All About Apple iPod

Apple iPod took birth in the year 2001 and has graduated into the fifth generation presently. They have become style statements of the young and the not so young alike in this century. The fact that Apple gained more brand recognition through the iPod than even the superlative Mac series personal computers speak volumes about the acceptance these small gadgets acquired in such a small period of time.


Compared to other MP3 players, the iPod was smaller but packed literally more punch. The design was, and is, considered cool by our younger generation. The product catapulted itself into the top of the sales charts and beat all other MP3 players hands down. Several manufacturers tried to bring out iPod beaters, but so far, Apple has been able to keep competitors at bay. May be the initial hype is still holding.

A certain aura is built around the Apple iPod, and the product has definitely lived up to the hype. Newer variations like iPod Nano and iPod video are specifications rich and are suited for the most tech savvy amongst us. iPod Nano features a color monitor screen and a patented control interface. It is smaller than the older iPod Shuffle and as such, has less storage space. But it is more easily portable and convenient to use than other comparable versions.

A combination of plastic at the front and metal at the back makes the outer covering of the Apple iPod. The gadget can be connected to a USB port or headphone. A central wheel controls the functions. The thin and stylish design goes well with lovely colors too, but silver color, it seems, to be more accepted internationally. Capacities also differ, sometimes going up to eighty GB.

Apple iPod presently is the perceived ultimate in portable entertainment field. Innovative software applications adapted by the gadget have increased convenience and sound quality. With each generation, storage space increased but without any considerable change in the size.

With the explosion of interest in iPod, a new service sector, the iPod accessory industry, also set foot in our midst. Compatible accessories take music enjoyment to new heights. Trendy carrying cases add the desirability quotient of the iPod. Backpack and jacket control helps you to control the music while performing hard physical activities. iPod radio remote helps you turn into different radio channels. iPod hi-fi featuring amplified speakers and outlets for D cell batteries increases portability of the device. Wireless headphones, cassette adaptor, iPod speakers and iTop button locator are the most commonly used iPod accessories.

iPod itself is a very convenient entertainment gadget. When combined with the requisite accessories, the convenience and entertainment increases even further. Did I hear someone say that Apple iPod promote easy living and thereby, indolence?

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Posted in: Ipod

Apple iPod (MA002LL/A) - Has a great-looking screen for watching video, but it's a bit too small for extended viewing

Given the brouhaha surrounding Apple's latest player, one might assume its name is the Video iPod. But it is simply an iPod, the fifth generation. I tested a 30GB model ($299 as of 7/21/06; Apple also offers a 60GB version for $399.). The big story is the iPod's ability to play videos, which it does well. However, the screen (like the screen on most players in this class) is too small to comfortably watch video for long. Nonetheless, the iPod is a really good audio player that can do video.

In new audio quality tests conducted by the PC World Test Center, the iPod earned an overall score of Very Good. Of the hard drive players we tested, the iPod reached the loudest level before introducing 1 percent distortion of its audio signal (an industry-standard measurement). Also, the iPod produced very little cross talk, which means that its left and right channels remained distinct, resulting in a broad stereo field.

The 2.5-inch screen is absolutely beautiful. The 320-by-240-pixel screen is bright and sharp, and videos look great on it. In my hands-on tests it offered a crisp image with very smooth movement. The unit played back videos at 30 frames per second, the same speed as a broadcast TV signal.

My only complaint with the image quality was that details--especially in shadows--were often hard to see, such as in the bunker scenes in the episode of Lost I viewed. Plus, the glossy surface of the unit's faceplate tends to reflect lights and other things (when I was watching a dark scene, I saw a hideous vision of a big face, only to realize it was my own reflection).

Apart from those minor issues, I found the screen very easy on the eyes--for short viewing periods, at least. Although the screen is top-notch, it isn't as big as those of some of the portable media centers I've tested, and that means you have to hold the unit fairly close to your eyes.

I tested the iPod's video prowess using videos I downloaded from the iTunes store. Video downloads are a new feature of iTunes 6, which offers episodes of several ABC television shows, as well as music videos, for $2 each.

Downloading videos from iTunes is simple: A 45-minute, 196MB episode of Lost took about 15 minutes to download into iTunes over my DSL connection, and about 2 minutes to transfer from the PC to the iPod (you can also watch the show on your PC). Additionally, I was able to subscribe to and view some video podcasts with IPod-specific feeds (such as Rocketboom). However, you can't grab just any video podcast and drop it on your iPod, and iTunes 6 won't convert videos to the right format for the new device.

In fact, iTunes' inability to convert existing video into an iPod-friendly format is its biggest failing. To make existing video into something you can play on the iPod, you have to convert it using either Apple's own $30 QuickTime Pro application or another video encoder that can work with the H.264 and MPEG-4 formats the iPod employs.

This makes converting videos for the iPod a real pain. Though third-party apps that can handle the necessary formats are emerging--such as Videora's free iPod converter program, which I had some limited success with--they are not prevalent. By contrast, Microsoft's Windows Media Player 10 can automatically convert videos into WMV format, which any Portable Media Center device can play.

