Hot wired: iPod nano

They don't come any thinner than Apple's updated iPod nano.

Not content with launching a cellphone version of the iPod, Apple has had to gazump its own product by launching an updated version of the iPod mini.

Can't you see the design team meeting that fateful day?

"Hey, the iPod mini is the most popular MP3 player on the planet. It looks great and we can hardly keep up the stock."

"Righto, let's redesign it from the ground up."

Of course, being Apple, the iPod nano is not only insanely good looking, it's even more desirable than the iPod mini and that's alarming.

Ipod nano

The tagline says "impossibly small" and that's not wrong. Clearly Apple is playing games with quantum physics at some basic level because the nano is very small.

It's difficult to describe how small because in pictures it looks like a regular iPod only a bit thinner.

It's the slimness that throws you. It's the size of a credit card. Not only that, it's about the thickness of two cards together, maybe a little bit more. Not only that, but it has a colour screen, can store thousands of photos as well as music courtesy of Apple's iTunes software and can make grown men cry like babies if they don't have one.

The worst thing about the nano, aside from not having one, is that the headphone jack is on the base, presumably to save space.

It's available in two sizes: 2GB, which stores about 500 songs and a 4GB monster. It's available in two colours, iPod white and a funky looking black - although the ear-buds are white, which is strange.

The nano uses the same connector as the full-size iPods, so if you've bought dozens of accessories they'll fit the nano. That's clever thinking.

Price: $349, or $419 for the 4GB

www.apple.co.nz

Colorware

White. It's the new, well, white really. And black. What's with that?

Surely as individuals we want our favourite colours? Can't we have more, please, Mr Jobs?

Well, now you can. United States-based Colorware specialises in taking boring mundane run-of-the-mill electronic goods such as laptops - and now iPods - and making them funky.

Chose any colour you like so long as its not black or white ... maybe prowler (purple), blush, or blaze. Pick one colour for the body and a different colour for the control wheel.

Best of all, if you have an iPod and want to keep it they'll let you send it in for a custom paint job. Nice. You don't need to stop with your iPod - go for the full saturation upgrade for your PC, Xbox or PlayStation console.

Price: From $376 plus shipping

www.colorwarepc.com

Speck nano accessories

Colours are all well and good but what about getting serious with your upgrades? Speck Products has been making things to go with your iPods since day one and they've not let the introduction of the nano throw them.

Be boring and buy an armband or a skin-tight case for your nano. Be bold and buy a FunSkin pod thing to keep it safe and warm. Be silly and buy an iGuy to stand your nano up in so you see it as you head out the door.

Price: From $28 plus delivery

www.speckproducts.com