The iPod is everywhere, perhaps even in your pocket. And if not, maybe you're ready to get one with the recent launch of the updated iPod Classic, the fourth-generation iPod Nano, the newly shaded iPod Shuffle, or the price-reduced iPod Touch. Our iPod resource page keeps you informed with the latest news, photos, and videos of the new players, as well as helpful reviews as soon as we write them. If you're hanging onto an older iPod, check below for information on the best accessories, as well as some handy tips for getting the most out of your iPod.
We put the Apple iPod Classic and the Microsoft Zune 80 through their paces, pitting the players head-to-head in five bone-shaking rounds. Read more
Protect, empower, and unleash the full potential of your iPod Touch with these top-rated add-ons. Read more
July 21, 2008Don't let its small size fool you. The iPod Nano is a powerful player, and you can make the most out of it with these accessories. Read more
July 25, 2008CNET editors round up a variety of accessories that are made for the Apple iPod Classic. Check out skins, cases, speakers, and more! Read more
July 22, 2008Apple iPod Touch (second generation)
The biggest news with Apple's second-generation iPod Touch is its drastically reduced price. The 8GB version of the iPod Touch is now $229, the 16GB is $299, and the 32GB is $399. On the hardware end of things, we're happy to see that the new iPod Touch's lower price doesn'tt mean cut-rate construction.
Apple iPod Nano 8GB
Looking at the fourth-gen Nano, it seems like last year's squarish design was just an awkward, forgettable phase in the Nano's development. This year, Apple has set the Nano back on track with the thinnest, lightest design yet, and features that are hard to ignore.
Apple iPod Touch
The bottom line: The iPod Touch is a beautiful product, inside and out. Unfortunately, its lean capacity keeps it from reigning as king of the iPods.
Apple iPod Touch 32GB |
Apple iPod Touch 16GB | Apple iPod Touch 8GB
Apple iPod Classic
The bottom line: The iPod Classic is a refinement of the formula that put the iPod on the map. Few can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and advanced user interface.
Apple iPod Classic 160GB |
Apple iPod Classic 80GB
Apple iPod Nano (third generation)
The bottom line: The shape may have changed, but Apple's relentless attention to detail remains. The third generation of the iPod Nano provides loads of entertainment for a down-to-earth price.
Apple iPod Nano 8GB |
Apple iPod Nano 4GB
Apple iPod Shuffle (second generation)
The bottom line: If you like your music playback simple and your device nearly invisible, the second-generation iPod Shuffle will suit you well. But absentminded users should steer clear of this easy-to-misplace player.
If you're looking for the ultimate blend of ease-of-use, beautiful design, seamless integration with car stereos and other components, and a wide array of accessories, then Apple's iPod is probably your best choice for an MP3 player. The latest generation of iPods has every target audience covered. The iPod Classic ($249 for 80GB version; $349 for 160GB version) is the best fit for those who want their entire music library with them at all times. The iPod Touch ($299 for 8GB version; $399 for 16GB version) is an iPhone without the phone, boasting the same wide-screen touch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and direct iTunes downloads as the superhyped handset. The third-generation iPod Nano ($149 for 4GB version; $199 for 8GB version) has a brand-new look and upgraded features, including video playback and built-in games. And the tiny, clip-on iPod Shuffle ($79 for 1GB) is now available in a rainbow of new colors for the fashion-conscious.
If you love the size of the Nano but want more features in your MP3 player, there's a handful of worthy alternatives. Jasmine France rounds up some small players that have goodies such as built-in FM radios, user-definable EQ settings, and booming sound. Read more
September 14, 2007Our digital music editors have listened to a lot of MP3 players, and these five make the sweetest music. What's at the top of Donald Bell's list? Read more
If storage capacity is at the top of your list when it comes to choosing an MP3 player, take a look at this list. More manufacturers are making the jump to lower-capacity flash players, but there are still several options in the high-capacity player realm. Read more
Small is the new big. If you're looking for a player to take to the gym, slip in your shirt pocket, or listen to without it skipping, these flash-based players will do the trick. Read more
Want to document everything you've got in your iTunes library? Here's an easy way to do it. Read more
Your music player can do more than just store tunes. Use it as a backup device, too. Read more
Liberate your music from the clutches of your iPod. Veronica Belmont shows you how. Read more
So goes your battery, so goes your iPod. Give it a longer life with these tips. Read more
Wouldn't that video look better on a big screen? Sure. Here's how to super-size it. Read more
Are you a multi-iPod household with one computer and several music collections? Keep 'em separate but equal with this advice. Read more
CNET's forum on MP3 players is the best source for help, troubleshooting tips, and buying advice from a community of experts. Discussions include the iPod, iPod Nano, Creative Zen Vision:M, Zune, iRiver Clix, Archos PVP, Rockbox, audiobooks, and podcasts.
