iPod Mini to be a hit with teens

Johannesburg, 15 Jul 2004

Apple`s new iPod Mini looks likely to make a splash, particularly with the hip teen market, when it launches worldwide on 24 July.

ITWeb had an opportunity to play with the first iPod Mini in the country earlier this week, and found it to be a wonderful, if expensive, little toy.

Capable of storing up to 4GB of data - which translates to roughly 1 000 songs - the iPod Mini is smaller, slimmer and comes in a range of funky colours, designed to appeal to the teenage market.

The device also offers a range of standard features, including a clock, calendar, notebook and games.

It uses the same simple dial mechanism to scroll through the various options as the original iPod, which makes for really easy functionality. Users can also obtain a belt clip or armband to make it easier to carry.

The sound quality is superb and the device is compatible with Apple`s iTunes music store. Another option for the more cerebrally focused user is to download from a range of audio books.

The iPod Mini will be available in silver, gold, blue, green and pink, and ships standard with Firewire and USB 2 cables, making it compatible with both Macs and PCs.

The only downside is the price, which has been announced as R2 099, which makes it a few hundred rand cheaper than the lower-end standard iPod, which has 15GB of storage space, and can be obtained at the high-end with 40GB of space.

However, considering the fact that it is almost certainly aimed at the teen market, what with its trendy colours and specific focus on music, the iPod Mini will in all likelihood still be one of this year`s big sellers.