The competition must really hate Apple. The Apple iPad wasn't just a successful tablet computer in 2010 - it was the tablet computer. In one fell swoop, Apple created the new tablet market and sold tens of millions of iPads in spite of a global economic downturn and considerable scepticism.

The same, only better

With the iPad's second go-around, Apple sticks to its successful formula. The iPad 2 is thinner, faster and includes two cameras, but otherwise, the iPad stays the same: size, price, (in the US, at least) capacity and features all carry over. Oh, except for colour. Apple now offers both white and black versions of the iPad 2 in every price and configuration.

The hardware

The iPad 2 is thin - so thin, in fact, that it feels like a different device. Measuring just 8.8mm, it's thinner than the iPhone 4 and a third thinner than the original iPad.

Despite the thinner design, its construction quality is no less rugged than the original's. The back of the iPad is still made from a durable, single slab of aluminium machined to fit the iPad's internal components like a glove. The face of the iPad is covered in the same scratch-resistant glass, with a home button at the bottom of the screen and a new front-facing camera at the top.

Otherwise, the iPad 2 sticks to familiar iPad routines. The sleep/wake buttons and headphone jack are in the same place as on the original, up top, as are the volume rocker and mute/rotation lock switch on the right edge. On the bottom you'll find the iPad's universal dock connection and the internal speaker. The speaker's perforated grille now wraps around the back, giving it more surface area and noticeably better sound quality.

Click through for a complete look at the iPad 2.
(Credit: CBSi)

For the iPad 2, Apple has avoided compatibility shenanigans. With the exception of any original iPad cases, the device works with first-gen accessories (docks, adapters, speakers, video cables, chargers), though first-gen docks don't fit like a glove. An updated standard dock for the iPad 2 is available. For keyboard support, Apple now recommends its Bluetooth wireless keyboard.

The iPad 2 accessory that's really getting all the attention is Apple's new Smart Cover. An answer to all the bulky, overdone, rubber third-party cases made for the first iPad, Apple's unique hinged cover comes in two materials - leather and polyurethane - and multiple colours. It attaches magnetically to the left or right edge of the iPad 2 using two aluminium hinges embedded with impressively strong rare-earth magnets. Magnets within the cover are used to detect when the cover is open or shut, allowing the iPad 2 to automatically wake or sleep. It works, but you also have the option in Settings to bypass the automatic wake feature and use the button manually.

As accessories go, the Smart Cover is nifty - not so much for the protection it offers, but for the convenient stand it provides when rolled up. If, on the other hand, you are seriously concerned about protecting your investment, keeping the iPad 2 in a traditional wraparound case is still the best way to go.

Features: new stuff

The iPad 2 isn't a radical departure from the original, but it does have a few new tricks up its sleeve.

The banner feature for the iPad 2 is the addition of two cameras, both able to record video or snap photos. The camera on the back is located in the upper-right corner where it isn't likely to be covered by your hand (in portrait orientation, at least). It looks just like the chrome-ringed lens on the iPhone 4 and is similarly blessed with 720p video capture. There's no camera flash, however, and the camera sensor is a far cry from the one used in the iPhone 4. Just like the fourth-generation iPod Touch, the iPad 2 takes photos that are essentially video stills. A gallery of photos taken with the iPad 2 can be seen here.

Instead of the absence of cameras we got with the original iPad, the iPad 2 has two of them. The rear-facing camera, pictured here, supports 720p video capture. (Credit: CNET)

Even if Apple had gone the route of using a Zeiss lens and a 10-megapixel sensor, the iPad 2 just isn't a replacement for a camera or smartphone. Having tested the camera quality of tablets over the past year, we can't stress enough how silly you feel shooting videos or photos with a tablet in public. It's like taking a picture with a cutting board. Your grandfather's camera was less conspicuous. You get looks, and they're not the envious kind.

The iPad's rear-facing camera won't replace your point-and-shoot, but the image quality isn't bad. (Credit: CNET)

Really, the cameras are there as a way to support Apple's FaceTime video chat app, which is now available for Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad 2. If you've been waiting for the Jetsons' video phone, FaceTime on the iPad gets you pretty close. Unlike smaller devices, the iPad's 9.7-inch screen can present faces at life-size. We've seen this before with desktop- and laptop-based video calling, but it can be uncanny to actually hold an image of someone's life-size face in your hands. FaceTime still remains a Wi-Fi-only feature, however, so in-car iPad video calls are an elusive capability (probably to humanity's advantage).

Other iPad 2 apps designed by Apple include GarageBand and iMovie, which must be purchased separately for AU$5.99 each. The iPad is the last of Apple's iOS devices to be blessed with iMovie (and the camera required for it), but is the first to receive GarageBand. We have separate write-ups of GarageBand for iPad and iMovie for iPad available for more depth.

Under the hood, the iPad 2 has plenty to brag about. The new spec uses a dual-core A5 processor that promises to be twice as fast with nine times the graphics performance. If gaming graphic quality is an important consideration for you, you can jump ahead to the Performance section of this review.

Another feature sure to burn the competition is full HDMI AV output compatibility. Using a US$39 dock cable, the iPad can now mirror its output to a TV over a standard HDMI connection. The supported resolution goes up to 1080p, though video playback and most apps never break out of 720p. Unlike previous video-out solutions for the iPad, this cable no longer limits users to simply video playback or presentations. Everything you see on the screen is mirrored on your TV, including video, photos, games and the home screen. Competitors such as RIM's PlayBook and the Motorola Xoom have been waving HDMI compatibility as a key advantage over the iPad. Now they have one less bragging point.

The iPad 2 also adds the same three-axis gyroscope sensor shared by the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch, giving the device a more detailed sense of its orientation in space, similar to the feeling of holding a Nintendo Wii remote. The gyro's appeal is mostly for gaming, allowing for more precise motion control and realistic navigation within virtual environments. In a first-person shooter game like N.O.V.A., for instance, you can tilt the iPad 2's screen up, down, left or right to explore the game's surroundings, just like a window into the game's universe.

Features: oldies but goodies

Cameras and gyros are nice, but let's not forget all the features that made the original iPad unbeatable. If you've ever used an iPhone or iPod Touch, the iPad 2 will feel immediately familiar. Out of the box, you get many of the iPhone's capabilities, including Apple-designed apps for web browsing, email, maps, photos, music, video and YouTube. More apps can be installed using the built-in App Store software or by connecting the iPad to iTunes via your computer using the included cable. If you already own apps purchased for an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can transfer these apps to the iPad, as well.