Video-conversion nitpicks aside, this latest iPod is a masterful piece of design (though it's odd that Apple supplies the same white earbuds with the black model as the white model). The 30GB version is small (just under a half inch thick), light (a bit under 5 ounces), and easy to use. Returning is the click wheel, the only control (except for a hold button on the top). It remains exceptionally simple: Click on the marked spots for play, fast forward, rewind, and the menu, and scroll the wheel around to control volume and navigate through menus.

Videos appear as a new item on the top menu, and are divided by category below that (including playlists, music videos, TV shows, video podcasts, and a rather tantalizing movies category).

The battery life of the new iPod is reasonable: When I played back the aforementioned videos, the unit lasted around 2.5 hours--not great, but long enough for most commutes. Apple claims the iPod will last up to 14 hours when playing audio. You recharge the battery through the USB cable connected to your PC (the AC adapter is extra). A full recharge took around 4 hours.

If you are looking to play a lot of video, you'd be better off with a Portable Media Center or a similar device with a bigger screen than the iPod's, such as the Cowon A2-20WH. That said, this is a great choice for occasional video viewing. And the ability to quickly and relatively cheaply download TV shows might be useful if you've forgotten to set your TiVo to record the latest episode of Lost, and you want to watch it on your way to work.

more.............

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Posted in: Ipod,MP3 Players

Purchasing an Ipod at a Cheap Price - You must know

The majority of iPod models store media on a built-in hard drive, while the smaller iPod shuffle and the iPod nano use flash memory. An iPod, like most digital audio players, can serve as external data storage device when connected to a computer. The discontinued versions of the iPod, two generations of the popular iPod mini and four generations of full size ipod, all had the black-and-white screens with the exception of the fourth generation iPod with a color display, which was previously sold as the iPod photo before it replaced the Black and white iPod in the upper line. In December 2005, the lineup consists of the fifth generation iPod, can play videos, iPod nano, which has a color display and the iPod shuffle, all three iterations were released in 2005.

The bundled software used for uploading music, photos and videos on your iPod as iTunes. iTunes is a music jukebox application that stores a comprehensive library of music on a user's computer, and the opportunity to play and RIP them from a CD. The latest incarnations of the iPod and iTunes have video-playback functions and organization. Other forms of data can be added to the iPod as if it were a normal data storage device.

The latest Apple iPods are built primarily for playing music, but do not forget, they come fully equipped with outstanding multimedia capabilities. So, if you thought they were only for listening to music, think again. You can also photo albums, play games and movies and much more. And the performance is outstanding because of advanced technology, which uses Mp4 encoding.

ipod or ipods is the most popular keyword online. There are many sites with tons of valuable information about video iPod, iPod accessories, used cheap iPods and iPod. Some sites offer ipod blog, ipod reviews, ipod and iPod news articles.

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Posted in: Ipod,tips

Ipod Accessories: What To Get, And How To Find It?

So that you bought an iPod. It's cool and you love the way the interface works, the quality of sound, how much space you have for music and audio books, and the way you can use it as a flash drive. Wait. She did not know you could save things besides music? Open up your iPod to your computer to a data CD, and drag and drop, baby.

You can create a lot with an iPod, but some of them required iPod accessories. Just browsing the Internet for iPod accessories "leaves you with millions of decisions. Yes, how do I find the good stuff? How do you find your iPod add-ons and iPod spare parts? And how do you know if the stuff you buy is compatible with your hardware? Here is the acid test: Search for the model name and the production of your iPod in the search for your iPod accessories.

But what can you buy? For spare parts, only the screen, battery, headphones and are actually exchanged. They want only as a substitute for the first two, when they break (and, if they occur during the warranty period is still going strong, send the iPod back to the manufacturer for repair). New headphones can make a big difference in the quality of your iPod and to a point that you get what you pay for it. Caution audiophile garbage sites, suggests that things up there with mystical incantations to improve the economy, though.

But there are a variety of iPod accessories. From arm-band owners can during the exercise of silicone rubber or leather skins add and drop bump protection, and all but invisible plastic films that the device resistant to scratches. The companies have been speaker docking stations, which then your iPod to a stereo system. And some car companies are always on the act with the car connections for the iPod.

Remember, there are so many opportunities in the pre-designed electronic add-ons available, ranging from mileage allowance Tracker for runners on DJ mixer tables. So far, but there does not seem to be an available GPS receiver. You could often find the best positions in the shop on the manufacturer's Web site, but you may want to check around and compare prices before making your purchase. In your search, you might find something cool that you have not yet thought of.

The search for "iPod Hacking" shows you an insight into a rather unusual electronic culture in modern society. You can find information on replacement of the iPod operating system with one that more like geeks and how to change parts on the interior side to get a better sound from the machine. Remember that this is not something everyone can do, and you lose your warranty and warranty claims. You can have some fun, but be careful.

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Posted in: inspiration,Ipod,tips