The fifth generation of the Apple iPod Nano came out in 2009 and looks just about the same as the model it replaced. This MP3 player measures 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.25 inches and comes with a slightly bigger 2.2-inch (the 4G model had a 2.0-inch screen) display. Another aspect that sets this model apart from the 4G version is the polished aluminum finish. The most noticeable difference between these two models would have to be the camera of the 5G located on its back.

As far as the user interface is concerned, it has remained just about the same as it was in the fourth generation, except for several new menus for the FM radio, camera and fitness features. The bigger 2.2-inch display is able to show up to 12 lines which are 2 lines more than before. In addition, the “Now Playing” screen can show artist, title and album information in three bolder lines sitting at the screen’s top, lines which are now more readable than before.

As for the hardware design elements, these have remained just about the same. The front of the Nano 5G is home to the company’s Click Wheel, sitting below the curved glass screen. This wheel is approximately one-inch wide, while on top of the device there is a hold switch. On the bottom of the 5G model are the headphone jack and the dock connection.

Regarding features, it carries all of the goodies found in the previous model, like music & video playback, podcasts, along with additional features like games, calendar, photos, stopwatch, alarms, notes, clocks and contacts. In addition, the Apple iPod Nano 5G comes with Genius Mix support, an integrated pedometer, built-in speaker, voice recording, FM radio and video camera.

Even though the list of added features is impressive, the main reason anyone would buy the Nano would be for the music playback. You get to play an extensive range of music files, podcasts and audiobooks as the Nano offers support for a lot of audio formats, including MP3, AIFF, AAC and Apple Lossless. Transferring your favorite music is done via iTunes which as you probably know is very easy to use. Some of the audio formats which have to be converted in order to work on the iPod include OGG, FLAC and WMA files.

The most important new feature of the fifth generation is without any doubt the video camera located at the back in the lower right corner. This camera is very easy to use and has a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. It can also do video recording in the MP4/H.264 format. With the 8GB version of the Nano you will be able to store up to 16 hours of video which is more than enough for most users. Unfortunately, the video quality of the clips taken indoors is rather poor and you don’t get even the basic contrast and brightness controls. Even so, for such an affordable product, the addition of a camera is impressive.

Apple has rated the battery of the iPod Nano 5G at a more than decent 24 hours of audio placyback or up to 5 hours of video playback which is one hour more than the 4G model. What’s even more impressive is that real life tests have shown that the battery can survive for more than 30 hours of audio playback.

The latest generation of the iPod Shuffle game out in 2010 and brought several updates over its predecessor. The design of the 4G model is quite similar to that of the 2G version, but the newer one is slimmer, smaller and also has a more square shape. It measures 1.24 x 1.14 x 0.34 inches and comes with an increased main navigation array, even though the size of the device is now smaller than it used to be.

Another noticeable difference between the 2G model and the 4G one is that on the latter, the physical features are on the top edge, which is the place where you will find the power switch, headphone jack, battery indicator, VoiceOver button and the playback mode control. The sides and the bottom of the Shuffle 4G are now entirely smooth and made from anodized aluminum.

The design of the 4G might remind you of the older 2G model but as far as the features are concerned, the latest generation of the iPod Shuffle is certainly a step forward. It comes with all of the goodies introduced with the 3G model, such as audiobooks, playlists, VoiceOver and podcasts, along with adding expanded language support, Genius Mixes as well as an impressive battery that manages to last for up to 15 hours of music playback. Even though for a device this small the list of features is quite impressive, in the world of portable audio players, the Shuffle lacks some important features like voice recording, an FM radio, along with the obvious video playback. As far as the audio formats are supported, the iPod Shuffle 4G can play MP3s, AACs, AIFs, WAVs and Apple Lossless. The bad news is that you won’t be able to listen to a FLAC or a WMA.