The original iPad made its debut with iOS 3.2. That OS's limitations seem prehistoric today. You couldn't bounce between applications with multitasking. You couldn't organise applications into folders. And support for document printing and AirPlay streaming of music, videos and photos didn't arrive until November 2010.

At launch, the iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3, bringing a host of important new features and improvements. There are new apps for Photo Booth (a dedicated portrait-taking app) and FaceTime video chat. The Safari web browser gets a speed boost under the hood for improved JavaScript rendering. The app now includes a Home Sharing option for streaming media over your home network from local computers. And for those of you who want flexible control over the function of the switch above the iPad's volume buttons, iOS 4.3 hands over the reins and allows you to designate it as either a rotation lock or a mute for system alert sounds (such as incoming FaceTime calls).

One sticking point in the original iPad that Apple hasn't addressed in the iPad 2 is Adobe Flash support for Apple's Safari web browser. Apple seems dead set against supporting Adobe's popular tool for presenting video and graphics on the web, and without it, many corners of the web are inaccessible on the iPad or present a Swiss cheese of broken content. For the most part, though, the iPad's web-browsing experience is the best you'll find on a tablet. Navigation is responsive, zooming in and out of text is fluid, and managing multiple open pages is a cinch.

The iPad's device features, such as Bluetooth 2.1 (A2DP, EDR), Wi-Fi 802.11n, 3G and 10 hours of battery life, are all here, and in many cases are still the bar by which other tablets are judged.

Wi-Fi versus 3G

For road warriors or those who just get a little itchy at the idea of not being connected to the internet, Apple offers a version of the iPad with an integrated 3G mobile data connection.

Aside from a negligible added heft of 45 grams and the fact that buyers are paying extra for the 3G capability (compared with Wi-Fi-only models), there's no downside to owning a 3G-compatible model. Unlike the data plans for most smartphones, the iPad doesn't come with any long-term contractual obligations. If you don't end up using the iPad's 3G capability, you can cancel the data plan at any time.

Another advantage of iPad 2 models enabled with 3G is the added capability of assisted GPS (A-GPS), allowing users to accurately pinpoint their locations on a map and take advantage of navigation and location-aware apps. The Wi-Fi-only models of the iPad can use rudimentary Wi-Fi hot-spot triangulation techniques to guess locations, but are much less accurate and consistent.

If you have no plans to regularly use the iPad outside of your home, you'd do just as well to save some money and stick with a Wi-Fi model.

iPad 2 as e-reader

When Apple pitched the original iPad and then-new iBooks app as the be-all and end-all ebook reader, we were sceptical. Apple had only a handful of publishers and the device was as thick as two Kindles put together.

A year later, the iPad has legitimately seized the attention of the publishing industry. Apple claims to have passed its 100 millionth iBook download. Meanwhile, competitors such as Kindle and Kobo have jumped on board with apps for the iPad. Mainstream magazines, including The New Yorker, Wired and Vanity Fair, all have iPad-specific editions. Even speciality publications, such as comic books, test prep and sheet music, have found their way onto the iPad. As far as content goes, the iPad has you covered.

In terms of hardware, the iPad is still a little beefy at 608g, compared with the Kindle 3's 246g. And in spite of the iPad's otherwise excellent IPS LED-backlit display, there's no beating E Ink displays when it comes to outdoor readability. Also, a product like the Kindle DX promises up to four days of reading without a recharge, whereas the iPad will only get you 10 hours.

In spite of all these criticisms, the iPad has already proven itself a success as an e-reader. There are certainly cheaper options out there, but none with the breadth of features offered by the iPad. Plus, with the iPad 2's dramatically thinner design, Apple is in much better shape than it was last year.

What the iPad still isn't

We have plenty of kind things to say about the iPad, but there is a limit to its "magic". Tablets, in general, sit between the practicality of laptops and the convenience of smartphones, but stop short of actually replacing either device.

The iPad 2 is not a laptop replacement. After spending a year with the original iPad, we've come to appreciate laptops more than ever. In most cases, laptops and netbooks offer a more natural typing experience, and there's still nothing like a tried-and-true mouse or touch pad when it comes to editing and navigating documents and spreadsheets. Also, if you're really a stickler for the full Adobe Flash-enabled web experience, traditional laptop and desktop computers are still your best bet, offering more flexibility and compatibility with the web's many formats (especially when it comes to video content and games).

The iPad 2 isn't a smartphone replacement, either. To point out the obvious, the iPad simply doesn't fit in your pocket. Today's smartphones do more than connect us to the world - they're extensions of us. If it doesn't fit in your pocket, it's not going to stay with you all day, and it will never be as personal.

Apple's aces

The App Store built into every iOS device is Apple's secret weapon. Any tablet can offer a fun experience right out of the box, but it takes a steady stream of interesting, affordable apps and games to keep people glued over the long haul.

When Apple debuted the iPad in 2010, it also gave developers the tools and guidelines needed to create a new breed of tablet-optimised apps. Since then, over 65,000 apps have been made just for the iPad. By contrast, competitors such as Google, RIM and HP are just now starting to create catalogues of tablet-optimised apps, and the chances of them catching up are slim.

The quality and selection of apps made for the iPad represent a kind of fountain of youth for the device, imbuing it with new uses and capabilities whenever you tire of the old ones. It also helps that Apple's App Store, iTunes Store, iBooks Store and iTunes software all run off a common user ID, making account set-up and purchases just about as effortless as it gets.

The main menu app for Apple's iTunes store is also one of these "sleeping giant" features we take for granted. Here you have one-touch access to what is now the No. 1 music retailer in the world. The world. On top of music selections, you also get movie and TV downloads as well as rentals priced as low as 99 cents. Podcasts, university lectures, music videos - it's all there and no other competitor has it, or anything close.

To be fair, when it comes to core features such as email, web browsing, media playback, maps and contacts, many of Apple's competitors (most notably Google and the Android Honeycomb tablets) are quickly matching the iPad. If third-party apps, games and media downloads aren't your thing, there are many competent tablets on the market worth considering and more on the horizon. On the other hand, if apps and media aren't your thing, you may want to consider skipping a tablet altogether.

Performance

The iPad 2 is an undeniably faster and more responsive machine than its predecessor. With a new dual-core A5 processor under the hood, Apple is claiming to have doubled performance speed overall and boosted gaming graphics by nine times. The company has also gone and tweaked the code behind the Safari web browser, improving JavaScript load time.

Taking Apple's spec bravado with a grain of salt, the iPad 2 is still an improvement. The original iPad was already pretty tough to beat when it comes to general system responsiveness, such as keyboard latency, scrolling and zooming. With the iPad 2, the system is a little tighter and response is more immediate, but the real-world benefits come in the form of app load times and when switching between apps using the multitasking bar.

