2G nano announced!

As expected, Apple's hot-selling iPod nano has been given a big-time update with some mini-like colors, new capacities, better displays, better batteries, and new pricing. They all sport an even-thinner aluminum case and are available in (again, mini-like) green, silver, black, blue, and pink. However, the 2GB and 8GB version are available in aluminum and black only, respectively. As for pricing, $149 for 2GB, $199 for 4GB, and $249 for the 8GB model. Apple sez: "Double the storage for the same price," and they're available today. What's more, the new packaging is 52% less volumetric than the old iPod nano, making it "environmentally friendly." Expect to see tons of these on the subway by next week.

[Kevin @ Sep 12th 2006 1:30PM]

my 4gb black (1G) nano wants a bigger brother!

[Nate @ Sep 12th 2006 1:36PM]

52% Less Volumetric packaging!!!!?!?!
I'm Sold!

[Little Joe @ Sep 12th 2006 2:33PM]

so hot! Im going to pick one up tomorrow!

[x23 @ Sep 12th 2006 2:45PM]

non-rounded bottom (and thinner) means all previous nano accessories will need to be repurchased basically. if it was *just* thinner but still had the same rounded bottom edge it probably would have been fine. lame.

[ap @ Sep 12th 2006 2:45PM]

Yuck. If I wanted an iPod Mini, I would have bought one! I think the Nano has lost the style I love so much about the current one. Granted the new one probably won't scratch if a flake of dust hits it like the old Nano does.

[Ed @ Sep 12th 2006 2:49PM]

What the heck. This nano looks ugly. Its like going back in time. The old nano looks 1000 times better then this one. OGD whats happening here.

[2 many mixes @ Sep 12th 2006 2:53PM]

Ok, so we finally have gapless playback in the hard disk devices - hurrah (so maybe it was worth signing that petition after all!)

..but what about these 2G Nanos?

[BJS @ Sep 12th 2006 2:54PM]

"Yuck."

Agreed! At least the 1G nano's will be cheaper, so maybe I'll pick one up now :)

[tristanfey @ Sep 12th 2006 2:56PM]

I still like the Sansa e280 more. Same price, more features.

- Micro SD slot for an extra 2GB of memory
- Supports all video and picture formats
- User-replaceable battery
- Digital FM Tuner/Recorder
- Larger screen (1.8 inches)

[Deezee @ Sep 12th 2006 2:57PM]

Uhm, I dont see a video or FM option on the screen. Are they serious?

[Phil @ Sep 12th 2006 3:01PM]

will all ipods do gapless tech???

[Jeff @ Sep 12th 2006 3:03PM]

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the new iPod Mini.

I, for one, am glad it's back.

It may be called a nano, but this is the new iPod mini. Apple went back to a design that worked.

[Goodman @ Sep 12th 2006 3:06PM]

>I still like the Sansa e280 more. Same price, more features.

> Micro SD slot for an extra 2GB of memory
> Supports all video and picture formats
> User-replaceable battery
> Digital FM Tuner/Recorder
> Larger screen (1.8 inches)

Well yeah, but the iPod has a nicer wheel!

[Rasmus @ Sep 12th 2006 3:11PM]

Yeah it's total crap... Only twice the memory for your money. No 0.75 inch video playback, and you can't even use it above 10 000 feet / 3000 m!

[Mickey @ Sep 12th 2006 3:14PM]

How about the ridiculous fact that the 8GB Nano and the 30GB ipod with video are the same price?

let's see, so for $249 i can get an ipod with a tiny screen and 8GB of storage, or for the same price I can get a 30 GB ipod that can play video and games.

bananas.

[lg @ Sep 27th 2006 3:32PM]

the main difference is the type of storage. a video ipod comes with a hard drive (moving parts), while the nano comes with a flash drive (no moving parts). that fact alone should make the nano more durable, which is an invaluable feature for some. personally, i wouldn't mind seeing a 20+GB ipod that had flash memory inside.

