Guide for Xmas gifts: Apple iPod nano

(AP photo )
Just when the iPod seems to have gotten as small and as cute as it could possibly be, Apple manages to make it smaller and cuter. This year they rolled out a new and improved Nano- in various flavors (silver, lime green, hot pink, ice blue and the traditional Model-T black) and sizes (2G, 4G and 8G). If you've been a big fan of the iPod Nano from version 1.0, there's not much different from the last update. The casing (previously in plastic), which many complained was too easily scratched is now in anodized aluminum which makes it far more resistant to nicks. The screen is brighter and clearer— a necessary update given the tiny size.

The battery life is expanded, reaching up to 24 hours (as I discovered, this is estimate is dependent on your use of the backlight), accomplished in part by the steady state memory that (unlike the traditional iPod) has no moving parts for a hard drive and is therefore more energy efficient and immune to skipping. Best of all, however, is the diminished cost. The 2G model costs only $149.00, and the 4G only $199.00 making it the perfect "cool" gift for the 4th grader on your list who is more than prone to leaving things on the bus. The downside? Only the 4G comes in the multiple colors, which is a must have for most kids and there's no video playback- which may be a godsend as trying to watch "Project Runway" on the mini-screen is liable to kill your eyes.

Price: $149.00 for 2G; $199.00 for 4G; $249.00 for 8G

(from abcNEWS)