Is the iPad 2 a gamer's dream come true? It's a mixed bag. To Apple's credit, the iPad has more games than any other tablet out there, and many of the titles feature graphic and play quality on par with full-blown gaming consoles. With the new processor, even graphically intensive games like Infinity Blade run with an uncanny fluidity, free from stuttering. But no matter how fast the iPad 2 can render its pixels, it's still limited by the iPad 2's 1024x768-pixel display resolution. We had hoped for some of the iPhone 4's Retina Display technology in the iPad 2, but it seems Apple might be saving it for next time.

There's more to a screen than pixel density, though. Apple is still using the IPS panel technology from the original iPad, which offers outstanding viewing angles in every direction. Photo and video playback quality are still great. We noticed a slightly warmer colour on the iPad 2's display compared with the original, but the contrast and black levels seemed about the same.

Our CNET Labs team will update this review with their analysis of iPad 2 performance as data comes in. We'll be testing for battery life, web page load time and gaming performance.

Accessories

The number of accessories made for the original iPad is overwhelming. There are cases, stands, speakers, dock adapters, gaming peripherals - even an iPad-compatible grille. With the iPad 2's new thinner design, fitted accessories for the original iPad (such as cases) aren't likely to work. Even Apple's own dock and keyboard dock for the original iPad are an awkward fit for the second-generation models - though they do work.

Fortunately, Apple hasn't done anything to monkey around with the iPad 2's universal dock connection. Generally speaking, if you could plug it into the first iPad, it should work with the new version as well. This goes for charging cables, video adapters, Apple's Camera Connection kit or any in-car adapter cables.

Apple's new Smart Cover for the iPad 2 comes in five colours of the polyurethane version and five of the leather. (Credit: CNET)

For the iPad 2, Apple announced two new accessories. There's the magnetic Smart Cover (which we've gone over already) and a new Digital AV Adapter that allows you to connect the iPad to a TV over HDMI. The same AV adapter also works with the iPhone, iPod Touch and the original iPad, but only on the iPad 2 does it allow you to output everything from your iPad's screen - the menu, the browser, apps, games, you name it. Priced at only US$39, it's a bit of an Apple TV killer, since it will output the entire iOS experience at up to 1080p, including downloaded iTunes videos and even streaming content from apps such as Netflix (US only).

If you'd prefer to beam content wirelessly from your iPad to your TV, the little hockey-puck-size AU$129 Apple TV is the way to go. Aside from working as a great stand-alone media streamer for iTunes downloads, you can also use it to push media from your iPad to your TV (a feature Apple calls AirPlay). As of iOS 4.3, AirPlay streaming works with music, videos and photos, as well as selected apps and web content.

Worth the upgrade?

If you wanted the first iPad but possessed the foresight and restraint to wait until now, congratulations. There's nothing about the iPad 2 that is a step backward from the original. Buy with confidence.

If you're sitting there with a first-generation iPad and wondering whether you should upgrade, the sensible answer is no. That said, we understand that the iPad isn't a device that sells on its sensibleness. It's a fun product, and if fun is your only criterion, then by all means, buy them by the bushel.

Some of the iPad 2's capabilities for some niche audiences may justify trading in the old iPad for its thinner, faster next of kin. If Apple's FaceTime video calling service has become an indispensable feature for your family (via iPhone, iPod Touch or Mac), it's one feature of the iPad 2 that firmware updates and accessories will just never bring to the original iPad. Some professionals may also find the iPad 2's unique HDMI video output mirroring (adapter required) to be a critical tool for presentations.

For the rest of you original iPad owners, the iPad 2's thinner profile, added cameras and improved performance probably aren't enough to justify shelling out your money again. Unless you just have piles of cash lying around, we recommend that most existing iPad owners wait for the iPad 3.

Final thoughts

So, is the iPad 2 the tablet to beat in 2011? No doubt. It has the most apps, the thinnest construction, the longest battery life, a competitive price and an existing pool of hundreds of thousands of satisfied, iPad-evangelising customers. Competition from Google, HP and RIM will keep things interesting this year, but from what we've seen so far, they've got their work cut out for them.

Via CNET

• Samsung Galaxy Tab
• Dell Streak
• Five reasons to buy an iPad 2
• Apple iPad

(Credit: Josh P. Miller/CNET)

LAS VEGAS - As predicted, CES 2011 was a feast of tablets. They came in small, medium, and extra large. Some even came in pairs. The most promising of the bunch included the BlackBerry PlayBook, Toshiba's 10-inch Android Tablet, the Samsung Sliding PC, and the Motorola Xoom.

Within the tablet category, the Motorola Xoom rose to the top by promising what we felt was the most anticipated mobile OS (Android Honeycomb), on impressively spec'd hardware (dual-core, 4G-compatible, HDMI out, front- and back-facing cameras), in a 10-inch format that can literally and figuratively measure up against the iPad.

Like any product at CES, there's always the chance that the Xoom will disappoint when it finally makes its way into the wild later in the first quarter of 2011. From where we're sitting, though, it's the tablet we're most excited to review this year.

As the first exclusive product to feature Google's tablet-specific Android 3.0 operating system, this award is also a big nod to Google's work developing the Android Honeycomb operating system. From what we've seen, the Android Honeycomb OS charts exciting new ground for tablets, bringing some dearly needed differentiation from the Android smartphone experience. As with previous versions of Android, Honeycomb will inevitably make its way onto other tablets, offering more choice for consumers and providing the industry a valuable resource. By CES 2012, Honeycomb will likely be the de facto standard for Android-based tablets.

In fact, we considered whether Honeycomb itself should be the nominee, but decided that the Xoom, as a vessel for the OS, was as worthy as its cargo. We believe the Xoom is the most potentially disruptive technology among the nominees; it's a true competitor for the iPad and will be one of the first 4G-compatible tablets to hit the market.

Want to check out the rest of the CNET.com Best of Show nominees? Head over to CNET.com for the full list across the various categories on display.

• Motorola Xoom is official but not final
• Toshiba 10-inch Android Honeycomb tablet: photos
• Hands on with Toshiba's 10-inch Honeycomb tablet
• Introducing Android 3.0: Honeycomb

• Apple iTunes 8
• Advanced iTunes: Get more from the software
• Print your own CD cover in iTunes
• TuneUp your iTunes music library

• The iPod Shuffle returns to its big-button glory days
• Support for playlists, audio books, podcasts, Genius Mixes
• Multilingual VoiceOver feature that announces track information, battery status and menu navigation

• 2GB capacity can't hold much
• No headphone remote or radio
• Track controls tend to get pinched when clipping the iPod to your clothes
• The chances of you accidentally running it through the washing machine are quite high

The fourth generation of the Apple iPod Shuffle is a return to the iconic form that made it a hit from 2006 to 2008, but now it offers a few extra features to keep things interesting. As expected, Apple is keeping things simple with its entry-level iPod, offering it in just one 2GB capacity (AU$69) that's available in silver, green, pink, blue and orange.

