Product Reviews

The interest in the iPod is so high, both inside and outside the Mac user community, that the release of a new model is a source of huge interest. Even this apparently minor update has generated waves of excitement and speculation about possible hidden features and clues as to future updates. As such, we were keen to get our hands on one to find out just how much of an improvement it is. And, thanks to Apple dealer Square, that's exactly what we did.

The first thing to say about the new iPods is that there are only two of them - a 20GB model and a 40GB model. The 15GB device has been eliminated from the range and, despite Toshiba's claim that Apple has ordered large quantities of its 60GB, 1.8in drive, 40GB remains the maximum capacity. They cost £219 and £299 respectively, so this simplification of the range shouldn't be a problem for too many people. More of an issue is the fact that you no longer get a dock with the 20GB iPod. Worse, neither device ships with a remote control, so you'll have to fork out an extra £29 for one. This means that if you want the 20GB iPod with dock and remote, it will cost £277. The removal of the remote control from the accessories that ship in the box is particularly disappointing, and charging nearly £30 for something that can only cost a tiny fraction of that to make seems to be greedy in the extreme.

Perhaps the most welcome improvement to the iPods is the increase in claimed battery life to 12 hours. Battery life has been one of the main criticisms of the iPod when it's compared to rival players, and although, as with all advertised battery life, 12 hours won't always be achieved in real-life usage, any improvement is welcome.

The most immediately noticeable improvements to the iPod are on its case. The depth of both devices has been reduced by 1mm; while this may sound insignificant, the 20GB iPod really feels thinner when you hold it. The scroll wheel has also changed to match the 'click' wheel on the iPod mini, and the selection button in the middle is now a real button again rather than a touch-sensitive pad. This improves tactile feedback when using the

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iPod and so makes it easier to navigate menus and make selections.

The selection buttons have also been re-positioned: rather than being in a line underneath the LCD, they're now placed on the click wheel, in a similar position to which they were on the original iPods. This, again, improves the user experience, making it easier to use the iPod with one hand.

There are improvements to the iPod's software, too. The Playlists menu has been re-named Music, leading some to speculate that music will soon be only one of the iPod's prime functions. Moreover, On the Go playlists have been improved, so you can now create multiple playlists while out and about and synchronise them all with your Mac when you get the chance. However, you still can't delete tracks or playlists on the iPod - you have to wait until you synchronise with iTunes to do that.

You can also now shuffle songs in the main menu and adjust playback speed for audio books. The Shuffle Songs option lets you take pot-luck with your entire iPod library rather than just specific playlists.

The final new feature will be of more interest to PC users than Mac users - the iPod can now be charged via a USB 2 cable. Previously, although you could synchronise via USB 2, you had to charge the iPod using a FireWire cable or power adaptor.

The fourth-generation iPod is a modest upgrade that provides more to attract the first-time buyer than to persuade existing owners to upgrade. Improvements to the software and the re-designed wheel and control buttons are welcome. However, the removal of the remote control as a standard-issue accessory is disappointing and will irritate potential buyers.

Apple could have made the new iPod in multiple colours, as it did with the iPod mini. Or it could have decided to add a colour screen and video capability. These features may yet come, but for the moment, sensibly, the company has decided to concentrate on the iPod's strength - playing music. All the improvements in this version are designed to make it perform that function better than before and ensure it remains an excellent digital music player. There is more that can be done in this area, such as making the headphones better, and we hope this is where Apple focuses future updates rather than adding video capabilities or other ancillary features.

Despite their minor short-comings, the new iPods are the best yet and the 40GB device represents excellent value for money and a significant price drop. There's no point hanging on for a 60GB version, as Apple has said there won't be one 'anytime soon'. If you've been thinking about buying one, now's the time - and you should definitely spend the extra £100 and get the 40GB model.