[Nephron]

Hi gang,

Been using all of the features on the new 60 GB iPod photo for 4 days now. Thought I might pass on some comments ...

First impressions ... much thicker than expected, reminiscent of the first generation iPod. Otherwise hard to tell it apart from other iPods at first glance.

Turn it on ... colour screen. Much cooler than I thought it would be. Crisp and clear display. Menus etc are easier to read. Going back to the old iPod feels like a huge step backwards. Album art is also a cooler feature than expected. My wife commented that now she should be able to remember which song came from which artist and album (she ignored the scrolling track info on the previous iPods). The base display while the song is playing shows the album cover in miniature, as well as the band and song names. It is surprising that all of that fits on the small screen and is still very readable. You can click the centre button to view the album cover full screen.

Scroll wheel function is the same as other 4th gen iPods. Can't comment on battery life, since I haven't tried to run it down yet. Sound of music same as other 4th gen iPods (as far as my ears can tell).

Photo functionality is excellent. My brother's wife (a total hater of techno gadgets), spent hours watching the photo slide shows on the iPod's little screen this weekend. I had dificulty getting the photo synch to work initially (see previous post, had to delete all traces of iPhoto and iTunes then reinstall). After the reinstall, it was a simple matter of clicking a check box within iTunes to set up the photo synching through iPhoto. There is no photo functionality within iTunes, it simply synchs your iPhoto albums. As with most things related to the iPod, it is elegantly simple. Plug in your iPod ... wait while any changes to your photo albums are automatically synchronized with the iPod. iPhoto doesn't even need to be open. When you add new photos, there is a delay while iTunes pre-processes them and crunches them into the format that is used by the iPod Photo. The first time that you synch your whole photo collection, this conversion process and subsequent synching takes a considerable length of time (patience failing ... want to play with new toy!).

When you are viewing a photo album, you start with a surprisingly useful view of 5 rows of 5 photos, all crammed on the screen at once. Click on a photo to zoom in to see the photo in full screen mode. In all modes, scrolling through the photo list is amazingly quick. Note to iPod Photo designers .. go teach the iPhoto gang how to do quick scrolling!

The kit comes with a dock, which I didn't have with my other iPod, but which makes a huge difference. It also comes with a high quality cable that connects from the speaker jack on the iPod to your TV (it splits into audio right and left and video out jacks). The video out is composite only (too bad). The dock has S-Video out, but since I doubt I will be hauling my dock around with me, it is of dubious value. The pics come out a bit soft on the TV (to be expected I guess), but pleasantly so. They look pretty good on the TV (lots of cheers from viewers). You can select music to play along with the slide shows (selected from your playlists). The default is "From iPhoto", which did not play any music on mine (don't know why). Viewing the photos on the TV proved to be a big hit ... another feature which works better than expected. While the photos are playing on the TV, you see a more detailed display on the iPod, including the current, previous and next photo as well as a countdown timer and your position within the photo list. One disappointment, when the slide show is done, it does not fade to black. It stops on the last photo, and the music keeps playing. Too bad ..

Even viewing the pics on the small screen works reasonably well. The pics are clear and well coloured, easy to see. Better than the viewer on the back of my digital camera. If you are not plugged in to a TV, the pics fill up most of the screen (with the exception of some black letterboxing related to the cropping of the photo). Bigger would obviously be better though .. so here's to hoping that the next generation iPod Photo will have a bigger screen.

The Contacts feature is easier to use than on other iPods, as alternate sections (phone, email, etc) have a light blue background, which separates the information visually an easy to read manner. Curiously, photos that you have associated with Contacts are not synchronized (do I hear a feature request?). The calender highlights the days in the current month differently from the days from the leading and trailing months, which is a nice effect. However, there is no alternating backgrounds for events in the day display like there is in Contacts, which would have been nice (another feature request ...).

The single best feature of all is one that Apple doesn't hype as much as it should. You can select to synch your original photo files as well as the modified versions that iTunes supplies. Big deal you say? Takes up too much room you say? Automatic backup of your whole photo collection I say! I am paranoid about backing up my photo collection periodically (would hate to lose any photos because I didn't back up properly). To me, the ability to back up my photo collection onto the iPod automatically is worth the price of admission even if it had no other features.

Many people have been requesting the ability to download pics directly from the camera. I don't see myself using that feature, so its absence was not missed.

