Product Description
The engineers at APPLE squeezed all the finest features of the celebrated iPod into an anodized aluminum case weighing just 3.6 ounces, and smaller than any cell phone. This scratchproof, stainproof wonder provides over 25 minutes of skip protection, and lasts up to 8 hours per battery charge — so, for once, you pay no penality for miniaturization! Includes sleek, wide range earbud headphones FireWire & USB interface (FireWire cable included) Optional accessories – iPod Mini Dock, In-Ear Headpones, Armband, Wired Remote and more Dimensions – 3.6 x 2.0 x 0.5 inches Finish – Silver Save money on this device when you join AudibleListener® Limit one per customer… More >>
Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9160LL/A OLD MODEL
Tags: Apple, iPod, M9160LL/A, mini, MODEL
I have been an iPod evangalist since I first turned on the 5GB. As you may know from my reviews of the 5, 15, 20, and 40GB models, I’ve owned (or given as gifts) just about every incarnation of this glorious device. So, when Apple announced that it was releasing a dramatically redesigned version of the iPod, I knew right away it would at least be a hit, perhaps even enjoy the almost “cult-like” status of its larger parent.
So I pre-ordered 3 of them; one for each of my sisters and myself. They arrived about a week ago and I’m happy to report that Apple has done it again with the release of the iPod Mini. It totally ROCKS!
There are allot of things I like about this model, but before I get into them A VERY IMPORTANT WARNING TO THOSE THAT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT:
YOU MUST CHARGE AT LEAST 4 HOURS BEFORE USE!
I, like so many I’m sure, was very eager to “plug and play”. I did, without fully charging them, and they experienced all kinds of impossible to resolve errors.
Now, in the event you’ve already bought one, or simply can’t help yourself, there is a little known “reset feature” on the mini that will come in handy whenever you have an issue.
TO RESET THE MINI, PRESS AND HOLD THE MENU AND SELECT BUTTON (the middle round button) FOR SIX SECONDS.
That’ll bring your baby back to life.
The colors are awesome (I have the blue, silver, and pink), look very stylish, and will likely show less wear. If you have the patience, consider having Apple engrave them for you (looks very cool).
The sound is excellent. I don’t have a testing lab, but I could swear that the sound quality is better; and I’m almost certain that they can play at a higher volume.
Another important improvement is the fact that when skipping forward more than a handful of songs the mini doesn’t stall (for a second or two) like it’s predecessors.
So, in conclusion, this is a wonderful new player that’ll be sure to WOW everyone that owns it, and create envious spectators out of those that don’t.
Hope this was helpful.
Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, CA.
Rating: 5 / 5
I scoffed at the price of the mini when first announced like
the typical software geek “Why the heck would I buy this thing
when I can get the 15GB iPod for $50 more?”. Then I went to the gym
while using my Nike PSA Play 120 with 128MB of flash. I’m tired of wrestling
with the crappy rio music manager software that always crashes, or
windows media player which sometimes will recognize my device
and sometimes won’t. I want something that I can use at the gym as well as
use for walking around that is small enough to strap on my arm and fit in my pocket with
my phone.
I purchased this mini yesterday at the new apple store here in
SF (was surprised they had it in stock). The only problem I’ve
had (thus the reason for only 4 stars) is that it locked up twice
within the first couple of hours. It’s been another day and while it hasn’t
locked up again I think I’ll still take it back and swap it out.
Other users have reported the same problem with the mini so beware.
If you do a google for “ipod mini diagnostic” you can find out how to run diagnostics and checkout
the drive and the disk to make sure all is OK.
At any rate, the quality of this player is very nice all things
considered assuming there isn’t an epidemic with the lockups.
I haven’t tested how many hours of battery I get but
I’ve had it on here and there all day today and am halfway
drained as I type this at 9:10 PM. The sound is of decent quality to me at least.
(I listen only to MP3s at 192 or higher bit rate and have a good quality stereo, HK AVR520 and Cambridge
Soundworks Newton Series™ MC300 speakers and P500 Powered
Subwoofer, and headphones (Sony MDR-V700DJ)) This gives a
reference for all you audiophiles out there so you know where
my opinion scales. For small audio buds the sounds is very
good (among the best I’ve heard, usually I throw the headphones
out that come with any portable).
The user interface is of course the best that can be had in
a portable device and better than the iPod due to the buttons
being integrated with the scroll wheel, meaning you never have
to leave the confines of the wheel searching for the right
button to press. I’ll go for a run tomorrow with it to test
out the armband but I don’t envision any problems. The
construction is very solid and though it doesn’t weigh a whole
lot it feels very solid and of high quality.
ITunes is a great piece of software and you can have it just
pick a bunch of random songs to dump on to your player if you
have more than 4 gigs like I do. I get about 680 songs on the
player with my high bit rate rips. 4 gigs is plenty of room
and won’t annoy me to change music every once in awhile.
Rating: 4 / 5
The best thing about this ipod is how unbelievably small it is. Mine is exactly the size of my business card. It is also VERY thin and light. I understand it has all the features and benefits of full sized ipods with one exception – capacity. It only holds 4GB (really more like 3.5 of actual music). I was able to cram in about 30 CDs – granted these are mostly jazz CDs with lost of 10min+ tracks. The iTunes software is great. The battery lasts about 8 hours if you dont use the backlight too much. I sync with my Win XP PC using USB 2.0 and I can’t believe how fast it uploads the songs off of my PC to the ipod. (CD to PC takes a little longer – maybe 3 or 4 min per CD.)
