While the iphone 5 was the star turn, Apple
also announced significant upgrades to the iPod touch and nano at its 12
September event. For the second year running, there are no changes to the
screen less iPod shuffle or hard disk-based iPod classic remain, although a
reference to the shuffle in the iTunes 10.7 update suggests it may have been
tweaked.
iPods
with EarPods are here!
The seventh-generation nano has reverted to
its former tall, thin shape, a disappointment to those who were hoping Apple
would join third parties in exploiting the square 2010 model’s potential as a
smart watch. This allows it to regain support for video on its 16:9 2.5in 240 x
432-pixel touch screen. As before, an FM radio receiver is built in.
With a Nike+ app on the home screen, and an
integral pedometer, Apple has evidently decided the nano’s niche is in the gym
or on the road. To that end it’s added Bluetooth 4 to connect wirelessly to
heart rate monitors and other accessories. The same power-efficient technology
can also be used for wireless headphones and for in-car audio. However, the
$195.8 device, which has 16GB of storage, still lacks wifi, so content must be
synced from a Mac or PC using a Dock cable.
If the nano is all about fitness, entertainment
is the name of the game for the iPod touch. Often described as an iPhone
without the phone, it now has a 4in Retina display and Lightning connector like
the iPhone 5, a 5 megapixel camera improving on that in the iPhone 4, and the
A5 processor from the iPhone 4S. This puts it two generations behind the iPhone
5’s A6, with the third-generation iPad using the A5X. But with seven times the
graphics processing power of the previous iPod touch, the fifth-generation model
is more than ready to build on its status as the world’s most popular gaming
device.
Running
iOS 6, complete with Siri and the new Panorama camera function, the iPod touch
comes in 32GB and 64GB capacities for $378 and $499.3 respectively – a steep
rise compared to the previous starting price of $286.9
The back panel comes in five of the seven
iPod nano colours, all with a white front, and a colour-matched wrist strap is
supplied, attaching to a pop-out button.
Running iOS 6, complete with Siri and the
new Panorama camera function, the iPod touch comes in 32GB and 64GB capacities
for $378 and $499.3 respectively – a steep rise compared to the previous starting
price of $286.9. However, the 4th generation model has been reduced
to $256.5 with 16GB of RAM, undercutting its earlier price with 8GB and
providing an obvious addition to Christmas lists.
Both the nano and the touch come with
EarPods, the result, says Apple, of three years redesigning its earphones.
Rather than creating a seal inside the ear canal, these rest on the outer ear
and direct sound into it. EarPods are also supplied with the iPhone 5 and can
be bought separately for $38.
