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I have received my black 160GB iPod classic
With both these units next to each other, it looks like Apple should have said “Honey I Shrunk the iPod” as in this generation of new iPods there is a true feature by feature compatibility between Apple’s hard drive full sized iPod and the flash based smaller thinner iPod nano. No longer is the iPod nano a smaller, cheaper and neutered version of the iPod. The nano now has the same feature set as the larger sized iPod classic.
Packaging
The iPod classic is packaged a lot like the iPhone. Both now come is two-piece black box with foam-padded interiors with hard plastic shells. Inside you will find a black envelope with instructions, Apple stickers, and safety warnings inside, plus a sealed white paper pouch containing headphones, universal dock adapter, and USB-to-iPod connector cable.
The iPod nano comes in a small clear plastic box with the same basic accessories. Neither comes with a charger, you charge it from your computer or you can get an optional USB charger for $29. The older iPod chargers are compatible.
Appearance
The 160GB iPod classic is a bit thinner than my previous 60GB fifth generation black iPod. Mainly, due to the tapered front metal as opposed to the slightly thicker plastic front on my older iPod 5G. This iPod classic is close to the same weight at 5.7 ounces. Seeing that my new iPod has 100GB more storage, this is amazing. The tapered metal front has a more matt finish than my older iPod. I like this a lot better. The new iPod classic comes in Silver and Black. Sorry to see the iconic White iPod disappear. But I guess Silver is the new White.
The new 8GB iPod nano is a lot better looking in person than I thought it would be from its pictures. The so-called “fat nano” seemed bigger than our old nano. Well it is actually thinner only 6.5 mm thin. The new shape was to allow for a bigger 2 inch screen, but adds no bulk. In fact, it seems smaller and lighter. I was not going to buy a new nano, until I saw one and held it. That did it, I had to buy it. I warn you, if you don’t really want a new nano, DON’T TOUCH ONE!
New User Interface
I love the new user interface on the iPod classic and the new nano. They are virtually identical to each other. This new interface is a nice improvement over the older iPods. The new UI is slicker and gives you much more information than the older iPods. The new split view takes a bit getting used to however. But once I used it, I liked it a lot.
The split view allows for the menu system on the left with Album artwork kind of floating on the right. It usually displays cut off and I would have found it helpful, but apparently it’s not always related to what you’re listening to at all it seems completely random. A bit odd. Also there is a new screen saver that will come on with the screen mostly blacked out (to save battery life I guess) that displays a faint digital clock, battery indicator and the play icon.
The menu system is far better than my older iPods and I especially like that they combined the audio and video podcasts sections together.
The Search functionality is much improved. But what most users will probably like best is the new Cover Flow view that they added. Apple did a good job of “mimicking” the iPhone type Cover Flow view with the click-wheel.
Battery Life and Storage
The new iPods are better on batteries than the units they replace.
Apple claims for the iPod classic 80GB model:
- Music playback time: Up to 30 hours when fully charged
- Video playback time: Up to 5 hours when fully charged
Apple claims for the iPod classic 160GB model:
- Music playback time: Up to 40 hours when fully charged
- Video playback time: Up to 7 hours when fully charged
Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter (sold separately)
- Fast-charge time: about 2 hours (charges up to 80% of battery capacity)
- Full-charge time: about 4 hours
Apple claims for the iPod nano (4GB and 8GB):
- Music playback time: Up to 24 hours when fully charged
- Video playback time: Up to 5 hours when fully charged
Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter (sold separately):
- Fast-charge time: about 1.5 hours (charges up to 80% of battery capacity)
- Full-charge time: about 3 hours
I have not run them long enough on batteries to confirm Apple’s claims. I have seen tests on other sites that claim that Apple’s claims are conservative. Also file transfer speeds are said to be a bit faster than the older models.
Audio and Video
Both the audio and video is similar to the older 5.5 generation iPods. Not a lot changed. The audio sounds a bit more on the trebly side, but sounds OK.
Of course here is where the iPod nano changes the most. As the nano now has mostly the same video features as its bigger brother on a slightly smaller screen. iPod classic has a 2.5-inch, 320×240 screen and the iPod nano has a Pod’s 2-inch, 320×240 screen that Apple claims is 65 percent brighter than before. For a unit so small I was pretty impressed.
Photos
Apple has changed the Photo feature a bit on the new classic and nano. Photo thumbnails now show up against a dark gray background rather than the white one on the older iPods. The new 5-by 3 grid, has get fewer photo thumbnails, but are easier to read. A number tally and date are now shown above the thumbnails, like the iPhoto interface.
Apple has dropped a number 3-D transition effects that the 5G iPod had, including Cube across and down, swirl, radial, and dissolve, and others. You now just get five effects (cross fade, fade to black, zoom out, wipe across, and wipe center), and the option to use them at random, or none at all. Oddly, they are not the same effects found on the iPhone.
