In many ways, the iPod is what turned Apple from a desktop and laptop maker that dramatically tailed Microsoft to now being one of the juggernauts of the technology world. It's hard sometimes to remember what it was like to not have so much functionality from a pocket-sized device, and really, so much of what has happened today in the mobile device market can trace its roots back to the original iPod and its many later incarnations.
However, in part as a result of the rising popularity of smartphones and tablets, the iPod is no longer the default music listening device it once was. After all, some consumers may prefer to plug their headphones into an iPhone rather than use a separate mp3 device to listen to music. Still, lots of people love iPods, and Apple recently catered to this market by creating a fifth-generation iPod. But is this new device right for you? Let's take a look at its positive and negative attributes to find out.
Pros:
- Four-inch Retina display
- Different versions feature 16, 32 and 64 gigabytes of memory
- Dual-core A5 processor
- High-definition camera on the front for video and pictures
- The 16GB version only costs $229, with rumors swirling that the price will likely drop even further in the coming months
- Siri voice command functionality
- New iOS7 now available in beta version for the newest iPods
Cons:
- The display, processor and front-facing camera remain unchanged from earlier versions
- The latest iPod lacks a rear-facing camera
- It has no strap post, which means you can't as easily attach it to your arm
- New models only come in black or white, as opposed to the many colors available with older models
“For many people the lack of color choices and wrist strap won't be that important. The missing rear-facing iSight camera, with its 5-megapixel photos and 1080p video, may give you pause, however,” Macworld noted. “It's great that Apple has again more or less aligned the specs across its touch line, but for $70 more than the 16GB model, the full iPod touch experience awaits – along with twice the storage capacity, to boot. As long as you know what you (or your recipient) is getting into, the $229 16GB model is a nice addition, but it might not meet the needs of some touch users.”
At the end of the day, only you can decide if this latest iPod is the ideal music-playing device. Regardless of whether you decide to invest in this new product or keep using the beloved device you've had for years, know that iResQ's iPod repair services will keep you rocking well into the future.