Which iPods are currently shipping? How many songs does each hold? What are the "pros and cons" of each?

The currently shipping iPod models are the iPod nano 5G, iPod touch 3G, iPod classic 2G (Late 2009), and iPod shuffle 3G (Colors).

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

In the above photo, the iPod touch 3G, the iPod classic 2G, iPod nano 5G (in blue), and iPod shuffle 3G (in pink) stand side-by-side from left to right.

The major differences between the current iPods are summarized below:

* Note that the "VoiceOver" technology provided by the iPod touch is a sophisticated "gesture-based screen reader" and the "VoiceOver" technology provided by the iPod nano and shuffle models simply reads the names of songs, artists, and playlists.

** Microphone capability provided by the "Earphones with Remote and Mic" bundled with the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations. The 8 GB model ships with a standard set of earphones but is compatible with the Apple option and third-party products available at additional cost.

† The iPod nano 5G is available in silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, and (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition. Note that yellow -- likely due to low demand -- and (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition only are available direct from Apple. 8 GB configurations are US$149 and 16 GB configurations are US$179.

†† The iPod shuffle 3G (Colors/Late 2009) models are offered in silver, black, blue, green, pink, and a "Special Edition" stainless steel. All have a "mirrored finish" clip. 2 GB configurations are US$59, 4 GB configurations are US$79, with the exception of the 4 GB stainless steel configuration which is US$99.

The above chart provides most of the "pros and cons" of each model compared to each other, but you may find the below summary to be useful as well.

iPod touch 3G

Pros:

• Thin, sleek design and relatively large display.
• 32 GB and 64 GB configurations offer fast performance with an 800 MHz processor and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics support (the 8 GB configuration is slower but less expensive).
• Clever multi-touch interface introduced with the iPhone.
• Only iPod with support for wireless Internet (wi-fi) and useful third-party applications from the App Store.
• External speaker handy for casual listening of music and movies.
• Sophisticated "VoiceOver" gesture-based screen reader for the visually impared.
• Not tied to a monthly service plan like the iPhone.

Cons:

• No internal microphone -- microphone only provided by the bundled "Earphones with Remote and Mic" with the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations (8 GB model only ships with standard earbuds).
• Battery life for music playback is reduced compared to previous iPod touch 2G models.
• Maximum battery life of six hours for video playback may be inadequate for heavy users.
• No camera or video camera.
• Cannot charge via Firewire, incompatible with many Firewire-based accessories.
• More expensive than the iPod classic per megabyte of storage.

iPod classic 2G

Pros:

• Largest capacity available, holds the most songs and video.
• Excellent battery life.
• Firewire charging supported, compatible with many older Firewire-based devices.
• Lowest cost per megabyte of storage.

Cons:

• Smaller display than the iPod touch.
• Internal hard drive, rather than flash memory, is more prone to accidental damage.
• Interface is not as sophisticated as the iPod touch 3G and iPod nano 5G.

iPod nano 5G

Pros:

• Adequate storage capacity for modest music collections.
• Built-in video camera, microphone, speaker, FM radio, and pedometer provide a wide range of uses.
• Supports video, video out, photos, and games (iPhone and iPod touch games are not compatible), as well as music.
• Bettery battery life than previous iPod nano 4G models.
• Relatively inexpensive.

Cons:

• Relatively small display, somewhat mitigated by the self-switching between portrait and landscape mode as appropriate.
• Video camera cannot take still photos, low quality compared to even basic "point and shoot" cameras.
• Cannot charge via Firewire, incompatible with many Firewire-based accessories.

iPod shuffle 3G

Pros:

• Extremely tiny, sleek design.
• Convenient clip to attach the iPod shuffle to a pocket or sleeve.
• Least expensive new iPod model.

Cons:

• Some may find the "three button, multiple actions" control method awkward.
• Reduced battery life compared to the previous iPod shuffle 2G.
• No display (and consequently, no support for photos, video, or games).
• Limited capacity.
• The US$99 "Special Edition" differentiated only by being "very shiny" for an extra US$20 is particularly obnoxious.

Site sponsor PowerMax has a large selection of new and used iPods available for sale free of sales tax.