Editor’s notice: This text initially ran on November 1, 2001.
Once I first heard the small print concerning the iPod, Apple’s “breakthrough digital gadget,” I assumed it sounded okay, however wasn’t a “must-have” merchandise for me. Nevertheless, now that I’ve used one for nearly every week, I’ve modified my thoughts.
I acquired an analysis unit of the iPod the day earlier than I drove from Nashville to Indianapolis to cowl the EDUCAUSE convention — a five-hour haul. I downloaded half a dozen albums (Sara Evans, Elton John and Ryan Gold) to hearken to on the street. No, I’m not a harmful driver. I didn’t plug within the “ear bud” headphones that include the iPod. As an alternative, I used a cassette plug-in adapter, which I’ve used beforehand for my transportable CD participant, to play the songs on the iPod via my automotive’s audio system.
You merely plug a cassette-shaped gadget into your cassette participant and the opposite finish into the earphone jack in your iPod. Hit play and the songs on the digital gadget play via the car audio system. The audio high quality wasn’t as crystal clear as with a great set of headphones or top quality exterior audio system, however the songs sounded good and definitely made an extended journey down the interstate extra gratifying.
However that’s not what actually bought me on the iPod. As I all the time do when heading on a enterprise journey, I started backing up information from my desktop Mac to my exterior VST FireWire laborious drive–solely to search out that the laborious drive had died.
Apple
The answer was for the iPod to do double responsibility as a FireWire laborious drive. I enabled the FireWire disk mode choice, and it instantly mounted on the desktop. I then used it as I might every other 5 GB laborious drive. I backed up my phrase processing and e-mail information for switch to my iBook. With iTunes 2.0 put in on each my desktop and laptop computer Mac, this was a seamless course of. The end result: I ended up with a mixture music participant/laborious disk drive that was 6.5 ounces and slipped into my pocket.
The iPod and iTunes are extraordinarily simple to make use of. I like the benefit of audio synchronization. Simply plug the gadget into your Mac by way of a FireWire cable and the transportable gadget and your iTunes library sync simply and rapidly.
When utilizing the iPod for digital music, its navigation is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s a no brainer to arrange and scroll via a number of music information because of the scroll wheel on the entrance.
The iPod has a built-in amplifier that gives a easy sound. The ear-bud headphones, with “18mm drivers utilizing Neodymium transducer magnets” sound nice. However they, and all of the headphones like them, are likely to make my ears sore after some time. And they generally tend to fall out of my ears.
The iPod’s use of FireWire is certainly one of its robust factors. Apple says it’s over 30 instances quicker than USB-based music gamers. I haven’t really gotten my stopwatch out to check this, but it surely feels extraordinarily quick. Plus, its FireWire cable is of the six-pin selection, so the iPod’s battery prices when it’s linked to your Mac. That is the primary time that anybody has created a product that prices off FireWire, and it actually reduces cable muddle. Nonetheless, Apple kindly contains an exterior energy adapter in case you’re on the street with out a Mac.
The iPod is powered by a built-in rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery that Apple says will deal with 10 hours of playback on a single cost. I’m on hour 11 now and there’s life within the factor but. A battery that really exceeds its specs? Now that’s uncommon.
As you’d most likely guess from Apple’s merchandise of current years, the iPod seems nice. It’s glossy with a entrance that’s a tender, iBook-like white encased in clear plastic. The again is shiny silver metallic. Alas, each the plastic and the metallic scratch simply.
What else did I like? The iPod’s 160×128 backlit LCD has nice distinction and is simple to learn. The digital gadget can choose up a music once more if it falls “asleep” throughout playback. And the “maintain” change could be very helpful for thwarting unintentional pauses, fast-forwards and energy downs.
There have been complaints that Apple ought to make the iPod work with different music jukeboxes moreover iTunes and that the gadget must be Home windows appropriate. From my private viewpoint, I’m completely glad utilizing it with iTunes because of the excellent integration between the software program and the {hardware}. And iTunes 2 itself is mighty wonderful. The newest model of Apple’s music software program contains assist for a number of languages (together with Japanese), the flexibility to burn MP3 information onto a CD, an equalizer and crossfader.
As for connectivity with Home windows gadgets, nicely, if Apple isn’t nervous about any misplaced gross sales on this space, then I may care much less. It really works with my Mac and if that causes some envy amongst Home windows customers, nicely then possibly they need to take a look at the Mac platform to see what else they’re lacking.
I do agree with others that Apple ought to have included a belt clip with the iPod. Though Apple says it’s designed for a pocket, runners corresponding to myself may use a belt clip when logging in our each day miles. In any case, it incorporates 32MB of playback buffer reminiscence, which permits it to load up 20 minutes of music forward of playback to make sure there’s no skipping.
Nevertheless, MacCentral reader John Gettler discovered a US$10 resolution: a common clip that’s available for ordering online. He thinks Apple ought to provide the clip as an adjunct.
Additionally, Apple wants a canopy for the FireWire opening on the highest of the gadget. Rainwater and filth may actually spoil it.
And the factor that might actually make the iPod indispensable for me can be the potential to report audio information by way of a microphone and drag them to my Mac. For a roving reporter, this may be extremely helpful.
However even with out the issues on my want listing, I’m now a lighter traveler. My transportable CD participant stays at house, together with my exterior FireWire drive. Each have been changed by a 6.5-ounce gadget.
Is it value $399 to me? Undoubtedly.
Now if solely there have been solely a PIM (private info supervisor) that might auto sync with my Mac’s contact/calendar data by way of FireWire as easily because the iPod does with my music library (trace, trace, trace).