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  Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, black)

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Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, black) =================================================

Reviewed by James Kim on 09/19/2006

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See all products in the Apple iPod series (fifth-generation update) See all Apple products

    CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
     Detailed editors' rating

       Design : 9.0
       Features : 8.0
       Performance : 8.0
       Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)

    Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 138 reviews

    See all user reviews

CNET Editors’ ChoiceSep 06

Price:

$499.99

Compare prices:

Amazon.com Marketplace

$499.99

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  Quick specs

  Device type: Digital player

  Digital player supported digital audio standards: AAC MP3 WAV AIFF
   Audible Apple Lossless

  Digital storage media capacity: 80 GB

  See full specifications

Add to my list Product summary

The good: The enhanced iPod has the same sleek design with improved video battery life and brighter screen; it brings gapless playback to the masses; up to 80GB; new features such as instant search and enhanced games; movies now available in iTunes 7; excellent overall value.

The bad: The Apple iPod has added no major functions such as FM radio, wireless, recording; small screen not conducive to movie viewing; proprietary USB cable; narrow native video-format compatibility; body is still scratch prone.

The bottom line: The amazingly low priced updated Apple iPod gets many under-the-hood improvements, but it’s still not a true video player.

Read full review See all prices

Compare this mp3 player to:

  Apple iPod Apple iPod Starting at $499.99

   Apple iPod Classic Apple iPod Classic Starting at $314.39

      Editor's rating: 4.0 out of 5

   

   Apple iPod Nano Apple iPod Nano Starting at $134.99

      Editor's rating: 4.0 out of 5

   

   Apple iPod Touch Apple iPod Touch Starting at $358.00

      Editor's rating: 4.5 out of 5

   

   Apple iPod Nano Apple iPod Nano Starting at $134.99

      Editor's rating: 4.0 out of 5

   

  Compare selected

CNET editors’ review

CNET Editors’ ChoiceSep 06

  CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
   Detailed editors' rating

     Design : 9.0
     Features : 8.0
     Performance : 8.0
     Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)

  Reviewed by:James Kim

  Reviewed on: 09/19/2006

Photo gallery: iPod nano Photo gallery: Apple iPod At Apple’s September 12 media event, Steve Jobs jumped right into introducing an updated fifth-generation iPod. Not a tremendous surprise here, as we believed the sixth-generation “true video iPod” would not be announced until later in the year or even early in 2007. Underneath the familiar and still-scratch-prone polycarbonate and metal skin of the updated iPod (a.k.a. the 5.5 generation, or 5.5G) lies a more mature iPod, many steps wiser and more able than its one-year-old predecessor. The iPod gains many incremental improvements, including a brighter screen and better video battery life, but probably the most appealing aspect is the tantalizing price points of $249 for the 30GB version and $349 for the huge 80GB version (available in both white and black). While it may still not fully address the needs of a new population of iTunes movie watchers, the updated iPod is the best one to date.

Most of this review of the 5.5G iPod will cover new features and performance numbers. For a closer look at the basic design and base features of the iPod, read this review.

Same look and feel The iPod’s physical specs are nearly the same as those of the original fifth generation. It’s still one of the sleekest high-capacity players around at 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.43 inches and 4.8 ounces for the 30GB and 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.55 inches and 5.5 ounces for the 80GB model, which has exactly the same dimensions and weight as the now-defunct 60GB version. For me personally, the 80GB version (the one we actually reviewed) feels nicer in the hand than the razor-thin 30GB. The 80GB is enticing for video addicts both for the capacity (iTunes movies are about 1.5GB) and the better battery life (rated for up to 6.5 hours); plus, it’s a great value at $349. Though the $249 retail price tag for the 30GB version is outstanding, excellent Windows Media players such as Creative’s 30GB Zen Vision:M and Toshiba’s 30GB Gigabeat S cost nearly the same on the street.

The 80GB iPod in black next to the 30GB Toshiba Gigabeat S.

The iPod is still pretty easy to scratch, both on the soft and shiny plastic face and the classic metallic backside. Fingerprints love the iPod more than they do most players. You’ll definitely want to carry the iPod in a case, or at least protect the screen with adhesive film, since now you’ll be watching $9.99 iTunes movies. I think the black version looks nicer, but scratches show up on it more easily. A new Nano-like scratch- and print-proof aluminum case would have taken the iPod over the top.

The new iPod also has a brighter screen–by up to 60 percent. Not that the iPod had a dim screen in the first place, but brighter is always better, especially when it doesn’t come at the cost of battery life. In a side-by-side comparison of the old and new screens (at default brightness), the new iPod is noticeably brighter. Even after updating the old iPod to firmware 1.2, which among other things adds brightness control, the old iPod screen at the brightest setting matches only the new one’s default setting. Battery life will take a hit at the higher setting, so turn it up only when your’e watching video or viewing photos. You can even adjust brightness while watching a movie by clicking the Select button twice during playback. Conversely, you should turn the brightness down when listening to audio; as always, the iPod can be viewed with the backlight turned off.