Design

If you don't remember what Apple's 2009 design for the Shuffle looked like, you're probably not alone. The button-less aluminium gum-stick known as the third-generation Shuffle was an utterly forgettable MP3 player. Its only saving grace was its capability to manage playlist, podcast and audio content, using a unique system of VoiceOver navigation to announce menus, track information and battery status using a synthesised voice.

For the fourth-generation version of the iPod Shuffle, Apple has thrown out the design from 2009, returning to a form that is similar (but not identical) to the popular second-generation model. Placed side by side with the second-gen Shuffle, the latest version is noticeably smaller, slimmer and more square, measuring 3.1cm wide by 2.9cm tall by 0.8cm thick. In spite of the shrunken body, the main navigation has actually increased just slightly in size, so it is easier to make any adjustments to volume or track position.

Another design feature that distinguishes the fourth-gen Shuffle from the second-gen is that the majority of the physical features - the headphone jack, the power switch, the battery indicator, the playback mode control and the VoiceOver button - have been consolidated to the top edge of the device. The bottom edge and sides of the Shuffle are now a completely smooth and seamless expanse of anodised aluminium.

If we have just one complaint of the fourth-gen iPod Shuffle design, it's the difficulty using the clip without accidentally triggering the track-skip control (specifically the back skip button). The second-generation design avoided this problem by offsetting the navigation to the right, leaving a blank space for you to pinch down and open the clip without affecting the controls. With the new design, you need to carefully pinch down near the corners of the player, or throw caution to the wind and pinch the track-skip button in the process of clipping it on. We figure the thing's called "Shuffle", so if you're going to be a stickler for which song gets played, you should probably think about getting a different device.

Another factor worth taking into consideration is that the Shuffle's small size can sometimes be a disadvantage. We often hear stories of people accidentally running their Shuffle through the laundry, or misplacing it for weeks, only to have it appear in some seldom-used purse pocket or change drawer. For all its beauty and simplicity, the Shuffle seems to fall into the same category as socks and umbrellas: you don't own them so much as borrow them from the universe.

Features

Though the Shuffle's design may be a nod to the past, its features keep pushing forward. Everything that was good about the third-generation model (VoiceOver, playlists, audio books and podcasts) has been retained for this version, along with support for Genius Mixes, expanded language support and a longer 15-hour battery life.

Keep in mind that though the Shuffle's features are impressive for its size, its capabilities are far from ground-breaking in the world of portable audio as a whole. There's no FM radio, no voice recording and - obviously - no photo or video playback. Audio formats supported include biggies like MP3, AAC, Audible, WAV, AIF and Apple Lossless, but still no love for WMA or FLAC.

The only new feature to show off is a VoiceOver button located on the top edge of the player, represented by a small cartoon speech bubble icon on the back of the Shuffle. Pressing the button once will cause a synthetic voice to announce the artist and song title of the currently playing song. Pressing the button twice announces the current battery life percentage. Holding down the button for a few seconds takes you into a menu mode where you can use the track skip controls to switch between any synced playlists, Genius Mixes, audio books or podcasts. Each menu item is reeled off by the pleasant little robot voice, which can be configured in iTunes to speak in one of 25 languages.

The Shuffle handles the playback of audio book and podcast content differently than music files, and assumes you'd prefer to always play this type of content sequentially - even if the iPod's shuffle switch is on. Audio-book and podcast content is also kept out of the Shuffle's start-up music mix, ensuring that a stray chapter of "A Tale of Two Cities" never ruins the mood of your workout. But if jogging to classical literature is your thing, you'll be relieved to know that any audio book synced to the Shuffle is treated as a separate playlist. Podcasts are also treated as separate playlists, with each playlist titled after the name of the show. Like any other iPod, the Shuffle automatically resumes your podcasts or audio books where you last left off, allowing you to enjoy them in small doses without scanning back and forth to find your place.

(Credit: Apple)

As far as charging goes, the Shuffle comes with a 4-inch USB adapter that connects between the iPod's headphone output and your computer. The Shuffle can also be used on your computer in disk mode, allowing you to store and transfer files without interfering with the audio content on your iPod. As expected, you can't access the music files stored on the Shuffle without going through Apple's iTunes music software (version 10 or later is a required download for the Shuffle).

Performance

For an AU$69 MP3 player, the Shuffle sounds surprisingly good, though you'd never know it from the standard Apple ear buds that come included. Given its small size, it's worth mentioning that under the device's iTunes settings you can lock in a maximum volume level for the Shuffle, which can be helpful if the player is for a child or just to ensure your ears don't get blasted if you accidentally sit on the thing.

The Shuffle is rated at 15 hours of playback time, with a full recharge in about three hours. In our limited, informal testing, we think it's safe to assume the rating is accurate. If anything, Apple is typically conservative with its iPod battery life estimates. We'll update this review with test results from CNET Labs, once they're available.

Is it worth it?

In terms of features, design, sound quality and price, the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle is the best version of the player we've seen yet. That said, the world of sub-$100 MP3 players is chock full of interesting options, many of which deliver larger capacities, colour screens and broader compatibility with files and applications beyond the world of iTunes.

As the closest competitor, the SanDisk Sansa Clip+ offers twice the capacity, a built-in screen, microSD card expansion, FM radio, voice recording, and broader file and application compatibility. It's certainly not as sexy, but it's a much better value overall. Fitness fanatics also owe it to themselves to check out the Sony W-Series Walkman, which kills two birds with one stone by rolling an MP3 player into a great pair of sweat-resistant headphones.

If your music library and playlists are already in iTunes, however, the Shuffle offers the path of least resistance to those in the market for a small, fitness-friendly MP3 player and a good value at AU$69.

Via CNET

• Apple iPod Shuffle (3rd generation)
• Apple iPod Touch (3rd generation, 32GB)
• How to set up an iPod Shuffle
• Apple shrinks its iPod Shuffle

• Nearly half the size of the previous model
• Uses unique multi-touch screen navigation
• Includes a built-in clip

• Many features have disappeared
• No video playback
• No camcorder, microphone, speaker, games, calendar, contacts, notes or alarm clock
• Touchscreen interface is overkill, requiring more attention than the time-tested click wheel design without delivering many practical benefits

The iPod Nano is an institution that rivals the iPod Classic in terms of legacy, and arguably exceeds it in popularity. It's a technological Goldilocks that has endured by virtue of how well it has held to the middle ground, always sitting right in the middle of Apple's other iPod offerings in terms of price, convenience, features and performance.

