Review by Nick DePlume Photography by Calvin Leong-Wong Hair/make-up by Hyung Park Stylist by Janett Kim Less than one year since Apple unveiled its breakthrough iPod, the company is delivering the next generation, packing refinements and tweaks into the lauded MP3 player. In the Winter issue, MacDirectory took its first look at Apple's iPod (Winter 2001: "iPod: Music to Go"), the first portable music player to pack 1,000 songs in a pocket-sized enclosure. The iPod shook up the market for MP3 portables with its 6.5-ounce unit, easy-to-use interface, 20 minutes of skip protection, FireWire auto-syncing, and true Apple industrial design. In March, Apple rolled out a second, higher-capacity model at Macworld Tokyo. Along with adding software features, Apple included a new option available at the Online Store: custom laser engraving, etched onto the stainless-steel iPod backing. At Macworld Expo 2002 in New York, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the iPod's first significant revision.
		THE HARDWARE Materially, the new iPod shares many similarities with the first models. Indeed, the original 5GB model is still available from Apple at only $299, significantly lowering the barrier to entry. But the newer units boast improvements that can be seen upon closer inspection. When the first iPod was announced, its 5GB ultra-thin hard drive was quite a feat, given its small size. Today's iPods go even further with a 10GB model at $399, and an immense 20GB unit for $499. The latter provides first-class storage, with room for about 4,000 songs, or 266 hours of music.		But changes also exist on the outside. The new iPods are 10% thinner -not groundbreaking, but certainly noticeable if you place a new and old iPod side-by-side. While the iPod scroll wheel looks unchanged at first glance, it in fact isn't a moving "wheel" at all. To scroll through lists and adjust the volume, Apple has instead introduced a solid-state wheel, just as smooth and easy to use as the last iteration. "It feels like glass," Jobs said on stage at Macworld.