(October 4, 2004) — The iPod has established itself as the latest medium for enjoying digital media. The latest generations, marketed by Hewlett-Packard (HP), come in the 10GB, 20GB and 40GB versions. By agreeing to pre-load iTunes (the Apple music store) on HP computers, HP can now sell the Apple iPod under their collective brand name. They’re not only the smallest but also the lightest high-capacity hard drive-based players, measuring 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.62 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces. The latest generation looks more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing than ever. The bluish-white backlit display measures two inches diagonally and has a higher resolution (160×128 pixels), allowing crisper graphics. Unlike the earlier iPod scroll wheels, the new wheel doesn’t spin. The player’s only moving parts are the sliding hold switch on the top and the hard drive inside the case. The click-wheel, as it is dubbed, features the same fast scrolling capabilities of the previous models, so one is able to whip through several thousand songs in a few seconds and maneuver with precision between individual songs. An unlabeled multifunction button in the middle of the click-wheel acts as the select control. Between the display and the click-wheel are four buttons: Rewind, Menu, Play/Pause/Power, and Fast-Forward, all of which are reachable with your thumb when you’re holding the device. You can turn off their orange glow (and the display’s backlighting) to save power, or set it to turn on when you touch a button. All six front-panel controls are incredibly touch sensitive. Luckily, the Hold switch prevents accidental activation. The 20GB and 40GB models are shipped with a remote control, a case and a docking cradle. The remote is the same one the older models had; it clips to fabric or straps of any sort using a spring-loaded rocker mechanism. The control connects to the device via both a normal headphone jack and another small jack for remote commands i.e., Play, Stop and Rewind. This design solves the problem the earlier iPods had with their headphone/remote connections, which could be damaged by a small fall. The HP iPod’s playback features are all accessible and programmable from the main menu. You can browse by song, artist, album, genre, playlist, and even composer. And the new On The Go function enables you to create a new playlist even when the iPod isn’t attached to a computer. With the best of the old and the new combined, and other attachments you can buy, like a voice recorder, or a media reader, as well as a 12- hour battery life, this fourth generation iPod is the best by far.