Pros: Apple’s best iPod yet, with a color screen and user interface, photo display through itself and TV sets, and 17-hour battery life. Great audio quality and overall experience. An affordable, substantial improvement on the black-and-white fourth-generation iPod released less than one year ago.
Cons: Photo display initially requires extended sync process, add-ons required to download photos directly from a camera, or display photos on a TV. Still no way for users to easily replace battery.
06.29.05
In November 2004, iLounge reviewed Apple’s then-new iPod photo (iLounge rating: A-), a premium version of the fourth-generation black-and-white iPod released in late July. We praised the storage capacity, battery life, and new features of the color-screened music and photo player, but thought that it was expensive at $499-$599, and a little rough around the edges for such a pricey device. Even when Apple dropped the iPod photo’s price - mostly by removing pack-ins - and released a lower capacity version in February, we still felt that the company hadn’t addressed most of the concerns we had raised in our initial review, and left our A- grade intact in our Spring/Summer 2005 Buyers’ Guide re-review.
Several major things have changed since then. Apple released the inexpensive iPod Camera Connector (iLounge rating: B+), which was a considerably better value than the $80-$110 devices iPod owners previously needed for camera-to-iPod photo transfers. The company also published a Software Update that added support for digital photo viewing without computer synchronization, and new slideshow transition effects, addressing two of our review’s issues.
And this week, Apple eliminated the biggest barrier for potential buyers: premium pricing. A 20GB (5,000-song) version of the iPod photo is now Apple’s fifth “iPod” - considered by the company to be a color fourth-generation model - and sells for $299, while the old 60GB (15,000-song) version now sells for $399 - a $200 price drop since its introduction last October. Now only do these two new iPods offer the best features and capacity yet for their price tags, but they perform better than their predecessors in other ways, as well. While not the perfect A+ iPods we’re still hoping to see, they’re fully worthy of iLounge’s flat A rating and high recommendation.
What’s In The Box: Hardware and Software
Since last October, Apple has dramatically streamlined the packages of its color-screened iPods, shrinking their boxes and cutting their pack-ins to a minimal level. Though the boxes are no longer as exciting to open as their intricately designed predecessors, Apple has thankfully gone back to using classy exterior designs, with the iPod name in silver foil and clean product shots on three of each black box’s sides. Gone are the colorful and overplayed images of silhouette dancers, replaced by Black Eyed Peas album art and shots of the hardware’s photo display capabilities.
Both the 20GB and 60GB iPods come with one pair of white earbud-style headphones, two sets of black foam earpads, an iPod-to-USB 2.0 cable, a wall power charger, a single data CD, and a collection of instruction, ad, and warranty booklets. The data CD contains PC and Macintosh versions of Apple’s iTunes music software and the necessary drivers to connect your iPod to your computer, as well as electronic versions of various iPod instruction manuals.
This collection of items is all any person needs to fully use and enjoy a new iPod - no further purchases or software are required. You insert the CD into your computer, quickly install iTunes and drivers as applicable, and then connect the USB cable to both your computer and iPod. iTunes provides an incredibly powerful and easy set of tools for transferring your music from CDs to your iPod, as well as legally downloading music and other audio content online. Recent versions of iTunes have also added video management tools, calendar and personal contacts management for Mac users, support for free radio-style “podcasts," and more.
It’s worth a small technical note that Apple has now officially done away with the FireWire cables that used to be included with standard “iPods,” a change that was made back in February when these devices were called “iPod photos,” but not carried out for the 20GB model up until now. As a result, Mac owners and the few PC owners with standard FireWire ports will not be able to take advantage of FireWire’s added computer-to-iPod transfer speeds, but the included USB 2.0 cable will certainly suffice for the data transfer needs of most users. If your computer only has an older USB 1.0 port, you’ll need to charge the iPod with the included wall charger, and expect that it will take longer to initially fill and subsequently update the contents of your iPod.
How Does the New iPod Work?
The new iPod adds power to the elegantly simple control and menu system of its black-and-white predecessor. Within an enclosure that is half glossy white plastic and half mirror-polished metal, the iPod combines a 2-inch color screen with a simple circular controller called the Click Wheel. You skim your finger over the Click Wheel’s touch-sensitive surface to move up and down in menus, adjust volume, and skip through photographs. Buttons hidden under its surface - one each to the north, south, west and east, plus one in the center - let you skip quickly through menus, go forwards or backwards in lists of audio tracks, and play, pause, or turn off the iPod. No easier control and menu system has yet been designed for a music player of the iPod’s complexity.
