Apple iPod Mini Review

Overall Rating

Easy to use
Small
Light to carry around
Good sound

Too many menus

-: INTRODUCTION :-

I bought my iPod Mini MP3 player last year. I bought it because I wanted something to listen to while walking to and from work. I needed something small and light to carry in my pocket. I looked around, but I was spoilt for choice. There were so many to choose from, but then I came across the iPod Mini, and I liked it straight away, so I did some checking, and I knew this was the one for me, so I considered it to be bought.

-: WHAT IS AN IPOD? :-

An iPod mini is a music player for listening to audio. Although now, you can buy a variety of iPod's which some have more features to them, like video and colour display etc. The iPod Mini lets you listen to music, upload music from your computer, and it also allows you to play games on it too, although I don't use that feature that much. The iPod Mini doesn't have that many features. It's a standard music player, but I wouldn't change it for the world. The iPod does come in different sizes with different size hard drives too, which makes the world of difference to how many songs you can have on your iPod. The iPod Mini doesn't weigh that much. In fact, it only weighs around 104g, and it is only 3.6 x 2.0 x 0.5 in size, so it is handy for keeping in your pocket or handbag. The battery life is pretty good too! It holds out for about 8 hours of constant play, although the charging of the iPod can take a while.

-: LOOK AND FEEL OF THE IPOD :-

The look and feel of the iPod is clean, tidy and neat. It is a little plain, but it does the job. Looking at the iPod Mini, you have the wheel which lets you guide yourself through the iPod menus, choosing your music, editing settings and playing games. The wheel is white, and it comprises of the menu button, next track, previous track and the play / pause button. Also, at the top of the iPod you have the earphone port, and also a lock which is a little switch which moves from left and right, unlocking and locking the iPod, so when you carry it around in your pocket, it doesn't move the wheel around. Then you have the white backlit black & white 138 x 110 LCD screen. When you leave the iPod idle for a while, the iPod does automatically turn off. It is generally very simple and easy to use. You use the wheel to get you to where you want to go, and the wheel is very smooth to use too.

-: USING THE IPOD :-

In order to upload songs to your iPod, you must have a PC, and have the music to upload. There is a data lead which connects your iPod to your PC, which is supplied in the box. And also the required software, which you have to install. This is easy and simple to do; just run the installation of the iTunes CD and decide where you want it to be installed. It doesn't take long. Once it has been installed, you are then ready to connect your iPod to your computer. Your PC will pick up the iPod as soon as it is connected, and now is the time to begin with adding your tunes with the software you have just installed on your computer. This is also pretty easy to do.

Open up your iTunes software, and then locate the music you want to add to your iPod. You will also notice that there are a bunch of other options within the software; like browsing the shop and radio etc. Anyway, back to the case in hand... Once you have added your music you will see the amount of space used and free at the bottom of your iTunes. This will tell you how much has been used and how much is free. On the left hand-side where the other options are, you will see your iPod icon. Right click on that, and it will give you the option to update your iPod. Clicking this will add your music to your iPod. It's that easy! It doesn't take that long to add your music. In fact, it is pretty quick. I didn't think it would be. The sound is amazing too, where again I didn't think it would be, as the sound comes out of such a small item, but it is really clear.

-: FEATURES :-

Clicking the menu button will allow you to toggle in and out of the menus and options. The middle button will allow you to select an option.

-: MUSIC :-

Clicking the music tab, you will see there is another list of options where you can view the music you have added on your iPod. You can view it either by playlist, by the artist, by the album, songs, genres, composers and audio books. Most of these options will take you onto more options, which are a pain sometimes.

-: SONGS :-

This will take you straight to the songs you have uploaded to your iPod, plain and simple, and it will list each song for you. All you have to do is click play and it will play the songs listed in the songs list.

-: EXTRAS :-

You will find here the CLOCK. Clicking on this tab will take you into another menu with the options of alarm clock, sleep timer, and date and time. It's all simple to set up, and you can have the clock showing on the display or hidden, it's entirely up to you. Next on the list we have CONTACTS. Now this is where you can add your contacts information within your iPod. All you need to do is make a Vcard of your contacts. I have only done this once or twice. What I did, was go into my email client and click on one of my contacts and go down to properties, and then I copied and pasted the Vcard into the contacts within the iPod using the computer. When clicking on the contacts there are simple instructions that you can follow to add the contacts you want. Next we have the CALENDER. This is self-explanatory really. Use it like you would any other calender. Next on the list we have NOTES. I am not sure about this option to be honest as I have never used it, but when you click on this option it does give you instructions on how to use this feature. Next we have GAMES. Now in here you will find some built-in games like brick, music quiz, parachute and solitaire. Like I have mentioned before, I have not really played the games on my iPod, but I am sure they will keep others busy if they like playing games.

-: SETTINGS :-

Clicking the settings option will take you into another menu, where you will see such things like ABOUT - Clicking this will give you a display of your iPod name, how many songs you have on there, the capacity your iPod has, available space left, the version of your iPod, the serial number, the model number and the format, which is quite handy and pretty helpful.
MAIN MENU - clicking this option will again take you into another menu. You will see that you have music on/off, and this gives you an option to have a music tab showing in the main menu or not. The same goes for the other listed in this menu.
SHUFFLE - Clicking this will let you have shuffle on your songs or not.
REPEAT - This is the same option as the shuffle. You can toggle with the settings according to your liking.
BACKLIGHT TIMER - This allows you to toggle with the settings, again to your liking.
EQ - This is an equaliser, and clicking this will take you into another menu and let you set the equaliser to your taste.
SOUND CHECK - This allows you to toggle with the sound with your iPod, and you can choose how you want it to sound.
CONTRAST - This option speaks for itself.
CLICKER - this is an option for toggling the clicker sound when moving around your iPod. You can either have it loud or only have it within your headphones.
DATE & TIME - Again, this is self explanatory.
RESET ALL SETTINGS - This will allow you to reset all the settings on your iPod.

-: AVAILABILITY :-

You can buy this iPod from almost anywhere now. I bought mine from Apple itself, where I paid £140, but that came with a free engraving on the back of the iPod, which was free.

-: FINAL OPINION :-

Like I have mentioned, I like this iPod because it does what it is meant to do. Also, it's small and light for me to carry around with me. The only thing I don't like is the fact that there are so many options and menus, but that's not a reason not to like it. There is more to like about the iPod than not to like. The sounds is great, it's quick on the uploads, and it has never let me down yet. There are also other things you can buy for the iPod Mini, and I recently bought a docking station for it, and it is worth every penny.