Official iPod Discussion Thread

[CaptainZombie]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

Candyman,

What are you thoughts on the classic? What do you think about the new interface, coverflow etc.

Cover flow is really cool if you have album covers for each album that you have on itunes and the newer ipods. I also heard that cover flow might also allow for track listing from the back of the cd covers too make it even more feel like a jukebox.

I also like the interface on how the screen is now split so you can interact with the menu while album art fades in and out on the right hand side of the screen.

One thing that I like is the new metal casing, before with the 5.5G iPods we had the slick finish that would get scratched up easily. With the new Classic ipod, the finish reminds me a bit of the 360 Elite Black colored matte look on the controllers. Much more resistant to scratching.

It is a bit slimmer than the previous iPods, but does feel like it gets rather warm.

I didn't know this, but Apple also offers a no cost 1 year warranty on their ipods to where if something happens to it during that time frame you take it back to the apple store where they test it out in front of you. If they notice there is an issue right there, you get another one.

The only reason why I bought the 80gb classic is that I ran out of space on my Zune + I wanted the ipod touch until I saw that they were only 8 and 16gb, which is not enough space.

I hope that this helps.

[aholbert32]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

Cover flow is really cool if you have album covers for each album that you have on itunes and the newer ipods. I also heard that cover flow might also allow for track listing from the back of the cd covers too make it even more feel like a jukebox.

I also like the interface on how the screen is now split so you can interact with the menu while album art fades in and out on the right hand side of the screen.

One thing that I like is the new metal casing, before with the 5.5G iPods we had the slick finish that would get scratched up easily. With the new Classic ipod, the finish reminds me a bit of the 360 Elite Black colored matte look on the controllers. Much more resistant to scratching.

It is a bit slimmer than the previous iPods, but does feel like it gets rather warm.

I didn't know this, but Apple also offers a no cost 1 year warranty on their ipods to where if something happens to it during that time frame you take it back to the apple store where they test it out in front of you. If they notice there is an issue right there, you get another one.

The only reason why I bought the 80gb classic is that I ran out of space on my Zune + I wanted the ipod touch until I saw that they were only 8 and 16gb, which is not enough space.

I hope that this helps.

Last question:

Is the screen less scratch resistant? I dont want to have to buy another invisible shield just to protect the screen,

[CaptainZombie]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

Last question:

Is the screen less scratch resistant? I dont want to have to buy another invisible shield just to protect the screen,

The screen seems to be similar to me and I can't find anywhere that they have done anything different to it. If I can find anything on the screen saying that its scratch resistant, than I'll post back. I'm going to buy a case for mine to keep the screen from getting beaten up...........imo, its well worth spending $10-$15 to protect a $250 product. Do what I did when I had a 5.5G iPod, I bought the PSP screen protector and cut it in half. It fit the iPod screen perfectly.

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There is a multipage review posted over at ilounge.

Battery Life
If iPod classic’s going to win fans, it won’t be on the strength of what’s outside; rather, the $249 and $349 models’ new hard drives and batteries are their strongest selling points. Thankfully, they’re stronger than ever. Last year, the $249 iPod was a 30GB model with 14 hours of continuous audio playback and 3.5 hours of video playback; the $349 model had 80GB of storage space, 20 hours of audio run time, and 6.5 hours of video run time. Both were considered very good values for the dollar, lacking only slightly in battery power relative to what users would prefer.

Battery life has gone up to a promised 30 hours of audio playback and 5 hours of video playback. That’s a 2.7x jump in storage capacity, a 2.14x jump in audio run time, and a 1.43x jump in video play time for the same price. In our testing with test videos downloaded from the iTunes Store, the 80GB iPod classic actually outperformed Apple’s battery statistics, repeatedly playing The Incredibles and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan for 6 hours and 46 minutes.

480p Output
The biggest potential advantage of iPod classic as a video player is its enhanced video-out capability. Unlike the fifth-generation iPod, which was only outfitted by Apple with a composite video-out cable, Apple states that iPod classic can output video at up to 480p (720x480 resolution, 60fps) or 576p (720x576)—better than even the iPod touch, which promises only 480i or 576i. Unfortunately, you’ll apparently need a $49 Apple Component AV Cable in order to take advantage of the superior resolution; we’ll review it and offer more details as soon as it’s available. Additional details on iPod classic’s video functionality are discussed under Accessories, below.

Cover Flow
iPhone’s Cover Flow, which works similarly but with more button pressing, less fluidity, and a white background. Somewhat better is a Now Playing screen with perspective-angled album art inspired by Apple TV, again only in white rather than the Apple TV’s black. Now, after a minute or so of audio playback, a large clock will appear on a white screen-filling background along with a battery indicator and play icon. Are these improvements on the old iPod interface? Yes, but as with iPod classic’s exterior, you won’t confuse them with the better-looking screens on the iPhone.

Accessories:
There’s some good news and some bad news about past iPod accessories. The good news is that, from a physical standpoint, iPod classics will work with almost everything developed for fifth-generation iPods. Apple has kept the top and bottom ports in the same places, the same footprint, and almost the same thicknesses as the prior models. Though you can’t expect form-fitting hard plastic cases to fit perfectly, and the iPod classics will be a little looser in soft cases, old designs will do just fine for protection until new ones come along.