You can adjust brightness both within the Settings menu and while you’re watching a video.

I still have a problem with watching video for more than 30 minutes on that small 2.5-inch screen. Even a kickstand would help for hands-free viewing, though a bigger-screened unit like the Cowon A2 or Archos 604 would have made the portable iTunes movie experience more satisfying. There are some portable accessories such as the Memorex iFlip that dock with the iPod and increase its viewing size to up to 8.4 inches. Though the proprietary dock connector isn’t nearly as convenient as a standard USB port, the iPod benefits from its thousands of dock connector-based third-party accessories.

Once again, Apple does a good job of minimizing packaging and bundled accessories, which include a newly designed set of white earbuds, a proprietary USB cable, a soft case, and a dock adapter. Unfortunately, like many MP3 players these days, you’ll have to pony up extra to get a power adapter ($29). You also don’t get an iTunes software CD, which leaves nonconnected folks in the dust. And while the futuristic headphones sound decent, they didn’t stay firmly in my ears (no foam earbud covers in this version).

The 80GB iPod with its bundled accessories: notice the lack of a power adapter.

A wiser iPod The iPod’s enhanced software definitely makes it better. For one, you can search tunes using an alphabet-style instant search. The last option in the Music menu, Search places a two-line virtual keyboard at the bottom of the screen; the first letter you select brings up all artist, album, and song titles that begin with that letter, with albums and artists indicated by icons. Results pop up dynamically as you enter new letters. If you type in ca, you’ll get results listed by all the titles that start with ca, then continue with any mention of the letters ca in any title. It’s a little more sophisticated than the search features found in the Creative Zen Vision:M (and other players that actually invented search-by-letters), but because you have to select Done to browse your results, it’s a tad more tedious to use.

The search feature, which brings the iPod up to speed with some other brands, gives you a leg up on your massive music library.

Another “borrowed” feature is that as you scroll through tracks, the first letter of the track section appears as a graphical button overlay. This is truly convenient when scrolling through huge lists where your desired alphabet “sector” used to whiz by, and you’d have to make a U-turn. I’ve found that I still tend to pass up my desired letter, but not by much. Oh, yeah; does this navigation goodie remind you of the Toshiba Gigabeat S?

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Most helpful user reviews

  Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 138 reviews

  My rating: 0 stars Write review

  

   Showing 3 of 138 user reviews

  

   3.5 stars

   33 out of 35 people found this helpful

   "Great for everyday use"

   by Ch1nad0g on September 21, 2006

  

   3.0 stars

   20 out of 25 people found this helpful

   "Comparison Shopping"

   by itango on September 26, 2006

  

   4.5 stars

   16 out of 16 people found this helpful

   "it works great for the Practical and everyday human - yes I own
   one"

   by Stvveo on September 20, 2006

  See all 138 user reviews Write review

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Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, black): $499.99

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Recent user reviews

  Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 138 reviews

  My rating: 0 stars Write review

  

   Showing 3 of 138 user reviews

  

   0.5 stars

   "This product is a total dog. Do NOT buy this product."

   by tkenna13 on February 12, 2009

  

   3.5 stars

   "A nice MP3 player that works well"

   by ZephyrVolta on September 12, 2008

  

   5.0 stars

   "Best iPod ever"

   by paYamH on August 2, 2008

  See all 138 user reviews Write review

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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

   alaTest.com

   Editors' rating: 91

   Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 14619 reviews of Apple
   iPod (Video) (5th Gen) from international magazines and websites.
   Experts rate this product 83/100 and users 83/100. Comparing these
   reviews to 407682 other MP3 Players reviews gives this product an
   overall alaScore™ 91/100 = Excellent.

   Read full review

  

   ilounge.com

   Editors' rating: 100

   Summary: Hasta la vista, Apple iPod U2 Special Edition (Color).
   Off to pasture, like so many generations before you

   Read full review

  

   the-gadgeteer.com

   Read full review

  

   mobiletechreview.com

   Editors' rating: 100

   Summary: It's an iPod- what's not to like? It's gorgeous, can hold
   an obscene amount of music, show photos, easily fit in your pocket
   and there are a huge number of tempting accessories available for
   it. It's the easiest to use among media players with an ...

   Read full review

  

   bayreviews.com

   Editors' rating: 100

   Summary: This is the best of the best... of the best! That's all I
   can say about it.

   Read full review

  

   mp3.com

   Editors' rating: 83

   Summary: The amazingly low priced updated Apple iPod gets many
   under-the-hood improvements, but it's still not a true video
   player.

   Read full review

Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, black)

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Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, black)

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