Apple iPod 10GB - 3rd Generation [M8976B/A]

Once again, Apple turns the portable digital music player market on its ear with hassle-free functionality and stunning, well-considered design that place iPod far ahead of the curve and the competition. Building on the success of the touch wheel (which made scrolling through an entire music collection quick and easy), the new iPod has been re-engineered with a all-touch interface for enhanced durability and sensitivity. With an LCD screen and buttons that feature a backlight for clear visibility in low-light conditions, iPod is designed for easy one-handed operation. So the best way to take an entire music collection anywhere is now even better.

The 10GB iPod model supports an optional dock that makes charging and syncing easier than ever--no more reaching around, looking for the right port. An elegant, convenient home base for iPod on a desk or connected to a home stereo system, the dock provides syncing via FireWire or USB 2.0 (Syncing with USB 2.0 (Windows-only) requires optional USB 2.0 + FireWire Cable and free software update, available in June), charging via FireWire and audio line out for connecting to powered speakers or a stereo system.

Designed to give you the best portable digital music experience ever, the iPod delivers the highest sound quality from input to output. iPod supports the most popular audio formats, including MP3 (up to 320 kbps), MP3 Variable Bit Rate (VBR) and WAV, giving you access to a wide range of audio file types. And iPod is the only portable digital music player that supports the AAC format (Mac-only), which features CD-quality audio in smaller file sizes than MP3, so that even more songs fit on your iPod.

The iPod now lets you do a whole lot more in addition to maintaining your contacts, calendar and to-do lists. iPod now includes Solitaire, Brick and Parachute, three great games you can play anywhere (a feature you’re sure to appreciate the next time you’re standing in line or waiting for someone). You can even use your own music as the soundtrack to a game.

iPod also includes a notes reader that lets you download text-based information and read it on the screen. This way you can have the information you need, on everything from restaurant reviews to nightlife guides, and from news articles to exercise routines, at your fingertips.

The iPod features a sleep timer, so you can fall asleep to your music. And with the iPod‘s new alarm clock, you can choose either an alarm tone or your favourite music to wake you up.

The new iPod was designed for listening to digital music away from your computer, whether it’s a Mac or Windows PC. One simple connection does it all. A handy new dock connector on the bottom of the iPod enables the device to link to a computer and sync files via FireWire 400 (Mac or Windows) or USB 2.0 (Windows only). The result? Blazingly fast transfer speeds that let you load an album in as little as 10 seconds.

For Mac users, iPod ships with iTunes 4. iTunes 4 supports ripping music into the new AAC format which combines pristine CD-quality sound with smaller files sizes, compared to MP3s. And iTunes 4 lets you share and stream playlists from your personal music library to up to three other Macintosh computers for personal use. Mac requirements are: Apple computer with built-in FireWire port; Mac OS X v10.1.5 or later (Mac OS X 10.2 or later recommended); CD includes iTunes(7) for Mac OS X.

For Windows users, iPod includes the award-winning PC media player MUSICMATCH Jukebox Plus. As you add new songs or rearrange your playlists in MUSICMATCH Jukebox, the music will automatically update on iPod the next time it is connected to your PC. Windows requirements are: PC with built-in FireWire or USB 2.04, or Windows-certified FireWire or USB 2.0 card; Windows Me, Windows 2000 or Windows XP Home or Professional; CD includes MUSICMATCH Jukebox Plus 7.5 software.

The new iPod is also highly customizable. With iPod Scripts, you can create and manage text notes on new iPods with this free downloadable set of AppleScripts. Have a particular set of songs you want to hear? Queue up as many songs as you like in a playlist while away from your computer. Want to customize the iPod interface to fit your musical leanings? Now you can. Just look under settings in the Main menu.

The iPod‘s earbud-style headphones offer a strong 20Hz to 20,000Hz frequency response range for high-quality sound with minimal distortion. Thanks to their Neodymium drivers, these headphones are five times more powerful than digital music player headphones that use aluminium, cobalt or ceramic drivers.

• Apple iPod
• Apple in-ear headphones plus spare foam-covers
• Firewire cable