The original iPod revolutionized how I listened to music. In fact, it rekindled my interest in music which had been partially extinguished after we started having kids (only Wiggles and Sesame Street CDs got played for a long time). The photo features of the iPod Photo aren't as revolutionary as that, but they are definitely a worthy addition to the iPod repertoire. The photo features are very nicely implemented, with only a few minor gaffes. Overall, I'm very pleased. This iPod is likely to appeal to many who would not have been interested in a music-only player (for example, most of the people I know). I have many friends with kids who would love to haul around their entire photo collection with them. It is strangely addictive. Once you get used to having your whole music collection with you, you can't go back to individual CDs. Similarly, having all of your photos with you, instead of a few pics in your wallet is heady stuff. Can't go back ....

While the iPod Photo is expensive, the incremental cost over the conventional iPod is not too bad, especially considering the number and quality of new features.

Cheers!

<edited for spelling>

[MrForgetable]

Nice review.


But where are the pics??

[PurpleGiant]

Originally posted by Nephron:
The base display while the song is playing shows the album cover in miniature, as well as the band and song names. It is surprising that all of that fits on the small screen and is still very readable. You can click the centre button to view the album cover full screen.

On current iPods, while on the 'Now playing screen', you see the sing name, artist and album, as well as the slider showing which part of the song you are up to. When I click the middle button, I can then use the scroll wheel to fast forward or rewind to any specific point in the song.

What you're saying is that now the middle button just shows the album art full screen instead. Then how do you do the scrubbing of the playhead like in previous generation iPods?

[AlfaMunky]

I have a question that I not seen answered anywhere. Could you tell me how the video out works. Is it limited to only showing slide shows on a tv or can you have video out to a tv all the time. I'd like to know if it will let you have video out all the time so you can see the menu, the navigation, the song playing, etc. on the tv. Thanks for any info.

[DigitalEl]

What you're saying is that now the middle button just shows the album art full screen instead. Then how do you do the scrubbing of the playhead like in previous generation iPods?

There are now 3 click states per track.

1. Album art full-screen
2. Track-scrub
3. Star Rating

My wife picked mine up for my birthday about 12 hours ago. Great review, Nephron...

after we started having kids (only Wiggles and Sesame Street CDs got played for a long time)

I'm a Wiggles hostage, too. Fruit salad, yummy yummy, baby!

[starman]

Many people have been requesting the ability to download pics directly from the camera. I don't see myself using that feature, so its absence was not missed.

I'd miss it. Ever since I got a digitial camera, people want to see the pics after I take them. It would be cool to take a set, hook the camera to the iPod, suck the pics down, and then display them on the TV.

EDIT: Or get a camera that has video out. Now that I think about it, maybe mine does .

Mike

[Nephron]

Originally posted by AlfaMunky:
I have a question that I not seen answered anywhere. Could you tell me how the video out works. Is it limited to only showing slide shows on a tv or can you have video out to a tv all the time. I'd like to know if it will let you have video out all the time so you can see the menu, the navigation, the song playing, etc. on the tv. Thanks for any info.

The video out is only active during slideshows.
Cheers!

[DigitalEl]

To add to the above, and I don't know if it's this way on every TV, but it worked on my 30" Samsung DynaFlat... As soon as I plugged in the three-way cable, the set went into AV mode. All I had to do then was choose a Slideshow and there it was. Nifty.

[MilkmanDan]

Thanks for the review. I totally agree that the idea of having an 'auto backup' of all your photos is an awesome idea. I think I'll go backup all my photos tonight onto my firewire HD. I too would cry if my powerbook died and all my photos went with it.

[OAW]

Great review. I thought I'd chime in on the thickness issue that you raised. I had the first generation iPod as well as the 30 GB third generation model. It's been a while since I've held the first generation model .. but I do know that the 3G model I replaced it with was considerably smaller in overall size. Perhaps the thickness was similar. I don't really recall. My point in all this is that my 30 GB third generation iPod is essentially the same size overall as my new 40 GB iPod Photo. The 60 GB iPod Photo is the same size IIRC. It is noticeably heavier ... but since it has nearly double the battery life that's a good tradeoff IMO. So if you are looking for a more recent comparison in size ... the 30 GB third generation model is the place to look.

OAW

[iPoder]

Excellent review !

I checked it out during the weekend at Apple store, and I have to say the thickness of the iPod Photo bothers me a little bit.

I owned 1st and 3rd gens of iPod, and I like the thickness of 3rd generation a lot better. It just feels better in my palm.

I am still wrestling the idea of getting one for myself, but I might wait until Apple can get the thickness down a notch, which probably relies on the improved thickness of the hard drive.

[OAW]

Originally posted by iPoder:
Excellent review !

I checked it out during the weekend at Apple store, and I have to say the thickness of the iPod Photo bothers me a little bit.

