The iPod nano
Well, looks like Apple's updating their iPod starting lineup—welcome the iPod nano (and wave goodbye to the mini, which is now missing from Apple's page after they announced it going south earlier today). The 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.27-inch device will feature 500 song/2GB and 1,000 song/4GB capacities, a 1.5-inch color display, and, of course, a click wheel, which appears to have a drastically larger center button. If you're willing to ignore the fact that the headphone jack is located on the bottom of the device (sigh), you'll be otherwise rewarded with a device that's no more than 62% the size of the once diminutive iPod mini; it weighs 1.5 ounces (42 grams), has a maximum of 14 hours battery life, will come in black (as well as iPod white), and includes a few new niceties such as a nighttime inverse screen mode. Expect it to have a $199 and $249 pricetag; dock ($29) not included, and new lanyard headphones will be available for $39.
Filed under: Portable Audio
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
Glancing Aft @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
I'm going to buy one for sure... but I still wanted the video ipod.....
Any news on if that crapy ROKR has Isync capabilities? Ical, Iphoto, and contacts?
Matt E. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
#39: I was thinking along those lines, too...
iPod razor blk
iRazr blk
nano bytes....oh well... :P
Ste @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
OMG I love it. I don't know whether to wait for the iPod with video capability now, as I was gonna. I do love this though, I want it, its so cute
Richard Brownell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Looks like that port that FM Transmitters used (and some other accessories) is not on the iPod Nano. I haven't seen any sites talk about this, but it's going to make the iPod Nano very difficult to play in most cars out there.
Carl Lumma @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Perfect form factor, I admit. But lessee...
doesn't play vorbis or FLAC, doesn't have a
USB connector (so you have to carry the dock
around if you want to use it as a mass
storage device), and doesn't do encoding.
Verdict: same old Apple crap.
-Carl
gav @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
amazing and I only bought a 6GB mini in april:(
oh well at least I still have more storage...for now
Leon Meijer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Wow this thing looks amazing! I just ordered a black 4 GB version! Can't wait....
TK101 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
The NANO appears to use the same dock connector as other models, so a FireWire cable should be no problem. They sell them seperately, and have for a few revs of the iPod.
TK
Poolshark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
You got the 2GB nano for $249 CA I live in Canada that is way too much money.
aptmunich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Hey!
Who needs a video iPod when we get a Harry Potter special edition?
overboard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Urm, ROKR anyone?
jsis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
I am a bit confused, so what's revolutionary about this iPod? Only thinner?
Elias @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
So, will all of you who will be selling your current iPods for the Nano be selling the Nano in a few months when Apple releases another iPod update?
Dance, monkeys. Dance.
shidoshi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
I could be wrong, but it looks like it uses the standard iPod dock connector... so you should still be able to buy a FireWire cable and use that, unless I'm missing some note on Apple's site that the Nano can only sync via USB. (And that could be possible... the site is getting hammered, and I'm having trouble even loading pages.)
I like it, but I liked the mini, and sort of miss it. Nice that there is now a black model, but there really needs to be a bigger color selection, because the color options were a big plus for your average consumer. As well, I'm not sure what I think about the headphone jack being on the bottom. Thank god it isn't the side or something like that, but that still seems like an odd choice.
MACALEX @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Looks like Apple is working under design of the phone, because this thing almost looks like a phone. ;)
Armie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
This thing don't work with lots of iPod add-ons for the TOP part of all other dock based iPods. Dammit. I hate to prove the haters wrong but I will still get one fully knowledgeable of this shortcoming...
Armie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
This thing don't work with lots of iPod add-ons for the TOP part of all other dock based iPods. Dammit. I hate to prove the haters wrong but I will still get one fully knowledgeable of this shortcoming...
jsis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
#104 (Elias), Steve Jobs is a genius.
Will @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Poolshark,
Nope. My billing confirmation says 4GB for $249...my credit card company says it was $249 CND.
ECM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Wait...do you need the doc to sync or does it come w/ a cable?
John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
OK...what a bunch of bitters!!! First Apple rips off the patten from Creative for the navigational features, and now they rip off the name "NANO" from Creative. Whats next?
dan g @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
RE #98, #105
No FW. USB only. Directly from specs page.
iPod (and mini) will connect with FW or USB, even though recent models come only with the USB cable. This one will not work with FW, according to Apple's page.
Poolshark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Will ...well that is weird...I will have to look into it. Did you call apple canada to confirm?
Omar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Thumbs up:
-Damn pretty
-Really, really small
-Comes in black for no extra charge
-Has everything his older brothers have
-Nice Home-Branded Accessories
-iPod phenomena clich?-Did I mention is really small and pretty
Thumbs Down
-Should I buy a 4GB iPod nano or a 20GB regular iPod?
-If it's like some sort of hybrid between shuffle and regular iPod shouldnt it have like 10GB capacity?
-No video... and no signs of it
-Isn't the regular iPod going to get an update soon?
-Are those 2.5inch perpendicular recording hard drives way too far to be inside the iPod?
Madoff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Low battery life ?? All you "bitch-ing" people ever considered the colour screen ? and yes ... 4 gig flash drives are still quite ex.. and well if a company owns the word nano .. . then we're pretty all screwed.. . I mean they did follow the naming system .. cough *iPod Photo* ... cough *Zen Micro Photo* . .. and of ya .. doesn't this effectively screws the micro photo is some manner... Now where's our iPod Video?
jimmy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
If you're in education and you buy a mac you get a free iPod mini,
or am I going to get a free Nano Hope so. Or is this offer going to end prematureor is Apple getting rid of the Mini's this way. I think the Nano rocks.
http://www.apple.com/education/backtoschool/
Chuck Bishop @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in!