Apple’s screen is a significant improvement over the ones sold in the prior generations of iPods. Brightly backlit and made with a “transflective” LCD material, it’s easy to read indoors and outdoors, and capable of displaying over 65,000 colors. Seven lines of large, clean menu text plus a header can be displayed at once, with a battery icon always present on the top right of the screen and a play status indicator on the top left. In text file display mode, the iPod can show up to eleven lines of small text at once, and can also display attractive color graphics and games that its older predecessor couldn’t handle. For more details on all of these features, take a look at our Power Users’ Review of the iPod photo; with the exception of a new menu option that segregates downloaded Internet radio programs called Podcasts into their own library, little has changed since then.
As a music player, the new iPod improves in only one significant way upon its predecessor: it now allows you to store and view album artwork for each of your songs, displaying a small icon during playback that can be magnified to a larger (though not full-screen) view for short periods of time. It does not play back music videos or include any sort of visualizers; songs are accompanied on-screen only by their titles, artists’ names, and album names. You can still rate songs, increase or decrease volume, and skip to any part of a song with simple button presses - all with only one finger, if you desire.
When used as a photo storage and playback device, the new iPod is only a few hairs shy of perfection. Out of the box, it can transfer photographs from your computer using nothing more than iTunes, a process that initially takes a considerable period of time but decreases upon subsequent synchronizations. You can create and view slideshows from your photo collection, either silently or accompanied by music. A collection of five different transition effects can create movie-style wipes and pushes, simple visuals that add a little spice to any slideshow.
Additionally, you can connect the optional iPod Camera Connector or two other devices to transfer photographs to your iPod without a computer, and can also purchase separate cables or a Dock to connect your iPod to a TV for slideshow viewing. While not as sophisticated as a photo slideshow generated by a computer program such as Apple’s iPhoto, the iPod holds its own as a portable photo storage and display device.
Audio, Battery, and Storage Performance
In previous reviews of Apple’s iPods, we’ve noted that we don’t have any major complaints about the general audio quality of these players: they are accurate, sonically balanced devices that have earned the praise of average users and audiophiles alike. A small minority of users has insisted that iPods don’t have as much bass as certain other audio devices, but other than that - and related calls for user-customizable equalizers to permit dynamic changes to the device’s sound - the new iPod is about as good as portable audio players get from an audio standpoint.
That includes Apple’s substantial, but not complete remedy of an audio interference issue we identified in black-and-white fourth-generation iPods last year: a static sound that overlapped songs whenever the hard drive was accessed, audible with most pairs of headphones. While we can still hear a short, faint occasional hint of static in our pairs of high-end earphones during hard drive accesses, the noise was not audible using Apple’s standard earbuds or “typical” earphones we tested. Unlike the black-and-white iPod’s problem, most people won’t mind what little interference there is, but we still strongly believe that Apple should eliminate it entirely in the next-generation iPod.
We are quite happy with the new iPods’ battery life, which in our testing exceeded Apple’s 15-hour estimates by a full two hours - over 17 hours of run time, compared with the black-and-white 4G iPod’s 12-13 and the 3G iPod’s 6-8. Rare is the occasion when we’re away from a computer or wall outlet for longer than 12 hours of iPod playback, so 17 hours works quite well for us. While the iPod family could and should continue to improve in this regard, this is nowhere near the issue it was back a year ago. Our only remaining issue is that users cannot easily replace the iPod’s battery by themselves - you need to use special tools to pop off the rear metal compartment - and we certainly hope that this issue is addressed in future iPods. It’s been a limitation of the iPod family since the beginning (see a comparison photo of 2G and color 4G iPods, below), but needn’t be.
The storage capacities of the two current iPod models also deserve a few words. In the past, 20-Gigabyte iPods have proved the most popular with iLounge readers, holding a peak of around 5,000 songs at standard compression rates. We applaud Apple for being honest about the iPods’ storage capacities, even as competitors have stooped to claiming that their devices can hold more songs in the same 20GB of space - despite their scratchier, lower-quality sound.
