Brian’s Review Blog

I must’ve been a good boy last year, either that or Santa’s standards are dropping, because I was fortunate enough to find an iPod Photo in my stocking on Christmas morning.

Even though this is my first iPod/MP3 player, I was well aware of the convenience of this invention. All my albums available at once, at my fingertips - magic!! At 40 GB, this iPod Photo has the capacity to hold 10,000 songs.

As an alpha-male, the photo side of the product is somewhat superflous, although a friend downloaded some photographs and all appears to be good. Photos can be viewed in library or sideshow format, and are stored by month and year.Extras on the iPod photo include clock, contacts, calender and some fun games. “Brick” is reminiscent of Breakout from the old Atari 2600 (no complaints there!!), the “Music Quiz” plays snippets from one of your tunes and gives you five options to choose. Alot more fun than it sounds! “Solitaire” does exactly what it says on the tin, and “Parachute” allows you to shoot down some helicopters and their occupants. Fun for all the family. All can be played whilst listening to your music (except for the quiz, obviously).

The instructions to the iPod are simple and easy to read. However, I would prefer more detailed explanation on how to load your CDs through iTunes onto the iPod. Instead you get advised to visit a website, and you’re left with the feeling that they weren’t bothered completing the manual properly.

The menus on the iPod are clear and the control panel sensitive, but not too sensitive (a bit like the leading guy in a chick flick). The iPod Photo weighs 6.4 ounces, is 0.75 inches thick, 2.4 inches wide, and 4.1 inches tall. There are lighter, thinner iPods available, but I think these specifications are perfect. Small enough to fit in your pocket, but not light enough to fall from it unnoticed.

The earphones provided are fine. Nothing fancy but comfortable. The sound quality is top notch. The iPod comes with a battery charger, and I’d estimate that recharging is required after six or seven hours worth of listening. That could be a reflection on the volume level I use (it goes up to 11 in Spinal Tap terms!)

What more can I say? Even after only a few weeks, I can’t imagine my life without my new iPod Photo!!Best Christmas pressie since the scalectrix.