December 22nd, 2007Review Of the Apple iPod (fifth-generation update)
 
Manufacturer: Apple
Category: Hard Drive Player
Weight: 5.5 oz
Battery life: 6
Storage Capacity: 80 GB
Storage Type: Hard Drive
Audio formats: AAC
Works with: Hard Drive 3 iTunes
At Apple’s media occasion, Steve Jobs jumped right into introducing an updated fifth-generation iPod. Not a tremendous surprise here, as we believed the sixth-generation “true video iPod” would not be announced until later in the year or even early in 2007. Underneath the familiar and still-scratch-prone polycarbonate and metal skin of the rationalized iPod (a.k.a. the 5.5 generation, or 5.5G) lies a more grown-up iPod, many ladders wiser plus more able than its one-year-old precursor. The iPod gains many incremental pace up, counting a brighter screen and better video battery life, but probably the most attractive feature is the tempting cost point of $249 for the 30GB version and $349 for the huge 80GB description (available in both white and black). While it might still not fully address the needs of new inhabitants of iTunes movie watchers, the efficient iPod is the best one to date.
Most of this review of the 5.5G iPod will cover new features and performance numbers. For a closer look at the basic design and base features of the iPod, read this review.
The iPod’s physical specs are nearly the same as those of the original fifth generation. It’s still one of the sleekest high-capacity players around at 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.43 inches and 4.8 ounces for the 30GB and 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.55 inches and 5.5 ounces for the 80GB model, which has exactly the same dimensions and weight as the now-defunct 60GB version. For me personally, the 80GB version (the one we actually reviewed) feels nicer in the hand than the razor-thin 30GB. The 80GB is enticing for video addicts both for the capacity (iTunes movies are about 1.5GB) and the better battery life (rated for up to 6.5 hours); plus, it’s a great value at $349. Though the $249 retail price tag for the 30GB version is outstanding, excellent Windows Media players such asCreative’s 30GB Zen Vision:M and Toshiba’s 30GB Gigabeat S cost nearly the same on the street.
The 80GB iPod in black next to the 30GB Toshiba Gigabit
The iPod is still attractive easy to scratch, both on the soft and shiny plastic face and the classic metallic backside. Fingerprints love the iPod more than they do most players. You’ll definitely want to carry the iPod inside a case, or at least guard the screen with adhesive film, since now you’ll be watching $9.99 iTunes movies. I think the black version looks nicer, but scratches show up on it more easily. A new Nano-like scrape- and print-proof aluminum case would have taken the iPod over the top.
The new iPod also has a brighter screen–by up to 60 percent. Not that the iPod had a dim screen in the first place, but brighter is always better, especially when it doesn’t come at the cost of battery life. In a alongside comparison of the old and new screens (at default brightness), the new iPod is noticeably brighter. Even after updating the old iPod to firmware 1.2, which among other things adds brightness manage, the old iPod screen at the brightest setting matches only the new one’s default setting. Battery life will take a hit at the higher setting, so turn it up only when you’re watching video or viewing photos. You can even fiddle with brilliance while watching a movie by clicking the Select button twice during playback. Conversely, you should turn the brightness down when listening to audio; as always, the iPod can be sight with the backlight turned off.
You can adjust brightness both within the Settings menu and while you’re watching a video.
Afresh, Apple does a good job of minimizing packaging and bundled trimmings, which include a newly intended set of white ear buds, a proprietary USB cable, a soft case, and a dock adapter. Unfortunately, like a lot of MP3 players these days, you’ll have to horse up extra to get a authority adapter ($29). You also don’t get an iTunes software CD, which foliage no connected folks in the dust. And while the innovative earphones sound decent, they didn’t stay firmly in my ears (no foam earbud covers in this version).
The 80GB iPod with its bundled accessories: notice the lack of a power adapter.
The iPod’s enhanced software definitely makes it better. For one, you can search tunes using an alphabet-style instant search. The last option in the Music menu, Search places a two-line virtual keyboard at the bottom of the screen; the first letter you select brings up all artist, album, and song titles that begin with that letter, with albums and artists indicated by icons. Results pop up dynamically as you enter new letters. If you type in ca, you’ll get results listed by all the titles that start with ca, then continue with any mention of the letters ca in any title. It’s a little more sophisticated than the search features found in the Creative Zen Vision:M (and other players that actually invented search-by-letters), but because you have to select Done to browse your results, it’s a tad more tedious to use.
The search feature, which brings the iPod up to speed with some other brands, gives you a leg up on your massive music library.
Another “borrowed” feature is that as you scroll through tracks, the first letter of the track section appears as a graphical button overlay. This is truly convenient when scrolling through huge lists where your desired alphabet “sector” used to whiz by, and you’d have to make a U-turn. I’ve found that I still tend to pass up my desired letter, but not by much. Oh, yeah; does this navigation goodie remind you of the Toshiba Gigabeat S?.
Gapless playback is probably one of the most requested minor features in any MP3 player, and Apple has responded. Many music fanatics, especially those who like dance music, can now enjoy their music without annoying gaps. I think this is a valuable feature that should be implemented more throughout the MP3 world (the classic Rio Karma and the current Archos 04 series also do pure gapless playback). The new iPod lineup (the updated iPod, iPod Nano, and iPod Shuffle) as well as the older 5th generation iPod with the software update) can apply the gapless playback settings that need to be manually stitched to each track in iTunes (Editor’s correction: we had earlier reported that the original 5th-generation could not playback gapless audio).
Finally, Apple has added a refined games section, which includes titles such as Bejeweled, Tetris, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Pac-Man. The games are quality, though familiar games such as Pac-Man take some adjustment as you need to tap the Click Wheel to control the little guy. It also takes a good 12 seconds to load a game. New games are available online at the iTunes Store and will cost $4.99 each.
As we all know, the new iPod is dependent on iTunes 7 (read the review), particularly when it comes to DRMed audio or video. The software, which has added in cooperation a cool interface (like Cover Flow) and audio playback features (such as gapless playback) has frustrated many users with its bugginess. Given my bug-free experience on both Mac and Windows versions, my review of iTunes 7 was favorable. But beware that the software has caused headaches for many users– Apple needs to issue an update soon.
Owners of the original nonenhanced iPod benefit from upgrading to firmware 1.2. In addition to brightness manage, new features include correspondence overlay, gapless playback, and the ability to playback the new 640×480 iTunes video content on the 320×240 screen. Older iPodders cannot play the enhanced iPod sports event nor know how to they perform an instant search (Editor’s note: we had earlier reported that the older iPod did not feature gapless playback; in fact, it does with software update 1.2).
While the iPod’s new features give it new life, we’re disappointed that Apple couldn’t add things that appear on the majority other MP3 players. You’d think Apple could integrate an FM radio, despite the slender size of the iPod. It seems the iPod equalizer presets have been improved. The unit sounds good and hiss free, though not as punchy and crisp as I prefer. I don’t understand why Apple does not implement a custom EQ.
Pricing is a huge aspect here; $249 for the 30GB iPod, as far as I know, is the best price for a 30GB player I’ve ever see. And for an additional $100, you get 80GB! Nice job there, Apple. For me for myself, the gapless playback and better series life create the iPod the most attractive single to date, and it’s certainly a better value than the similarly priced but much smaller 8GB Nano.
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