However, as the new iPods can now play back both music and photographs, the 20GB iPod is required to squeeze even more content into the same space - album artwork, pictures of various sizes, and less-compressed songs stored by increasingly quality-sensitive listeners. After transferring a sample collection of 7,095 photographs to the new iPod, we saw that over five full Gigabytes of storage had already been used up, leaving far less room for music and album artwork. For future iPods, Apple needs to work on reducing the size of its photo database, perhaps through improvements in processor power (enabling realtime scaling of stored images rather than storage of multiple thumbnails). Today, however, music lovers planning to make major use of the new iPod’s photo features should give serious consideration to the 60GB model, which for $100 more triples the smaller version’s storage capacity and leaves plenty of room for whatever you might want to put on the device.
Physical size and Accessory Compatibility
In upgrading the iPod family from black-and-white to color screens, Apple was forced to make only one compromise: thickness. While the new iPods are as tall and wide as their 30GB and 60GB iPod photo predecessors, and thereby fit in all of the same cases, cradles, and other accessories previously designed, they are not as thin as their black-and-white 4G predecessors. The 60GB model is .75 inches thick, and the 20GB model is .63 inches thick, each a bump of .06 inches over last year’s 40GB and 20GB black-and-white iPods. Practically, these differences are virtually irrelevant and fully justified by the device’s superior batteries, but they’re modestly noticeable when compared right next to last year’s models.
Critically, however, these iPods are now fully compatible with the wide array of third-party accessories that have been developed for prior iPods - everything from speakers to voice recorders, camera connectors, battery chargers and car mounts. These accessories either were already compatible when the iPods were sold as iPod photos, or because their manufacturers have subsequently released fully compatible revisions that are now the only versions on store shelves. If you already own an iPod accessory other than a case that doesn’t work with your new iPod, you can most likely contact the accessory’s manufacturer for details on how to obtain a fully working replacement.
Additional Details
If you’re looking for additional information on various features of the new iPod, or its included iTunes software, iLounge has plenty to offer. Our comprehensive Power Users’ review of the iPod photo contains all you’ll want to know about the current iPod’s menus and built-in applications, while our Complete Guide to iPod photo Pictures will help you make the most of its photo features. To learn about iTunes, check out our Tutorials pages, including details on the new features in the current version (4.9) of iTunes, and for information on compatible accessories, you can find cases and other items on our Reviews page, and a easier-to-read digest in our popular, free Buyers’ Guide.
For a discussion of the new iPod’s name and comparison photographs with other generations of iPods, check out our Backstage article Naming the New iPod.
We have two photo galleries full of new photographs of these new iPod models: first, the iPod 20GB gallery, and a separate gallery for the color-screened black U2 Special Edition iPod released at the same time. Our historical photo galleries of older iPod models can be found here.
If you’re not sure whether the new iPod is the right model for you, take a look at our recent Editorial, Today’s iPod lineup, and you. You can also find our super-simple iPod picking guide in the Buyers’ Guide.
Still have questions? With over 65,000 members and 600,000 messages, our Discussion Forums likely already address anything you might want to know. If not, post a message, or use Ask iLounge, our weekly Q&A column. There’s a good chance that you can find the answer on the site, but if not, we’re always happy to help.
Conclusions
It would have been easy to pass on re-reviewing Apple’s newest iPods - after all, the 20GB version is little more than a cheaper, lower-capacity version of the 30GB iPod photo released only four months ago, and the 60GB version is just the same, only in a different box. That simple fact has elicited groans and tears from the most devoted iLounge readers, particularly those who purchased black-and-white-screened iPods only recently.
But to view the new iPods from the perspective of existing owners would clearly miss the significance of what Apple is now offering to new potential buyers: a color-screened, photo-capable 20GB digital music player with unparalleled ease of use and the best software package on the market, all at a lower suggested retail price than any serious competitor. Similarly, its bigger 60GB brother and black-bodied U2 clone are more affordable than ever before, while continuing to possess all of the key features that made them stand out at their October 2004 introductions. Owners of black-and-white-screened iPods may complain, yet there’s little doubt that they’d quickly upgrade if given the right incentive. The reasons for this are obvious: the new iPod’s color screen is not only useful for photos and album artwork, but makes typical reading of its menus and other text considerably easier - and visually more pleasant - than on last year’s iPod.
Last October, we said that “there’s little doubt once you’ve used the iPod photo that its new screen and interface will be in virtually every full-sized iPod Apple sells two or three years from now.” Frankly, we never expected that Apple would be a more than a year ahead of that curve, and that competitors such as Sony would be focusing most of their recent efforts on black-and-white hardware. By switching across the board to superior color displays, offering last year’s great storage capacities and user interface experiences, and polishing most of the iPod photo’s rough edges, Apple has redefined what consumers should expect from a $299 digital music player, and very much earned our high recommendation.