This time around, Apple went back to the drawing board for the sixth-generation Nano. The result, for better or worse, throws out many of the features we've come to expect from the Nano over the years, in exchange for a significantly smaller, clip-on design, available in seven anodised aluminium hues (silver, grey, blue, green, orange, red and pink). The iPod Nano will retail for AU$199 for the 8GB model (the same as the debut price for the previous generation) and AU$229 for the 16GB model (AU$20 less than the equivalent capacity model of the previous generation).

Design

We have to admit, we didn't think it was possible for Apple to make the Nano any smaller than what we saw in 2009. Boy, were we wrong. The Nano now measures approximately 4cm square and 0.8cm deep, including the spring-loaded metal clip borrowed from the iPod Shuffle. It's ridiculously small. It's "where the heck did I leave the iPod?" small. On a really bad day, it can also be "oh man, I hope I didn't run it through the washing machine" small.

Two circular buttons on the top edge of the Nano provide intuitive tactile control over volume adjustment; a larger oval-shaped button nearby acts as a sleep/wake control for the touchscreen. Yes, you heard right: the smallest iPod Nano ever produced uses the smallest touchscreen LCD we've ever seen, measuring about an inch square. On the bottom edge of the Nano you'll find Apple's standard 30-pin dock connection and a headphone jack compatible with standard headphones (included), as well as headsets with microphone and remote control capabilities (sold separately).

We have our criticisms of the new Nano design, but let's start out on a positive note. We have good things to say about the player's screen. The glass-covered LCD is bright and colourful, with a crisp 240x240-pixel resolution that packs 220 pixels per inch. The touchscreen is frighteningly responsive and fluid, rivalling the performance of the iPhone 4. The iOS-like icons used throughout the four scrollable home screens make sense, and they launch into their intended functions with lightning speed.

And though everyone I showed the Nano to had little problem locating and playing music, each of them regarded me with a look of confused betrayal when I asked them to return to the home screen. I may as well have handed them a toy finger trap. We've become so accustomed to having a home button on touchscreen devices, people leap into menus and features without considering how to get back. The iPod Nano borrows many of the touchscreen interface metaphors of the iPhone and iPod Touch, but does not include a home button or basic on-screen breadcrumb buttons to show users the way out.

Of course, like the finger trap metaphor, the solution is easier than it seems. You simply need to swipe left or hold your finger on the screen to return to the main menu. Once you learn the trick, it becomes second nature. Still, for a company that has set the bar for touchscreen interface design and usability standards with its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices, the oversight of something as fundamental as a menu button seems out of step. Maybe it's not as big a deal as we're making it out to be, but we expect that Apple Store employees will be clocking in a lot of "face palm" hours when customers ask how to get back to the Nano's main menu.

The touchscreen presents users with a bigger, long-term issue, though: it requires concentration. Unlike the click wheel navigation used on all previous designs - which was literally shaped like a target for your fingers - the new Nano's touchscreen requires your eyes to interpret the on-screen navigation. Granted, the same can be said of the iPhone and iPod Touch, but the Nano's audio-specific features and intended use as a fitness accessory put it in a different context. With any of the previous designs, you could quickly start or stop music playback purely by feel, without taking your eyes from your activity. With the square touchscreen design, you need to glance at the screen to perform just about any operation, with the exception of adjusting volume, shuffling songs with a shake or simply yanking out the headphones to stop music playback.

Part of the playback control dilemma could have been solved if Apple had included ear buds with an inline remote control, instead of the basic ear buds that come bundled. You can buy a pair of these ear buds separately for AU$39, which also enable a hidden Voice Memo feature to the player. Sadly, even after laying out extra money, the ear buds with remote and mic are sonically identical to the basic ear buds.

Click through for a complete photo gallery. (Credit: Apple)

Features

Arguably, the Nano's most impressive feature is its size. Apple shrank the Nano's design by nearly 50 per cent while maintaining a 24-hour battery life, generous capacity options and existing features such as music playback, an FM radio you can pause, Genius Mixes, podcasts, audio books, photo gallery, clock, stopwatch, pedometer and support for the optional Nike+ fitness system. Apple has also added an integrated clip, which saves you from having to fork over money for an armband.

But as great as the Nano is from a design and engineering perspective, there are actually fewer total features being offered than any time over the past three years. Some of the features that didn't make it to the new design aren't worth crying over, such as contacts, calendar and notes. But Apple also gutted features like the alarm clock, which we've found handy on a few occasions. A countdown timer is included, which can be set to put the iPod to sleep or to sound an alarm through headphones or connected speakers. But with the previous model, you could set alarms at specific times, set them to repeat daily or weekly, associate the alarm to a playlist of music, and have any alarm or song play through the internal speaker.

Support for games is also gone. Again, this isn't a huge deal for most users, but it was a fun, well-executed feature that Apple had polished over the years. It was also one more small way to keep kids entertained on a road trip.

But the most surprising omission from the sixth-generation iPod Nano is the lack of video playback or camcorder features. Over the past three years, video has been the focus and area of growth for the Nano. The screen kept getting larger, movie rental capabilities came on-board, and the 2009 model was even graced with a useful little camcorder. All of those features have been tossed aside now. To be fair, watching video on a postage-stamp-size screen would be ridiculous. The larger question, though, is why Apple felt that going smaller with the design was a paramount concern over maintaining features it had taken years to develop.

Looking past our sentiment and confusion over the features that didn't make it into the new design, the Nano still has plenty to brag about. Thanks to some help from Apple's iTunes software, advanced playlist capabilities such as smart playlists, Genius playlists and Genius Mixes take a lot of the legwork out of creating a great soundtrack for your morning jog. Compatibility with iTunes also brings along one of the best and most convenient ways to download and manage podcasts and audio books.

The FM radio player, which was only added to the Nano in 2009, is one of the best you'll find on a portable device. With it you can pause and rewind up to 15 minutes of any live broadcast, as well as store your favourite stations as presets and tag songs from compatible stations, making it easy to purchase those songs when you sync back up to your computer.

We also have to admit, for all our gripes with the touchscreen navigation, the new interface does allow you to better customise the layout of the main menu. Like the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, you can rearrange the Nano's icons by holding them down and dragging them to a new location. If you're an audio-book or podcast fanatic who couldn't care less about Genius Mixes, you can make those features the only two icons on your main menu screen, placing other features out of the way.

