Apple has modernise its total iPod bloodline , unveiling young versions of thevideo iPod , iPod nano , andiPod shuffle . have a toilsome time keep up on all the change ? Here ’s a summary of the key changes to all three iPod offerings , admit how they compare to their predecessors .

iPod

The big news : “ We ’re going to make the iPod more affordable and approachable , ” Apple CEO Steve Jobs said at the iPod ’s September 12 unveiling , and he was n’t kidding . For just $ 249 , you could have a 30 GB iPod up to of storing music , showing photos , and playing videos — the lowest price Apple has ever charge for a full - sized iPod . That ’s a $ 50 deduction from the fifth - coevals 30 GB iPod ’s price tag . The top - end iPod ’s damage has also dropped $ 50 , to $ 349 , while its capacity has jumped to 80 GB from 60 G .

unexampled feature film : Beyond the price rag , the most significant changes to the iPod include a brighter screen—60 per centum brighter , Apple says — and longer battery animation , at least on the 80 GB modeling . Apple claims the mellow - remnant iPod offers up to 20 hr of euphony playback , six hours of slideshows with music , and six - and - a - half hours of video playback . The 30 GB iPod continues to feature 14 hr of music playback , though barrage life story for slideshows and TV has ticked up an hour and an a hour and a one-half , severally .

The iPod software has also undergone an overhaul , gain support for 640- by 480 - pixel picture ; a newfangled hunting feature that lets you utilise the scroll rack and Center clit to enter letters for instant searches of the iPod ’s content ; and a Quick Scroll feature that displays a rectangular overlay of the letter you ’re currently scrolling through when browsing long lists of items . Support for gapless playback — aniTunes 7 featurethat allows songs on definitive , jazz , and concept albums to diddle seamlessly — has also been added , as has the ability to control sieve light . in conclusion , these iPods can also play the nine new iPod games Apple sells for $ 4.99 from the iTunes Store . ( The games also play on 5th - contemporaries iPods , which , via an iPod software update , also make headway financial backing for the high - res video , Quick Scroll , brightness ascendancy , and gapless playback . )

full-size iPod

Accessories : Jobs says Apple has spent the last 18 months do work on improvements to the iPod earbuds — these new phone ship with the overhauled iPod . Other accessory let in a USB cable television , dock arranger , and sleeve case .

What ’s the same : The dimensions of the iPod remain the same , with the larger - capacitance iPod still just a little moment thicker than the 30 GB oblation . The display may be hopeful , but it remain the same size—2.5 inches . The iPod ’s port is unchanged , and you continue to synchronise and charge via Apple ’s USB sorrel - connection cable . Both configurations are available in either white or black cases .

What we think : We ’re presently in the thick of valuate both the 30 GB and 80 GB iPods and quiz Apple ’s battery - life claims . We ’ll update this story with a inter-group communication to the followup once it ’s posted by and by this workweek .

nano family

iPod nano

The braggy news : No , the iPod miniskirt has n’t made its triumphant comeback , but it ’s easy to see the miniskirt ’s influence over the 2nd - generation nano ’s new aspect . Gone is the high - gloss case of the previous iPod nano ; this model comes in an anodized Al body ( all the better for resisting the variety of come up the shiny nano was prostrate to pick up ) . Not only that , these nanos come in different colors — blue , pinkish , green , silver , and contraband . That ’s nearly indistinguishable to therainbow of iPod miniskirt modelsavailable back when that music role player debut in 2004 . ( Only the Au choice is neglect in action . ) Another key difference from the miniskirt ’s colour selection is that , with the nano , certain colors are only available in certain content . The 2 GB nano only add up in ash gray , the 4 GB model comes in Ag , green , gloomy , and pink , and the 8 GB offering is only usable in inglorious .

capacitance changes : The original nano come in 2 GB and 4 G sizes ; a 1 GB model was added before this year . Now , the smallest nano you could get is a 2 GB variation . The second - contemporaries version also add up in 4 GB and 8 GB sizes .

Pricing : The compass of iPod nano prices remain unaltered : $ 149 for the 2 GB model , $ 199 for 4 gilbert , and $ 249 for the 8 GB offering . But since capacities have grown , as noted above , you ’re really go double as much storage infinite for your buck .

ipod shuffle

novel features : Many of the new features tot to the full - sized iPod have also been contain into the nano line — specifically , Quick Scroll , search , and gapless playback . As with the Modern iPod , the nano number with a burnished screen—40 percent brighter , according to Apple — but you ca n’t adjust the brightness level . Battery aliveness has also been better , from 14 hours of music playback to up to 24 hours . The nanos also beak up a potentiality that ’s been present in full - sized iPods for a while : the power to put down voice memos with a compatible supplement . speak of accessory …

Accessories : include add - ons persist the same as before — earphones , a USB cable , and dock adapter — though the included earpiece are the redesigned ones that Apple also transport with the new iPods . It ’s deserving noting that the earphone embrasure is far away from the dock connector than it was on the original nanos , making first - generation accessories that plug away into both connector unsuited with the new model .

What ’s the same : Technically , the dimensions of the nano have changed — the twist is now 0.26 inches thick instead of 0.27 inches . But if you ’re able to detect a difference , your receptive power are far gravid than ours . And , of course , the overall shape and finish have changed . But everything else remain closely superposable to the original , including the bottom - mounted phone port , top - mounted clasp switch , and USB - only synchronize .

What we reckon : “ The second - multiplication iPod nano is both a welcome whole tone back to the more colourful ( and scrape - resistant ) days of the iPod miniskirt and a temperate step forrard in functionality . ”—From Christopher Breen’siPod nano review

iPod shuffle

The big newsworthiness : When the second - generation shuffle debuts in October , it will sport an all new , smaller conception . While the old flash - based musician resemble a joystick of chewing gum , the latest version looks more like a wafer . It ’s only 1.07 inches tall , 1.62 in all-embracing and 0.41 inches mysterious — and that depth measuring includes an attached magazine that secure the shuffling to your clothes . The shuffle has dropped some weight as well , weigh in at 0.55 ounce , down from 0.78 ounces in the original modelling . drop dead too is the USB connector that used to bill the shambling ; now , you connect , electric charge , and transfer euphony via the headphone diddly-squat .

Capacity changes : The 512 MB option is no more . The second - generation shuffling comes in one capacity—1 GB .

Pricing : Whether the pricing has change depends on whether you ’re a crank - half - full or a chicken feed - half - empty character . On the one deal , at $ 79 , the second - coevals iPod shambling is $ 20 cheaper than the 1 GB model that preceded it . On the other , you used to be capable to buy an entry - level 512 MB shuffle for $ 69 ; you ’ll have to give $ 10 more to get your hands on a fresh shuffle .

accessory : The shuffle now follow with a USB dock for connecting to your computing gadget ; as mentioned above , it plugs into the shuffle ’s headphone sea dog . The shuffle also include Apple ’s new iPod earbuds .

What ’s the same : The austere interface of the shambling has n’t changed — there ’s a central sport / pause clitoris phone by ascendance for tight - send on and play back songs as well as correct the volume . Battery lifespan remains rated at 12 hours .

What we guess : Other than to wonder at the make ’s slimmer size , we ’ll hold over on gain a definitive assessment on the novel machine until it arrives in October .