[Macworld]

Post your comments for iPod tidbits here

[leicaman]

Dropping Firewire to cater to some Windows wonks is just too much. :p
BTW, did you mean 120 gig iPod Classic is the only Firewire-compatible model?

[Chris Breen]

leicaman said:

BTW, did you mean 120 gig iPod Classic is the only Firewire-compatible model?

Right. 2G iPod classic = second-generation iPod classic. So yes, today's 120GB iPod classic.

[ZeroGravX]

Looks like the 2G iPod Classic is more bang for your buck as far as storage is concerned! I still have the 30GB iPod Video, though with how scratched it is (gotta love the glossy front) I think it's time to get a new one.

[context]

And Apple inexplicably still confines automatic downconversion of larger files (e.g., Apple Lossless) to 128kbps while transferring them to the Shuffle. Apple continues to marginalize audiophiles who have adopted its file format.

[Schneb]

If all you care about is storage, then the math is pretty easy. However, in my consideration between a Nano and a Touch, I considered also...
Screen Size
Aspect Ratio (iTouch is better for widescreen)
Wifi Access
Application-ready
With those additional perks, to me, the extra $5 per gigabyte was quite worth it for my 16gb iPod Touch.
16GB iPod touch = $18.69
16GB iPod nano = $12.44

[Dan Frakes]

context said:

And Apple inexplicably still confines automatic downconversion of larger files (e.g., Apple Lossless) to 128kbps while transferring them to the Shuffle. Apple continues to marginalize audiophiles who have adopted its file format.

I've mentioned this to Apple several times, so they do know there's a demand for such a feature. I think it would be a great addition to all iPods.

[chewygoat]

Removing firewire is a cost savings measure and, as you may have noticed, the new nano is $50 less expensive then the previous firewire-power supporting nano. It's even more substantially less for the iPod Touch. For most people that obviously works out great. The only people for whom it would be bad is if they have an older and expensive to replace device that provides firewire power, such as a speaker system. If what you have is something like, say, a car (firewire-based) power + line-out device, you're still going to save money even though you'd have to buy a new such device.
In fact that's our exact situation. New 8 GB iPod nano ($139.95 shipped from PC Connection) to replace broken iPod mini Griffin Autopilot power line-out ($30.85 shipped from Amazon) totals $170.80. I'll take that any day over an 8 GB iPod nano alone for $200. Our "SiK imp" was a piece of junk anyway and was half falling apart (always was) and this new one even has pause/play/etc. controls on it. Bonus.

[jschaffe]

As long as you could choose other options for target bit rates like 128, 192 or 256 KB.

[limweiseng]

I Fring-ed it without earphone mic and guess what.
I heard a repeat sound of myself but it didn't goes to Fring.

Does that mean it actually has built-in mic but not enable
and probably will with future firmware updates?
(so Apple have excuse to charge again, hardware been shipped but not enable... gosh)