[RyanV @ Sep 12th 2006 3:14PM]

i dont like the new design. definitely looks like a step back in time. i dont want to buy a new device that looks like an old one. blah

[Greg Baz @ Sep 12th 2006 3:29PM]

1/4th the storage, 1/3rd the screen size, 1/2 the color choices, and 100% less video for the same price. (as the 30gb video). What a great deal!

[Flip21 @ Sep 12th 2006 3:31PM]

I'll stick with the free 4gb white Nano I got from freepay.com, which is safely enclosed in a clear Agent 18 case.

[Reuben @ Sep 12th 2006 3:32PM]

I am pissed because I was expecting at least 10 gigas to beat the competition.. plus pricing at $ 249 both the nano and the 30 gb Ipod seems stupid!
Another thing that's pissing me off: Steve said the arm band will be included with the Nano, but on the Apple store is sold separately and not mentionned in the package....

[Matt @ Sep 12th 2006 3:32PM]

Typical Apple...

By the way: Why does only the 8GB come in black?

Perhaps it is because they know people are willing to pay more for a black iPod than a fruity-loop bright pink one.

[Jake @ Sep 12th 2006 4:01PM]

jw why did they go back to the 1G mini style of having the MENU, play, back and forward symbols gray rather than matching the color of the body? anyway, i'm still waiting for a good fullsize iPod (i've been using the midsize models since i got my first iPod, the mini), but i think this looks pretty hot. I just wish I could buy some games for my current nano, but theyre only for 5G.

[rob @ Sep 12th 2006 4:58PM]

Wait, the 8GB iPod nano and the 30GB iPod are the same price? I can't believe anyone would buy the nano over the iPod just for the size.

But then again, the thing'll probably sell like hotcakes.

[daddycool @ Sep 12th 2006 5:26PM]

Noooooo! I knew it! I just boought my 1GB nano like two weeks ago! I just had to have the Nike thing and I could n't wait to run with it! I waited until the LAST Apple conference, no ipods, I got mine the next day! Why Steve Why!!!!!

I hate iPod anyway. If the Nike thing wasn't on it I would never get one.

[Tim C @ Sep 12th 2006 6:17PM]

will they ever add the FM tuner. it is the only thing i am waiting for

[Swifty @ Sep 12th 2006 6:24PM]

is this thing in apples stores already?

[Rob @ Sep 12th 2006 6:27PM]

*yawn* it all a remake of the same old same old. Nanos with colours? Been there. Bigger storage space: expected. Games? Trivial. and the ipod shuffle is just the same thing that looks different and different is better. Until Steve ALLOWS us to have the video ipod obviously everyone wants, he's just playing with our wallets. I still haven't bought an iPod because I don't buy what isn't 1) what I want and 2) isn't what it could be. Touchscreens and bluetooth and four inch screens and lets-get-rid-of-all-the-gizmos-and-put-it-all-into-one-device-kind-of-thinking is thinking different and is techonologically possible. Sadly Steve is only catering to one consumer type, those under 25. Sure I want all the media stuff he is currently giving, but as a 30 year old, I also want and need some other stuff too, and small screens and no quickly Apple-smart integration with other aspects of my life just makes the iPod another thing to make me carry around. Sorry Steve, you're just reinventing what you've already done. That sounds to me like: Thinking Same.

[Dean @ Sep 12th 2006 6:43PM]

Besides the obvious cosmetic differences, it looks to me like the only real difference between the 1G and 2G nano is the battery life. I wander if the new battery can be fitted to the 1G nano?

[ADAM @ Sep 12th 2006 7:52PM]

i already bought my new ipod

[lockie @ Sep 12th 2006 8:33PM]

now wheres the unboxing?!

[cobalt @ Sep 12th 2006 8:56PM]

I do think 8GB is kind of a breakpoint for a flash based (non-hard drive) audio player. For those whose entire music library well exceeds 60 or 80GB, the appeal of a smaller capacity device that is physically easier to carry, capable of fast access times and gapless playback, and relatively insensitive to vibration or fall damage shoots up dramatically. If you're constantly swapping different playlists or albums in and out of your DAP, 8GB is a nice sweet spot, IMO.

By the way, if you bought your iPod very very recently, you might be able to return it for the new product. I've heard that more than a few times before.

