Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, white)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MA448LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The amazingly low priced updated Apple iPod gets many under-the-hood improvements, but it's still not a true video player.
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CNET editors' review
Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, white)
price range: $229.00
- Reviewed by: James Kim
- Reviewed on: 09/19/2006
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.
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 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.
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).
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.
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?
Gapless playback is probably one of the most requested minor features in any MP3 player, and Apple has responded. Many music fanatics, especially those who like dance music, can now enjoy their music without annoying gaps. I think this is a valuable feature that should be implemented more throughout the MP3 world (the classic Rio Karma and the current Archos 04 series also do pure gapless playback). The new iPod lineup (the updated iPod, iPod Nano, and iPod Shuffle) as well as the older 5th generation iPod with the software update) can apply the gapless playback settings that need to be manually stitched to each track in iTunes (Editor's correction: we had earlier reported that the original 5th-generation could not playback gapless audio).
Finally, Apple has added a refined games section, which includes titles such as Bejeweled, Tetris, Texas Hold 'Em, and Pac-Man. The games are quality, though familiar games such as Pac-Man take some adjustment as you need to tap the Click Wheel to control the little guy. It also takes a good 12 seconds to load a game. New games are available online at the iTunes Store and will cost $4.99 each.
As we all know, the new iPod is dependent on iTunes 7 (read the review), particularly when it comes to DRMed audio or video. The software, which has added both a cool interface (like Cover Flow) and audio playback features (such as gapless playback) has frustrated many users with its bugginess. Given my bug-free experience on both Mac and Windows versions, my review of iTunes 7 was favorable. But beware that the software has caused headaches for many users-- Apple needs to issue an update soon.
In addition to being home base for setting up gapless playback of tracks on the iPod, iTunes 7 now features a device manager option that allows you to set your iPod up directly within the iTunes interface. The main landing page displays a graphic and vital stats of your iPod and allows you to check off universal settings such as "Manually manage music and videos" and "Only sync checked items." Additionally, you can update or restore your iPod from this summary page. Content is managed by clicking tabs for specific types such as Music, Movies, TV Shows, and Contacts. Finally, at the bottom of this window is a color-coded capacity meter that visually breaks down Audio, Video, Photo, Other, and Free Space. Again, it's not like I haven't seen integrated management in Windows Media Player, but the use of a nested window rather than a new one helps. One more related feature: You're now allowed to move songs off the iPod as long as the recipient computer is authorized to listen to or view the content. So now you can transfer your purchased music (no MP3s) from your work computer to your home computer using the iPod. Simply authorize a new computer using the new Store/Authorize Computer option.
What can your old iPod do? And what we'd like to see improved
Owners of the original nonenhanced iPod benefit from upgrading to firmware 1.2. In addition to brightness control, new features include letter overlay, gapless playback, and the ability to playback the new 640x480 iTunes video content on the 320x240 screen. Older iPodders cannot play the enhanced iPod games nor can they perform an instant search (Editor's note: we had earlier reported that the older iPod did not feature gapless playback; in fact, it does with software update 1.2).
While the iPod's new features give it new life, we're disappointed that Apple couldn't add things that appear on most other MP3 players. You'd think Apple could integrate an FM radio, despite the slender size of the iPod. It seems the iPod equalizer presets have been improved. The unit sounds good and hiss free, though not as punchy and crisp as I prefer. I don't understand why Apple does not implement a custom EQ.
iPod performance: ups and downs
Most of us know that the preenhanced iPod was dogged for its two-plus hours of video battery life--a scrawny amount for watching movies in addition to enjoying music.. Now you'll get 75 percent more battery life with both sizes--that means you'll get up to a rated 3.5 hours of video battery life for the 30GB version and up to 6.5 hours for the 80GB. Audio playback is, strangely, the same--that is, up to 14 hours for the 30GB and 20 hours for the 80G. For CNET Labs tests, we got our hands on an 80GB version, which did nearly meet the audio estimate with 19.8 hours. When set to "factory brightness," the player offered a rather spectacular 8.7 hour battery life for video.