The square touchscreen also allows you to reorient the menu in any direction, which can be helpful if you have the Nano clipped sideways on your shirtsleeve or upside down on a backpack strap. But again, the downside to such a flexible screen orientation is that it can be difficult to remember or predict how the controls are laid out without glancing directly at the screen. If you need to be able to pause or skip songs without taking your eyes of what you're doing, you'll just need to invest in some type of headphone remote control (or a different device).

Finally, there's the integrated pedometer, which can be used to track your activity and manage fitness goals. When you first activate the pedometer, it asks for your weight and allows you to set a "daily step goal". When the pedometer is switched on, it does an accurate job recording how many steps you take throughout your day and saves your totals in a history view, which you can sync to a Nike+ online account by way of iTunes. It's a useful feature, and it's free.

Performance

For better or worse, the Nano now has fewer features for us to evaluate in terms of performance. As we mentioned earlier, the Nano's touchscreen is technically dazzling in terms of its responsiveness and crisp resolution. Unfortunately, on a practical note, it performs no better than the click wheel when it comes to navigating through features or diving into your music library. Because the controls are dynamic and not fixed like the click wheel design, even the most basic operations, such as pausing or skipping music, require more attention than before.

Sonically, the Nano holds up to the higher standards we've heard from Apple in recent years. Provided you're quick to upgrade from the basic ear buds Apple bundles with the player, the fundamental sound quality of the Nano is hard to complain about. Background hiss introduced by the internal headphone amplifier is impossible to detect on modern digital recordings. Listening back on a pair of Klipsch Custom 2 earphones we were able to pick up everything from the nuance of a string pluck, to the saturated low frequency boom of a Black Eyed Peas kick drum.

Apple rates the Nano's battery life at 24 hours of continuous audio playback. We expect that estimate will ring true, provided that the screen is switched off. Like any touchscreen device, the more you fiddle with it, the faster you can expect the battery to drain. We'll update this review with test results from CNET Labs once they're available.

Via CNET

• Apple iPod Nano (4th generation)
• Fake iPod Nano (4th generation)
• Sony Walkman NWZ-A845
• Apple iPod Nano (5th generation)

• Nothing but improvements over previous models
• HD camcorder
• Front-facing camera
• Integrated microphone
• FaceTime video calling
• Retina Display
• Gyroscope sensor
• Slimmer, lighter design

• Photo quality doesn't hold up to the iPhone 4's
• No GPS
• No option for 3G data service

Editors' note: this review was conducted by CNET US. We'll update with our local thoughts when we receive review models from Apple.

Apple's latest version of the iPod Touch hasn't changed dramatically from the version first introduced in 2007, but the rest of the tech world has. It's now the age of the "app", the iPad, and smartphones both big and small. The iPod Touch shouldn't apologise for being Apple's "iPhone without a phone" anymore; it's just as valid to call it an iPad that fits in your pocket.

Priced at AU$289 (8GB), AU$378 (32GB) and AU$499 (64GB), Apple's fourth-generation iPod Touch takes everything we loved about the last version and makes it better. The screen is prettier, the processor faster, the design slimmer and new features, such as an HD camcorder and FaceTime video calls, only make the iPod Touch more indispensable to those who aren't already toting the latest iPhone or Android smartphone.

Design

It isn't easy to tell apart a fourth-gen iPod Touch from previous versions, but there are a few tell-tale changes. The chromed steel back now lies a little flatter, giving it a slightly thinner profile that's less prone to wobbling when laid on a table. More importantly, the back of the Touch now has a camera lens in the upper-left corner, along with a pinhole microphone. The camera placement is nearly identical to the iPhone 4's camera, though the cameras themselves differ. The camera used on the Touch is strictly designed for video recording, but it can be made to capture still frames, whereas the iPhone's camera pulls equal weight as both a photo camera (5-megapixel sensor, LED flash, HDR support) and an HD camcorder.

Click through for a complete photo gallery. (Credit: Apple)

Unlike the video camera Apple introduced on the iPod Nano in 2009 or the camera on the pocket-size Dell Streak tablet, the Touch's camera isn't obscured by your hand when you hold the device naturally.

The same is true of the video camera Apple added to the front of the iPod Touch, placed above the screen and behind the glass, where the earpiece would normally be found on a mobile phone. An integrated speaker is included on the Touch, but it's located behind a tiny speaker grille on the bottom edge of the device, along with a standard dock connection and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The volume buttons are still located on the left edge of the Touch, though they're divided into two distinct buttons now instead of the single rocker switch design used on the two previous models. We took to the new volume button design without any hiccups, but we were thrown a little by Apple's decision to move the screen sleep/wake button from the left side of the top edge to the right. It's a win for lefties, we suppose, but it took a little adjusting to.

Aside from the addition of the camera to the face of the iPod Touch, the rest is just as you'd expect. There's a home button below the capacitive touchscreen, which still measures 3.5 inches diagonally. The width of the Touch has come down from 6cm to 5.8cm, which is made up in a slight growth spurt in height (up to 11.1cm from 10.9cm). The depth of the Touch is now 0.7cm, thanks to the flattening of the curved back. Aside from the flatter design making the Touch less prone to wobbling on a table, the rest of these subtle design tweaks make no real practical difference - though it does prevent you from reusing the case from your old Touch.

At 101 grams, this is the lightest iPod Touch yet. After spending a year with the third-generation model in our pocket, the thinner, lighter fourth-gen Touch feels invisible by comparison. Score one for the skinny jeans.

Features

Unsurprisingly, the iPod Touch continues its neck-and-neck, spec-to-spec race with the iPhone. Features that made headlines when they made their iPhone 4 debut have trickled over to the iPod Touch without much fanfare, but are no less impressive. You get the same A4 processor, same three-axis gyro sensor, and an identical Retina Display, sporting an impressive 960x640-pixel resolution at a dense 326 pixels per inch. You still can't make mobile phone calls on the Touch, surf over a 3G connection or receive a GPS signal, but the gap between the Touch and the iPhone is smaller than ever.

One basic iPhone feature Touch users have missed out on for some time now is an integrated microphone. The fourth-gen Touch solves the problem with a mono microphone on the back that picks up sound equally in every direction (ie, omnidirectional). The addition of the microphone is ostensibly there for the adjacent camcorder and new FaceTime video-calling feature (see below), but also works with features such as the Voice Memos app and third-party VoIP and audio-recording apps that previously required a compatible headset or microphone accessory.

