The much-loved miniature iPod looks
like it’s back to its old self
Price: $193.5
Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
Website: www.apple.com
Memory 16GB Display 2.5-inch 240x432
Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0, Lightning connector Features FM Radio with 15
seconds Live accelerometer, video playback Battery life 30 hours audio, 35
hours video Includes EarPods
Apple seems to reinvent the iPod nano yearly,
almost on a whim. This new seventh edition brings back video playback (a
feature that was dropped in the last version), but not the ability to record
video (seen in the fifth generation). The physical shape has been changed back
to a more familiar form factor, so that it can no longer be worn as a watch.
This version also uses the new Lightning connector, so all your old accessories
will require a $37.5 adapter to work. You control the nano with a 2.5- inch
multi-touch screen, which includes pinch and zoom gestures for photos. It also
comes in eight colours including black and silver.
At 5.4mm thick the new Nano feels almost
impossibly thin and small in your hand, but it’s not flimsy. It easily stows
away in a pocket, and is so light you hardly know it’s there, The nano comes
with a few apps, like Photos, Fitness (Nike + support and pedometer built-in)
and Radio (there’s an FM tuner) but its home screen looks rather empty and you
can’t Install third-party apps. However, a big plus is the addition of Bluetooth
so you can use it with wireless headphones.
We still like the Nano, especially since
its 30-hour music playback time means it takes ages for the battery to run out.
Video playback s a nice addition, but the screen just isn’t big enough to watch
a movie comfortably.
Belkin @TV Plus
Stream the video 110m your home
set-top box to your iPhone or iPad
Price: $232.5
Manufacturer: BeIkin International, Inc,
Website: www.belkin.com
Works with iPhone, iPod touch, iPad Dimensions
200x200x38mm
AV in/out Composite video, component video,
stereo audio
Network connections Ethernet, Wi-Fi
Belkin’s @TV is designed to stream video from your set-top box to your
computer, iPhone or iPad. And although it’s perfectly competent at what it
does, we can’t really recommend it. But it’s more a case of concept than
execution; it just feels out of place to us.
For starters it doesn’t have an HDMI
connection, so the one-cable convenience we’re all used to is out of the
window. It’s literally an analogue box trying to step up to a digital world,
and the result seems like too much hassle. You can already watch TV online
through TVCatchup. Sky Player and the like, and you don’t have to buy an extra
box to do it. The Belkin doesn’t put up enough of a case that we should be
using it instead.
There are some positives: it’s easy to set
up, the video quality is good and it offers some handy features, such as a
pause button for if you get distracted. But it has problems too, such as not
always having complete remote control options for set-top boxes, and taking an
incredibly long time for presses on the virtual remotes to register on the
video feed. The iPhone app also costs $19.5, while the iPad one is free (though
it’s still far cheaper than the apps for the competing Slingbox).
If you really want something to stream the
output from your set-top box, it’s a decent choice. But we’re just not sure why
you’d want to.
Pure Contour 200i Air
$300 sounds like a lot, but for an
AirPlay speaker, that’s ‘budget’...
Price: $249
Manufacturer: Imagination Technologies
Limited
Website: www.pure.com
Dimensions 370x229x175mm Output power 36W
Network connections Wi-Fi. Apple dock
connector, AUX-in. Ethernet
The pure contour 200i Air lacks the screen
and radio features enjoyed by other Contour models, but replaces them with
AirPlay, so it’s a reasonable trade-off As well as playing your music from your
Mac or OS device wirelessly using Apple’s AirPlay protocol it also has a
built-in 30-pin dock connector for iPods, iPhone or iPad.
AirPlay set up is gloriously simple. and
allows volume control on both speaker and Apple devices, but it’s a shame the
dock can’t be retracted when not in use. Other Contours have this feature, and
its omission here is odd since you’re likely to use the 2001 Air wirelessly
most of the time. There are few controls on the 200i Air itself; Just power,
volume and (handily) a mute button.
The Contour 200i Air has an impressive
sound that’s full and crisp, and really natural. It’s not quite perfect: while
the treb4e offers clarity and substance, it can feel a little unrestrained,
getting just a tad on the shrill side at volume. Similarly, the bass is punchy
and clear, but it lacks depth and resonance.
But although high-end AirPlay units do a better
job, the Pure easily out performs most models in its price bracket. If you want
wireless audio for under $300, we thoroughly recommend it.
