So Apple have finally released the video iPod - but I was fairly surprised to find out that it isn't a completely different machine, they've just cleverly squeezed video playback into the existing design. Admittedly, there are a few cosmetic tweaks - including, if you can believe it, making the iPod thinner than the 4th generation model, even though it contains more hard disk space.
When I heard that a video iPod might be on the cards, I was envisaging a completely different kind of device that would sit alongside the music iPod but do a fundamentally different job. I'm quite pleased to say that the route they've decided to go down is much more elegant than that.
If you remember, they combined the ordinary iPod and the iPod photo a few months ago so that all new iPods had the colour screen and photo capability. Now they've taken it one step further and dropped that model completely in favour of the iPod video. This goes hand in hand with their decision to do away with the iPod Mini in favour of the iPod Nano. It's quite a nice looking line up all in all.
It makes my 4th generation, monochrome screened, music-only iPod look a bit out of date - although I prefer to think that I'm a retro purist. And to be honest, this isn't far from the truth - I don't want my iPod to do video and photos, I just want it to be a music player. The majority of the time, I use it in the car, so the ability to play video and look at photos is really very redundant.
So there you go. Well done for all your innovation, Apple, but I'll be sticking with my distinctly out-of-date iPod thanks very much.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Playing catch up
So then, in case you're interested, here's a brief outline of the things that have been happening during the last couple of months whilst I've been "offline". Admittedly, there's not much to report, but here goes:
1) I sold the mountain bike on eBay, which went for a mighty impressive £1100! I immediately spent £500 of that on a nice shiny road bike - a Trek 1000. Then obviously the next step was to buy all the associated road bike paraphenalia - new helmet, pedals, shoes etc. Well, if you're going to do it, you have to do it properly don't you? I haven't bought a new mountain bike yet, because frankly I'm having too much fun on the roadie at the moment!
2) I seriously toyed with the idea of buying a Sony PSP, but then decided against it. In reality, I would have absolutely no use for one, nor any time to play it. If I have any game-playing time, it is spent on the Xbox.
3) Microsoft revealed the release date and cost of the Xbox360 - and it looks fairly impressive. £209 for the basic pack, or £279 for all the bells and whistles, with a release date of 2nd December 2005. I'm sorely tempted to get one, but I think I'll leave it until at least the new year.
4) I've been putting in lots of hours with the Special Constabulary - and I'm loving it. Not arrested anyone yet though!
5) I've spent quite a bit of my spare time on a freelance web design project for a local dental surgery - have a look at www.chdental.co.uk if you're interested.
6) We had double glazing fitted.
7) Work has been... erm... busy.
So a combination of work, being a policeman, web designer and cyclist have pretty much consumed all my spare time. Nothing else to report really. Apart from the road bike, there have been no major purchases, so the bank balance is looking very healthy. All I have to do now is to find something worthwhile to spend it on!
So there you go. You're up to date.
1) I sold the mountain bike on eBay, which went for a mighty impressive £1100! I immediately spent £500 of that on a nice shiny road bike - a Trek 1000. Then obviously the next step was to buy all the associated road bike paraphenalia - new helmet, pedals, shoes etc. Well, if you're going to do it, you have to do it properly don't you? I haven't bought a new mountain bike yet, because frankly I'm having too much fun on the roadie at the moment!
2) I seriously toyed with the idea of buying a Sony PSP, but then decided against it. In reality, I would have absolutely no use for one, nor any time to play it. If I have any game-playing time, it is spent on the Xbox.
3) Microsoft revealed the release date and cost of the Xbox360 - and it looks fairly impressive. £209 for the basic pack, or £279 for all the bells and whistles, with a release date of 2nd December 2005. I'm sorely tempted to get one, but I think I'll leave it until at least the new year.
4) I've been putting in lots of hours with the Special Constabulary - and I'm loving it. Not arrested anyone yet though!
5) I've spent quite a bit of my spare time on a freelance web design project for a local dental surgery - have a look at www.chdental.co.uk if you're interested.
6) We had double glazing fitted.
7) Work has been... erm... busy.
So a combination of work, being a policeman, web designer and cyclist have pretty much consumed all my spare time. Nothing else to report really. Apart from the road bike, there have been no major purchases, so the bank balance is looking very healthy. All I have to do now is to find something worthwhile to spend it on!
So there you go. You're up to date.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Enter via the back door...
I'm back! It's been a while, but I'm back on the blogosphere with this new look and new location. I'm no longer hosted on my own webspace, I've moved over here to Blogspot in order to avoid some... ahem... unwanted attention.
If you received an email from me to let you know that I've moved, you're one of the chosen few. Update your bookmarks accordingly. Or trash the email and ignore me. Your choice!
I've been fairly busy since my last post back in June, and quite a lot has happened, but I won't attempt to go into it all at the moment. Needless to say, I will update you all in due course. Watch this space.
If you received an email from me to let you know that I've moved, you're one of the chosen few. Update your bookmarks accordingly. Or trash the email and ignore me. Your choice!
I've been fairly busy since my last post back in June, and quite a lot has happened, but I won't attempt to go into it all at the moment. Needless to say, I will update you all in due course. Watch this space.
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