The new iPod nano: It's a movie theater in the palm of your hand.

 

Darn you, Apple. You know our iPod love is fickle, and you take advantage each and every time. We were happy with the 5G iPod (a.k.a. the video iPod), but we admit, we wanted the next-generation iPod with spiffy new features. The 2G iPod nano? It was a nice little music player that also made us happy, but we knew it could do more - and apparently, you did, too. So now here we are, with a new iPod classic and iPod nano to covet. Darn you, Apple.

 

The original iPod product line that started it all now has the “classic” designation to help differentiate it from the other iPods. The iPod classic is still a hard-drive-based media player, available as an 80GB version for $249 or a 160GB version for $349. The iPod classics are the same height (4.1 inches) and width (2.4 inches) as the previous iPod, but the 80GB (0.41 inches) and 160GB (0.53 inches) iPod classics are 0.02 inches slimmer than the respective iPods (30GB and 80GB) they replace.

 

Since there’s no change to the dock, you should be able to use the iPod classic (as well as the iPod nano) with any dock accessory, including speakers, and Apple includes an iPod classic Universal Dock adapter. If you have a case for your 5G iPod, it might fit the iPod classic (If your case depends on a snug fit, like silicone sleeves do, to maintain clickwheel alignment with the case opening or to simply keep your iPod enclosed, then you’ll have to shell out cash for a new case.). We were able to use one of our favorite cases, Griffin Technology’s iClear ($19.99) with the iPod classic, even though the fit wasn’t tight. Don’t worry, though; case manufacturers should have iPod classic-specific cases in time for the holidays. Way to keep that iPod economy rolling along, Apple.

 

However, once you see the new iPod classic, you could decide that you don’t need no stinkin’ case. Say goodbye and good riddance to the old iPod’s glossy exterior, because the iPod classic has an aluminum front that’s quite durable. In our testing, we didn’t notice a scratch or nick after a couple of weeks, while the previous iPod had scratches mere minutes after we opened the box. Another case change that actually made us a little misty-eyed: Silver is the new white - the iPod classic comes in black or silver, which will make members of the Oakland Raiders’ Raider Nation punch-drunk giddy.

 

The iPod nano now has a 2-inch screen that’s a half-inch bigger that the screen in the previous iPod nano. That means the iPod nano is now wider, but to maintain nano-ness, Apple cut down the vertical height. The new iPod nano looks squat (it’s 2.75 inches tall and 2.06 inches wide) but it’s not bulky and is actually as thick (0.26 inches) as the previous iPod nano. You can choose from five colors (black, blue, green, red, and silver) and two capacities (4GB, $149, silver only; or 8GB, $199, all colors). Feature-wise, the iPod nano is essentially a smaller version of the iPod classic, and is now capable of video playback and games.

 

The iPod classic and iPod nano have a new iPod software interface that now incorporates graphics. Sometimes the graphics help, while at other times, the graphics just seem decorative. The main menu is split in half with the menu options on the left and an appropriate graphic on the right. When you select Music in the main menu, the iPod displays an album art montage. Or, if you select Photos, the iPod runs a random slideshow of your pics complete with the Ken Burns effect (Apple sure does love that Ken Burns effect).

 

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The iPod classic’s new metal shell gives it an industrial-strength look.

 

The graphics in the main menu don’t make navigation any easier; we actually wonder if they suck away precious battery power. However, drill down though the menus and the graphics become more useful. When perusing your list of albums, podcasts, or TV shows, the iPod uses a thumbnail of the album art for quick visual recognition. When you view your iPod’s music, a Cover Flow option is now available, which adds some pizzazz to the iPod by letting you sift through your music while looking at the album art. When you’re listening to music, the Now Playing screen displays album art.

 

The screens for both the iPod classic and the iPod nano are stellar. Colors look true to life, the detail is sharp, photos look vibrant, and text is easy to read. Our tolerance for watching video on such small screens was tested, though, especially on the iPod nano. The iPod classic’s 2.5-inch screen seems to be the minimum size limit for watching a full-length movie comfortably. We found that the smaller the screen, the more concentration required while watching video, and doing that on the iPod nano’s 2-inch screen was a true test of concentration. With the iPod nano, we were most comfortable with videos that were one hour or shorter.

 

All the new features are nice, but what’s most important is the sound quality - to borrow a phrase from Steve Jobs, it’s all about the music. With the included earbuds, both iPods produce full-sounding midrange tones, clear highs, and bass that doesn’t thump too heavily. If you’re an experienced iPod user, the sound quality will be familiar to you. The iPod classic and iPod nano don’t have the recessed jacked found on the iPhone (hip-hip…), and the iPod’s earbuds use an iPhone-friendly connector (…hooray!).

 

Apple says you should be able to get about 5 hours of battery life for video on both iPods, and we got surprisingly close. Our new iPod classic played video at full volume and brightness for 4 hours and 35 minutes, while the iPod nano lasted 4 hours, 19 minutes. When it came to music playback, we got 39 hours from the 80GB iPod classic, which exceeds Apple’s specified 30 hours. The iPod nano, which Apple says should last 24 hours for music, lasted 30 hours. We tested music playback with a 6-hour playlist, the backlight set for shutoff after 10 seconds, full volume, and no EQ settings.

 

Apple includes three games with the iPod: iQuiz, a trivia game; Klondike, a solitaire card game; and Vortex, an arcade-style Breakout-type game. The PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS have nothing to worry about, since the iPod game library is full of casual games that won’t appeal to PSP or DS gamers. Unfortunately, previously purchased games that we played with our old iPod wouldn’t load onto the iPod classic or iPod nano. Better fix this, Apple.

 

To connect the iPod classic and the iPod nano to a TV, you need a $49 Apple Component AV Cable that connects to the iPod via the dock - that’s a change from the previous iPod, which used a component cable that connected to the headphone jack. And finally, the iPod still doesn’t include a power adapter. Our hopes were raised when we found an adapter came with our iPhone, but no dice with the iPod. The power adapter remains a $29 option. C’mon Apple, at least include the adapter with the iPod classic.

 

The bottom line. The iPod classic and the iPod nano are the best of their respective product lines ever released. Will you be lucky enough to get one this holiday season? We hope so.

 

iPOD NANO

COMPANY: Apple

CONTACT: www.apple.com

PRICE: $149 (4GB), $199 (8GB)

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4.8 or later, iTunes 7.4 or later, Mac with Internet access, USB

Excellent screen. Improved software interface.

Power adapter is a $29 option. Screen too small for prolonged video watching. Previously bought games won’t sync.

 

 

iPOD CLASSIC

COMPANY: Apple

CONTACT: www.apple.com

PRICE: $249 (80GB), $349 (160GB)

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4.8 or later, iTunes 7.4 or later, Mac with Internet access, USB

Say so long to the scratch-prone plastic. Thinner than ever. Improved software interface. Excellent screen.

No power adapter. Previously bought games won’t sync. Time to buy a new case.