It is small but it is the perfect choice for those who enjoy running and listenign to music for example. It measures 29 x 31.6 x 8.7 mm. Its controls cover its front side. Its casing is metal type and its buttons are all black. For those interested in what they might find inside the box in which the iPod Shuffle 4G will be received it should be mentioned that they will find a USB to 3.5 mm charging and syncing dongle as well as the standard type of Apple headphones. When the iPod shuffle is plugged in, the iTune fires up. This is important because it is the stage at which the user can start loading music on his.her device. The tracks are separated on this device into Music, Podcasts, and Books and then within Music, dedicated Playlists. Once the tracks have been searched for and downloaded, the user is simply ready to go with its new device which he can fully take advantage of whenever he/she is interested in doing so.

Apple says that the battery of the iPod Shuffle 4G can last for 15 hours of continuous playback time while doing a full recharge of the battery is going to take approximately three hours.

In this article we have a look at some of the best iPod Mini speakers that you can buy for your portable music player from Apple.

The ones that we are about to recommend have a very compact size which will allow you to take them with you everywhere you go and listen to your music or an audiobook.

The first one in the list is the iLuv iSP100 that measures 5.8 x 2 x 1.5 inches and comes with “jAura sound” speakers which are capable of offering a “dynamic stereo sound”, as the manufacturer likes to believe. In simple words, the effect sounds that these speakers generate are quite similar to a pseudo-surround-sound, much like SRS processing. The treble and midrange sound nice on these petite speakers, but keep in mind that there isn’t really any stereo separation.

Moving on, the iMainGo 2 looks and feels just about the same as the model it replaced, measuring 5.7 x 3.8 x 2.4 inches. On one side you get a compartment for your iPod (or iPhone) while on the other side it has the amplifier, titanium speakers and the four AAA battery that come bundled. What you will have to do is plug the cable that comes in the package into your iPod and then close the zipper of the iMainGo 2. The successor is just as good as the model it replaced, managing to be very sturdy and it offers your iPod the protection it needs. The speakers also sound excellent and they offer a decent amount of bass, while the midrange audio quality is great. The bad news is that the iMainGo 2 starts distorting the audio once you turn the volume all the way up. The Altec Lansing Orbit MP3 IM237 is the successor of the IM207 model and looks entirely different from the model it replaced, along with solving all of the problems of the first model. It remains the same single-round speaker that points upward, measuring 3.5 inches around and being 2.1 inches tall. You will connect your iPod Mini via the 3.5mm miniplug cable and it uses three AAA batteries which you’ll have to purchase separately since these aren’t offered when you buy the product.

The previous model lacked a power indicator but this one comes with an LED one so there aren’t any risks of accidently leaving it on which will cause draining the battery. The new version brings an improvement in the sound quality, offering a considerably wider range. The bass is now stronger while the high notes are clearer. The strength of this Orbit model still remains the midrange reproduction, while even playing at the highest volume will not create any distractions.

We end our recommendations of iPod Mini speakers with the XM-I X-mini Max which is basically the 2-speaker variant of the X-mini. This means that it is capable of offering stereo separation, while the bases of these two speakers are sticking together with the help of magnets, creating a barrel-like device that is 3-inch tall and measures 2-inch in diameter, meaning that you can easily store it into a bag or a backpack. It features a rechargeable battery and you can only charge it via USB. It is significantly louder than the single-speaker version and it really offers stereo separation.

If you just bought an iPod Touch and you want to play some games on it, in this article you will find several free titles that you might want to download.

The first one to make it in this list is Angry Birds Rio, one of the most popular games developed for mobile phones. The game is inspired from the Rio movie that came out in the first part of last year and offers the movie characters in the well-known Angry Birds gameplay style. The lite version has six game levels, which should be enough to convince you get the full (paid) version.

A very intense and exciting online multiplayer combat game is Doodle Army 2 which offers support for up to four friends locally or online. It offers melee attacks, dual-stick shooting controls and a Game Center support. The graphics are colorful and simple, making the game even more entertaining.

