The iPod Puts Its Best Face Forward.

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Author: Michaels, Philip

As Apple attempts to put a new face on online music delivery, the company has also altered the look of its top-selling MP3 player. The redesigned, slimmer iPod sports a new solid-state navigation wheel on its front and can store even more music.

Apple added four buttons just above the iPod's scroll wheel: rewind, menu, play/pause, and fast-forward. As with the iPod models introduced last summer, the scroll wheel and new buttons are touch-sensitive and have no moving parts--for durability and ease of use.

Apple has boosted the iPod's storage size, making the music player available in 10GB, 15GB, and 30GB capacities (see "Playing a Different Tune"). While the new models are taller than the previous iPod, they're also thinner and lighter. These new iPods don't use a standard six-pin FireWire port; instead, they have a special thin connector. Each model comes with an adapter cable; the 15GB and 30GB models also come with a connection dock.

Apple has revised its iPod offerings, with
new devices featuring larger capacities.

Legend for Chart:

A - CAPACITY
B - SIZE
C - WEIGHT
D - ACCESSORIES
E - PRICE

 A                          B                          C

                            D                          E

10GB    4.1 by 2.4 by 0.62 inches                  5.6 ounces

        headphones, AC adapter, FireWire cable,    $299
        4-to-6-pin FireWire adapter

15GB    4.1 by 2.4 by 0.62 inches                  5.6 ounces

        dock, remote, carrying case, headphones,   $399
        AC adapter, 4-to-6-pin FireWire adapter

30GB    4.1 by 2.4 by 0.73 inches                  6.2 ounces

        dock, remote, carrying case, headphones,   $499
        AC adapter, 4-to-6-pin FireWire adapter

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By Philip Michaels