Apple iPod classic 4th Generation from HP (40 GB) MP3 Player

Okay, so 20 GB isn't enough to keep the smile on your face? Well fret no more as Apple has ponied up another 20 gigs for you avaricious music aficionados on its 40 GB model.

The 4th generation iPod once more changes the interactive experience yet once more by introducing yet another innovation of the wheel. As a 4th generation model (4G) The wheel now is touch click which allows the user a single interface select mode. Apple chose to integrate the select function on the touch click wheel itself; and while some may protest the 3G iPod was better thought out with its traditional interface. The 4G is at least as nice with a cleaner look, though the leds on the G3 admittedly were an attractive aesthetic touch with the four backlit controls that mirrored traditional tape player functions. The touch wheel on the 3G worked in concert with those controls. The 1G incarnation of the wheel included a moving scroll function that worked in concert with selector buttons on the outer ring. The 2G lost the moving wheel in favor of a stationary touch sensitive wheel with the outer ring selector buttons

As it turns out, the changes have been progressive, and while you may or may not like them, they have each brought something new to the table. Personally I like the new interface. You literally can navigate through the songs, artists and play lists in the dark, though you needn't worry on that account though, as the 1 5/8" x 1 ?" high-resolution backlit display provides ample light and contrast to see those selections. In fact I have used it to find key holes in the dark, read my watch and a host of other uses. If you wear glasses you will appreciate the stark contrasting text and background along with the ample lighting.

The Basics

The 4G iPod, on first appearances, seems close in physical size to the 20GB model which given the compartmentalization of our technology, makes sense. Dimensions are listed as: .069' thick, 2.4" wide and 4.1" tall, large enough to manipulate yet small enough to fit about anywhere. Carrying the iPod around in your pocket is still possible though I opted for a leather case with screen protection.

The single feature I like most is the touch click wheel. The touch click wheel controls Menu navigation at the twelve o'clock position. Engaging this control take you back one menu at a time until you reach the root menu which list all your play lists and song categories. The center select button advances the menus. Depending on how you layer the menus, you can take 4-6 steps to get to your music. There is plenty of room to break your files into submenus to suit your needs. At three o'clock your forward control advances you to your next selection. At six o'clock you will find the play/pause control which both plays your selection and if you leave the pause function engaged the iPod will turn itself off. At nine o'clock you have the Previous/Rewind control. Engaging any of these controls is accompanied with a distinct click and physical confirmation of your intended function.

The white plastic case is rounded with a Lucite window and stainless steel back and sides. Great care has to be taken to assure your iPod is not scratched as it will do so easily. I recommend you purchase a case or skin with a screen protector, as marring it will serve as a reminder of mishandling every time you use it thereafter.

The top of the iPods case contains the headphone port, iPod Remote port and Hold sliding switch. The remote port facilitates the use of remote devices such as wireless Fm transmitters and a handheld remote control.

The Hold switch is useful if you are jogging or working out and want to disable the iPods controls so you don't inadvertently engage them. Skipping also is a thing of the past as the iPod has up to 25 minutes of skip free protection. Now you have no excuse to train for that triathlon!

The lithium-ion battery on the iPod is claimed to have a 12 hour battery life though I have found it to be closer to 10 hours on average use and even less if you are using accessories such as the iTrip. Obviously battery life would diminish even more the longer you program the screen backlighting.

Music, Music and MORE Music!

Aesthetics, ergonomics and logistics aside the iPod is more about the music than anything else! Think 10,000 song capacity depending on how many Inna Godda Davida- like tunes you upload. Forty gigs is a lot of space!

The Ipod allows you to use either Music Match or Apples own iTunes to upload your music into your iPod. Having had problems with Music Match in the past I chose iTunes and haven't regretted it. iTunes lays out much like Excel allowing you to cut and paste to a database which was helpful for me. Down loaders who catalog will like this feature as all you need to do drag your cd or drive contents saving individual entry easy! iTunes actually saves the mp3 file, so you could conceivably add another 40 GB of content to your drive if you are backing up your iPod. A drive failure could wipe out your backup so I opted to get an external drive that is not as vulnerable to your everyday wear on a working drive and has a bit more stability. Considering it takes about 30- 45 seconds to convert the files to Apples AAC format, there is a considerable investment in time at stake here.

iTunes is also capable of burning your entries onto Cd using Quicktime. While I have yet to use it for burning, I understand that it is a useful utility.