With all of that said, there is certainly still room for improvement. iLounge readers continue to ask for a variety of new features that could further enhance the iPod experience, ranging from an integrated FM tuner to crossfaded playback, customizable equalizers, and even better batteries. While none of these features is today a necessity, future iPods would unquestionably be helped by their inclusion - and competitors will unquestionably continue to exploit their absence to mount challenges to Apple’s market dominance. Our flat A grade recognizes the iPod for what it is today: a great value and truly wonderful product, without any serious reservations. Whether the next full-sized iPod merits equal or higher praise will depend very much on what Apple’s competitors can muster before its release, and the wisdom of Apple’s response.
[Editor’s Note: Following publication of this review, Apple Computer clarified that the new color iPods remain part of the fourth-generation family, and as such we have changed “fifth-generation” references in our review to “color fourth-generation.” We thank Apple for providing this clarification.]
My 5g U2 iPod is on its way. Its gonna rock so much. Hey, is the U2 iPod gonna be thicker to? Would it still fit in a 20gb dock?
Oh, by the way. I think you misspelled “all” in one sentence. I didnt see which one.
why is apple abandoning the firewire standard which they helped create. firewire is way better than usb.
Two possibly dumb questions:
Q. Though the new thickness is very small, will I need a new case, or will my 4G 20gb iSkin stretch to fit the new 20gb iPod color screen? It is a very stretchy case, thats why I ask.
Q. I’m assuming that the wall charger is USB 2.0 compatable (whereas I have to use the included firewire cable for my wall charger)?
Either way, i’m certainly going to return the now discontinued 20gb monochrome display that I just bought, and hold on to my store credit and buy a color display when it is in stock locally! Thank you iPodlounge for being the first to let me know about this new lineup!!
I don’t think the term 5G is deserved. Taking a 30GB and dropping it to 20GB is not a generation jump. Neither is dropping the price.
Unless there is a big reason you want to call these 5Gs?
Can anyone report as to whether this iPod has the audio quality issues that the *old* iPod photo’s suffered? In particular the iPp’s were said to have difficulty with high-fidelity works such as piano solos or similar.
I’m in the market for a new iPod, but not if they’ve still got these audio issues. If they do, then Apple has just killed off the only decent-sounding, full-sized iPod - the 4G.
The comment on case compatiblity is misleading. I know that for people with 20g 4g Vaja cases, they’ll need to buy a new case to fit a “5g” 20g iPod. But Vaja cases are handmade to fit. I would think many other cases will still fit the 20g just fine, if not make for a tighter fit.
I just don`t get why iPodLounge is calling these a 5G.
All the people i know agree this is NOT a 5G we’ve all been waiting for.
I think it only confuses people.
I`m still waiting for 5G to replace my good old 15gig 3G.
After a firmware upgrade my photo 60 is exactly the same as the “new” model. IMO, the “5G” moniker is both unjustified and undesirable.
I think they address this as 5G (I consider this 5G) because it’s a change in some aspect of the normal iPod-- the 2G and 4G were mainly only changes in the wheel, and this one is a change in the screen.
is there any reason for me to return my newly bought ipod 30 gb photo as i bought it a week ago is there any reason that i should get the new 20 or 60 instead cause aparently the 20 gb is the same as the 30 in terms of bulk but 30 ofcourse is bigger but is there a better firm ware update or anything big that i should consider changing my ipod
plz reply asap as times running out thanks
It is too bad that Apple took away the ability of Smart Playlists to Live Update on the Ipod without resyncing to Itunes.
Owners or 3G Ipods now have more capabilities and features than 4G Ipod owners. This latest firmware upgrade removed this valuable feature from all 4G Ipods, and I am sure it is also disabled on the new Color Pods as well.
This feature used to allow songs to be automatically removed from a playlist based on play date or play count once you played them, and was the only way you could manage a playlist so you did not hear the same song twice.
It is a shame that Apple is taking usefull features away. It is, after all, an MP3 Player, and managing and playing music and playlists should be the most important function of it.
I just ordered a 60 gig IPod Photo from Circuit city and they have it listed as “IPod (60GB)
Part Number: M9830LL/A”. This is the same as the new 5th Gen on the Apple site.
I am hoping that I am getting the 5th Gen as opposed to the 4th gen. Can anyone clarify?
