iPod nano 4G hands-on
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Sep 9th 2008 2:15PM
posted Sep 9th 2008 2:15PM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
Looks ridiculous...
At least the fingernails are clean...
Sorry people, whether you are a fan or not, this year is a Zune year. Apple killed them selves with this overhyped event all for 2 or three news!!
Competition is sexy.
I assume you're talking about the interface, right? I love how the coverflow previews are now on the bottom.
Now, wait just a second there...
Wasn't the whole design paradigm that users enter menus and layers of navigation to the right, and exit them to the left, giving a simple, easy-to-understand and clean UI? Now we're tacking elements on to the bottom of the menu and making the screen a taller aspect ratio instead of wider? Seems like a strange hodgepodge of features right about now for a device which really doesn't have a niche anymore. There simply are too many iPods... iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch. Hell, even I don't know which one I want.
Hasn't the past few years been a "Zune year", or even before that the "iPod Killer" year, or the "Dell DJ" year. Either way you swing it, the iPod continues to grow. Its a well trusted and respected brand, these new nano's will only help. Look at the people that buy these things, cool colors that show "individuality" are in, and they will be very hot this year. Apple does a similar event every year before the holiday season, they basically "Set Up" the iPod line going into the HOliday shopping season. Last years event didn't have much more announcements than this year.
The design might not be so good, but that screen is delicious!
Still no FM transmitter? Ridiculous is right.
I agree.
do way with the stupid click wheel already... it's taking up way too much real estate. the ipod is too tall.
It is not ridiculous, it is absolutely brilliant. I mean, landscape videos, who would have thought of that? Remember when they introduced it on the Zune? They laughed about how, when tilted, the controls were on the side.
Really, Apple's presentation was very disappointing. Not much shown that is new. Bug fixes, Genius - which was announced yesterday in the Zune (not saying one or the other had it 'first', a few hour difference makes it is wash), going back to the same form factor as before but with curves, and new headphones (I am willing to bet my Ultimate Ears sounds better). Not much there.
@hiko36,
you understate. it is much worse than that.
saad,
Oh man !! You speak the truth. Why did they bother ?
This is going to be a bad year for Apple. They have run out of things to copy. All they can think of is to make things smaller.
It reminds me of the Chinese' obsession with miniturization in Kurt Vonnegut's "Timequake". It also reminds me where Kilgore Trout got his handle.
Iriver clix II rip off
Notice how you don't see most of these MS Fanboys commenting in the iPod Touch thread. They're like the bullies in school who go and find the scrawny kid to pick on. As a PC user, you Steve Ballmer worshiping fanatics make me sick.
Why don't you admit it, Microsoft has nothing to confront the danger of the iPod Touch and iPhone. The Xbox 360 is getting owned by the Wii and the new and better games for Playstation 3. Microsoft's consumer products are a complete joke and years behind the competition. And yet, you guys cheer Microsoft on like a bunch of parents at the Special Olympics.
@Paul
I thought you were an "avid PC user" (dictionary.com defines avid as enthusiastic; ardent; dedicated) but yet you spend a lot of time defending Apple. So in other words, you were making it up to give yourself the air of impartiality. Just like some of the Apple fanboys around here (not all - some) you cannot tell the truth.
Any way, why any comments on the touch? What is great and new about it? They made the back of it curved. WOW! Such innovation. They fixed some bugs! Stop the presses, let the world rejoyce.
Jobs claimed the touch is "best portable device for games," and yet the PSP and DS are eating the touch's lunch. 80 million DS devices bought. 40 million PSPs. That is 120 million devices with real game playing controls. 120 million devices with real games, not 20 different versions of Tetris and Sudoku. Apple does not even make a game console, so why bring up 360? And I would happen to disagree, I happen to think the 360 has more and better games released and upcoming.
The only thing that Apple announce here that was really new was a set of headphones, and even that is not new. I have a minidisc player sitting in fronto of me now (MZ-R700) that was released around 1999 that had a little adapter that allowed you to play, pause, skip, and all the other features of these "new" headphones.
@ Paul Chapel
haha, you're right, and i agree. "fanboys" in general are pretty sad, but Microsoft "fanboys" are a total laugh. Although sometimes i can't help it feel guilty... it's as if i'm laughing at retards
Nohone, what would you like to see on a new iPod Touch then? Something that's reasonable, for about the same price, size and battery life. Besides, the iPod Touch isn't completely aimed at gaming, it's actually pretty astonishing what such a small device can do. And please, gaming buttons on an iPod Touch...? Ugh, no. The tilting is quite fun actually, just playing a game without the need for buttons.
Probably an instant low rank, but does anyone else think this looks like a zune? just a little bit?
