Apple has announced a new AU$449 20GB iPod with a colour screen to replace the noncolour version. Essentially an iPod Photo, Apple has dropped the last part of the name on both this and the 60GB models and will no longer sell the 30GB version. Apple has also added a colour screen to the black-and-red 20GB iPod U2 Special Edition. The entire high-capacity iPod line is now available with only the photo-friendly colour screen. Apple simultaneously made available iTunes 4.9, which features a built-in podcasting directory that uses the same graphically rich format as iTunes Music Store. This robust feature makes browsing for and downloading podcasts a cinch. In related news, the company has dropped the price of the 1GB iPod Shuffle to AU$199.
Upside
If you've tinkered with an iPod Photo, you know what this new 20GB version offers. It features a 2-inch, 65,000-colour LCD that supports digital photo browsing (as tiny thumbnails or in full screen), direct digital photo upload with the optional Camera Connector, and an aesthetically pleasing colour interface that's compatible with album art. At 61mm x 104mm x 16mm and 167 grams, it's exactly same size as the discontinued 30GB version and a tad thicker and heavier than the noncolour 20GB version. Battery life is rated for 15 hours and will probably be more in -- an appreciable improvement over the rated 12 hours of the noncolour version. Finally, the newest iPods include a Podcasts menu option and a convenient bookmarking feature that allows users to return to a specific point in a podcast; older iPods can make do with a firmware update. Basically, at the same AU$449 price point, the new 20GB version with its colour screen and improved battery life is decidedly more attractive than the noncolour version.
Downside
The short-lived 30GB iPod Photo, which was a nice deal at AU$499, is now available from third-party retailers only. The heart of the iPod franchise -- its simplicity and good looks -- has been maintained, but we're still waiting for long-desired features such as a built-in FM radio, audio recording, and even video support. Also, one would think that Apple could truly empower the masses with an AU$299 black-and-white version of the 20GB iPod, but that would throw a wrench in the strategic and incremental iPod pricing scheme (the 4GB iPod Mini is available for AU$299).
Outlook
While the iPod update isn't major, it brings all models of the flagship Apple player up to the same level of sophistication. Next up: colour screens on the iPod Mini. Along with the podcast-friendly iTunes 4.9, the iPod franchise is a one step closer to what we see as the inevitable addition of video features.
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