Pinkninky: Because of the added 0.06” thickness of the new 20GB iPod, the best fitting case will be one made for the now discontinued 30GB iPod photo, rather than the previous generation 20GB iPod. Silicone cases for the 20GB iPod will stretch to fit, but alignment of the holes will not necessarily be perfect. Also, the included power adapter is a USB adapter, and will work with the included USB cable.
Amad: Keep your 30.
Regarding the “5G” designation: this is the fifth distinct product to be called “iPod.” Don’t worry or get too worked up over this - Apple is not going to stop making new (and more revolutionary) iPod hardware, but this name change strongly suggests that whatever comes next will be the “iPod [xxxxx],” not the “iPod.”
I agree with other users that this may not be deemed a “Gen 5 iPod”. Sure, they added a color screen, made it thicker, and added battery life, so maby it does deserve the title. We could also call it “Gen 4C” for Generation 4 Color.
Now that I think about it, this is a redesign of the gen 4, and is much different.
I realize this question may become annoying within the next 14 days, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My younger sister and I bought 20GB ipods from Circuit City within the last 14 days (we have until Sunday, July 3rd to return them). Now that the new “5G” ipods have been announced, i’m having a small bit of buyer’s remorse.
My question is, objectively speaking, is the increased battery life in the new “5G” substantial enough to warrant a return of a recently purchased 4G?
We’re not really concerned with the color screen as we just want it for music. Also, I’m bearing in mind that the new ipod is slightly thicker. Plus, I should point out that Circuit City gave each of us $30.00 gift cards when we bought them, which ultimately means we bought them at $270.00, as opposed to “5G” cost of $300.00 (I’m assuming they’re not offering same promotion for the new ipods).
In the end, I really just want to run this by my sister before Sunday to see what she wants to do. $300 to her means a whole lot more than it does to me, and I just want to make sure she gets a good deal. Again, any advice will be appreciated.
Is the screen the same on these as it is on the first iPod photos? I have one of the older ones on order.
5th gen my arse! these are stil 4th gen im my eyes. i bought my 4th gen 20 gig about 10 months ago and i feel the use i have got out of it outweighs the benefits of a the coula screen but i feel for people who bought one a few months ago, especially those with their names engraved on them
newipod05, you should just keep the ipods you have since you are not concerned with color screen. Go to circuit city and get a price match as they are now selling your 4g ipods for 269.00 (your bonus gift card has nothing to do with the price you paid).
So after the price match you will have new ipods for for a total of 239.00!
the “big reason” for calling these 5G is the price drop + addition of a color screen. any questions?
Well if you go that route the_commanche, then a simple price drop should mark a whole new gen, no?
Since iPod Photo was the same as these 20/60 so-called 5G. Same battery life, sam screen, same interface.
I’m still waiting for a real 5G. iPL can call these whatever they want.
I think the real reason it’s being called the 5g is because it seems to be all apple is gonna release this year in terms of new full fledged ipods, I think that all colour screen ipods(original 30/40/60 photos) can now be deemed 5g ipods, people were never sure but this seems to be it, it was just a long transition into a new generation.
As far as cases go, all of Speck’s cases should still fit.
How did you test the battery life ? Switch the damn thing on and just look at it for 17 hours ? Listen to the same track continuously for 17 hours ? Details please....
Am I the only one here who thinks that going from a 30GB to a 20GB model, charging basically the same price and calling it an upgrade is questionable?
Also your statement about compatibility leaves out an important fact. People should know that the 60GB Ipod has the poorest 3rd party support of all ipods. You will greatly limit the amount of cases you can buy, forget about armsbands, and watch out for accessories with a dock. If there is one thing I regret about my 60GB model its the lack of compatibility that it has.
And finally I think you conclusion was more about looking for something/anything positive to say than anything else. I realize this is a site devoted to marketing/promoting/celebrating Ipods, but the price drop for the 60GB model is the only thing of note IMHO. The 20GB model going color is more about losing a thinner lighter model and 10GB vs how much “better” it now is. If I didn’t need the space I’d ditch my 60GB Ipod Photo for for an “older” 20GB 4G in a heartbeat.
quick question, is there a physcial weight or width difference in the 20GB and 30GB colored screened ipods?
