Apple iPod Video 5th Generation White (30 GB) MP3 Player
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- Number of Songs: 7500
- Usage: Music Video Photo Viewing
- Interface: USB 2.0
- Screen Size: 2.5 inch
- Main Storage Type: Hard Drive
- Storage Capacity: 30 GB
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Applaud the New iPod
Pros
Video capability, smaller design, more features, more base storage
Cons
No Firewire file-transfer support, fewer accessories, lousy packed-in sock
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The iPod has finally evolved into something that was expected for a long time. It adds new meaning to the word "portable media device."
One More Thing…
Before October 12, rumors were flying about the next generation of iPods (dubbed the 5G iPod.) Some rumors include a replaceable battery. The iPod's battery has always been a source of contention due to its limited charge cycles and difficulty in acquiring replacements. Others noted of a possible new navigation scheme. Apple's separation from Synaptics (the company that makes the click wheel) hinted at a departure from the click wheel. The hottest rumor is the possible inclusion of video playback. After five years, many felt it was time.
October 12 goes by. Steve Jobs held a convention known as "One More Thing." Here he unveiled the new iPod and many of the rumors have come true. Here's what the new iPod, herein referred to as the 5G.
What's Inside the Rectangle?
Yes, notice that the package no longer comes in a box. The lower price tag for the increased space and functionality has created a tradeoff in the accessories department. The slimmer package now contains the player, white headphones, USB cord, manual, iTunes CD, and a pouch. Gone are the Firewire cord, AC adaptor, and USB/Firewire dock.
What About the New iPod?
Here are the physical changes of the 5G:
* The 5G is nearly 40% thinner than the 4th generation iPod.
(http://media.arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/video-ipod.media/ipods-samesize-web.jpg) Width comparison between 4G and 5G iPod. Courtesy Ars Technica.
* The LCD screen is now 2.5" instead of 2".
* The headphone jack is located on the top-right corner.
* The click wheel is based on the Nano and is 30% smaller than the old Synaptics wheel.
* The outermost layer is coated with a resin, making it more scratch-resistant.
What About on the Inside?
Whoa nelly. Here's where the money comes from:
* Video capability can play movies encoded in H264 or MP4 formats.
* Ability to hold photos and show slideshows and album art.
* Battery lasts (as tested by me) 14 hours through music playback and 2.5 hours on video.
* The smaller Toshiba hard drive now comes in 30 gigabytes as minimum capacity.
* Three new programs (World Clock, Stop Watch, and Screen Lock.)
Watching video on the 5G is no strain at all. Even captions are easy to read. Navigating through your videos is strikingly similar to navigating through your music. You can adjust volume and scrub through the video using the wheel. Also, when you leave a video midway, the 5G remembers where you left off and bookmarks you from that point. And, with the purchase of a $20 Video port, you can watch your photos and videos on a TV.
Any Drawbacks?
The 5G is not without its flaws. Here are some things that I was bothered by:
* The complete redesign of the 5G has caused some accessories to become obsolete. For instance, the Belkin iTrip doesn't work with the new headphone jack.
* Despite the resin coat, the surface is still highly susceptible to scratching.
* The 64-thousand color screen will cause some videos to show "gradient steps." This is especially apparent in those brightly-colored anime movies (i.e. Ninja Scroll, Macross Plus , just to name a few.)
* No file transfers for Firewire connections! You can only recharge with a Firewire.
* The packed-in sock has no access holes. It's essentially a pouch.
* On the surface, you need to upgrade to QuickTime Pro to encode video in iPod format.
Oh, Some Words of Advice
Note that I said "on the surface" for the encoding drawback. You don't need QuickTime Pro to encode your videos into an iPod-readable format. Instead, you can download this extremely useful (and free!) program called Videora iPod Converter (http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/). This program will take even DivX-formatted movies and encode them in H264 or MP4 format. Finally, just drag those files into your iPod through iTunes and you're done!
For you PSP videophiles, you can also use PSP Video 9 (http://www.pspvideo9.com) for your encoding needs. However, I find Videora's offering simpler and more straightforward.
