Admittedly I did have a shaky start to my new iPod experience when after borrowing a friend's iPod I managed to put it in reset mode, and left it unrecoverable, as iTunes would display "error code (6)" whenever the iPod was connected. But after taking it to the apple store (when I bought my own), to apple's credit they replaced it for free - but then I was buying a new iPod and shuffle myself.
To the new iPod then, no doubt a fantastic piece of design an incredibly intuitive idea. The App Store is an excellent invention, allowing users to create their own utilities and even sell them to other members, in a user friendly and huge database of software.
The touch feature itself is very useful also, whether it is sliding through photos, your album art or playing maze finger, it is a fresh way of using the device, and certainly an improvement on the click wheel. So, the utility of a device as a standalone piece of equipment has undoubtedly improved.
But let’s not forget that this device can now also connect to a local area network via Wi-Fi. This allows access to the App Store itself as well as internet browsing, and a separate application to pick up your emails also.
The new iPod is a must have for all technology lovers, but unfortunately, this article does not end here.
A friend of mine said recently, "The way technology is going it is all about getting stuff to work with other stuff". And although a basic description, he is completely correct. Fortunately Apple have cottoned onto this and started to get the iPod to do "more things with more things", take for example the BBC iPlayer, granted this was BBC's initiative to make the iPlayer function with mobile devices, but the utility of the function is no less. Google also have now optimised some applications for a mobile device, Google mail, and now also Google calendar as well (see my earlier blog post).
The problem is that there is still a long way to go. Many websites use flash player which the iPod does not support. And as apple recently found out, their slogan of "the entire internet on your iPod", is not entirely accurate, when the ASA picked them up on this fact, view the adjudication here.
The iPod is great, don't get me wrong, but before purchasing one, just remember not to expect too much. As is always the way, new gadgets never completely deliver on expectations. If I find one that does, I'll let you know!
The Guardian wrote an article this week on the new media phenomenon "Kangaroo", the commercial iPlayer which will group all the content from the BBC iPlayer, the channel 4 40D service and content from itv.com. This service will offer all content at reasonable prices to the consumer, and as far as is made clear, will hold thousands of hours of content for a longer period of time than the current mediums. 
Big Shot Productions is a small time company specialising in radio automation software and other applications. Its main product, BSP Studio, is installed in a number of stations around the UK and is mainly focused at community and student radio audiences, the company has progressed well and the software is still in development, it was the main selling point of BSP - until now.
Furthermore, the advantage of silence is a great asset to the presenter, gone are the days of the creaky 'lamp arm' mic stands which would easily ruin the flow of a link if moved. The cables running into the ceiling also means any sound travelling through the desk will not run up into the mic, e.g. a mug placed on the surface or even the presenter moving a mouse. In my opinion the best advantage is the look of the design, when not in use the microphones still well out of the way up on the ceiling, and to pull them down to speaking level (standing or seated) is effortless, and more importantly, silent.
The design is not unique by any means, Radio 1 are probably the most well known purveyors of this technology, but other commercial stations follow suit also. However with the introduction of the system on such a budget, it will not be long before these new additions to a studio become industry standard.
The BBC published an article today about the new internet advertising company "Phorm". The artcile mainly concerns itself with the privacy issue of the company, inherent in the way that it functions.