APPLE’S ipod is more than just the stylish jukebox
you can’t live without
By Wes Pitts
If you haven’t
heard of Apple’s iPod, you need to get out more. No single
product has so dominated popular culture in recent memory like
this shiny little icon of the digital lifestyle. What you may
not know is that the iPod does more for photographers than merely
play music.
Compatible with both Mac-intosh and Windows computers, any iPod,
including the diminutive Shuffle and the sleek iPod Nano, can
be used as a portable storage device. You can specify the amount
of space dedicated to file storage and easily port documents
between home and work computers.
Even better, starting with the
iPod Photo in 2004, Apple designed the iPod to support playback
of images. The iPod Photo has since been discontinued, but all
full-sized iPods with color screens have this capability. Simply
connect your iPod to your computer and transfer photos to it
for a modern take on the wallet cache of family and vacation
photos.
In addition to using the iPod as a way to display photos, you
also can use it as a portable backup device. Inexpensive accessories
allow you to transfer full-resolution images from your digital
camera to the iPod, all without a computer.
Get Connected
One option is Apple’s own iPod Camera Connector (www.apple.com).
Compatible with the iPod Photo and the new iPods with color
screens, this simple adapter snaps into the iPod’s docking
port and lets you connect your digital camera to the iPod with
your camera’s USB cable for fast image downloads. If you
want to pack light, this is the accessory for you, as it’s
quite small and doesn’t require batteries. The iPod Camera
Connector is priced at $29.
A similar product is Belkin’s Digital Camera Link (www.belkin.com).
Like the Apple offering, the Digital Camera Link tethers your
iPod to your camera via the camera’s USB cable. A button
on the Digital Camera Link triggers the download, and LEDs signal
connection and transfer status. Although it requires two AA
batteries to operate and is bulkier than Apple’s connector,
one advantage of the Digital Camera Link is its compatibility
with the iPod Mini and monochrome-screen iPods in addition to
the newer color-screen models. You won’t be able to view
your photos with these older iPods, but the storage functionality
is the same. The Belkin Digital Camera Link sells for around
$30.
Another alternative, also from Belkin, is the iPod Media Reader.
Unlike the other adapters, which require you to power on your
digital camera and connect it via a USB cable, this device is
a card reader similar to the one you may have for fast downloads
to your home computer. It connects to the iPod dock port and
has slots for CompactFlash, SmartMedia, SD and Memory Stick
cards. It might be the best choice for you if you carry multiple
cameras that use different card types, but it’s somewhat
bulky and requires four AA batteries. It’s also compatible
with older monochrome-screen iPods. You can pick up the Media
Reader for about $40.
Have iPod, Will Travel
With an iPod and one of these accessories, you have a convenient
way to back up images and free space on your digital camera’s
memory cards. It’s a terrific option when traveling if
you want to leave your laptop at home, or when photographing
in locations where a laptop would be too cumbersome or impractical
to take with you. When you get home, you can quickly transfer
images to your computer.
Granted, the iPod’s two-inch color screen is too small
to let you examine your images in great detail, but it’s
ample enough to check that your downloads are successful, and
convenient for quickly sharing or reviewing photos. Scroll through
up to 25 thumbnails at once or view images at full screen.
Available in 20 GB ($299) and 60 GB ($399) capacities, the latest
iPods offer plenty of space for both high-res image storage
and a big library of tunes. You even can display slideshows
of your photos with a soundtrack of your favorite songs.
