Apple iPod Buying Guide

With new models being released quicker than you can learn how to use them, we're here to help you identify the different models available today as well as which one matches your lifestyle needs as well as your wallet.

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Apple iPod touch

Sleek and black, the new iPod touch 8GB is only 8mm thick. If it doesn't turns heads, the movies you'll be playing on its gorgeous 3.5" widescreen will!

And now you can not only listen to music, but touch it too. Using your finger to navigate, you can flick through your albums by the cover art, a bit like leafing through a box of LPs to find your favourite record. You can even flip the cover over to view the track listing on the back! It really is that easy to find what you want.

The 8GB hard drive has enough room to store up to 1,750 songs, 10,000 photos or 10 hours of video, so you'll always have plenty of choice when picking something to watch or listen to. And with 5 hours of video or 22 hours of audio playback from a single recharge, you're bound to enjoy your music or movies on the move without interruption.

Thanks to the Wi-Fi capability of the iPod touch 8GB, you'll be able to surf the internet or buy music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, whilst you're out and about. Find a Wi-Fi hotspot, establish a connection, and the rest is easy. And when you get home and synchronise, your music purchases will be added to your iTunes library.

Priced at between £200 (8GB) and £270 (16GB).

Apple iPod Shuffle (Second Generation)

Half the size of the original iPod shuffle, this little baby is smaller than a matchbox and is encased in a sleek aluminium casing. With its built-in clip you can clip it just about anywhere: on your sleeve, in your pocket, on your belt for instant music on the move; and weighing just 15.5g (less than an ounce) you'll hardly notice it's there.

The iPod shuffle has no display. There are LED lights on the front and back. The iPod shuffle rejects routine by serving up your favourite songs in a different order every time. The iPod shuffle comes with its very own dock that you connect to your Mac or PC via USB 2.0, so whenever you feel the need for a quick sync, just drop iPod shuffle into the dock and iTunes gets to work.

Priced around £50.

Apple iPod Video (Fifth Generation)

The first iPod to play videos, revolutionising the way you experience your music and more. Available in 30GB, 60GB and 80GB models with support for up to 15,000 songs and up to 150 hours of video, on a 2.5-inch QVGA color display - this iPod is music to your eyes and ears.

Ability to connect to your TV and play photo slideshows or music videos. The optional iPod Camera Connector lets you shoot all day, then transfer the pictures from your camera to your iPod, where you can view them immediately.

This model is going to suit anyone who likes up-to-the-minute technology. Perfect if you travel a lot as you can store photos and keep yourself entertained in many ways. Good for business travelers, commuters, gadget and hard-core music lovers.