I owned 1st and 3rd gens of iPod, and I like the thickness of 3rd generation a lot better. It just feels better in my palm.

I am still wrestling the idea of getting one for myself, but I might wait until Apple can get the thickness down a notch, which probably relies on the improved thickness of the hard drive.

You must have had a 15 GB 3G model. That one is thinner than the new iPod Photos. The 30 GB model is nearly identical as I said before. So I figured 10 more GB and better battery life with the same dimensions is pretty good!

Here are the relevant sizes for those that are interested:

30 GB - 3G: 2.4 x 4.1 x .73

20 GB - 4G: 2.4 x 4.1 x .57

40 GB - 4G: 2.4 x 4.1 x .69

40/60 GB - Photo: 2.4 x 4.1 x .75



OAW

[GORDYmac]

Originally posted by starman:
...It would be cool to take a set, hook the camera to the iPod, suck the pics down, and then display them on the TV...

From what I've read, pictures downloaded from a digicam to the iPod (via the Belkin Media Reader and Camera Link) are not viewable until they are transferred to iPhoto...then...to iTunes...then...back to the iPod.

[iPoder]

Yes, I did have a 3g iPod with 15GB.

I also did a little bit research on the thickness of the hard drive.

Toshiba MK2004GAL: 20GB, 0.197" (5mm)
Toshiba MK4004GAH: 40GB, 0.315" (8mm)

The difference of the thickness is only 0.118", while the difference of the thickness between iPod 20GB and iPod Photo 40GB is about 0.18".

I wonder what contributes to the additional thickness (0.06"). Bigger battery? Color LCD screen?

Edited: Researching a little further, Toshiba did make a 30GB 1.8" HD with only 0.197" thickness (MK3006GAL). So Apple can make a 30GB iPod Photo a little thinner than its big brothers.

[JHromadka]

Originally posted by starman:
I'd miss it. Ever since I got a digitial camera, people want to see the pics after I take them. It would be cool to take a set, hook the camera to the iPod, suck the pics down, and then display them on the TV.

EDIT: Or get a camera that has video out. Now that I think about it, maybe mine does .

Mike

I was about to post this suggestion. If all you're wanting is to display photos from your digicam, most come with a video out. I'm more interested in the storage possibilities with the iPod Photo myself.

[antizero]

Excellent review!!!

One quickie question for those in the know...can you hook it up to your tv and then see the album art of the songs being played instead of a slideshow?

I've scanned the Apple site and didn't see mention of this feature, but I don't deny my ability to miss the obvious details sometimes.

[PurpleGiant]

Originally posted by antizero:
Excellent review!!!

One quickie question for those in the know...can you hook it up to your tv and then see the album art of the songs being played instead of a slideshow?

I've scanned the Apple site and didn't see mention of this feature, but I don't deny my ability to miss the obvious details sometimes.

It was said above that the only thing that shows on the Video out is the slideshow, you can't mirror the normal iPod screens unfortuntely.

[OAW]

Originally posted by iPoder:
Yes, I did have a 3g iPod with 15GB.

I also did a little bit research on the thickness of the hard drive.

Toshiba MK2004GAL: 20GB, 0.197" (5mm)
Toshiba MK4004GAH: 40GB, 0.315" (8mm)

The difference of the thickness is only 0.118", while the difference of the thickness between iPod 20GB and iPod Photo 40GB is about 0.18".

I wonder what contributes to the additional thickness (0.06"). Bigger battery? Color LCD screen?

Edited: Researching a little further, Toshiba did make a 30GB 1.8" HD with only 0.197" thickness (MK3006GAL). So Apple can make a 30GB iPod Photo a little thinner than its big brothers.

It's probably a combination of the drive and the battery. Like I said before, it is about the same size as my old 30 GB 3G iPod ... but it is noticeably heavier. I figured it was due to a bigger battery since it has nearly double the battery life.

OAW

[antizero]

Originally posted by PurpleGiant:
It was said above that the only thing that shows on the Video out is the slideshow, you can't mirror the normal iPod screens unfortuntely.

I wasn't sure if that applied to album art as well, since that consists of images as opposed to the usual iPod data screen.

[nagromme]

Thanks for the review--I want one bad!

Album art on TV would be tool cool. Maybe in an update.

Originally posted by GORDYmac:
From what I've read, pictures downloaded from a digicam to the iPod (via the Belkin Media Reader and Camera Link) are not viewable until they are transferred to iPhoto...then...to iTunes...then...back to the iPod.