In unofficial testing, the 80GB version was able to play back a wide-screen iTunes movie (with brightness at default) more than three times, and very close to 6.5 hours. Officially, the CNET Lab tests found the iPod could handle 8.6 hours of video playback using the default brightness setting, 5.6 hours at maximum brightness, and 19.8 hours of audio-only playback. That's pretty impressive. Video, too, looks nicer on a brighter screen (and on a new iPod with a virgin screen), though the wide-screen movies are just too small to fully enjoy.
Boosting battery life will always make a product more appealing, and it looks like Apple responded to all the complaints. Basically, this brings the iPod in line with other players, such as the Creative Zen Vision:M and the Toshiba Gigabeat S, in terms of video battery life. And now you can watch a couple of movies on a plane trip, plus have some extra juice for music and photos. Navigating the iPod is as smooth as ever--we experienced little to nil processor delays, though we often feel the hard drive engaging and disengaging.
So that's it--while the 6G "true video" iPod will still be a figment of the tech world's imagination (check back at Macworld '07), the enhanced 5G iPod looks more attractive than ever with its incremental updates. It looks the same as the original (accessory companies breathe a collective sigh), but under the hood, you have an iPod that makes the original 5G iPod look rusty.
Pricing is a huge aspect here; $249 for the 30GB iPod, as far as I know, is the best price for a 30GB player I've ever seen. And for another $100, you get 80GB! Nice job there, Apple. For me personally, the gapless playback and better battery life make the iPod the most attractive one to date, and it's certainly a better value than the similarly priced but much smaller 8GB Nano.
User reviews
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good price but not as good as it could be
by Sheemo44 on September 15, 2006
Pros: Screen backlight, 80 gigs
Cons: small screen, decent battery
Summary: i am not a hater out to get the iPod, i am actually a fan of it after having 2. But when the video came out, i was a little ...
Summary: i am not a hater out to get the iPod, i am actually a fan of it after having 2. But when the video came out, i was a little upset. The only thing i reeli like about the upgrade was the extended battery and the brighter screen. Sure it is the most competitively priced PMP out there, but 80 gigs should get u more than 100 hours of video. last time ive checked u could hold more on a 50 gig player. Apple used to be the undisputed king for media but now i believe the iPod is gonna fall to the Microsoft Zune or the archos 404. As i said, for apple to capture the market back, they are gonna have to do something extraordinary for their next player.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love it!!!!
by larenas829 on January 9, 2008
Pros: Stores almost anything on this device!
Cons: a bit heavy
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good the best
by ipod 755 on July 7, 2007
Pros: good the best
Cons: good the best
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I love it!
by donnaleeh on May 6, 2007
Pros: Now I can watch video podcasts
Cons: A little slow
Summary: I went from an iPod mini to this and I'm very happy. I download podcasts everyday before work and now I don't have to delete to make room ...
Summary: I went from an iPod mini to this and I'm very happy. I download podcasts everyday before work and now I don't have to delete to make room for anything. Even though the screen is small, it is still enough to watch video podcasts.
I used my mini every day for a year and a half with no problems, so I'm a happy repeat buyer. -
An all-around decent gadget to own
by sleepsinrain on May 3, 2007
Pros: Great storage capacity, stylish, sleek, banishes boredom
Cons: Easily scratched, freezes occasionally, no FM radio, some minor software issues, limited color choices, mediocre battery life
Summary: When these doohickies were first released about six years ago, I was extremely skeptical (mainly because of my anti-follow-the-crowd instinct)but as time went by and my playlist grew larger ...
Summary: When these doohickies were first released about six years ago, I was extremely skeptical (mainly because of my anti-follow-the-crowd instinct)but as time went by and my playlist grew larger and larger, I realized how convenient getting one would be. Simply put, you have an almost infinite amount of space to fill with every scrap of delicious media you can get your paws on and then some. Besides risking the possibility of spending ungodly sums of money on accessories, programs, and replacement battery kits (yes they exist, so do a little research before you hand over 60-some bucks to Apple to get a ressurected/used unit in return), I recommend it to anyone who wants to keep their beloved music collection in one neat little package.
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It plays music. It's pretty. It has a lot of lag the 4G didn't.
by GavinSmith on April 26, 2007
Pros: Looks great, massive amount of storage (80GB), high-quality screen and bright baklight (though power consuming), very user-friendly controls
Cons: Incredibly lagging software (seems much worse than the 20GB Photo with freezing and poor transition animation when browsing), prone to scratches (a case is a necessity), very tempermental with iTunes
Summary: I got this 80GB iPod Video as a replacement by Best Buy for my broken 20GB Photo. Boy, I miss that iPod - though it was only 20GB, it didn'...
