iPod nano 4G hands-on

Yep, it's pretty much what you expected. Still, this thing is like a sliver in your hands. Check the gallery below and see for yourself!

Gallery: iPod nano 4G hands-on

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[hiko36 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:16PM]

Looks ridiculous...

[rellik1969 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:20PM]

At least the fingernails are clean...

[Saad Rabia @ Sep 9th 2008 2:22PM]

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.

[nerdtalker @ Sep 9th 2008 2:25PM]

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.

[Squid7085 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:27PM]

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.

[Ray @ Sep 9th 2008 2:29PM]

The design might not be so good, but that screen is delicious!

[Faulk_Wulf @ Sep 9th 2008 2:31PM]

Still no FM transmitter? Ridiculous is right.

[Knives_Out @ Sep 9th 2008 2:37PM]

I agree.

do way with the stupid click wheel already... it's taking up way too much real estate. the ipod is too tall.

[nohone @ Sep 9th 2008 2:41PM]

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.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:40PM]

@hiko36,

you understate. it is much worse than that.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:45PM]

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.

[Minilap @ Sep 9th 2008 3:16PM]

Iriver clix II rip off

[Paul Chapel @ Sep 9th 2008 3:58PM]

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.

[nohone @ Sep 9th 2008 4:43PM]

@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.

[salut @ Sep 9th 2008 5:30PM]

@ 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

[Nick @ Sep 9th 2008 6:19PM]

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.

[Patrick @ Sep 9th 2008 6:44PM]

Probably an instant low rank, but does anyone else think this looks like a zune? just a little bit?

[nohone @ Sep 9th 2008 6:44PM]

@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.

[Jack @ Sep 9th 2008 7:14PM]

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/

[Will H. @ Sep 9th 2008 8:30PM]

Personally, I don't like the styling of this one. I think it's ugly.

[David @ Sep 9th 2008 8:37PM]

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/

[Jason @ Sep 10th 2008 12:36AM]

"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.

[Nick @ Sep 10th 2008 8:45AM]

@ 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.

[juan @ Sep 9th 2008 2:18PM]

how bigs the screen??

[EmoChicksAreHot.....Seriously @ Sep 9th 2008 2:33PM]

same size as the 3rd gen dude

they even say that in the liveblog

[Samboini @ Sep 9th 2008 2:33PM]

8".

[Nomi @ Sep 9th 2008 2:35PM]

same as 3G just potrait...

[andrewviolet @ Sep 9th 2008 3:29PM]

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!!!

[james harris @ Sep 9th 2008 2:18PM]

Looks alot like the fake ipods you can get in Hong Kong and Thailand. I really dislike this design, the curvature is sickening.

[Big John @ Sep 9th 2008 2:36PM]

Sickening? You become physically ill at the sight of this? I somehow doubt that ;)

[Caleb @ Sep 10th 2008 2:30AM]

@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

[SirPasta117 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:18PM]

in b4, omg so hott even though i said the mock ups look like crap!

[gfar @ Sep 9th 2008 4:18PM]

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...

[K @ Sep 9th 2008 2:19PM]

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.

[lowdef @ Sep 9th 2008 2:25PM]

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.

[Samboini @ Sep 9th 2008 2:35PM]

lowdef poorly is a British term for someone being unwell you tool.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:39PM]

@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.

[BOGRASH @ Sep 9th 2008 3:00PM]

sonned off the internet

[wonkydonky @ Sep 9th 2008 3:00PM]

@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.

[Squid7085 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:19PM]

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.

[JerkfacedFed @ Sep 9th 2008 2:30PM]

thats because youre a little kid with no job. get off this site and go read a book

[Big John @ Sep 9th 2008 2:37PM]

Agreed, it's nice to see a greater color variance. Regardless of what the troll says.

[Squid7085 @ Sep 9th 2008 4:45PM]

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.

[thr33face @ Sep 9th 2008 2:19PM]

How about some proper white balance?
Half of those shots are yellow!

[Samboini @ Sep 9th 2008 2:36PM]

Less racism please.

[Big John @ Sep 9th 2008 2:37PM]

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.

[ynx @ Sep 9th 2008 3:25PM]

there is no white ipod to set the white balance. Oh wait a minute.

[Sleinad @ Sep 9th 2008 2:20PM]

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?

[Engadgetier @ Sep 9th 2008 2:56PM]

BTW it comes out today.

[Erik @ Sep 9th 2008 3:09PM]

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.