Wow. I ‘m glad I bought the 30 gig Photo back in March. I’m half way or less through ripping my CD’s (most at 160, a very few higher or lossless), I’m keeping a new podcast novel, “Earthcore” (decent story, entetaining) on board, and I have a couple hundred ipod/tv format photos on board. I’m up to about 10 gigs. I can see most of 30 gigs getting used up by year’s end, definitely more than 20 gigs. Sure I could not store everything on my ipod, but it makes management easier if I just automaticly update, and it’s not like the extra data weighs more… Personally, 30 gigs is the right size.
Karl (great Lebowski reference): Our recent battery tests always use the same formula, which we’ve detailed in past articles - iPod set on 50% volume level, standard earbuds attached, randomized (shuffle songs) playback chosen on large library of songs with varying bitrates and lengths, no equalizers turned on, very minimal use of backlight (when unit turns on, has settings applied). It’s essentially a test of maximum continuous playtime.
Meso: “Questionable” is a fair word, but it doesn’t change the fact that today’s “iPods” are significantly better than last year’s, both in features and in value. It’s a measure of the relentless advancement of the family that some people would today roll their eyes at a $399, color 60GB iPod when only last year Apple was selling a black-and-white 40GB iPod at the same price. Ditto on today’s $299 iPod. Premium features at an affordable price. That’s a win for consumers.
Regarding the 60GB iPod, “greatly limit” is a fairly significant overstatement. We’ve tested the majority of cases that have been released for the various iPods, and very few companies have passed on supporting the 60GB model. The bigger question - and one that has dogged all full-sized iPods since the release of the iPod mini, and the iPod shuffle - is whether people really want to exercise wearing something with the footprint of any larger iPod.
Also, we’re not a site devoted to marketing iPods. If we thought that these iPods were unimpressive, we’d say so.
Blue: They’re the same.
Just to be clear: the 20 (regular and U2) is still thinner than the 60 (and 30) models.
Too bad it’s slightly thicker than the old 20, but not much--and you get extra battery life.
Plus there’s always the Mini… can’t wait for a color screen in that.
If we can agree that the iPod photo was not included in the generations of the iPod, as the shuffle, and mini aren’t either, then the new iPod is a generation ahead of the 4G monochromatic iPod, and therefore would be 5G.
I know that Apple has said that it is still a 4G iPod, but I disagree.
Impulse,
If Apple considers their latest products still part of the 4G model, who is anyone to argue with that?
Manufacturers are constantly updating and upgrading their products, and the generation type still remains intact. Automobiles are the most obvious example. Cars are constantly getting upgades, some quite significant, and yet the manufacturer still considers them the same generation design. Apple is certainly entitled to do the same (which BTW do I agree with).
Well as much as I don’t want to argue, I think that adding the photo ability to the standard iPod, which doesn’t only mean changing the screen to colour, but also the port, chips, and the dock. If adding a touchwheel to the iPod was enough for G1 to G2, then I think that making another line of iPod, the photo, the normal iPod, it should be a new generation.
Analogies can be helpful, but only in the same context. Although Apple and car manufacturers both make products, they are in totally different fields. iPod’s upgrades are in the form of firmware upgrades which do not mean a new generation.
Would you be implying that Apple would have to change the button layout/ button functions to be a new generation (as it has been for all previous iPods)?
Why this got an A and the 30G photo got an A- I don’t know. Personally, I’d rather pay an extra $50 Aus to get 10Gig more and have it a tiny bit thicker then have a 20G.
I agree with MotoTrojan, 30g is the right size. Also note that in australia, the “new” 20g has bumped the price up $30 to AU$449 where 1 month ago, AU$499 would have got you an extra 10Gig.
I’m just happy I’ve got my 30G photo, my iPod of choice of any iPod to date.
Impluse29, I think Apple will just change the design but retain the wheel-- it’s an excellent design and it doesn’t really need any changing.
STOP CALLING THEM 5G’s!!!
i love this new upgrade. but as soon as the real 5g comes out… who knows what will happen to these? will apple discontinue this once the 5g comes out this year?