@Nick
I agree, the touch and phone (when mine is working as advertised) are amazing devices. But when Steve Jobs says "best portable device for games", you saying "the iPod Touch isn't completely aimed at gaming" contradicts SJ.
I used to have a Touch, sold it because of my iPhone. I do not regularly use a iPod classic/nano (the GF has a 5G iPod, so I get to use it a little) so I am not the right one to say what they should be adding to the nano. My viewpoint is that many Apple fans slam the Zune, and other Microsoft products for not being innovative. But when the same features are added to an iPod, it is the greatest innovation ever - case in point is landscape mode viewing. They made fun of landscape mode, "oh, look, you need to turn it on the side to view the movie" and they made fun of how the controls rotate. But now when iPod does it, how wonderful. When the new Zune features were released last night, I read here from some about the new features, such as recommendations were not innovative. Now we have those same people fawning over Genius. They were announced about 12 hours apart, and nobody has used the Zune feature (available in a few days) but somehow because Apple did it it is great.
I don't care if Apple copies something from Microsoft, just like I don't care if Microsoft copies something from Apple - except in the case of where some Apple brat starts saying "Apple did it first, Microsoft just copies." When that happens and MS did it first, then I am going to mock them over it. There were a lot of rumors of what was supposed to be available - an equivalent of ZunePass, wireless for syncing, all features of Zune that were derided, but praised in the iPod classic that were not even released. As for features they add, I don't really care as I use a Zune for music, not my iPhone because my ZUne 80 is almost full and the 8GB phone will not hold all my music. But when somebody says that there is no innovation, nothing cool, nothing new in the Zune, but say "wow, look at all the new great features of the nano", when really, there are none, they deserve to be publically ridiculed.
I do follow these things because I am interested. I want to see what is new, and maybe if they come out with something that is leaps and bounds over the competition, then I will switch. But this presentation did not wow me, there was nothing new. Apple is supposed to be so innovative (and this new device is being called innovative), but I don't see it. Maybe I just missed something.
I just found a contest where you can win a new 16 GB nano. Apparently it just started because I was the first one to enter. All you gotta do is think of a caption to a pretty funny photo. Check it out:
http://www.macblogz.com/2008/09/09/caption-contest-win-a-brand-new-16gb-ipod-nano-you-pick-the-color/
Personally, I don't like the styling of this one. I think it's ugly.
Hey one of the other tech sites that also fawns over all things Apple, called this round for Zune. Maybe this will give engadget the courage to do the same. Come on engadget you can do it!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/09/09/new-nano-vs-new-zune-fight/
"iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch. Hell, even I don't know which one I want."
I agree. My job always sends me the latest iPod. There was a time when I knew exactly which model I was mainly going to use as my primary personal player. There really isn't a superior model anymore and my music collection is just scattered on the various iPods.
@ nohone
Yeah you're totally right but the thing is, if you want to keep the same battery life and size and so on, it's pretty much impossible to add anything new. Most people would say "FM radio!!", but it's there already, although not completely built in. Like I asked, what's the new thing that you were expecting? I think they did a pretty good job redesigning the iPods.
how bigs the screen??
same size as the 3rd gen dude
they even say that in the liveblog
8".
same as 3G just potrait...
I am not usually negative about either side however as a person who loves zune as a PMP and the iphone as a phone I believe the zune will grow in a few years due to the the intergration possibilities with the xbox 360 having real potential and within a few years that will be realised. The ipod has been reduced to a fashion item (not the iphone), for windows users. Yes the nano is thin but for what it is its pricy, so's a flash zune compared to say a sansa or a zen. The ipod has had a great time being the world's favorite music player however I think the time has come for the range to step aside and for apple to focus on the iphone, and touch in the entertainment department, whilst opening up itunes to all other players as lets face its a supurb system, apart from the music quality. The other major players such as creative, sansa etc will always be their to cater for people with distinct requirements. Zune on the other hand ticks the majority of the requirement boxes bar file support. The software as well as the players are sound with nice UI and fm radio. The zune will flourish in the coming years as a player with unparalleled support for windows live services and xbox ??? intergration. This can only happen however if Microsoft realize the idea of a (essentially) single marketplace and xbox and live intergration. Imagine this chatting with friends on msn, listening to high quality music or finding new music on the radio. Watching TV shows synced from your xbox and seamlessly checking your hotmail on the go and downloading music on the fly. Of course this will take time and can only happen if microsoft realize their potential. The ipod is dead long live the zune and not forgetting the worlds best phone the iphone.
This is a start http://crave.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029432,49298823,00.htm (watch the vid sorry this isn't a hyperlink)
btw liking the new colours though!!!
Looks alot like the fake ipods you can get in Hong Kong and Thailand. I really dislike this design, the curvature is sickening.
