iPod classic 160GB changes: new firmware, engraving

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iPod classic 160GB changes: new firmware, engraving

In our preliminary comparison of the new iPod classic 160GB to the older 120GB model, we have noticed several small, but notable, differences. While the latest firmware available for the 120GB model is 2.0.1, the new 160GB model ships with 2.0.2; it is unclear what changes might be present in the update, or whether it will be released for older models. Also new is the size of the storage capacity badge on the rear of the classic, which has been greatly reduced on the new 160GB model compared to prior generations. Finally, the text on the back of the player has been reduced from three to two lines, with Apple’s trademark and copyright notice cut from the print, and, curiously, the model number—A1238—is the same for both the new 160GB classic and last year’s 120GB model. For more on the differences between the two models, see our Flickr set of the 2009 iPod lineup.

Update: Apple has posted a new support document (Link currently down) stating that the new firmware “is not compatible with previous iPod classic models.”

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Comments

1

The pictures make it look as though the new Classic is closer to the “charcoal” of the nano. Is it less jet-black than the previous 120GB Classic?

Posted by Josh C. on September 10, 2009 at 12:03 PM (PDT)

2

The new iPod classic 160GB is charcoal, like the 120GB iPod classic from last year, and unlike the jet black 160GB, thicker iPod classic from two years ago.

Posted by Jeremy Horwitz in East Amherst, NY, USA on September 10, 2009 at 1:28 PM (PDT)

3

Did they fix Coverflow so it doesn’t interfere with the playing of music and the delay it caused between switching songs?

And does this 160gb suffer from the crashing and failure to sync libraries that plagued the original double-platter 160gb (see Apple Discussion forums for much documentation on that problem!).

These 2 failures (both software, the latter possibly hardware) were dealbreakers for me, and I ended up returning two 160gbs on different occasions. For me the 80gb 5.5 was the Gold Standard.

Posted by JonnyOneNote on September 10, 2009 at 8:37 PM (PDT)

4

In the UK the 120gb ipod was noise limited but not in the US. Does anyone know if the 160gb ipod announced yesterday will be noise limited in the UK?

Posted by Howard Young on September 11, 2009 at 3:10 AM (PDT)

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