So what's new with this improved iPod? the most obvious change is to implement the colour screen found on the iPod photo, this 65k 220 x 176 pixel LCD has a strong LED backlight making it clear and easy to read, the resolution isn't the highest but a 2" screen seems to be the right size for the iPod and tucks neatly above the scroll wheel.

The colour screen allows the iPod to become more of an AV device again stealing a few more toys from the iPod photo, the best selling 20gb model can now create and run slideshows accompanied by your MP3 collection. The player can display JPEG images along with Tiff, Gif, BMP and PNG formats, these can be viewed through Apples image browser (as seen on the iPod photo) or can be tagged to albums or arranged as a slideshow. This slideshow needn't be a personal one as an optional AV cable can be purchased to provide a composite video output to a TV or other display device.

Perhaps the best use of the screen is the screen art which makes browsing through your collection a more colourful affair, of course iTunes has been updated to handle these images and it makes for a better user experience if not a quicker access to the stored tracks.

All of this colour screen magic could damage the battery life, the pervious generations if iPod have not exactly been renowned for their battery life and the 3rd generation device barely managed a 8 hour stint. Further improved battery technology and more efficient firmware manes this iPod Colour can last 15 hours in optimal conditions which in real life means somewhere around the 12 hour mark, not bad but hardly good when the new Sony NW series can get 20hrs from a single charge.

The 167 gram colour iPod sticks with the tried and trusted formula and incorporates the latest click wheel first seen on the iPod mini, it is still the best user interface device we've seen and makes searching and controlling your iPod very easy.

Audio quality is good and when paired with something better than the standard ear buds (like a pair of Shure E3c's) it performs well, still support for Ogg Vorbis and WMA are not present and are unlikely to form part of any upgrade for the firmware.

All of these facelift extras do amount to a better iPod but not exactly a step change, the reduced price at sub £200 makes it competitive but the game has moved on with Sony and their NW-HD5 making a strong challenger. However buying an iPod has moved from making a bold statement to being a safe bet, no one will ever take the mick, no one will ever tell you that its a bad MP3 player, but you should consider if you are after middle of the road comfort if so this colour iPod 20gb is for you.

More iPod Reviews

Published - 04/08/2005

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