The Final Verdict…
Is the 5G worthy of ownership? If you're an iPod fan, definitely yes. This is a big evolution in the iPod family and it will stick around for quite awhile. However, if you already own a PSP or a lightweight laptop, then you can do without the 5G. You can get the older 60 gigabyte 4G iPod for $270 and enjoy the benefits of what the iPod was originally made for: listening to music and archiving big files.
ADDENDUM (11/11/05)
Some extra tidbits of useful information:
* After only a month, the black iPod shows several glaring scratches. For now, the only available protection are those socks and some leather carrying cases. Speck Products (http://www.speckproducts.com) is about to release a slew of hard cases later this month. My experience with this case has been relatively positive, though I prefer Agent 18's polyurethane cases(http://agent18.com). If you cannot wait, there's a homebrew alternative: Cover the whole surface with Parafilm (a flexible plastic adhesive cover used in science labs and model shops). This method does little for shock, but it prevents scratching and still lets you see the screen and use all available ports.
* Like previous iPods, this iPod still suffers from photoelasticity (the rainbow-looking effect on the screen when viewed from certain angles.) There's nothing you can do about this, but hope that the screen distresses slowly. I've had my photo U2 iPod for almost a year, and it still works despite increasing signs of photoelasticity.
* Videora's encoder has poor support for H264 encoding. You must use MP4 encoding. Also, movies that are native widescreen will stretch vertically unless you encode in the proper resolution. I recommend (320x240/512kbps/96kbps) for standard def movies and (320x180/512kbps/96kbps) for widescreen movies. You can achieve 300 Mbytes for a 2-hour movie using these results.
* Some movies will play with the audio "out-of-sync." To prevent this, do not mess with the frames-per-second box.
* Firewire file support is not available because the firewire chipset is missing in the iPod.
* If iTunes is giving you trouble, you may download a similar and more potent software called ephPod (http://www.ephpod.com). ephPod allows you to do many things that iTunes can except transfer video and buy music/videos. It is a good (and free!) interim solution until your iTunes issue is fixed.
* Be wary of songs with faulty encoding. You'll know this when your iPod loads a particular song and freezes or turns off and is unable to turn back on. If this happens, press and hold the middle button and the "Menu" button for 10 seconds.
That's all for now. I will post more when necessary.
Before October 12, rumors were flying about the next generation of iPods (dubbed the 5G iPod.) Some rumors include a replaceable battery. The iPod's battery has always been a source of contention due to its limited charge cycles and difficulty in acquiring replacements. Others noted of a possible new navigation scheme. Apple's separation from Synaptics (the company that makes the click wheel) hinted at a departure from the click wheel. The hottest rumor is the possible inclusion of video playback. After five years, many felt it was time.
October 12 goes by. Steve Jobs held a convention known as "One More Thing." Here he unveiled the new iPod and many of the rumors have come true. Here's what the new iPod, herein referred to as the 5G.
What's Inside the Rectangle?
Yes, notice that the package no longer comes in a box. The lower price tag for the increased space and functionality has created a tradeoff in the accessories department. The slimmer package now contains the player, white headphones, USB cord, manual, iTunes CD, and a pouch. Gone are the Firewire cord, AC adaptor, and USB/Firewire dock.
What About the New iPod?
Here are the physical changes of the 5G:
* The 5G is nearly 40% thinner than the 4th generation iPod.
(http://media.arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/video-ipod.media/ipods-samesize-web.jpg) Width comparison between 4G and 5G iPod. Courtesy Ars Technica.
* The LCD screen is now 2.5" instead of 2".
* The headphone jack is located on the top-right corner.
* The click wheel is based on the Nano and is 30% smaller than the old Synaptics wheel.
* The outermost layer is coated with a resin, making it more scratch-resistant.
What About on the Inside?
Whoa nelly. Here's where the money comes from:
* Video capability can play movies encoded in H264 or MP4 formats.
* Ability to hold photos and show slideshows and album art.
* Battery lasts (as tested by me) 14 hours through music playback and 2.5 hours on video.
