Ipod Video, When Smaller Will Do Just Fine!

Apple has done it again. That is not to say this is much of a surprise as it is a declaration that there is now another Apple innovation that we can feel excited about shelling out hard earned scheckles for.

The 5th Generation (5G) iPod Video is worthy of the buzz now that on top of music, video, podcasts. Photos and an assortment of files, you can now have video capability to further distract you from the hum drum of everyday life. But come on, let’s face it, you knew it had to come didn’t you? Well, indeed Apple has tipped the cart once more with an exceptional reinvention of their wheel.

On Closer Inspection

The case while smaller still comes in the easily scratched white polycarbonate or black, which depending on whom consult, is better or worse for wear. A case is highly recommended from the giddy.

By this time we are all pretty much familiar with the iPod in one mutation or another. To briefly reiterate, long ago they were large and had smaller capacity to carry our music weighing in at 20 Gb. Today they are smaller and have larger capability, (30 & 60 GB) to carry music, download photos onto the slender 5G version. To say it has lost as much girth is not to say quite as much as Kirstie Alley but perhaps a third of the thickness of the 4 G mutation while maintaining its length. The screen however has grown to accommodate all the downloadable video you can muster from iTunes ( @ 1.99 apiece). Now at 2’ x1.5” you can leave the glasses behind. Apple, in their wisdom decided the old screen @1.75” x 1.5” would be asking a bit too much of optically challenged Ipodians (pardon the Jesse Jackson moment), and while it is smaller than most would prefer, you Franklin square the benefits of all you get in the sexy looking piece of delicious electronics, and it still puts a smile on your face shelling out @299.00 for the 30GB model, $399.00 for the privilege to double that capacity.

Gone is the dual jacked headphone/accessory port in favor of a single mini jack. While this change/innovation will deem many of your older version appropriate accessories useless, could we really expect the gravy train to go on forever? No, you will need to purchase new accessories, iTalk, iTrip etc, for the new 5G sibling. While this may prove disconcerting to some, perhaps the quality of the newer accessories upstream will share the spirit of new and improved; time will bear that argument for now. The hold button has gratefully remained unchanged, which is good news for active iPod users who like to pack iPod away without fear of your every movement resetting controls.

Gone are the days of docks , cases and the award winning packaging in favor of smaller tighter packaging with higher profit yield. Included with your iPod, you will find the earbuds, you either love or hate, a USB cable, (2.0 is recommended) a dock adapter so you can use it with your dock, if you happen to have one and a quick start guide. The apple website cites a case which along with complementary engraving is the benefit of dealing direct with Apple. There is full compatibility with both Macs and PC’s but you PC users will need to download SP2 for complete compatibility.

The wheel is unchanged from 4G in that the scroll wheel is accompanied by a center select button, and it is a bit smaller.

What’s On The Menu?

This is the gratuitous menu portion of this piece and it will be served in as an appetizer than a full course meal; “Menu Light” is you will.

Music Playlist, Artist, Albums, Songs, Podcasts, Genres, Composers, Audiobooks

Photos your content

Videos your content

Extras
Clock, Games (Brick, music quiz, Solitaire, parachute) Contacts, Calendar
(full calendar, to do, alarms), Notes Stopwatch, Screen lock

Settings
About, main Menu, Shuffle, repeat, Backlight Timer (of-20 w. 2-20 sec increments), Audiobooks (slow, normal, faster), EQ(numerous eq settings),Compilations (on,off),Soundcheck (on,off), Clicker, Date & Time, Contacts, Language, Legal)

Your music files can be categorized into play lists easily via iTunes 6.0 and transfer rates have remained unchanged.


The Road Test

Visually the video content is smaller than I would like but still viewable and just having the audio portion makes it worthwhile and easier to tolerate. I don’t imagine I would say I bought it for the capacity to view videos, as there are really only a handful I would take along, You can however encode your own video with various encoders on the maket, which makes it a resourceful tool for carrying along your own home made video or encoded favorite movies. I did notice that video playback reduced battery life significantly and I plan to address that issue by purchasing an auto charger/ power adapter, since it would be useful on the go. The 30Gb model touts a 14 hour battery cycle with the 60Gb offering 20. It is difficult to say just how much battery life you get out of video mode as I haven’t played or have, for that matter a full cycle of video to fully dedicate a measurable battery cycle from, but suffice it to say, it is a drain. Video mode is rudimentary and the controls are Paleolithic, but adequate for this generation of video player. All things electronic need time to heal all wounds and thus should be the case with iPod.

Listening on the ear buds are still my favorite choice though many have chosen aftermarket offerings from JVC Sony and a host of others offering “upgrades” The 20hz – 20,000 Hz frequency response Apple claims for the ear buds is as good as you can expect and yet there is an argument to the contrary. My feeling here is this is a convenience issue. I simply want to carry these files with me and call them into action as needed, not bring the whole stereo armada along for the day. That however, is not an indictment of that thinking, just my personal preference. I find audio quality to be very good and compatible with most formats including AAC, MP3, MP3VBR, Apple lossless, Aiff and WAV. I really don’t need anything else right now! Video formats include H.264 (to 768 kpbs), MPEG-4 and mov.file formats, which I have yet to fully explore. The good news is that all firmware is upgradeable!

Capacities include for the 30GB and 60Gb include 7500/15000 Songs (AAC), 25,000 photos and 1000/2000 videos.

Final Thoughts

The Apple 5G Video is a great deal. In one little package, you have a media center, that will serve you well. While it is not without its flaws it is arguably the best portable media player out there. The quality is irrefutable and with its popularity on the rise, the iPod is guaranteed to e a staple in this niche for many generations to come.