The fourth generation monochrome iPod

iPod with Click Wheel
July 2004 - June 2005
The beginning of the end of the beginning.

* First introduced July 2004
* Available in 20 or 40 GB hard drve models
* White body, monochrome display, click wheel

The third generation iPod

iPod with Dock Connector
April 2003 - July 2004
Educated and worldly.

* First launched April 2003
* White body, 10, 15 or 30 GB hard drive models, monochrome screen
* Introduces the dock connector - previous models had a Firewire port.
* 20 and 40 GB models introduced in September 2003

The second generation iPod

iPod with Touch Wheel
July 2002 - April 2003
Survivor of the lean years.

* First launched July 2002.
* White model, 10 or 20 GB hard drive, monochrome screen, touch wheel
* Wheel doesn’t move - four function buttons located above the wheel

The first generation iPod

iPod with Scroll Wheel
October 2001 - July 2002
The iPod head of the family.

* The one that started the mobile white-ear-bud-wearing digital music craze, launched October 2001.
* White model, monochrome screen, 5 or 10 GB hard drive, scroll wheel
* Scroll wheel moves - four function buttons located around the edge of wheel.

The iPod Family

In 2002, Apple doubled the capacity and added the signature solid-state scrollwheel. A year later, the capacity had increased to as much as 40GB. And 2004 saw the introduction of several new iPods, including the mighty Mini, the pricey Photo, and the black U2 version. In early 2005, we witnessed the splashy arrival of the flash-based Shuffle, the 30GB iPod Photo, and the updated Mini, which added a 6GB version to the series as well as improved battery life.

Then came the 20GB photo-friendly iPod (the Photo part was dropped on this and the 60GB versions) and the colourised iPod U2 Special Edition, plus a fresh new price for the AU$199 1GB iPod Shuffle.

In late 2005, the dynasty continued with the arrival of the latest iPod wunderkind, the 2GB and 4GB Nano in either black or white. And the superthin 5G iPod (30GB and 60GB sizes, white or black) lost some weight but gained a bigger screen and an appetite for video. The ever-changing family bid farewell to mainstays the iPod Mini and the iPod Photo, including the U2 edition.

In early 2006, Apple released a 1GB version of the iPod Nano (not shown) and slashed the price of its first-generation Shuffle range, with the then AU$99 Shuffle 512MB the first iPod to break the AU$100 barrier. Then came that crazy cousin, the Motorola Rokr.

The most recent additions to the iPod family arrived on September 12 this year — the colourful second-generation Nanos, with up to 8GB storage space; version two of the Shuffle (billed as the world’s smallest MP3 player); and enhanced fifth-generation iPods with lower prices, brighter screens and longer battery life.

What’s not to like about Boomwave’s Podstar Diablo Spectrum ($20, aka Diablo Series II), a modest evolution of Boomwave’s earlier, “little devil”-themed Podstar Diablo cases for the original iPod nano, now designed to fit the second-generation nano? Since last year’s edition, Boomwave hasn’t just resized the silicone rubber to match the new nano’s curves, and added the single metal hoop earring found on its more recent fifth-generation iPod version of the case; it’s actually updated the line to include six colored versions, and dropped its price by $6. Great deal, right?

Company: Boomwave
Website: www.Thepodstar.com
Model: Podstar Diablo Spectrum
Price: $20
Compatible: iPod nano (aluminum)

Well, sorta. One of the more distinctive parts of the prior Podstar Diablo was its option to include screened-on, devilish or non-devilish artwork on top of the black or red rubber body, which enhanced the looks of the case’s rubber devil horns and tail. Though Spectrum now comes in black, green, blue, pink, orange and red versions, none has this sort of artwork, and each comes with a color mis-matched silicone rubber Click Wheel protector. While we liked the switch from film to rubber for this protector, we didn’t like how the second colors looked with the cases. Since tastes vary, appearance doesn’t significantly impact our final rating of a case, but we weren’t as favorably disposed towards these as we were their predecessors.

That said, the Spectrums are otherwise every bit as protective and fun as before. There are holes for the Hold switch, headphone port, and Dock Connector port, each large (and expandable) enough to be used as you desire. A clear film screen protector is still included, as is a lanyard necklace that’s color-matched to the body of the case, rather than the Wheel protector - a smarter choice. For fun, Boomwave continues to give the cases names and personas - the green one shown is Martial Martian - and still includes a dog tag and collector’s card with faux biographical information on the case. The card has been shrunk to fit inside the case, presumably to save on packaging costs.

As much as we appreciated the price reduction, the concept behind the rubber Wheel protector, and other small tweaks to the prior Diablo for nano design, we think that smarter color choices or art would have enhanced Spectrum’s appeal. Horns and tail aside, the present lineup comes closer in aesthetic to the “generic silicone look” we’d hope that most major case designers would want to avoid. But if you like the colors and their looks, you’ll find that Diablo Spectrums are both substantially protective and more affordable than ever.