Summary: I got this 80GB iPod Video as a replacement by Best Buy for my broken 20GB Photo. Boy, I miss that iPod - though it was only 20GB, it didn't bring nearly as many software issues to the table. Since getting this iPod everything's become more complex. The iPod MUST be ejected via My Computer (on Windows) before unplugging as it's in a constant state of 'do not disconnect' otherwise. The menu transitions have become laggy. The battery life, though also decreased from the 20GB, isn't too bad in good weather - try it on a cold day and you might not have the same luck. I find one charge will get me through a day on minimum brightness with listening for about 5-7 hours and watching 1-2 hours of video podcasts. Asthetically, it's also less appealing than the 20GB - the scroll wheel is out of proportion to the screen and just plain looks bad. One positive is that this 80GB is the same thickness as my 20GB, though a bit wider.
The screen, I find, is alright for watching podcasts like Diggnation where there's not too much action or detail. If you want to watch your McGuiver on this thing, don't.
I'd really love it if Apple were to bring back the old model with the new capacities. -
Best mp3 I've ever had.
by ilovemyipod03 on March 25, 2007
Pros: Sleek design
Cons: Can't put your own movies on with iTunes.
Summary: I love it! The only bad thing is that you can't put your own dvds onto iTunes to put on your iPod. Overall, my ipod rocks and I listen ...
Summary: I love it! The only bad thing is that you can't put your own dvds onto iTunes to put on your iPod. Overall, my ipod rocks and I listen to it pretty much everyday!
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Simply the best!
by Helvidius on February 27, 2007
Pros: Intuitive interface, elegant design, bright display
Cons: Does not come out of the box with a way to power it without a computer.
Summary: Previously I owned a 1st Gen iPod Shuffle and a Sandisk m230 mp3 player. Both were great, but I was wanting something more. Both of my flash-based players have 512MB ...
Summary: Previously I owned a 1st Gen iPod Shuffle and a Sandisk m230 mp3 player. Both were great, but I was wanting something more. Both of my flash-based players have 512MB of RAM. That is great for an 8 hour listening experience. But oftentimes when I would be at work I would find myself more in the mood to listen to something other than the selection that I decided to put on my players before I went to work. I wanted something that would hold my entire music collection and have the capability of playing video.
I shopped around long and hard and it was between the 80GB iPod and the 80GB Archos 504. With all things being equal, I decided on the iPod because it could also hold contact information and play games. Though I'm not a gamer, per se, there are sometimes when I just would like to play a game of solitaire, or Bejeweled, and the iPod fills this want.
The only reason why I didn't give it a "10" was that I cannot plug the iPod into power while using it at the same time. Right now I've just got the USB cord that it came with, and once it is plugged into a computer, it is only good for its external storage capabilities. Other than that, it is perfect for what I want.
I did play with the Creative Zen and the Zune. I must say that the Zune is slightly more intuitive than the iPod. The Zen is not intuitive at all. I'm a fairly tech-savvy guy, and I could not figure out some of the Zen's functions after 10 minutes of trying. The iPod and the Zune worked the way that you hoped that they would. The Zune is probably more advanced, from a hardware perspective, but currently M$ has it crippled and it only comes in the 30GB model.
If you are thinking about getting a portable media player that can play both audio & video, please consider the iPod. You'll be glad that you did. -
Great device
by Critical Mass on January 16, 2007
Pros: Bright Screen, Touch Wheel, Ease of use
Cons: Hard to walkaround with in my pocket with a case on it (I don't like belt clips for the fear of looseing it)
Summary: I always saw people with the white iPod headphone and thought they were suckers.
Now that I have one of my own I'm glad to be one of those ...Summary: I always saw people with the white iPod headphone and thought they were suckers.
Now that I have one of my own I'm glad to be one of those suckers. not too many devices out there allows you to carry your entire library in such a small package
I just don't like how iTunes manages my library. I just WMP to rip my cd's and then add the folder to my iTunes. It could definatly use a bigger screen. -
Excellent I love it!!
by jrlien on December 30, 2006
Pros: Very easy to use. Lots of accesories.
