Anyone who has watched TV, been online, or listened to the radio knows that Apple's iPod is all the rage. And it's not just for the twenty something's who jam to uber cool tunes while riding the subway in snazzy urban outfits. The iPod is branching out to middle-aged adults, adolescents, and even the occasional grandma. The revolution of the iPod went from song storage to photo display to podcasts to video, proving that technology really does just keep opening more doors (doors that we sometimes never even knew we needed open). With the new 30GB model starting at about $300, they're becoming more affordable too.

The new iPod can hold up to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos, and hours of video. You can also "catch up on your reading with audiobooks, browse your memories with photo slideshows complete with music, watch video podcasts and your favorite TV shows, consult your calendar or look up an email address, and even check the time in another city or time your fastest lap." No kidding. Apple has equipped their new iPod with five more hours of battery life than past models, in addition to adding a bigger display (2.5 inches) and a black version (you can still get it in traditional 'Apple white' too). The iPod has gotten fancier and more efficient, but what about its size? Like all other technology it's smaller and thinner than ever before, with the 30GB model being almost half the size of the original.

And what good is an iPod unless it's loaded with songs from iTunes? Apple's Music Store has more than 2 million songs, thousands of music videos, and TV shows from ABC and Disney that can be downloaded to a Mac or a PC and then loaded onto your iPod. You can also connect your iPod to your home stereo, TV, or car radio, and watch slideshows of your latest vacation on the bigger, full color monitor.

Apple is capitalizing on the fact that convenience and coolness is key. They know that people want products that work with their on the go lifestyles, and strive to supply the demand for innovate products that meet the ever evolving needs of the customer. They continue to reinvent the iPod, making it more efficient and definitely more in demand. Here's to Apple for constantly pushing the envelope, and for proving that taking creative risks can be the ultimate reward.