CNET's forum on digital music is the best source for help, troubleshooting tips, and advice from a community of experts. Discussions include CD burning, music software, converting audio files, recording music, and online music stores.
by lstockett (see profile), 09/20/2007
by firefinder24 (see profile), 09/08/2007
by RonaldJr18 (see profile), 09/07/2007
by donwright (see profile), 11/18/2007
by trx1701 (see profile), 12/02/2007
After a few generations of mostly cosmetic upgrades, Apple's iPod line is back with some radical new designs and models for the 2007 holiday season.
The scene-stealer at Apple's "Beat Goes On" event in San Francisco on September 5, 2007, was the brand-new iPod Touch. The iPhone lookalike boasts the same wide-screen touch screen, networking features, and direct-from-iTunes Wi-Fi downloads as Apple's slim semi-smart phone. It just doesn't have a phone (or the service charges, for that matter). The iPod Touch sells for $299 for the 8GB version and $399 for the 16GB version.
The slim, flash-based iPod Nano also got a dramatic overhaul. In addition to a wider frame and a larger, brighter screen, the new Nano is the first with video playback capabilities. At $149 for the 4GB version and $199 for the 8GB version, the Nano may be the best deal of the new crop of iPods.
Apple also unveiled a high-capacity version of the familiar iPod design. Renamed the iPod Classic, the new generation of the hard-drive player has a whopping 160GB version ($349), as well as a roomy 80GB version ($249). Like the new Nano, it also has a revamped interface that displays the track menu and album art on a split screen.
And finally, the bite-size iPod Shuffle is now available in a boatload of new colors. The price is still as tiny as its size: $79 for the 1GB player.
Steve Jobs always marks the fall with new iPod announcements, and September 2008 is no exception. Check out this year's slide show for photos and details on the new iPod Classic, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, and iPod Touch.
Apple's iPod Touch puts the multimedia capabilities of the iPhone into a lighter, leaner package. Available in 8GB and 16GB capacities, the iPod Touch has drop-dead looks and a graphic user interface that's ahead of its time.
Apple's latest version of their iPod Nano has been completely overhauled, inside and out. Cosmetically, the Nano is now shorter and wider, with a larger screen capable of video playback. Internally, the Nano now runs a new, more graphically rich interface that supports games, videos, and a new Cover Flow mode for browsing music by album artwork.
Apple's original iPod becomes a Classic and gets a cosmetic touch-up; an upgraded, image-centric user interface; and a capacious new hard-drive option.
The least exciting of the bunch is the Shuffle, for which there is a simple color refresh, while the most dramatic is the new Nano, which is shorter and squatter than its predecessor and now supports video.
Steve Jobs shows off the next-generation iPod Touch, calling it the "funnest" iPod.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the latest iPod Nano. It's thinner and has a new interface much like the iPod Touch.
Apple's fourth-generation iPod Nano returns to its slender form and offers new features such as Genius playlists, voice recording, and shake shuffle.
At an event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco, Apple CEO Steve Jobs discusses new software upgrades for the iPhone and iPod Touch. iPod Touch owners who paid to update to OS X 2.0 will get a free update to 2.1. The new 2.1 software applies to the iPhone as well.
Apple's second-generation iPod Touch is even slimmer and offers new features such as Genius playlists and a built in speaker.
Donald Bell takes a first look at the updates made to the Apple iPod Classic.