We can’t help but get giddy whenever the bright lads from Cupertino put their heads together to come up with snazzy new iPods. The latest updates to the iPod lineup have us satisfied for now. With the only major update being for the Nano.

The fourth generation of the iPod Nano has undergone a true metamorphosis. Gone is the squat design of the 3rd generation, much the delight of naysayers who were never smitten with the design. The new Nano’s design is more reminiscent of the 1st and 2nd generation Nano. In addition to the changed shape Apple has also started offering the new Nano in nine “nanonchromatic” colours ranging from silver-metallic to virtually any colour found on a rainbow!

Adding to the appeal of the exterior of the new Nano is a major overhaul on the internals. Those seeking more capacity will be pleased to note that the Nano now packs an impressive 16 GB of storage all in a 3.81cm (W) by 9.2cm” (T) and 6mm deep design that weighs less than 37 grams! Add to that the same 320-by-240 pixel screen of the last generation Nano (albeit turned 90 degrees) now coated in glass, the ability to record short audio clips, and a spoken menu system, and the new iPod Nano is certainly a dazzling upgrade. With the accelerometer from the Touch now included in this new Nano, turn it sideways and you get the Cover Flow feature. Add to it a shake to shuffle feature for your music and also games designed to make use of this feature.

Some reports though have seen the 4 GB version of the new Nano popping up in some countries. Why?

While the iPod Nano underwent a major overhaul, the iPod Touch received a minor freshening that includes volume controls, an integrated low-fidelity speaker, a slightly curvier case, longer battery life and a warmer cast to the display. Nike have also got in on the act with Nike + iPod Sport Kit. It’s made up of a sensor which communicates wirelessly with your compatible iPod, becoming your personal fitness instructor. Not sure I would bring my Touch around when I exercise though, but as it also works with the Nanos, they might be a better idea for your workout.

Sadly the diminutive Shuffle remains unchanged, albeit having a refresh of their colours, while the venerable iPod Classic is now only available with 120 GB of storage, mysteriously down from the 160 GB of the last generation Classic.

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Braid has been out since August 6th, 2008 and already the online forums are abuzz with excited gamers. Anyone who is still wondering if the Xbox Live Arcade feature was anything other than a stroke of genius is sure to stand – properly chastised – in the back of the room. Receiving a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rating of 12, this game fits neatly in the after school hours of many a pupil.

Braid is a platform puzzle game with a twist that takes the best aspects of Prince of Persia and combines it with a heaping helping of timed puzzle solving. Along the way, a new feature allows the protagonist to rewind time and any steps taken the gamer would rather undo can, in fact, be undone. This offers a never before seen level of intricacy and decision making power in the world of platform gaming that is not lost on audiences and critics alike.

To make the game even more attractive, Braid lets you move unfettered through the various levels, attack puzzles at will and thereby gives you more control of the game play than you are most likely accustomed to. Anyone who has a cabinet of games which are stuck at various levels due to difficulty problems can related to the enjoyment this game feature is sure to add to the game playing experience! Combine this unprecedented game play with exquisite graphics and you have all the makings of a blockbuster on your hands.

Not surprisingly, Braid for Xbox 360’s Live Arcade has served to renew consumer interest in Xbox technology, and those who have heard of the game, read the reviews and realized that in order to get a piece of the action the Xbox 360 is a must, are now crowding online market places in search of competitively priced game consoles. Get yours today and then download Braid – you’ll be glad you did.

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For the Head of the Class use the Sony DSLR-A900!

Here is the Alpha Male of the digital single lens reflex camera jungle, the Sony DSLR-A900. No dilettantes need apply to use this wicked tool. This camera is an investment for the serious lensman, loaded with features, and ready to last a professional lifetime.

The Sony DSLR-A900 is the first DSLR camera to provide you with full frame 35 mm image sensor to go along with the highest ever Megapixel resolution (24.6) along with the first ever full-size Steady Shot INSIDE Image stabilization to be integrated within the Body. Imagine shooting five frames per second with the dual Bionz imaging processors, providing not only ultra-precise image quality but virtually silent shooting. A pentaprism viewfinder gives you 100 % coverage, to go along with the Intelligent Preview function to show your manual adjustments before you take the shot. It has a spectacular photo quality 3.0 ” extra fine LCD (921k Pixels) and an HDMI output compatible with high definition PhotoTV. This camera is not just an effficient robot; it will be your best friend.

You’ll need Sony alpha series or Konica Minolta a-mount lenses as you take this remarkable creature to your favorite sporting event to capture all the action. The Sony DSLR-A900 is not a black box for the faint of heart, but if you’re a lion, you may make your fortune with it.

But if Sony’s new offering is not your cup of tea how Canon’s new EOS 5D Mark II. Not quite 24.6 but you still get a massive 21.1 megapixels 36 mm. With this baby you also get Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 30fps movie recording, ISO range expandable to 25600, high-res 3.0” VGA LCD with Live View, 9-point AF + 6 Assist AF points and 3.9fps JPEG shooting up to card capacity.

But if these babies are way out of your budget, there’s always Nikon’s new D90 which also offers HD movie recording albeit at the lower 720p.

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Do not drop your camcorder, but if you must, drop the Panasonic HDC SD100 because it records directly onto SD and SDHC cards which have no moving parts. So at least you save your content right?

The HDC SD100 is compact, black and wicked, because it is small and discrete and you will capture spectacular moments without drawing attention to yourself. Then, you can take your SD memory card and play back your delicious moving images on a Samsung HD Ready TV, or a Sony BDP-S300 Blu-Ray DVD Player, giving you immediate access to your oh-so-delicious High-Definition scenes.

The 3MOS sensor gets you the most vivid colors imaginable. Pink is pink and red is red, even in low light, down to 2 lux. How else can you capture the intimate lines and subtle gradations that you demand for your viewing pleasure? Your friends will thank you for it.

And how about that fingertip control? The Panasonic HDC SD100 gives you zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed and white balance at the touch of a pinky, or an index finger, if you prefer. That’s what makes the Manual Ring such a delightful feature, for the auteur in you.

Excited camera shakes are now a thing of the past, with the Panasonic HDC SD100’s advanced O.I.S. The face selector is another ultra-hip feature, helping you keep all the most important parts in focus.

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