Apple's new iPod is more of a slight redesign than a complete overhaul but the early signs are that the new model is every bit as good as the last.

The good news is that it's still very obviously an iPod. It is as simple to use as it ever was and we defy anyone not to figure things out in less than five minutes. The four playback buttons have been moved from around the scroll wheel to below the screen and they glow red when the backlight is activated. They're not actually buttons at all but simply touch-sensitive spots that do away with moving parts completely. The easily scratched chrome case is still present but it has been smartened up and slightly shrunk.

Speedy music transfer still takes place over a FireWire connection but there's now an optional USB2 cable too. The on-board FireWire port has gone though, replaced by a wide multi-purpose socket at the base of the iPod. This connects to a Mac or PC via an adapter cable with the 10Gb iPod or in the case of the 15Gb and 30Gb models a desktop docking station.

The docking station is a nice touch but the loss of the FireWire port means that you can't use the iPod as a portable hard disk without the special adapter cable.

Contact: Apple 0800 039 1010
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