of the Shuffle turns it on/off, directs the player to play from beginning to the end of the play list, and also guides it to randomly play songs. The green stripe below the toggle allows you to see the switch position.

The iPod Shuffles come in silver only and are available along with the telltale white iPod ear buds, a charge/sync cable, a standard USB 2.0 cable with a plug at one end, and a small white docking cradle with a 3.5-mm mini-jack at the other end. The Shuffle measures only 1.1 X 1.6 X 0.4 inches and weighs a mere half ounce but can hold almost 240 songs and stays charged for up to 12 hours!

A super light, ultra portable, ‘on the move’ iPod that allows freedom to work while listening to your favorite music just like on your favorite radio station, the iPod Shuffle makes for a great chaperone for many of the music lovers who would just rather listen to music than get embroiled with hi-tech, complicated players. Not to mention, it’s good value for money!