iPod, youPod, we all pod for podPod

So, I got myself one of Apple’s new iPods. I only ever used an older-style iPod at the Apple Store a few times so I can’t really compare the new with the old, but I love my new little friend so far. Size was an important issue for me (you may insert your own joke here) so I got the 15GB model instead of the slightly larger and heavier 30GB one. It’s so small, thin, and light; it feels like it’s barely there sometimes.

I’m using it during the morning & evening commutes and at lunch while reading. As someone who is not used to wearing headphones in public, the elimination of audio in the urban environment — the rush of a cab through an intersection, the bustle of someone trying to get by you on a crowded sidewalk, the overheard snippets of an entertaining conversation — is disorienting. I’m relying on my other senses — particularly sight — to keep aware and safe. So far, I like the music but miss the sounds of the city. Perhaps I’ll give the iPod a rest 1 or 2 days each week.