Yup, Apple have done it again. FHM went along to check out the new crop of lust-worthy gizmos, chucking our now-obsolete player in the bin en-route.
iPod nano
What's new? Pretty much everything.The new nano is thinner than ever ,with curvier glass over the bigger, higher-res screen. It’s also inherited the iPod touch’s tilt-sensitive accelerometer, giving birth to new features like ‘shuffle and shake’, which allows you to mix up your tracks with a flick of the wrist. There’s also a calendar, a stopwatch and the ability to voice record. Oh and nine new colours. Yes, your girlfriend to going to love it.
First impression? We held it, it made us feel new again. We shook it, it went into shuffle mode. It’s tiny, it’s multi-purpose and the screen looks way bigger than it actually is.
How much? For 8GB (2,000 songs): $149. For 16GB (4,000 songs): $199. Go big. It’ll make sense in the long run. Available now.
iPod touch
What's new? Outside, it’s looking more like the iPhone than ever. The handset’s thinner with a curvier back, the screen’s bigger, there’s a built-in speaker and an integrated volume control. Inside, according to Steve Jobs, it’s "the funnest iPod ever". This means more games. There’s exclusive iPod touch versions of imminent console titles Spore Origins, Real Soccer 2009 and Need For Speed: Undercover. Plus there’s a touch-screen joypad to play them with.
First impressions? Well, obviously it looks nice. And as an all-in-one music, film, video, games and apps extravaganza, it’s unbeatable. Doesn’t make phone calls though, does it?
How Much? For 8GB, $229. For 16GB, $299 (same price as the old 8GB: bargain). For 32GB, $399. If you’ve got an old iPod touch, you can update the software (but not the model) for free. All available now.
iTunes and iTunes store
What's new? iTunes 8 has improved, better-looking browsing and a "genius" application which creates playlists based around the song you’re listening to that very moment. The iTunes store will have HD TV shows for the first time.
First impressions? "Genius" will make DJ-ing the easiest job in the world, and you can use it on the entire iPod range without being connected to your computer. It’s a lot like the Last FM’s ‘scrobbling’, which is superb at telling you that you like music you’ve never heard of.
How much? iTunes 8 is free. HD TV shows start at $2.99 from the iTunes store.
iPod Classic
What's new? Just like the rest of the family, the granddad of iPods gets even slimmer. Yet confusingly, the inside has expanded – the new 120GB model can deal with a whopping 30,000 tracks.
First impression? Lacks the intuitive interface of the iPod touch, but great for those with tons of tunes.
How much? $249