Can I See a Menu?

Perhaps one of the strong points of the iPod is the menu driven functionality. There is plenty of leeway for you to set up your own menus and sub menus but they all are rooted in the factory installed menu choices.

Music: here is where you direct the iPod to your music library. Once in, you can categorize your music anyway you choose.

Play lists: This alphabetical menu directs you to the play list of your design and choosing. Drive time, mellow jazz or a violin concerto, this is where you can tag and group those choices for quick access. Following suit are menu headings for:

Artists
Albums
Songs
Genres
Composers
Audiobooks

Extras: The iPod also includes a clock with alarm feature, a sleep timer for falling off to your favorite tunes and a date and time function.

Contacts Ipod isn't all about music. The utilitarian functions of the Ipod offers a handy place to enter all your contacts including Name, and all telephone numbers, web and physical addresses and notes. So now you have a function found on a PDA!

Calendar: The iPod features a full calendar with a full view as well as alarms and to do list. I started scrolling to see just how far ahead the calendar went and I stopped after 100 years, yes there was a calendar view for the year 2105! How is that for utility?

Notes is great for carrying around a grocery list CD buy list or any other text document you wish to drag onto iTunes and transfer to the iPod. I generally like keeping CD or DVD buy lists with me, as I generally always carry the iPod with me.

Games Waiting at the dentists office, now you can occupy yourself with games, and there are four:
Brick
Parachute
Solitaire
The one I like best is Music Quiz, which plays a selection from your playlists and give you 4 choices to choose the correct title.

Invention, Innovation, Intution

The joy of the iPod is similar to your first transistor radio, cassette walkman or diskman. Taking your music with you has never been easier. You can listen to Muddy Waters, stop the iPod, come back next day and resume play, nice feature! Carrying cases with Cds are a thing of the past, and taking the whole collection with you the order of the day. I absolutely love having all the choices and can find music to fit my mood all the time. I love taking my Goldens out in the snow and I generally have to drag them back home they love it so much. I now take the iPod with me, in my pocket, navigating blindly through the menus listening to whatever comes up and now have experienced their plaintive appeal to return home as I just want to hang outside and listen to whatever the touch click wheel calls up.

Perhaps you are tired of listening to radio, I know I am. Take the iPod with you, connect a $34.00 iTrip and transmit wirelessly to your Fm band. Perhaps you would like use your files at a party, here again transmit wirelessly from your iPod or laptop with an Airport Express throughout the house through different systems that you program into the unit! There are so many accessories and applications for the iPod, you really need to sit down and methodically choose what you wish to accomplish before jumping in.

The iPod earbuds are as good as any I have experienced. They are hard plastic and fit nicely in my ears, though that is not to say that is universal. You will be pleased by the fidelity and I especially like the bolo- like cinch that keeps the cord form flailing about. The color white is a signature of the iPod community and recently as I was walking in Philadelphia, more than one person nodded at me which was strange until I noticed they too had iPods! The last time I experienced that was on the road when I was driving sports cars. At a social gathering this past Friday I had my iPod with me to share some of my music and there were two others there with the same idea. We all exchanged iPods to examine each others music. I cannot help but think an iBeam is next!

The newer iPods also allow you to dump your photos into it freeing up your flash cards, giving you a portable photo viewer.

The Skinny?

This is my second iPod. My son took my first one with him to college. I imagine this one will go to Veterinary School soon. So, why am I smiling? Well, this is one of my favorite toys that I really don't mind sharing with my kids and it gives me an excuse to get the latest and greatest. The Apple iPod is the best innovation to come to portable music bar none. Many balk at the price, but you really need to think in terms of the benefit and utility. The iPod is extremely versatile and fits well in many applications. I would run and by another one in a second!