Audio and charging accessories will generally work properly with iPod classic. Unlike the iPhone, which still doesn’t work with our favorite car accessories, iPod classic works just fine for audio with the accessories we previously installed—it doesn’t put up any nag screens, fail to charge, or fail to play back music. It also works properly with past voice recording accessories, adding both a new recording screen with a microphone icon and a new playback screen that’s nicer than before. FM transmitter and other accessories will generally work properly so long as they don’t hijack the iPod’s screen for tuning or other functionality.

Conclusions:
There’s no doubt that your view of the iPod classic will depend entirely on the yardstick you measure it by: judged against the fifth-generation iPod it replaces, it’s certainly a better product for the dollar, and offers substantial improvements in both audio and video output—with the exception of its problematic accessory support. If you were one of the few people who saw last year’s 5G iPods and held off on a purchase not because of the screen or the Click Wheel but because of battery or hard disk concerns, the iPod classic is the right iPod for you. As before, it’s yet another nice iterative step ahead of the original 2001 iPod.

In our view, iPod classic is most clearly an example of pragmatism slapping optimism in the face—this is not the device Apple fans have been dreaming about, but rather the device that Apple could sell for $249 or $349 while maintaining its classic profit margins. These facts don’t make it a bad iPod for new users; to the contrary, it is a good choice for those who don’t mind compromising on display and user interface technology to get an affordable digital media player with incredible storage capacity. However, we wouldn’t recommend it to everyone; our advice would be to hold out for a device that offers the screen, interface and storage capacity that satisfy your needs.

[Pared]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

Do what I did when I had a 5.5G iPod, I bought the PSP screen protector and cut it in half. It fit the iPod screen perfectly.

No, please don't do that. There's a company out there called Boxwave that makes simply the best screen protector out there.

It's called the Crystal clear. Look them up and pick up one of those. They are extremely thin plus they don't make the screen actually look like they have a screen protector.

If you need help finding one, let me know. You'll thank me after you get it.

There are some hiccups in the menu switching, but people don't understand that it is to be expected with a HD this capacity and the UI randomly showing pictures of your media.

An yes, in Cover Flow if you press the album it will flip over and show all the songs in that album, just like the Touch interface.

I have my Touch order in. I'm simply waiting until it gets here.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

No, please don't do that. There's a company out there called Boxwave that makes simply the best screen protector out there.

It's called the Crystal clear. Look them up and pick up one of those. They are extremely thin plus they don't make the screen actually look like they have a screen protector.

If you need help finding one, let me know. You'll thank me after you get it.

There are some hiccups in the menu switching, but people don't understand that it is to be expected with a HD this capacity and the UI randomly showing pictures of your media.

An yes, in Cover Flow if you press the album it will flip over and show all the songs in that album, just like the Touch interface.

I have my Touch order in. I'm simply waiting until it gets here.

Thanks Pared, I'll look for that screen protector.

That is cool that you ordered the iPod touch, post impressions when you get it. I won't get one of those until the capacity reach the 60-80GB area which could be 1-2 years away.

[Pared]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

No problem. Like I said if you can't find it let me know and I'll help you out.

I've used them on my PDA's for over 7 years. When you look at your devices with them on, you can't even tell they have a screen protector.

Also, make sure you install it in the bathroom with hot water running (Steam). Sounds strange, but it's the best way to get a lint free environment when installing the thing.

I'm hoping I can get the iPod Touch asap. In the meantime I'm going through my music collection and deleting songs I won't ever listen to. I have all these albums in my collection, but I mean... seriously, when am I ever going to listen to I'm Not Moving by Phil Collins?

[fishepa]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

What's wrong with Phil Collins?

[Flyboy]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

What's wrong with Phil Collins?

Not a damn thing.

[Pared]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

What's wrong with Phil Collins?

Nothing... he has so many great other songs but the one I listed is just not one of them.

Easy. I love the guy. One of my favorite artists of all time.

[TruFunkSoldier]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

Bestskinsever.com is another great option for skins. I've bought skins from them many times for my ipods and treo and they are awesome. Resists scratches and you can barely tell it's even on. Best part is they cost around $8.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

Does anyone know where I can find skins/cases for the new iPod nanos? Can't seem to find them anywhere.

Also, I know this is subjective, but I'm having trouble deciding on a color for my 8GB nano. Green, blue, or red?

[mgoblue]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

I'm hoping I can get the iPod Touch asap. In the meantime I'm going through my music collection and deleting songs I won't ever listen to. I have all these albums in my collection, but I mean... seriously, when am I ever going to listen to I'm Not Moving by Phil Collins?

I've been doing the same thing, as well as naming songs correctly for ones I've downloaded in the past. Is there any way to get album art and whatnot for songs not downloaded through iTunes? I haven't gotten a thing from iTunes yet, so all that cover flow stuff means nothing unless I can somehow name my songs right (or whatever) to let me update.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

I've been doing the same thing, as well as naming songs correctly for ones I've downloaded in the past. Is there any way to get album art and whatnot for songs not downloaded through iTunes? I haven't gotten a thing from iTunes yet, so all that cover flow stuff means nothing unless I can somehow name my songs right (or whatever) to let me update.

Search for the CD through Amazon.com. If you find it, click "See larger image". Copy the image, go into iTunes, select the song, and click "Paste" in the blank spot in the lower left corner.

[RockyTop1]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

Yeah, either Amazon, fye.com or wikipedia are all good places for album art.

[Brandwin]

Re: iPod G6 - Apple event slated for September 5th

I see the 4g iPhone is a hundred dollars cheaper, but is it worth it? Didn't you guys say they were going to get away from the smaller iPhones?