iPods, unfortunately

Has anyone seen the new iPod nano? Does anyone even care anymore? Well, you probably should, as these days, the height of ignorance is probably best epitomised by an inability to tell between the elusive shuffle and the latest nano:

(image courtesy of Apple)

Do you even remember when nanos used to look like this:

(image courtesy of Fanpop)

Yeah, neither do I. I do, however, understand that Apple offers a product going by the name of iPod shuffle:

(image courtesy of Apple)

Has anyone actually spotted one of these? Its dimensions dictate that it would serve best as a paperclip. I cannot comprehend why Apple/Steve Jobs would think that anyone would pay for that inevitable panic attack after you've been fumbling around your pocket, before coming to a gut-wrenching realisation that you've paid for your 50c cone with your shuffle.

Shuffle aside, they've also significantly revamped the touch. It is now equipped with two cameras (front and back), enabling 'FaceTime' (ie. video conversations, typical of Apple's aversion to the space bar) and HD video recording (although I imagine Apple has very generously given us five minutes battery life to do so, so that you'll actually have to purchase two of these revamped models to capture a video of decent length). Some day, we'll have a laugh about every electronics company's attempts to miniaturise and amalgamate all possible features into the one device.

At a RRP of $289 for the 8GB model, I may consider a purchase, had I not already mortgaged the majority of my worldly possessions for one single night of my entire life. Or perhaps a thirty minute trip to JB Hi-Fi will satiate my curiosity, doubling up as that obligatory comparison of the old vs. the new to ascertain an appropriate degree of that I-wish-I-had-stuck-out-just-that-bit-longer sentiment.





- no name -



[As a sidenote, I really must apologise for being an iPod owner. In my vigorous attempts to be anti-mainstream, it was only logical that I was anti-iPod. But it wasn't long before I realised that Australia was not about to import any of iPod's worthy competitors (eg. the Zune, iRiver Clix and any Cowon) any time soon in the next half-century, so I caved. My deepest regrets.]