Labs

There's so much more to flash memory-based MP3 players than there used to be. Features such as video and touchscreens are becoming more commonplace, capacities are up to 16GB, and with many players now equipped with memory expansion slots, they're challenging the lower-end hard disk players for storage, too.

Apple's new iPod nano (web ID: 128825) is a prime example of this. It now plays video and has a larger screen than before. It looks great with its brushed aluminium front and shiny chrome rear covering, and it sits nicely in your hand. The interface has been given a lick of paint with the addition of the graphical Cover Flow album browser and a few other small tweaks, and the price is surprisingly keen, with the 4GB model costing around £84.