Cons: it is expensive for the average person.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MA448LL/A
- Description: Now that you can buy movies from the iTunes Store and sync them to your iPod, the whole world is your theater. With a 30GB or 80GB iPod in hand, those movies fit comfortably next to TV shows, new iPod games, podcasts, audiobooks, photo albums, and, of course, an entire library of music - up to 20,000 songs, in fact. How much can your pocket hold? That's up to you and your iPod. It holds up to 20,000 songs, up to 25,000 photos, and up to 100 hours of video - or any combination of each. So you can browse movies on the iTunes Store, download the ones you want (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, perhaps?), and then sync it to your iPod. Same goes for TV episodes, new iPod games, 99¢ songs, best-selling audiobooks, and an entire universe of free podcasts. Go ahead. Fill 'er up. With all that music at your fingertips, you may never want to stop listening. Lucky thing your iPod plays audio for up to 20 hours. Or, if you'd rather watch, you can feast your eyes on movies and TV shows for up to six-and-a-half hours. It might be a miracle. Otherwise, it's hard to explain exactly how 30GB of storage can fit into an iPod that's over 30% thinner than the previous fourth generation. Or how an 80GB iPod can be the same size as the 60GB model before it. However it happened, it means you can carry your entire music collection - plus a nice selection of video - absolutely everywhere you go. And a 60% brighter, more vibrant display gives your album art, photos, and video extra oomph. Finding what you want to hear among 20,000 songs could be quite a chore - unless you have an iPod. A new interface lets you search your iPod using the patented Click Wheel. And if you're a fan of live albums, classical works, or anything that sounds best when it's continuous, iPod supports gapless playback that seamlessly transitions from one song to another.
General
- Width 2.4 in
- Depth 0.6 in
- Product type Digital player
- Height 4.1 in
- PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
- Weight 5.5 oz
- Color White
- Digital storage Built-in 80 GB Hard disk drive
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 2.4 in x 0.6 in x 4.1 in
- Included accessories Carrying case, Docking station adapter
- Packaged quantity 1
- Digital storage media capacity 80 GB
- iPod Generation 5G
- Digital storage media type Hard disk drive
- Digital storage media form factor Built-in
Digital Player / Recorder
- Digital player supported digital audio standards WAV, AIFF, Audible, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless
- Digital player response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Digital player playback modes Playlist, All tracks repeat, One track repeat, Random play / shuffle
- Digital player supported bit rate 16 - 320
- Digital player ID3 tags support Yes
- External hard drive function Yes
- Digital player additional features Variable bit-rate compatible
Battery
- Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
- Battery Enclosure Type Integrated
- Technology Lithium ion
- Recharge Time 4 hour(s)
- Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
- Mfr estimated battery life 20 hour(s)
- Battery Life Details Slideshows with music 6 hour(s), Digital playback 20 hour(s), Video playback 6.5 hour(s)
Audio System
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Additional features Hold button, Phone book, Built-in games, H.264 playback, USB 2.0 compatibility, Battery level indication, Volume limiter, Rechargeable capability, MPEG-4 playback, Notes, Calendar, Upgradeable firmware, Date display, Photo wallet, Playback speed control
Cable(s) / Peripheral(s)
- Cable(s) included 1 x USB cable - External
System Requirements
- Min Operating system Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later, Apple MacOS X 10.3.9 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later
Connections
- Connector type 1 x Docking station, 1 x Headphones / remote control / composite video Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display LCD
- Diagonal size 2.5 in
- Resolution 320 x 240
- Backlight display Yes
- Display illumination color White
- Display menu language Hungarian, Norwegian, Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Greek, French, German, Polish, Finnish, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Czech, Dutch, Korean, English, Portuguese, Chinese (traditional), Turkish, Russian, Japanese
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
Audio Features
- Timer Stopwatch, Sleep, Wake
- Built-in clock Alarm, Digital clock, Timer
Equalizer
- Equalizer factory preset qty 20
Remote Control
- Remote control None
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Impedance 32 Ohm
- Connectivity technology Wired
Product series
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Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 30GB, black)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, 30 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, black)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, 80 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 80GB, white)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, 80 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod (fifth-generation update, 30GB, white)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, 30 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Manufacturer info
- Apple
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.apple.com
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
