With the debut of the new iPods earlier this month a whole generation of older iPods have been pushed into the background; the iPod once known as “Apple’s greatest iPod” – the iPod Video has now been dethroned by the far flashier iPod Touch and its counterparts.
The Launch of the iPod Nano and iPod Video was the inspiration for several comedy skits. Of note was one form “Saturday Night Live”, where Apple Executive Steve Jobs was portrayed unveiling smaller and smaller iPod units. Reality however has gone the opposite way. Instead of seeing the fictional “iPod Micro”, the “iPod Pequeño” and the ridiculous “iPod Inviso”; we have witnessed the debut of the iPhone and the iPod Touch; a proof perhaps of the adage that “Bigger is Better”.
How do the so-called “5th Generation of iPods” compare to the old ones? Better, undeniably. Let’s start with the popular one: The iPod Touch nicknamed as the iPhone-like iPod; the iPod touch is every techies dream. Its multi-touch screen interface allows for easy maneuvering, unlike the Click Wheels of the other units. It is like the iPhone in so many ways, it looks like the iPhone, feels like the iPhone and functions like the iPhone. The only difference is between the iPod Touch and the iPhone is that the iPod Touch cannot make calls, or receive emails; inconsequential to true music and techno junkies.
Then there’s the iPod Classic, geared towards a more conservative clientele who wishes to get the most bang for their buck. This iPod has all the feature of the old one, just upgraded – a whole lot. It has a new cover, not the brushed metal look of the iPod Video but a sleek steel cover. It has a new User Interface; it even has the “Cover Flow” feature so coveted from the iPod Touch. Able to hold up to 40,000 songs, the iPod that’s just about the size of your hand is not to be underestimated.
Then the iPod Nano and the iPod Shuffle. The iPod Nano which is able to hold up to 5 hours of videos, movies and podcasts; also sport an enhanced user interface. It also holds the “Cover Flow” feature and has been given a facelift with its redesigned polished stainless steel cover; an iPod worthy of thought. The iPod shuffle called “The Most Wearable iPod” is now able to hold 240 songs and sports remixed colors; a fashion statement no doubt.
The turning over of technology is happening at such at fast pace that those inept with it have a hard time adjusting. A friend of mine, bought an iPod Nano last December, and not even a year has past, the unit has been discontinued. This has been occurring with every other new technology out there in the market; perhaps none of them as fast as MP3 players and Cell Phones.
That is the reality of it and we just have to learn to deal with it. Anyway, it will give us something to look forward to every holiday season. Who knows what name Apple will be giving its new iPod in a year or two, maybe even less. With such a rate of evolution, Apple will have made Darwin very proud.