Games
Music Quiz, Solitaire, and Brick have been replaced by iQuiz, Klondike (a new solitaire game) and Vortex game a kind of 3D Brick. Paracute is just plain gone. The new games are visually better on the classic and nano.
Not making the games you may have bought work from the iTunes Store work on the new iPods is not cool. Apple has pointed out in the iTunes game section that new compatible games are coming. But it really upsets me that they make no mention if the previous games will all be ported or if customers will have to “buy them again.” For those, like myself, who have spent $5 per game, I sure hope Apple does NOT intend to charge us again!
The iTunes Store, says that “Tetris, Ms. PAC-MAN and Sudoku will soon be compatible with the iPod nano (video) and iPod classic.” So what about the FIVE games I bought — Sims Bowling, Sims Pool, Texas Hold-Em, Pac-Man, and Mini Golf? Was this planned obsolescence? I only recently bought the EA games when they became available. Apple maybe letting us customers know what you are planning would be nice!
Clock, Alarms and Stopwatch
Clocks have been visually re-vamped and Alarms now has a separate section in Extras. You can now set alarms to go off once, every day, weekends, weekdays, every week, every month or every year, etc.
Stopwatch now has a analog live image of a stopwatch alongside a digital timer on the screen. Multiple timers can be run at once, and you can view past records, with computed total, shortest, longest, and average times from a log.
Calendar, Contacts and Notes
Not much change here, except a bit of a softer color palette, slightly better readability due to different fonts on all-white backgrounds. Still can not edit anything.
Add-ons
Here is where the news is not all good. The iPod classic and new nano both have the standard dock connector so many accessories including third party ones will work. But many will not. This includes add-ons that need to get video out or FM transmitters that need to use the iPod screen. Also Apple’s own iPod Camera Connector! The Camera Connector was never a great transfer solution as it was slow, but now on the new iPods the screen says “Unsupported – Accessory is not supported” when you try to use it.
One good note is some of the cases you may already own may work with the new iPod classic as it is similar in dimensions as the 5 and 5.5 generation iPods. I have seen no cases so far for the new nano yet. I am sure they are coming.
My Griffin iTrip Dock works on both the classic and nano and so does my Apple iPod FM Radio Remote (still wish they added an AM/FM radio inside the iPod). All my speaker accessories and wired headphones work fine. I was especially happy to see that both new iPods work in my car equipped with iPod kits and steering wheel controls. Both the iPod classic and new iPod nano work with my older Altec Lansing inMotion speakers. The iPod nano also works with the old lanyards made for the older 1st-gen iPod nano, although they look a bit odd connected to it.
Video out on the iPod classic is supported only through the dock connector generally requires you pay Apple for the optional Component or Composite video cables that costs $49 each. Locking out TV viewing for third party vendors is not nice Apple! This may leave some users expensive add-ons useless.
MacWorld tested the iPod classic with SendStation’s PocketDock AV, DLO’s HomeDock, SierraSound’s; iN Studio 5.0 speakers (with dock), Keyspan’s TuneView, XtremeMac’s Tango portable speaker, and a version of Apple’s Universal Dock. The only one among these that allows video out to work is the Apple Universal Dock. Also they noted that Apple iPod docks that include S-Video ports but don’t include an IR port don’t support video out on these new iPods either!
Voice memos now has new recording screen with a large microphone icon that’s nicer than before. But unfortunately, it does not work with my Belkin TuneTalk microphone! Supposedly, it works properly with some past voice recording accessories.
Nike + iPod Sport Kit doesn’t work with the iPod classic, which isn’t entirely a surprise, as most runners would probably like to use the nano due to its small size. This compatibility could have easily been added given that the classic and nano’s new interfaces are almost identical.
If Apple does not put out an update to rectify some of this, you may have to buy new accessories to replace the ones that worked you already own.
Conclusions
OK, I was mad that Apple “locked TV out” and killed the games I already bought from the iTunes Store. Some of this even surprised me. But overall, I like the new iPods. In the case of the iPod classic it is an evolutional improvement over the past iPods, due to the increased storage and new UI. In the case of the iPod nano the improvement goes further as it gains video support, and a better screen. The pricing is well worth it. Both are keepers.
- iPod classic
- iPod classic
The 5.5 generation 80GB was $349.
Apple could have avoided some of the harsh reaction from myself and others, if they announced up-front the issues with TV out, Game support, and third party add-on support. We still do not know where they stand. They can still fix some of this by updating the games you already bought for free as the new versions become available (if they do) and add compatibility to some of the third party add-ons with a firmware update. But so far no indicators have come from Cupertino.
The iPod classic and iPod nano are both awarded 3 out of 5 Paws
