It was due to the arrests in Britain during august which were the result of a plot to blow up a plane by mixing a number of commonly bought liquids/gels that would result in an explosion. That is why you cannot take liquids on the flight. Why you can't take your ipod is because the airlines are running scared and want to reduce all possible threats.
I don't have the source, it was on the radio, but a high up airline security cheif said once they get to the airport, a terror plot has about a 95% chance to succeed. That's what this airport "security" is getting us, five fucking percent. Fuck airport security, if british intelligence hadn't have caught this, they would've breezed through airport security and wrecked some planes. This just shows how completely vulnerable we are.