New Cool Gadgets

Apple has finally ended worldwide speculation with the launch of its new iPod with video playback capability. The new iPod is much sleeker on the lines of the Nano and features ability to store upto 15,000 songs (4 minute songs at 128 kbps), 25,000 photos, and 150 hours of Videos. The new iPod is available in 30 Gb and 60 GB models and in classic white and black colors.

At first glance the new iPod looks sleek and smart with the 2.5 inch, 240x320 QVGA color screen. You can watch MPEG-4 and H.264 videos which can be bought from the iTunes Music store. You can even connect the optional AV cable and watch videos or photo slideshows on your TV.

The touch sensitive Apple Click Wheel makes operating and navigating through the the iPod a pleasure with the Menu accessible by a click on the top of the wheel. Other basic functions like Play, Forward, Rewind and Pause/Stop occupy the Click Wheel. You can use the Shuffle mode to play songs in a random order.

The hottest new feature on the iPod is definitely the ability to play videos downloaded from the iTunes Music store at $1.99 each. You can also buy and enjoy advertisement free episodes of yor favorite ABC or Disney shows! Also in additon to the radio style podcast shows, you can now download video podcasts from ABC, ESPN and sync them to the iPod.

You can use the Audiobooks feature to browse through over 11,000 book titles from the iTunes library and download and sync any book to read on the go. The iPod features a digital 'bookmark' to mark the page you were reading, so that you can return to it later!

You can sync your photos from your Windows PC or Mac and browse through them on the iPod. The new iPod can hold upto 25,000 photos. You can watch the pics in thumbnail mode and by the click of the center button on the Click Wheel, bring any photo to full screen.

The iPod comes with a Calendar and address book built in. You can import your address book or iCal and contacts from Outlook Express on your PC. There is aworld clock which lets you view the time around the world. Days and nights appear in white and black on the screen. You can also set an alarm using the iPod's alarm function.

The iPod also ships with an optional dock which can be used with a remote to control the iPod from across the room. You can connect it to the TV an play your videos, songs and slideshows using the remote. There is also an optional camera connector which you can use to connect the iPod to you digital camera and transfer pictures from your camera to the iPod.

The Video iPod boasts of upto 20 hours of battery time (for the 60 GB model)and can be fully charged in 4 hours.

All in all the new Apple Video iPod is a great product for music lovers and now with Video playback, this device is a complete mobile entertainment package. The sound quality of the earbud headphones is superb and the 2,60,000 color screen delivers crystal clear video and picture playback. At $299 for the 30 GB model, the new Video Apple iPod is a great buy for any music lover!

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