* The smaller Toshiba hard drive now comes in 30 gigabytes as minimum capacity.
* Three new programs (World Clock, Stop Watch, and Screen Lock.)
Watching video on the 5G is no strain at all. Even captions are easy to read. Navigating through your videos is strikingly similar to navigating through your music. You can adjust volume and scrub through the video using the wheel. Also, when you leave a video midway, the 5G remembers where you left off and bookmarks you from that point. And, with the purchase of a $20 Video port, you can watch your photos and videos on a TV.
Any Drawbacks?
The 5G is not without its flaws. Here are some things that I was bothered by:
* The complete redesign of the 5G has caused some accessories to become obsolete. For instance, the Belkin iTrip doesn't work with the new headphone jack.
* Despite the resin coat, the surface is still highly susceptible to scratching.
* The 64-thousand color screen will cause some videos to show "gradient steps." This is especially apparent in those brightly-colored anime movies (i.e. Ninja Scroll, Macross Plus , just to name a few.)
* No file transfers for Firewire connections! You can only recharge with a Firewire.
* The packed-in sock has no access holes. It's essentially a pouch.
* On the surface, you need to upgrade to QuickTime Pro to encode video in iPod format.
Oh, Some Words of Advice
Note that I said "on the surface" for the encoding drawback. You don't need QuickTime Pro to encode your videos into an iPod-readable format. Instead, you can download this extremely useful (and free!) program called Videora iPod Converter (http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/). This program will take even DivX-formatted movies and encode them in H264 or MP4 format. Finally, just drag those files into your iPod through iTunes and you're done!
For you PSP videophiles, you can also use PSP Video 9 (http://www.pspvideo9.com) for your encoding needs. However, I find Videora's offering simpler and more straightforward.
The Final Verdict…
Is the 5G worthy of ownership? If you're an iPod fan, definitely yes. This is a big evolution in the iPod family and it will stick around for quite awhile. However, if you already own a PSP or a lightweight laptop, then you can do without the 5G. You can get the older 60 gigabyte 4G iPod for $270 and enjoy the benefits of what the iPod was originally made for: listening to music and archiving big files.
ADDENDUM (11/11/05)
Some extra tidbits of useful information:
* After only a month, the black iPod shows several glaring scratches. For now, the only available protection are those socks and some leather carrying cases. Speck Products (http://www.speckproducts.com) is about to release a slew of hard cases later this month. My experience with this case has been relatively positive, though I prefer Agent 18's polyurethane cases(http://agent18.com). If you cannot wait, there's a homebrew alternative: Cover the whole surface with Parafilm (a flexible plastic adhesive cover used in science labs and model shops). This method does little for shock, but it prevents scratching and still lets you see the screen and use all available ports.
* Like previous iPods, this iPod still suffers from photoelasticity (the rainbow-looking effect on the screen when viewed from certain angles.) There's nothing you can do about this, but hope that the screen distresses slowly. I've had my photo U2 iPod for almost a year, and it still works despite increasing signs of photoelasticity.
* Videora's encoder has poor support for H264 encoding. You must use MP4 encoding. Also, movies that are native widescreen will stretch vertically unless you encode in the proper resolution. I recommend (320x240/512kbps/96kbps) for standard def movies and (320x180/512kbps/96kbps) for widescreen movies. You can achieve 300 Mbytes for a 2-hour movie using these results.
* Some movies will play with the audio "out-of-sync." To prevent this, do not mess with the frames-per-second box.
* Firewire file support is not available because the firewire chipset is missing in the iPod.
* If iTunes is giving you trouble, you may download a similar and more potent software called ephPod (http://www.ephpod.com). ephPod allows you to do many things that iTunes can except transfer video and buy music/videos. It is a good (and free!) interim solution until your iTunes issue is fixed.
* Be wary of songs with faulty encoding. You'll know this when your iPod loads a particular song and freezes or turns off and is unable to turn back on. If this happens, press and hold the middle button and the "Menu" button for 10 seconds.
That's all for now. I will post more when necessary.
