New Apple Ipod Nano Video 30GB

Apple Ipod Nano Video 30GB - With Video IPod, the Music Still Comes First

When Apple Computer unveiled the video-capable version of its popular iPod music player this month, it trumpeted the fact that users could download Pixar short films and top music videos, along with recent episodes of "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives."

But video clips of a spicier nature quickly became available as free, iPod-friendly downloads. That created an immediate problem for parents already scrambling to keep abreast of their teenagers' computer routines.

Consider that you can now get the 30GB model for the same price as the previous-generation 20GB model, and you have a pretty impressive product.

The new 30GB iPod is 30 percent thinner than the previous 20GB color model, but the height and width are the same. (The current 60GB model is roughly 10 percent slimmer than the older 20GB model.) This may not seem like a big difference on paper, but we were impressed with the new model's slimmed-down figure when we held the two side by side. The 2.5-inch backlit LCD, at 320 by 240 pixels, is noticeably bigger than the previous 2-inch 220-by-176 screen.

Apple also eliminated the 9-pin remote-control connector in this version, which means third parties such as Griffin and Belkin will have to update their accessory lines. Apple's reasoning was that accessories should go through the already-present dock connector rather than through a second proprietary port.

If you just happen to be in the market for a music player, the iPod Video is a no-brainer, suiting the needs of music, video and photos all in one, and landing at the same price points ($299 for 30 gigs and $399 for 60 gigs) as the previous generation. But does the new iPod offer enough new features to be worth the upgrade for those with previous generations, particularly if you already own a 4g (4th generation) with a color screen? That answer is yet to come when IGN Gear unleashes our full in-depth iPod Video review next week.