Sickening? You become physically ill at the sight of this? I somehow doubt that ;)
@Big John,
Yes, it's a well known fact that people can become physicaly ill from viewing certain geometric shapes. For example a 600 lb nude (male or female) with leprosy in a hot tub full of green Jello and raw hamburger on a hot August day. With lots of flys hanging around. I dare you to visulize that and not feel ill. Yuck. Now I feel ill. Whats wrong with you for mentioning such sick stuff!!! ;-p
in b4, omg so hott even though i said the mock ups look like crap!
Saying you like this is an instant low rating it seems...but here I go anyway!
I like it; I'm only buying it for running with Nike +. The smaller it is the better for that. Tall and thin means you can put the band along your forearm and it will fit perfectly. A landscape screen means I can see everything without having to twist my arm, and the controls will be easy to hit as well.
Great design for my purpose!
If only all of those previously leaked cases were actually available...
This non event. was such a bore...
And the nano... so not "genius".
Out of respect for the very poorly Steve Jobs, I will not comment any further.
you grammar. is atrocious...
and your face... i'm not even going to go there.
Out of respect for everyone else here, please stop commenting until you can get a better grasp on the English language.
How exactly can a person be "poorly"?
Thanks in advance.
lowdef poorly is a British term for someone being unwell you tool.
@lowdef,
you complete idiot. you need a better command of the English language
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/poorly
'poorly' is a word that has been used to reservedly describe sick people for hundreds of years.
OMG.
sonned off the internet
@kccboy2004: here, we just use poorly as an adverb, not an adjective.
definitely one of the more wonky constructions coming out of Old Blighty as an adj.
I am loving the color selection. This is the first time I have been satisfied with all the colors available since the original 5 iMac colors. Makes me want to collect them all and use a different one depending on my mood. Unfortunately at this point I can barely afford one.
thats because youre a little kid with no job. get off this site and go read a book
Agreed, it's nice to see a greater color variance. Regardless of what the troll says.
No, I am a College student doing something with my life so I can get a decent job in the future. You really are living up to your name aren't you.
How about some proper white balance?
Half of those shots are yellow!
Less racism please.
I'm sure you'll see plenty of shots done up to your photographic standards after the device has been out for just over an hour.
there is no white ipod to set the white balance. Oh wait a minute.
In my opinion they just took the design of Zune and made it a lot better. Thats why Microsoft should have done.
BTW
When is iTunes 8 coming out?
BTW it comes out today.
Having used one of the new Zunes, I have to say that the controls on the Zune are much, much more comfortable to use than the click wheel. Rotating your thumb in circles is not good - being able to go side to side or up and down without having to go around in circles is a bit nicer.
I'm sorry, what was that? Apple copied Microsoft you say?
I dont understand how this is any better, in fact it is worse than the zune. Did you go online at all yesterday? FM song tagging, wifi syncing anywhere on earth, and a portable zune marketplace were all released for the zune. The capacities were all bumped, and they are still under $300. The zune only needs a better advertising campaign and they will win the DAP fight. I don't love Microsoft, I just hate apple. I enjoy my Zune and Vista, and I don't need a grande skim latte and a black turtleneck to enjoy them.
I think the original iPod was great, they should go back to that. The iPod touch is cool, but it is too large and way too expensive. Sure, the first gen zune was kind of half assed for its time, but the second version is incredible. If there is that big a jump up for the third version, I will be first in line to get a new Zune. Provided that it is not a touch screen, because that is the most unnecessary thing in a DAP.
end of rant
How does Genius Play work?
I'm guessing it works on genre.
So if you don't have your genres properly organised, it's going to be one hellish thing to use.
1) Push Button
2) Receive Playlist
@Jeff
That's what she said...
any chance genius will come to 3G nano in a software update, or is this only for the new guys?
@ Josh
Doubtful, im sure steve would have been like, "and all this will be available for all ipods out there" or something like that. as usual no latest firmware upgrades and extra cost for the touch. what is that $39.85 for software upgrades on a media player...
ok now i have some time to choose which color i want until they have the 16 GB ones in europe
im in love :$
Apple used to color coordinate the letters on the click wheel with 2nd Gen iPod minis. I guess they've stopped since nano 2Gs for cost issues.
Actually, while it probably did help with cost, I think they did it because it just didn't work out well. I remember my brothers old Green iPod mini, the logos on the click wheel were almost impossible to see because they were a weird lime green. A color that contrasts with the white (or black) wheel makes a lot more sense from a design point of view.
Apple stock is down 3%. I would think if Apple releases good products, at least the stock would not drop.
I've always notice it going down on announcement dates.