Others have complained that there is an issue with the headphone plug losing its connection with the circuit board over time creating a lot of static and poor sound quality. After a week mine is still fine, but it is something you should know about. Apple is apparently aware of the issue and honors the one yr warranty. If mine has a problem, I will quickly reduce my star rating.
I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because of the capacity issue. I really wish I was able to get my whole CD collection on it, but I guess I would need the 40GB version to do that.
Anyone considering the Mini should also check out the 15GB version. For fifty bucks more you get more in the box and over three times the storage. You do give up the “coolness factor” of having a mini.
In my box along with the Mini was a USB 2.0 cable (which also charges it from the PC’s 2.0 port), a firewire cable, the ipod, a belt clip (useless), earphones w/o remote, and a white square plastic box which can plug into an AC outlet which, when used with the firewire cable, becomes an AC adapter.
Laser engraving is available for about twenty bucks if you order directly from Apple – great if it is a gift.
Rating: 4 / 5
Since the mini’s introduction, people have had a lot to say about it, but actually getting one in your hands and using it is a whole new experience. It feels better in the hand than my 3G iPod, and is roughly the size of my Sony Ericsson T616 phone.
The casing is solid and looks very classy, with an aluminum finish that resists scratches and fingerprints in a way older iPods could only dream of. In the box you only get the basics; a FireWire cable, USB2 cable, earbuds (no remote), belt clip, and power adapter.
The touchwheel is truly a marvel, integrating the solid-state navigation wheel with pushable control points to save space. It makes controlling the mini easier than my 15GB unit, but at times the wheel can be too sensitive and adjust the volume as you’re switching tracks.
Even though the mini has a lower screen resolution, it’s still very readable, but the album name is now omitted from the Now Playing screen. The backlight is even brighter than my recently purchased 15GB unit!
As is the case with Creative’s Muvo2, the iPod mini uses the 4GB Microdrive from Hitachi. Spin-up times are a bit faster with the new drive, so the delays when a song isn’t in the buffer are reduced. However, file and song transfer speeds are noticeably slower over both USB and FireWire. The regular 3G iPods walk all over the mini in this respect, and since I use the data storage capabilities of the iPod quite a bit, this is a bit of a bummer.
You won’t find a user-replaceable battery on the mini, it’s sealed inside like it’s big brothers. Apple does offer a battery replacement program for 99 bucks, or you can pick up 2 years of AppleCare for half that. The typical lifetime of a battery is anywhere from 18-32 months, depending on usage and charging habits. I’m sure that third-party vendors will come up with do-it-yourself kits like they have done with older units.
Price-wise, the mini isn’t a bad deal considering the drive inside it goes for much more at retail. Compared to other iPods, it’s not so great, since an extra 50 bucks will get you almost quadruple the capacity. I’m sure most buying it will be looking at the great form factor and the fact that it’s the cheapest iPod though, I bought in for the size and scratch resistance alone.
The iPod mini might not be for everyone, but for those who don’t have to have their entire music collections with them or people who want a more compact unit, the mini fits the bill nicely. It’s not perfect, but the iPod mini is a pretty compelling product.
Rating: 4 / 5
I purchased my iPod Mini two days after it was released and I must admit, I am blown away by the functionality and style of Apple’s newest creation. Just as a background, I also own a 20 GB third generation iPod, so my comparisons and observations are from a first hand perspective.
So, why on earth did I buy a Mini? Quite simply, I was so impressed with this device that I had to have one. First off, the scroll wheel is vastly improved over the standard iPod. The wheel is still touch sensitive for scrolling, but the functionality of the four buttons has been placed around the wheel and can be clicked. This makes for much easier one handed operation. The screen is razor sharp and the backlighting is awesome. The exterior shell is all aluminum and the screen is recessed in the front of the case. This ipod feels much more durable and resisitant to scratching than my standard iPod. The battery life is also improved. This mini played for nearly 8 hours on the first charge. I typically never get more than 4.5-6 out of my standard iPod. The biggest difference is the form factor of the device (size and the weight). At only 3.6 ounces this iPod can be carried in the pocket without noticing it is there. As small as my standard iPod is, somehow, you always know it is there. The Mini solves this problem. After all, what good is an iPod that holds all of my music, if it is not quite small enough to have with me all the time.
Perhaps one of the coolest parts is the interaction with iTunes. My Library is 7.4 GB, which exceeds the capacity of the Mini. However, when you connect it for the first time, it automatically knows this and creates an “iPod Mini Playlist” that serves as a second library just for my Mini. Just drag and drop from your main library and the songs transfer to the Mini in a snap.
Now, I know what you are all thinking . . . why pay $249 for 4 GB, when you can have 15 GB for only $50 more? The answer is quite simple. In life, purchasing decisions are made with emotion and justified with logic. On paper, there is no disputing the fact that you get far more GB per dollar by going with the standard iPod; and the standard iPod is a terrific piece of equipment. But beyond the logical considerations lies the iPod Mini. The way it feels in your hand, the enhanced functionality of the scroll wheel, the great form factor, and the cool aluminum finish. All of these intangibles create a product that transcends a strict price per GB comparison and makes this iPod worth every penny of its $249 price tag.
The bottom line . . . I have 1050 songs on my Mini with room to spare. I bought the Mini because it puts a smile on my face every time I use it and it is just too darn cool to pass up. I highly recommend this device.
Rating: 5 / 5