[MBX @ Sep 12th 2006 9:39PM]

OH GOD NO. this looks like the old ipod mini...

ROUNDED EDGES! YUCK.

the sleek, sharper edges of the previous nano was so HOTTER!

I'm VERY DISAPPOINTED APPLE.

FROM DESIGN ASPECT this event was really disappointing. even the new frontrow interface looks like poo. the itunes7 ui is stupid. and the hardware too.

only the shuffle is ok and the itv. but come on. the nano looks really aged like this.

disappointing. where's iphone and video ipod with touchscreen?!

is apple sleeping? they haven't introduced anything really spectacular since a looooong time... only upgrades. to everything. be it leopard, or hardware. no new innovative stuff...

[Dario @ Sep 12th 2006 9:54PM]

i feel like buyin one of those lil 8 giggers... but one question. does anyone know if apple changed the limit of the volume? i like to listen to music as loud as i can

[Dono @ Sep 12th 2006 10:30PM]

Could someone comment on the aluminum casing?
I have been wary of the Nano since reading reports that the casing was weak and would easily scratch or even crack.
Does the new aluminum casing improve this situation?

[sturmnacht @ Sep 12th 2006 10:39PM]

Mobiblu US2 still holds the record for the smallest player with a colour screen. Plays video too.

[keith waddington @ Sep 13th 2006 1:23AM]

nice one Rasmus

I liked the altitude thing!

waddo
http://www.waddo.net/

[JonV @ Sep 13th 2006 2:05AM]

Actually no, the Mobiblu US2 is about 23.8 cubic centimeters, while the new nano is only about 19.4.

[Dono @ Sep 13th 2006 3:30AM]

Goldeneye,

Thank you for the response.
It was very useful and put my worries to rest.
It looks like Apple has really addressed some of the short comings of the original Nano series.

[tk. @ Sep 13th 2006 8:13AM]

sandisk anyone?

come on, quite making the same shit over and over apple.

fm tuner?
recorder?
video?

all of those in this nano package, then maybe i'll pay for the apple logo.

might as well slap a nike swoosh on it too, for as little as this offers for the price.

[keith waddington @ Sep 13th 2006 12:00PM]

tk;

I have a feeling Apple will survive without your 150 dollars.

Did you ever think that these things are popular because they keep it simple and don't load up with features only people like you want?

waddo
http://www.waddo.net/

[lee @ Sep 13th 2006 1:27PM]

my broken mini needs a friend, but need the money 4 driveing lessons :(

[Bob @ Sep 14th 2006 3:15AM]

Save some money for some spelling lessons too.

[coco @ Sep 15th 2006 12:01PM]

If I didn't already have a nano I would probably buy it. I don't really see enough changes to chuck the old one for this one. Tdon't care about video, but FM (which they will never add on) is the one thing that would get me fork out more money. Its the reason that I take my cheaper (and uglier) mp3 player to the gym and not my nano. I need to listen to 'Law and Order' while I'm cooling down on the bikes :)

[Jay @ Sep 15th 2006 12:53PM]

Yay! Have been waiting for a nano with a larger memory! Only moan is that it seems expensive at $249 - same as the 30GB iPod. It's a dilemma - I have an iPod mini but it's practically dead, as well as being full. BUT, I don't want to get something physically BIGGER than what I have at the moment which seems like going backwards! Not bothered about video. Decisions, decisions....

[Amy @ Sep 15th 2006 2:46PM]

I got my 8G nano today and freaking love it. I would have liked if my clear shell from the 1st gen one fit, but oh well. It is WAY more scratch resistant and actually feels a little lighter. No fingerprints either. Woo Hoo! I bought the 4G nano 2 weeks ago and traded her in for the 8G today with NO hassle at Best Buy whatsoever. They totally hooked me up.

[jlessjosh @ Sep 24th 2006 7:09PM]

I think that Apple has stepped up a notch. New alluminum body,gapless playback,24 hours of battery,40 percent brighter screen, and they even made it thinner.
Kudos apple. can't wait to get one
By the way "BJS" the 2gb is actually 50 dollars cheaper than the 2gb 1st generation nano.