Sexy.
lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Same shit different size...Is everyone done making small capacity flash players yet?
Manuel @ Mar 12th 2007 12:40PM
Guys, I own 2 ipod nanos, I love them but the only problem is replacing them when there are not big enough to hold all my music. A friend of mine told me to buy refurbished instead of new and save, but I was afraid to buy it used. He says refurbished does not mean used, what do you guys think? when I did a search on google, i found this site www.millennnium3000.com/ipod-nano.php and looks like they sell refurbished ipods, I like what they said about price guarantee and that refurbished is not necessary used or damaged stuff. My question is, if they guarantee the ipods for 90 days, and they said lowest price guarantee, should I take the risk of buying refurbished to save? it sounds great deal to me, what do you guys think?
Manuel
Pancake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
SWEET!
Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
it's not weird that it doesn't support firewire, because the storage medium is flash.
It's similar to how the shuffle does not support firewire.
chudgoo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
#14...
Given that the iPod interface and capabilities haven't changed significantly in their almost five year history, it's pretty safe to say that a review isn't required. If you liked the previous iPods, you'll like this one.
Fine, here's a review... It's like a Mini reduced to 62% of normal size with no moving parts, slightly worse battery life (18hrs vs. 14hrs), better and brighter screen, and it comes in black. Sold? I am.
Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Re: Looks like that port that FM Transmitters used (and some other accessories) is not on the iPod Nano. I haven't seen any sites talk about this, but it's going to make the iPod Nano very difficult to play in most cars out there.
-> I'm sure they will make an FM transmitter for this. My 1st gen 10gb iPod works with the original iTrip, and that iPod didnt' have that extra port - it just had a stereo headphone jack. The iPod mini was the most popular iPod ever and with the nano being its new replacement, I'm sure there will be no shortage of accessories. True, your old accessories won't fit your new iPod, but its a totally different form factor.
riact @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
In every few months apple releases something in the ipod line up,
and people go crazy over it. Does Steve expect us to shell $$$ from
our pockets everytime? ipod nano (and apple products) are way over priced.
--------------
12" power book, ipod mini
Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
i think it looks awsome, and to the people complaining about battery life, think about the fact that A. this ipod has a smaller battery than the mini (phisicaly), and B.it also has to run a color screen. im sure apple did the best they could in that respect. the only thing i could complain about is how theirs less storage space.
chudgoo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Oops! That should have been for #15
AnDy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
The headphone jack on the bottom is genius! Now when you take it out of your pocket (after searching for it) the iPod is now the right way round in your hands instead of turning it the otherway round.
The black/chrome one will go nicely with my black/chrome Sennheiser PMX60 headphones
Will @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Poolshark,
No, I am afraid they'll fix it:-) I bought it as soon as the store came online so they must have made a mistake. Good luck to you, fellow beaver eater.
Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
"it's not weird that it doesn't support firewire, because the storage medium is flash."
One has nothing to do with the other.
Cacophony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
I will wait for the iPod Pico.
me101 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
WE WANT updated firmware for the ipod photo/colour that include those neat new features such as lock/clock/invert...
COME ON APPLE... get yer fingers out!
me101 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
WE WANT updated firmware for the ipod photo/colour that include those neat new features such as lock/clock/invert...
COME ON APPLE... get yer fingers out!
Obscene Llama @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
I always thought it was interesting when Creative suddenly dropped the name Muvo Micro and went straight to Zen Nano. You could argue it was to unify the Zen brand name... I don't know, maybe I'm looking to deep into it.
rls @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Will the remote for the other iPods work with the nano? The Apple site says "will work with all iPods but the shuffle" but the picture shows the old mini.
rls
Muncher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
If you want a color nano go here:
http://www.colorwarepc.com/content.aspx?id=36
Apreche @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
The battery on my 4GB mini was starting to go. And I broke the screen on it the other day. Costs $200 to repair with Apple. Guess I'll just have to buy a 4GB black nano. Oh, I already did.
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Supplementing my car radio is a BIG reason why I would considering buying this pretty thang. Other than the overpriced car stereo interfaces at Apple.com, anyone know if Griffin or other accesory manufacturers have plans to add FM support Nano?
iPod nano @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
14 hours this is incredible. Its so sexy and nobody thought this
would be called nano
Check the link below on iPod nano
I think this will definetely kill the shuffle
but then again 199 is still pricey.
http://www.epicempire.com/mp3-players/ipod-nano.html
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Supplementing my car radio is a BIG reason why I would considering buying this pretty thang. Other than the overpriced car stereo interfaces at Apple.com, anyone know if Griffin or other accesory manufacturers have plans to add FM support Nano?
Max @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM
Sorry, am I the only one that doesn't get it?
Less storage (Where's the 8GB?)
More Expensive
4hrs Less battery life
Smaller Screen
Scratch Prone
Damm ugly!
The last one is debateable but when I first saw this I honestly thought this was some Apple fan boy mock-up. Anyone can design that. The screen should be horizontal and they should have stuck with the anodized metal.
All these negatives just so that you can have it thinner and a colour screen wtf?