If we had to pick one feature that defines the fourth-gen iPod Touch, it's the new video and photo capabilities. The camera on the back supports HD video recording up to 720p at 30 frames per second. The resulting video file is H.264 QuickTime MP4, which can be edited directly on the device using the basic trim feature or the more advanced iMovie editor (available for AU$5.99 from the App Store). You can sync your recordings back to your computer using the included USB cable or send the results directly from the Touch using email, MobileMe or an upload to YouTube. We also have to give points to the Touch for being able to embed roughly estimated geotag information to your photos and videos, provided you keep the Wi-Fi antenna on.

The front-facing camera is convenient for self-portraits and video calling, but its VGA resolution (640x480 pixels) can't compete with the HD camera on the back. A toggle button on the touchscreen allows you to seamlessly toggle between the two cameras.

Both cameras are capable of taking still shots as well, but the results don't hold up to the 5-megapixel camera (with LED flash) found on the iPhone 4. Essentially, these photos are simply video stills, which equate to a 960x720-pixel resolution using the camera on the back, or 640x480 pixels using the self-portrait cam. You get the same tap-to-focus capabilities found on the iPhone 4, but the shots won't make your digital camera jealous.

Overall, the iPod Touch works well as a pocket camcorder, though we still prefer something like a Flip UltraHD when it comes to video quality, audio quality and plug-and-play flexibility. That said, you can't browse the web, download apps or email your friends from a Flip, so take product comparisons with a grain of salt.

Gaming

Gaming on the iPod Touch is better than ever, thanks to the improved display, additional three-axis gyro sensor and a performance boost from the A4 processor. At the time of this review, there aren't many apps and games that take full advantage of the new gyro capabilities, which add precise pitch, roll and yaw motion control to the existing accelerometer and multi-touch controls. Nonetheless, the breadth of game selection available through the integrated App Store is exhaustive. Beyond the expected selection of fun, addictive casual games, such as Angry Birds, Scrabble and Plants vs. Zombies, there's a growing number of console-quality titles, such as Mirror's Edge, Assassin's Creed and Madden NFL 11.

It's worth noting, though, that many of the more intense games take a big toll on the iPod's battery life. In our initial, causal testing, a new game like Mirror's Edge drained the battery to 20 per cent in an hour or so of play. If gaming is going to be your primary use for an iPod Touch, it's probably worth investing in an external backup battery pack.

Another gaming feature introduced with the fourth-generation iPod Touch is an Apple-developed app named Game Center, which comes pre-installed. The Game Center app acts as a leaderboard that collects your progress and achievements for all the games installed on your iPod. It also displays the top scores and game rankings of your friends and facilitates wireless, multiplayer gameplay between your friends, or will automatch you with a random player. If you've grown tired of playing Scrabble or racing games against the computer, Game Center is Apple's way of making its game offerings more social. Of course, the cynic in us also sees this is a way for Apple to get people to play and purchase more games, but we have no doubt it will be a productivity-zapping hit.

Music and video

True to the iPod's legacy as a media playback device, the iPod Touch delivers just about every music and video experience you can think of. Putting aside third-party apps, such as Pandora Radio, Rhapsody music subscriptions or Netflix video streaming, the core music and video playback capabilities are impressive in their own right. Using Apple's free iTunes software on your computer, you can sync your music collection, podcasts, audio books, music videos, movies, TV shows, and free educational lectures and videos from iTunes U.

If you're looking to download new music or videos, there's a direct link to the iTunes storefront on the home screen of the iPod Touch, offering everything from albums and podcasts, to TV shows and movie rentals. The same storefront can be found inside the iTunes software on your computer (though the app version is much faster to load), and any purchases made either on the device or using the software all ultimately sync up back to your computer.

As far as music and video services beyond iTunes are concerned, the iPod Touch is much more flexible than iPods in the past. Any unprotected MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF or WAV audio file can be transferred to the Touch without hassle, and DRM-protected Audible audio-book files will work, as well. If you have a collection filled with unprotected WMA music files, Apple's iTunes software can take care of transcoding them into a compatible format. If you're dealing with a bunch of DRM-protected WMA files (or more-boutique files, such as Ogg Vorbis or FLAC), you're just out of luck. That said, if your protected WMA files are the result of a PC-only music subscription service, such as Rhapsody or Napster, it is now possible to stream and sometimes store these files using compatible apps.

The same situation is more or less true for video compatibility as well. A handful of popular unprotected video types, such as H.264 and MPEG-4, are supported in a variety of versions (MOV, MP4, M4V) and resolutions. Some files types, such as AVI, DivX and XviD, can be made compatible using third-party apps. And some video services, such as YouTube, Netflix and others, can be used to stream content by way of apps or the included Safari web browser. That said, if you're trying to sync a DRM-protected WMA file you downloaded from Amazon or CinemaNow, you're probably out of luck.

FaceTime

The first icon you'll see on the main menu of the iPod Touch is a new app labelled FaceTime. It's a feature that has made its way over from the iPhone that allows you to place or receive free, real-time video calls over Wi-Fi. FaceTime calls can work from iPhone to iPhone, Touch to Touch, or between Touch and iPhone owners.

FaceTime calls on the iPod Touch perform just as well as they do on the iPhone, but the mechanics are a little different. Because iPods don't have phone numbers attached to them, iPod Touch users need to set up their account on the device and associate it with an email address. A contact list appears within FaceTime that you can add to and edit. To make an outgoing FaceTime call on an iPod Touch, you pick a contact from your list and select whether to place the call to the contact's phone number or email address. Provided that the person receiving the call has a compatible iPhone or a fourth-gen iPod Touch connected to Wi-Fi, the call should go through without a hitch.

Once connected, the front-facing camera kicks in and you can both see and hear the person you're calling, and vice versa. As on the iPhone 4, there's an on-screen button for switching between rear camera and front-facing camera. You can also tap the home button to disable the video feed and multitask on the iPod Touch while maintaining the voice call.

All in all, FaceTime is a cool feature. During our limited initial tests, we noticed very little latency in the FaceTime audio and video stream. The integrated microphone and speaker on the fourth-gen Touch make it possible to speak and hear your conversations without having to plug in a headset or mic adapter. The feature does work with headphones, however. If you plug in the basic ear buds included with the Touch, audio is routed to the headphones and the internal speaker gets disabled, but the microphone still works. If you plug in a headset with a compatible microphone (such as Apple's in-ear headphones), then the headset will handle everything. Unfortunately, as with the iPhone, wireless Bluetooth headsets will not work with FaceTime calls. We're not complaining, though, since the feature is free, well-executed and 99 per cent awesome.

iOS

So far we've been focusing this review mostly on the improvements Apple has made to the hardware and capabilities of the fourth-generation iPod Touch. The elephant in the room is all of the existing and continually improving capabilities of Apple's iOS platform (formerly known as iPhone OS).

