iPod Nano 2009
The latest wave of iPods has just hit the shops. And, leading the pack, with the sexiest update is the iPod Nano - now with a larger screen, FM radio and a pedometer. The pricing remains the same with the 8GB version at 115 GBP and the larger 16GB at 135 GBP, but it's the addition of a video camera that's causing the most excitement.
Operation couldn't be simpler. Select 'video camera' in the menu and you get a view through the lens to your screen, just like a regular digital camera. Press the middle button on the scroll wheel and iPod Nano records video complete with audio too. The only limit to video length is the space available on your iPod, and the quality of the results is very good for a camera no bigger than a pin prick. It's ideal for musicians who are looking to make simple vodcasts for uploading to youtube. And, for the citizen journalist, it's possible to pull the iPod out of your pocket and be taking videos within a couple of seconds, beating many digital cameras. Speaking of which, one slightly bizarre omission is the ability to take still images. All the required hardware is built into the iPod though, so maybe that will appear in a software update?
The inclusion of an FM radio is another compelling innovation for Apple and deserves a mention for its ability to pause live audio for up to fifteen minutes. You can rewind and even fast forward too, enabling you to skip adverts or any tune you want to avoid.
It's quite extraordinary that eight years since the release of the first iPod Apple can still pull out a bunch of new 'must have' features for their range. The inclusion of video is the killer feature this time though, and will give many a camera company a run for their money.
Written by: Steve Hillier
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