I think Apple stock drops at pretty much every event like this. Heck I think it usually drops more than that.
That's the casual online traders being overly reactionary as usual.
You would think by now Steve could afford a belt
Might not be able to due to his illness? Don't want to apply pressure to the area? That said my human biology is dire so feel free to maul into me.
I'm sure a lot of people have already applied pressure to that area.
I think the new Nanos are just gorgeous, what fantastic colors! The screen looks beautiful as well. Thinner iPod Touch? Expected, but still nice. I have to see these 4th generation Nanos in person though, the 2nd were so thin it blew my mind already. Glad to hear about iPhone 2.1, am looking forward to Friday. :)
My iphone is a FATTY compared to these nanos
Yeah, there is something about the proportion of the screen to the device that makes it really aesthetically unpleasing. I think it's because we are so accustomed to screens being wider than they are tall that a tall screen is weird. When you turn the new nano sideways, it's much better. They should have rotated the wheel 90 degrees to make landscape the default. Then it wouldn't be ugly.
You mean, like the Zune?..............
that's ugly
Wow, This is beautiful...
But why?
It used to be ugly last week!!
I just don't understand...
iLOL'd at that.
Also last week this was FAAAAAKE
Sorry to hear, but , like all the others you drank the kool-aid :( i feel sorry for your lots because you cant fright back
Wow "curved glass" it seems now with all the flat screen tvs and computers and ipod we now have to go back into time for a CRT like curved glass for viewing pleasures hahahaha gezzz cmon
I do not like the curved screen - the glare looks a little bad just there.
> "the glare looks a little bad just there."
There might be reflections on the edges of the screen. But if you're looking at the center of the screen it should be fine... unless you are holding a flashlight in your mouth!
But I always watch my backlit screens with a flashlight in my mouth :(
Man, that's ugly. Zune has nothing to worry about..
'Zune' has nothing to worry about? Except actual SALES, perhaps...
iHate to say this, but Apple has got the PMP (Portable Media Player) iNdustry on lock! iMust upgrade my 2G Nano for the simple fact that 16GB of flash is avaliable. Anyways, still waitin' on the 3rd Gen iPhone. The 3G iPhone iSn't worst upgradin' too when compared side-by-side with the first gen iPhone. Enough said...
-sent from my iPhone
_____________________
iGet enough exercise just pushin' my luck!
No such thing as "3rd gen iPhone," only 1st gen and 2nd gen (regular and 3G)
Which is why he is still waiting on it. Duh
Can it only be rotated in one direction (apparently counter-clockwise in photo)?
It goes both ways. Like the phone/Touch. Upside down doesn't work, like the phone/Touch.
how does this compare in thickness to the current gen ones?
I am a 2nd gen Nano owner. I use it to play music... because that's all mine does. I've held a friend's Fatty Nano... but it never felt good in my hands, but it could play video.
So, now we have this 4th gen Nano, back to the skinny form factor, added video, more colors, and 16gb. I love it!
The apple store says 8 hours of video on a charge, but the fine print says 4 hours, and Steve apparently said 4 hours, so which is it?
i was thinking the same thing. rereading it seems like it will hold 8 hours of video footage and will play back for 4 hours. my fatty plays 5 hours of video and will play upside down so i will stick with it!
I like the look ok but I still prefer the fatty.
My girlfriend is sad to see the 3G design pass. Ah well. At least she doesn't have a strong desire to have a new one!
Well, I've been trying to decide what to do, my good ol' original 4G iPod 20GB (U2 Edition) is about on it's last legs, and this might be the replacement. Don't feel like spending over $300CAD for a 16GB Touch, and the 16GB finally allows this to serve as my main player.
Had considered jumping ship to the Sandisks (bought one for my fiancee, nice piece of equipment) but rumors are they're having some shuffle issues, and I'm on shuffle 50%+ of the time.
Plus, I'll admit it, I'm lazy and like iTunes to just sync everything for me without having to think about it.
Though, I'll also admit, wireless sync a la the Zune sounds tempting too . . .
Worst.... Hand.... Ever... I'm not even sure I'm looking at a human hand holding that nano! I mean, is that his thumb on the left, and if so, then what is that finger poking out on the right side of the shot?? I guess those mock up drawings posted on here a few days ago were more true to life than initially suspected!!
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/29/apple-patent-filings-detail-touchscreen-tablet/
One thing I am excited about is the inclusion of support for headphone volume, play/pause and track skip. This is a much welcomed feature and may get me to upgrade.
i just think it kinda looks like one of the knockoffs we see so much of on eBay and on Crapgadget.
Wow, let's see. No Wi-Fi. No FM Tuner. 16GB for $199USD, yeah that's alright. Colours look okay. Sorry but, no deal from me.