I think apple is going to pull four new ones for us on the 5G debut. I think apple will… 
1. give us iTunes 5,
2. I heard apple placed a bunch of orders of 80GB drives (double platter) and the 40gb and the 60gb (will be single plater) making it the size of the 20GB, so perhaps the 5G iPod (XXSomthingXX) will be a 80GB,
3. I think a 3G 8GB mini (color screen maybe)
4. 2G Shuffle with LCD in 2GB and 4GB
I sure wish apple would make a PDA… But pretty much I think apple is doing a pricing game for a reason I have a feeling that apple is doing the 20BG for $299/ 60GB $399 so people will say “hey for $100 more I can triple my size “ thus Dumping the old dual plater 60GB and for the new 5g Apple will give us a slim 40GB/60GB and add the 80GB
I noticed this when the iPhoto was offered in a 30GB. My assumtion was that apple had a bunch of 30GB drives from the rare 3G 30GB that didn’t sell as much
Plus I hope that for the %G the battery is 20hrs or more. my Ipod moves with me alot, from school to the car to work and back it looks at 2 to 3 full charges a day just to stay juiced up with me.
P.S. Apple please Kill the U2 model. it was cool but it got old (fast). Perhaps offer a artist ed. for the mini too.
P.P.S. Just to throw it out there, Perhaps with the Gorillaz ad, you could of done a “Feel Good IncPod” or something new like that, I would of bought the ipod with some Gorillaz stuffon it, since the Freak’n Demon Days CD won’t rip in iTunes, or even open on my computer for that matter (What is up with that? Wasted $15 on a useless piece of plastic)
why is apple abandoning the firewire standard which they helped create. firewire is way better than usb.
By podskater on 06.30.05 at 02:06 AM
APple ain’t abandoning it. Firewire cables bought from Apple still work fine. 98% of iPod owners are PC users, who don’t have a clue about Firewire, and wouldn’t use their FW cable.
YOU CAN STILL BUY A FIREWIRE CABLE!
“Analogies can be helpful, but only in the same context. Although Apple and car manufacturers both make products, they are in totally different fields. iPod’s upgrades are in the form of firmware upgrades which do not mean a new generation.”
Impulse,
However different, they both are still consumer products; that’s the context. Both can and do encounter modifications that summarily change the performance of each product over its entire lifespan cycle. In the case of the 4G, how should adding a color screen and picture capabilities not be any different than adding a turbocharger or boring out the cylinder displacement for, say, a Type 996 Porsche 911 (conveniently forgetting that we are currently in the age of the Type 997).
Both improve the usability/performance of the product over the lesser/earlier siblings of the respective product, yet as different as the original 4G is from a color 4G, they can easily be seen as the same design generation/model, just in the same way as a late run GT3 was to the first 1998 911, since to Porsche and us followers they’re still both Type 996 models even though they perform, look and even DRIVE very differently.
As for what I would deem significant enough of a change to move on to another generation/model labeling for an iPod: first of all, it’s not MY call. But if I WERE to be the one to decide, I’d say it had to be a fundamental change in the execution and function of the iPod to warrant such distinction. Monochrome to color and JPG displays ain’t it to me; that to me is an upgrade improvement, not some fundamental difference in how I use the iPod, especially given that the original iPod Photo was previously considered as a 4G derivative.
But wired to wireless, or audio to audio+video, or something that profound in changing the nature of the iPod...THAT I would consider profound enough to warrant a change. As for revising the outside appearance: that to me is not as important in determining a model change as it often is to others, but if Apple were to beef up that cheapo, noise-making headphone jack on the 4G (at least it is on my 40GB with headphone cords using a metal base to their plugs), I MIGHT consider that ALONE worthy enough for a generation change. (Listening, Apple?). Regardless, as I said before it’s not for me or even you to say anyways.
And besides, regardless of any anologies you deem inappropriate, Apple and their product planners still have already spoken: 4G the new photos are.
“is there any reason for me to return my newly bought ipod 30 gb photo as i bought it a week ago is there any reason that i should get the new 20 or 60 instead cause aparently the 20 gb is the same as the 30 in terms of bulk but 30 ofcourse is bigger but is there a better firm ware update or anything big that i should consider changing my ipod
plz reply asap as times running out thanks
By amad on 06.30.05 at 09:23 AM”
There is no need to exchange from a 30gb to a 20gb. u just need to go to apple.com/ipod and look for the new update v.1.2 . this update will make it the same as the new ipod color 20gb by adding the new features such as Podcast. aside from that, there is nothing new about the new color iPods. I have a 30gb iPod Photo, perfect size, but the new ipods take away from the fact that u can say u have a ipod photo vs the person who had the black and white ipod. o well.
*whimpers at the thought of a fairly new ipod being rendered obsolete*
I just got my 20 gig color. It is sweet. I now know what you all have been raving about with the Photo.