Core features, such as email, the Safari web browser, Maps, the YouTube viewer, photos, calendar and notes, are still the heart of the device. The installed features are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the available capabilities. An iTunes App Store, accessible from the computer or directly from the iPod Touch, lets you download and install thousands of applications, including internet radio players, games, voice recorders, social-networking tools and much more.

The recent updates made in iOS4, such as home screen folders, threaded emails and app multitasking, address most of the criticisms we've made of the device over the years.

Performance

Apple rates the battery life of the fourth-generation iPod touch at 40 hours of audio playback or seven hours of video, which is an improvement over the previous generation's estimates of 30 hours of audio playback and six hours of video. We'll publish our official CNET test results once they're available. If history is any indication, though, our tests have shown that Apple has underestimated battery performance for the past three generations of iPod Touch.

That said, as capabilities and uses of the iPod Touch continue to branch out into gaming and communication, audio and video performance may not be the best measure of real-world battery endurance. In our experience, 3D gaming tends to drain battery life the fastest. Taking measures such as disabling audio EQ, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can help to save battery life, as will lowering screen brightness.

Sound quality for the latest iPod Touch is just fine, and right in line with previous models. Apple could always do better on this front by offering custom EQ or a suite of audio enhancement settings beyond the stock EQ presets, but we're not holding our breath. Provided that you upgrade your headphones from the universally loathed stock-white ear buds that come included, you should be able to coax a great audio experience from the iPod Touch.

As of iOS 4.1, the iPod Touch now adds full AVRCP support to its existing Bluetooth 2.1 feature, allowing users to pause and skip songs or adjust volume via Bluetooth remote controls (when available). Pairing the iPod Touch with Bluetooth accessories such as stereo headsets, speaker systems or car stereos is quite simple, and a record of previously paired devices is stored in the iPod's Settings menu. The audio quality and wireless range (about 30 feet) using Bluetooth is about what you'd expect from most portable Bluetooth devices, and we're happy to see that the audio from video playback and apps are transmitted over Bluetooth just as easily as music playback. It's worth noting, though, that keeping Bluetooth active on the iPod Touch will take a toll on its battery life.

Video quality on Apple's Retina Display is outstanding. Throw on a feature film or a high-end video game and the experience is so fluid and crisp it's hard to believe. Last year, we were a little iffy recommending the iPod Touch video experience over the OLED screen loveliness of the Microsoft Zune HD. At this point, though, we think it's safe to say that anyone who can meet or beat Apple's current display technology will still have a tough time matching Apple on the kind of graphically rich video and gaming content that can make those pixels sing.

The iTunes factor

If you're considering buying an iPod for the first time, consider that Apple's iTunes software is a required installation for your computer. The software is free and available for both Mac and Windows computers, and we encourage potential iPod owners to become familiar with the software ahead of time to ensure that it works well for you and your computer. To learn more about iTunes, we recommend checking out our latest review and any user feedback associated with it.

Final thoughts

The Apple iPod Touch is arguably the last shot fired in the war of portable media players. There's simply no catching up to it in terms of quality and capabilities. In fact, we sometimes joke around at CNET about how many product categories have been unintentionally maimed by the Touch, including internet radios, PDAs, portable gaming devices and GPS receivers.

In fact, as the scope and power of the Touch's capabilities continue to expand, it may have a role yet to play in the war of tablet computers. Apple already has an early lead in this space with the iPad, which shares nearly all of the capabilities of the Touch, only on a considerably larger screen. To not consider the Touch as a tablet computer based on its smaller screen size seems a little arbitrary, especially as Android-based contenders from Dell, Archos, Samsung and others are exploring similar forms.

Time will tell how consumers will define the nascent tablet computer category, but don't be surprised if the iPod Touch starts to find itself taking on new rivals beyond the shrinking world of portable media players.

Via CNET

• Apple iPod Touch (3rd generation, 32GB)
• Apple iPad
• Dell Streak
• Apple iPod Classic 160GB

Official pricing is still unknown, but we now know that the device is due to hit European markets in mid-September, and the US, Asia and Australia by year's end. The Galaxy Tab's size and specs put it somewhere between the phone-like Dell Streak and the magazine-size Apple iPad. The Tab uses a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 1024x600 Wide Super VGA (WSVGA) resolution. It ships with Android 2.2 (Froyo), the complete Google apps Market, Flash 10.1, 16GB or 32GB of memory, GPS and integrated sensors, such as a gyroscope, accelerometer, light sensor and geomagnetic sensor.

Click through for a complete photo gallery. (Credit: Samsung/CNET)

The whole thing runs on an ARM Cortex A8 1GHz applications processor, tied to a PowerVR SGX540 graphics processor. If you're feeling photogenic, a 3.2-megapixel camera on the back includes autofocus and an LED flash and records video up to 720x480. A video chat-compatible camera on the front of the Tab uses a 1.3-megapixel VGA resolution to beam your pretty mug to your friends and family.

Battery life is rated at an impressive seven hours of continuous video playback.

As far as connectivity goes, the Tab promises Wi-Fi compatibility up to 802.11n, as well as cellular 2.5G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) and 3G (HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps). Specific carrier agreements have not been announced.

Are we excited to get our hands on one? You bet your sweet bippy. But without concrete pricing or a launch date, we're just going to try and play it cool for now.

Via CNET

• Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Tab
• Samsung iPad competitor out this month?
• Samsung Galaxy S
• Samsung ST550

With five colours (silver, green, pink, orange and blue), one capacity (2GB), all the features of last year's voice over model, and one low price (AU$69), the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle seems to be the best model yet.

There's very little new to report on the latest Shuffle. The navigation controls, clip and power switch are taken right from the second-generation design, while the internal features, such as voice over navigation of your playlists, music collection, audio books, podcasts and so on, are all borrowed from the button-less third-generation model.

So what is new? Well, the design is a little smaller and more squarish than the second-generation model. You can sync Genius playlists now, and battery life is 15 hours, up from 10.

There's also a new button up on the top edge, which triggers the voice over menu navigation. Previously, this button was located on the cable of the included ear buds. Now, with the remote button directly on the device, the Shuffle is back to shipping with standard ear buds.

Stay tuned for our review.

Via CNET

• Sony Walkman W-series (2GB) NWZ-W202
• Apple iPod Nano (4th generation)
• Sony Walkman NWZ-B153
• Apple iPod Touch (3rd generation, 32GB)