The 10^th billion application downloaded from the App Store is Paper Glider, while the sequel to this game is Paper Glider Bomber. In this game you will have to bomb a bunch of buildings as fast as you can, before the Paper Glider crashes into these buildings. You get several interesting weapons like the A-bomb, a cluster bomb, building cluster and missiles.

If you have an iPod and you want to play a word game, go to the App Store and download Words With Friends. One of the recent updates for the game has introduced Facebook account integration so it is now easier to challenge your friends and members of the family.

Are you interested in creating and running your very own zoo? If so, install Tap Zoo on your iPod Touch and you’ll be able to take care of the animals that you have in the zoo. This game offers more than 50 animals, along with several zoo items and other unlockable animals.

Another option that you have is Smurf’s Village. This game is based on the popular cartoon art and comic. What you have to do is build the Smurf’s temporary village as you play Papa Smurf, Baby Smurf, Lazy Smurf, Smurfette, Jokey Smurf and Handy Smurf. You will be able to play mini games while building this village, along with buying smurfberries. Smurf’s Village has a Game Center and offers Facebook integration as well.

Do you like boxing? If the answer is yes, on App Store you will find the Mike Tyson game where you play as the underdog boxer who is trying to reach his way up to the top where Mike Tyson is waiting. Down the road you will win RockCash that can be used for creating and building your empire, but to become the world champion you will have to take out Mike Tyson.

We end with Glass Tower 2 where you have to break all of the blue blocks while at the same time trying to save all the red blocks that you can. Keep in mind that some of the blocks are indestructible which will make your attempts of destroying the blue ones a little bit harder.

If you are in the market for a new iPod docking station but you don’t want to spend more than $150 for it, in this article you will find out about a few of the models that you can buy without having to break the bank.

The first one to make it in our list is the mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb which will set you back about $130, depending on where you buy it from. It has a compact size and comes with a dedicated subwoofer for boosting the bass. It is the more affordable version of the mStation Tower and comes with a very handy remote that works great. In the package you will find an iPod dock (obviously) and a cable which you can use for connecting the docking station to other types of electronics. This model is available in several colors, including black, white, red, blue, green, silver and pink.

Another interesting docking station would have to be the JBL On Stage 200ID which has a futurist look and manages to get quite loud. The sound quality is above average and it can be used either on battery or on AC. It will occupy little space and you are able to control it by using the bundled remote. Including in the package are iPod dock adapters and an auxiliary cable. Price? About $150.

For just about the same money you might want to consider the Samson StudioDock 3i which is able to reach high volumes and offers superior sound quality. It is compatible not only with your iPod but also with an iPhone.

Featuring a sleek, black wooden design, the Griffin Amplifi ($150) offers a decent amount of volume while the sound quality is quite good. It is easy to set up and operate, and comes bundled with iPod adapters and a remote control.

An interesting iPod docking station is the Memorex Mi1111 as not only you’re able to connect it to your iPod but it also offers support for digital AM/FM radio with station presets. In addition, also on board is a top-loading CD player, while the docking station is shipped with a remote control. Available in black or white, this model costs about $100 and comes with iPod dock adapters.

Our favorite iPod docking station is the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere which provides a battery life of up to ten hours. You will know when the battery is running low since this model has been fitted with a battery indicator. The speakers manage to do quite a good job, while the sound quality is crystal clear. Available in black or white, this one costs approximately $130.

A cool docking station for the iPod would have to be the Sonic Impact Technologies i-P23 as it comes in a fabric zippered case which you will unfold in order to reveal the dock. It packs easy to use controls and can offer an above average level of sound performance. This docking station is battery operated but you have the possibility to use an AC adapter. Available in three colorful designs, this model costs about $120.

We end with the Klipsch iGroove SXT, a compact and stylish iPod docking station that has a small size and an elegant design. Sound quality is good and you also get iPod fit adapters and a remote control. This one is about $150.