Someone asked earlier regarding the audio quality of the ipod. I bought the 4g 30gb ipod photo and used some classical music in ALC and 192 AAC and there is a slight difference in quality if you listen on a high end system. I did not hear any artifacts on either. ALC playback was smooth (I previously bought a early 4g 20 gb ipod which used to skip through ALC files - thus it was returned) it seems that apple fixed this problem. I use it with the Kenwood IP-500 ipod interface in the car - Its an impressive combo with great sound quality, allowing you to control everything from the head unit. For the person asking about classical music or solo piano, make sure you rip from original CDs not CDRs. I did not hear any difference between LAME VBR 192 / iTunes 192 highest / or 192 AAC.
My 4G b/w iPod’s battery is acting up and i really consider sending it to Apple to get a replacement/ battery change. But I’m unsure if they will send me the new one with a color screen or an old b/w one. I really like the b/w one, simply because it’s thinner.
So, does anyone know if I get a color one or b/w one?
APPLE, BRING BACK THE 30GB iPOD!!!
I OWN 30GB 4G PHOTO AND IT’S THE BEST.
I WANT TO BUY IT FOR MY FRIENDS BUT THE CLUBMAC FREE ENGRAVING AND THE OVER CHARGED SHIPPING ISN’T SOMETHING THAT WAS IN MY MIND.
I PURCHASED MINE FOR 317 WITH EDUCATIONAL SAVING.(CHEAPEST DEAL I FOUND EVERYWHERE - PUT IN ANY SCHOOL NAME THEN YOU ARE ELIGIABLE)
AND NEW 20GB IS ONLY .06mm THINNER AND AROUND 270 ON APPLE STORE (W/ ED. SAVING) NOT THAT FAR FROM THE PRICE I PAID FOR 30. ANYONE DON’T MIND HAVING EXTRA THICKNESS ON YOU iPOD, GO FOR 60GB. WHY NOT HAVE MORE SPACE WITH MUCH LESS THAN WHAT THEY USED TO OFFER. FOR THE REST, CONSIDER CLUBMAC FOR 30GB OR THE APPLE STORE FOR 20GB ( I WAS VERY DISSAPPOINTED WHEN I MADE THIS PURCHASE FOR MY SISTER B-DAY PRESENT ). ONLY IF I MADE THE PURCHASE A WEEK EARLIER.
i just got my 20gb color yesterday and i’m loving it completely right now… i had an old 40gb and was insanely jealous when the 30gb photos came out because i’ll be taking a trip overseas with a digital camera and i dont have a large memory card in it. taking my laptop would have been a disaster waiting to happen, so as soon as i saw apple integrated the color screen and photo abilities into the new generations, i scouped one up… i only have about 9gb of music, so storage space is definitely far from being a problem. i’m pretty picky when it comes to the music i’ll keep and listen to, so 20gb will last an unreasonably long amount of time. even if i take 1000 pictures on my trip, i’d still have room to tote around lots of extra files in disk mode…
for a $50 savings over the 30gb model, i am extremely happy with the value of the 20gb. for a college kid, that $50 goes a long way (esp. in the bars)
okay, i dont know if this is true (and i highly doubt) but i heard that you can trade in your fourth generation ipod for a new photo...is this true or am i just kidding...please comment back!
tracy xx
I just got back from my local Apple store today with my 3rd iPod in less than a year. I don’t know if it’s bad luck or what. I asked if I could trade, and the tech said no. If you really wanted to trade, he suggested selling the b&w iPod on eBay and using what you get for it to buy the new one.
Since this one I picked up today is brand spanking new, not even turned on, not even out of it’s plastic pajama top, I’m going to try to sell it, as well as the AppleCare warranty.
Now there’s something. I get a 3rd iPod, and the warranty runs out on the first one, which died in October. Don’t you think that I should be able to start a new warranty on this one, since it’s freakin’ new? Essentially, I would have had a brand new iPod with a 6 day warranty. Bunch of junk.
Enough of my ranting. How much does this forum think I can get for my iPod?
As described at another blog, the 60GB “with color” sounds like a great substitute for my ibook to store photos on a trip. But please clarify, will the new 60gb use a “dock to firewire 400” cable to power the new ipod from an old firewire ac adapter? And will it sync to my ibook via a firewire to dock cable? I have the cable. (Apple tech support says yes, but your review casts doubt.)
any mention of the audio defect present in high picthed piano tracks when using low impedance earphones? or is that just glossed over in all the praise?
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