Navigation is achieved using the venerable Click Wheel interface, which allows you to scroll through music and playlists by rotating your finger across its smooth surface. Simply click one of the 5 controls -- the unlabeled center button, Play/Pause in the 6 o'clock position, Previous at 9 o'clock, Next at 3 o'clock, and Menu at 12 o'clock -- to work your way through the intuitive menu system. To turn the device off, simply hold play for a few seconds. A physical "Hold" switch is located on the top of the device, allowing you to lock the controls to prevent an accidental song change or volume adjustment.
The iPod works with Apple's iTunes software, included with every Mac and available as a free download for Windows, to manage your music library. In addition to syncing your music library between your computer and portable device, iTunes syncs your calendars, contacts, notes, and games.
Like most current iPods, the classic connects to a computer and other peripheral devices using the Dock connector. This opens it up for use with a world of peripherals, including speaker docks, Bluetooth headphone adapters, and more. It includes a Dock to USB cable, allowing you to sync and charge the device with your Mac or PC.
The integrated battery can provide up to 36 hours of audio playback, or 6 hours of video playback, on a single charge. You'll be able to charge the device to 80% capacity in as little as 2 hours, and to full capacity in only 4 hours.
The iPod classic isn't just a media player. If you delve into its "Extras" menu, you will find that it sports the aforementioned calendar, contact list, notes, and games. It ships free with 3 games -- Vortex, iQuiz, and Klondike solitaire -- with more games available for purchase in iTunes. You can also set the iPod's time zone and create custom alarms for yourself. A sleep timer is available, allowing you to automatically turn the iPod off after a certain amount of time has passed -- as little as 15 minutes or as much as 2 hours. You'll also be able to access a stopwatch function, perfect for timing steeping time for the perfect cup of tea, and a screen lock function to prevent unauthorized access.
The Settings menu allows you to control all aspects of your iPod's functionality. You'll be able to use it to control shuffle and repeat functions, customize what items appear on menus, and adjust playback speed of audio books, perfect for those times when you only have a few hours of time to finish listening to the audio version of Anna Karenina.
The Settings menu also allows you to adjust the playback EQ, set the date and time, and control whether or not the iPod makes an audible 'click' while scrolling. You can also adjust music sorting order, LCD brightness, and set a volume limit, ensuring that you don't accidentally blow out your eardrums by setting the volume too high.
- Triggering the iPod's Genius feature when listening to a song will automatically create a playlist from other music in your library that goes well with what you're listening to. You'll even be able to save a Genius playlist for future use, or create another if the first attempt isn't quite smart enough for you
- The iPod classic's massive 160GB hard drive can store up to 40,000 songs, 200 hours of video, or 25,000 photos. If your media library isn't that large, you can enable disk use for the iPod in iTunes, allowing you to use it as a standard portable hard drive in addition to a media player
- You'll get up to 36 hours of battery life for audio, 6 for video, ensuring that you can use the device for extended periods without having to recharge
- The Click Wheel interface allows you to navigate through the iPod's menu system with ease. You can browse album art via the Cover Flow system, or navigate songs and videos by playlist, artist, album, genre, and more. You'll be able to search for specific titles and artists via an on-screen keyboard. If you're unsure as to what you'd like to listen, simply select the Shuffle Songs settings to take a randomized tour through your music library
- The iPod's vivid 2.5" LCD display brings videos to life. From within iTunes you can purchase or rent movies, buy TV shows, and download video podcasts. They will be automatically copied to your iPod when you sync, allowing you to enjoy them at your leisure
- Sometimes there's nothing like a good game to relax or tease your brain. The iPod classic ships with 3 installed games -- Vortex, iQuiz, and Klondike -- but more can be purchased from the iTunes store. Every iPod game is specifically designed to be played using the Click Wheel interface
- The iPod classic is a great way to share your digital photos with friends and family. It syncs photos from your pictures folder or iPhoto library on a Mac, or from your My Pictures folder, Adobe Photoshop Album, or Adobe Photoshop Elements software for Windows. You can display photo slideshows, complete with music and transitions, on the iPod classic, and output to a TV using an optional component or composite AV cable
Specifications
Type | Hard Drive |
Capacity | 160GB |
Memory Card Slot | None |
Display | 2.5" LCD 320 x 240 Pixel Resolution |
FM Tuner | No |
FM Recording | No |
Voice Recording | No |
Data Storage | Yes |
Photo Capture | No |
Photo Viewing | Yes |
Video Recording | No |
Video Playback | Yes |
Text Reader | Yes |
Formats Supported | Audio: AAC (8-320kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (8-320kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV |
Connections | Dock Connector 1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo Headphone |
Battery | 1x Built-in Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery |
Charger | USB 2.0 AC Adapter (optional) |
System Requirements | Operating System Windows XP, Vista Mac OS X 10.40.11 Hardware USB 2.0 Port |
Dimensions (WxHxD) | 2.4 x 4.1 x 0.41" / 6.10 x 10.41 x 1.04cm |
Weight | 0.31 lb / 0.14kg |