Every time I see Steve Jobs on stage I recede into a flashback which takes me to the movie "Pirates of the Silicon Valley" and I can't help but think what the world would have been without Macs! Fast forward to the year 2001 where Steve Jobs again wooed the world and replaced the "Portable Music Player" with the "iPod" Not even a decade has passed since then and I honestly can't seem to find a device to replace my iPod with and believe me I have tried!
With that said, let's get straight to the point! September 1, 2010. Has Apple once again changed the way we listen to music?
iPod Shuffle:
The shuffle is still without a display, small and in its 4th generation has combined the best of the past 2 generations which is to say the clickable wheel is back along with the "it speaks to you" function. Nothing much to say apart from the fact that this is still the best clip on portable music player.
Price: $49 for 2GB
iPod Nano:
This 6th gen Nano not only caught my eyes but also took my breath away! I mean just look at it! They got rid of the clickable wheel, gave it a 1.54 inch touch screen. You'd think a device this small would have a clumsy touch screen but it's really not! It looks really smooth and easy to navigate and the best part is you can clip it to a strap on your wrist and use the clock app; making it a wrist watch that plays music. With all the features packed into this baby it's really amazing!
Price: $149 for 8GB variant and $179 for 16GB variant
iPod Touch:
No doubt the iPod Touch is a phenomenal device and its closest competitor, Microsoft Zune hardly matches up the potential of the Touch. But, I am still skeptical. Why on earth would you pick up an iPod touch if you could get the same functionality + a smart phone if you picked up the iPhone 4? Yes, the new Touch does have the A4 processor and the retina display, but it does have a lousy rear camera for clicking pictures as compared to the 5MP one on the iPhone 4. Ok. I will admit that the absence of a cell radio, high-res camera, etc make it REALLY slim at 0.28 inches; but still why not go in for an iPhone 4! REALLY!
Please readers, give me some legitimate reasons why the iPod Touch is a relevant device in today's date when the iPhone 4 exists? Don't get me wrong, the Touch is an amazing piece of work, but with the existence of the iPhone 4, does it really make sense to still have a Touch?
Price: $229 for 8GB variant, $299 for 32GB variant and $399 for 64GB variant
Ping:
Social networking is all "in" these days and Apple is grabbing the opportunity here as well. Ping a social networking medium for all you music lovers is here! Follow your favorite artists and band! Share the music, follow friends, the works. With over 160 million users in 23 countries, this was definitely a step in the right direction for Apple! Just one thought worries me; is India on the horizon for Ping? Will India ever be? Will I be able to follow Indian Ocean on Ping and know when their next performance will be? I don't think so. Disheartening, but hopefully Ping will be India soon, I hope!
Apple TV:
This, I have to say is the most unnecessary, un-revolutionary device Apple has ever come with! The biggest disappointment being that the HD output on the device will only give you 720p. Why would you buy an Apple TV? I would rather pick up the new WD media player which will not only support all my media file formats but can also do Netflix and is as small as the new Apple TV. Apart from the WD TV, there are many products in the market with better features and above all, support 1080p output. Sorry Steve, but the Apple TV ain't cutting it for me!
So does Apples new lineup of products have what it takes to still be the best in the market? Well, even with the exception of the iPod Touch being a network less clone of the iPhone 4 and the Apple TV not really being revolutionary, Apple is still the sweetest tone to my ears!