Just to be clear--those steps are automated, and necessary. (Some may wish photo synching was done by iPhoto--but then you'd have to run TWO apps to sycnch your music and photos. No thanks. And iTunes automatcially transfers your photos from iPhoto--it's not like you have to do some iPhoto-to-iTunes step.)

So just why is it NECESSARY to send your photos through a computer before they can be displayed on the iPod? To make the iPod faster!

iTunes makes special scaled-down copies that the the iPod can display quickly. The alternative, loading the full-res originals and making the iPod do the scaling work every time on the fly, would be SLOW. Pre-scaling is a great solution.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by nagromme:
iTunes makes special scaled-down copies that the the iPod can display quickly. The alternative, loading the full-res originals and making the iPod do the scaling work every time on the fly, would be SLOW. Pre-scaling is a great solution.

Slow viewing is better than no viewing at all, which is what the iPod Photo gives you for images downloaded directly from a media reader.

[Randman]

Still waiting to hear real-world reports on battery life.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Man it sure is thick!

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...1101/apple.htm

[GORDYmac]

Unfortunately, this iPod offers nothing I need. My 4G with the Belkin Camera Link is ideal. Don't need to view photos on the iPod--can do that on the camera. I just need them stored.

I would like that color screen through.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
Man it sure is thick!

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...1101/apple.htm

I'd like to see a comparison shot with a 1st-gen 5GB iPod

[iPoder]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
I'd like to see a comparison shot with a 1st-gen 5GB iPod

It's about the same size and thickness, except for smoothier edges.

[OAW]

Originally posted by iPoder:
It's about the same size and thickness, except for smoothier edges.

Actually the 1G iPod is bigger all around.

5 GB - 1G: 2.43 x 4.02 x .78

As I said earlier, it is closer to a 30 GB 3G iPod in size. See the dimensions I posted earlier.

OAW

[badtz]

I saw the iPod Photo over the weekend at The Grove [Los Angeles].

For me, the iPod Photo was definitely as big as I was hoping it wasn't going to be.

I like the slimness of the 20gb iPod.

If the iPod Photo had the ability to import photos from Digital Cameras, I would be able to justify to thickness.

But since I can't consolidate two devices into one [music player + image importer] ... I'll just remain iPodless for now.

The iPod mini is another that I'm considering though, depending on the capacity jump in the next revision.

[im_noahselby]

Originally posted by badtz:
I saw the iPod Photo over the weekend at The Grove [Los Angeles].

For me, the iPod Photo was definitely as big as I was hoping it wasn't going to be.

I like the slimness of the 20gb iPod.

....

The iPod mini is another that I'm considering though, depending on the capacity jump in the next revision.

I agree pretty much with what you are saying. When you are going to plunk down $600 US ($800 Cdn) on an iPod, it should be everything you'd hoped for and more. As the revisions come and go for the iPod Photo, it is bound to become slimmer, more affordable and more expandable. This is why I've decided to wait.

I'd personally love a 10GB iPod mini. I know I'm dreaming, but it would be perfect!

Noah

[michaelb]

Originally posted by OAW:
Actually the 1G iPod is bigger all around.

5 GB - 1G: 2.43 x 4.02 x .78

As I said earlier, it is closer to a 30 GB 3G iPod in size. See the dimensions I posted earlier.

I have an iPod Photo on order (haven't seen one in the flesh yet) and to me that's good news. My iPod owning history has gone:

1. 1st Gen 5 GB
2. 3rd Gen 30 GB
3. 5th Gen 60 GB iPod Photo

So, the size just isn't changing for me!

Besides, I think that guys *should* have bigger iPods. A female relative has a mini, which is okay, as SHE'S A GIRL.

Wusses.

[A Ghost Is Born]

I have been considering a 40GB iPod Photo and using my 3G 40GB iPod for a back up drive for my iBook. This review covered many of my initial questions.

[Randman]

Still wondering if battery life is as good as advertised.

[michaelb]

Originally posted by Randman:
Still wondering if battery life is as good as advertised.

In this review, http://playlistmag.com/weblogs/today...orev/index.php the writer says he got the following:

Playing normal iPod music: 16 hours and 10 minutes

Slideshow on iPod's screen: 5 hours and 39 minutes

TV output playback: 2 hours

[Randman]

Yeah, but I'd still like to hear from others using it on a daily basis.

[zerock]

got mine today, is charging will let you all know later, how it does on the road.

[pyn]

I was playing my iPod the whole day Saturday from 6:30PM all the way till 12:00PM and still had around 10-20% of its power left. I have the 40GB iPod Photo.

[nagromme]

Another review (WSJ) said 17+ hours I think.