iPod nano 4G unboxing, hands-on, and first impressions

We had a chance to paw this beauty on Tuesday at the Apple event, but finally getting home and spending some quality time with the device has given us a far deeper impression of just what the folks in Cupertino have done. So far our impressions are favorable: physically, the nano redesign is a move in the right direction for the company, leaving that awkward previous generation nano on the cutting room floor, and falling much more in line with Apple's current design language. The player feels solid and compact -- maybe a bit too tiny for our big paws -- though build quality is on par with the 1st generation iPhone. You can tell a lot of careful rethinking went into this, and there's not an edge out of place. We're going to be doing a full review of the device and its new software, but for now feast your eyes on the gallery below.

Gallery: iPod nano 4G unboxing, hands-on, and first impressions

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[Sisyphus @ Sep 11th 2008 2:23PM]

You referred to your hands twice in that article as "paws."

Engadget are furries. This explains a lot.

[Tremorwolf @ Sep 11th 2008 2:50PM]

Don’t be afraid, we just wanna Snuggle you >3

LOL, no but seriously, We ARE everywhere =3

[Sisyphus @ Sep 11th 2008 2:54PM]

Thats genuinely frightening.

At least I hit a squirrel this morning on the way to work.

[WarMouse @ Sep 11th 2008 3:39PM]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=furry+porn&search_type=&aq=f

[Decoy @ Sep 11th 2008 3:57PM]

I'd hit that.

[Derry Quinn @ Sep 11th 2008 4:01PM]

FAKE!!! the curve of the clickwheel and the rest sooo don't match up. ;-)

[Liam @ Sep 11th 2008 7:30PM]

@Derry Quinn

Gimp

[Max Million @ Sep 12th 2008 4:26AM]

the got the 8gb Version "mp4 nano 4" here for only $74.99 here: http://www.gadgetgreats.com/2-0-4th-generation-8gb-mp4-nano---nano-iv.aspx pretty sure it is a nano-clone though

[foxdude0486 @ Sep 12th 2008 9:02AM]

I'm voting Sisyphus up and Tremorwolf down. Time and place people. That and the squirrel comment made me laugh.

[giantenemycrab @ Sep 11th 2008 2:24PM]

I don't know what it is, but I love unboxing shots.

[goober_nut @ Sep 11th 2008 2:51PM]

I personally like shots of the "box".

[collegekid13 @ Sep 11th 2008 2:24PM]

is that the . . . . yellow? colour?

[Totalfixation @ Sep 11th 2008 2:26PM]

Let's nickname it the barf color.

[giantenemycrab @ Sep 11th 2008 2:26PM]

Just about to ask that.. What color is that? Is that yellow? It's not near as vibrant as I would have hoped.. It looks mustard color. It could be Josh's camera, I guess.

[Joshua Topolsky @ Sep 11th 2008 2:35PM]

It's yellow, but we've got waning light here in this corner of NYC, and the richness of the tone doesn't come out as much. They're very brightly colored!

[Duke 2 @ Sep 11th 2008 2:46PM]

The color name "Yellow Matter Custard Dripping From A Dead Dogs Eye" wouldn't fit on the packaging

[Najakwa @ Sep 11th 2008 2:59PM]

And Apple Corps Ltd wouldn't allow it. Where are the Beatles on iTunes? Oh wait, Apple Corps Ltd.

[OneLove @ Sep 11th 2008 3:02PM]

i see it as lime

[cmj2405 @ Sep 11th 2008 3:12PM]

It's a bit chavy...

[Major4Play @ Sep 11th 2008 3:22PM]

@onelove

Lime is green, that is a dirty gold yellow. Go colour blindness !

[Rob @ Sep 11th 2008 2:26PM]

Ok. I'm not an environmental freak or anything of the like. But, how is this plastic case better than one thin box? Greenpeace goes after these companies playing the "Environmental Nazi", but I haven't heard much talk about these clear plastic cases. I'm a bit curious.

[Jeff @ Sep 11th 2008 2:29PM]

Now you don't have to cut down a tree to make a thousand boxes...now you just need to pump several barrels of oil...its TOTALLY better.

[a @ Sep 11th 2008 2:43PM]

paper vs plastic.... I won't get into it now, but the boxes are clear to prevent that "bought the device and got a rock" problem that happened when you couldn't see inside the box.

[BobTurbo @ Sep 11th 2008 10:58PM]

Errr maybe they are recycled plastics?

[PJ @ Sep 11th 2008 2:28PM]

Not smaller, just differently shaped. And why mustard? Get the red too and you've got a picnic theme!

[Nicholas S. @ Sep 11th 2008 2:34PM]

I thought the click wheel was difficult to use with the 3rd gen. It felt to small.

As a side note, I think I'm going to rank everyone up from now on so I can actually read what the comments say. This gray text is starting to wear on my eyes.

[goober_nut @ Sep 11th 2008 2:53PM]

Yeah, I like when low ranked people get dimmed down, but the neutrals are starting to give me eye strain.

[Knives_Out @ Sep 11th 2008 3:03PM]

they gotta get rid of the click wheel .. takes up too much real estate. Make the player shorter and design a new input method.

oh .. and the text for the neutral rating is too light.

.. .only low ranked should get a lighter text.

[Ben 10 @ Sep 11th 2008 4:07PM]

Yeah, the click wheel is unruly, but this new screen is completly useless.

[konshuss @ Sep 11th 2008 7:45PM]

it looks half decent displayed vertically, but turned on its side that clickwheel looks mighty big and spacious next to a screen begging for more real estate. 16:10 anyone?

[bob sakamano @ Sep 11th 2008 2:35PM]

the box looks really dusty

[Zach G @ Sep 11th 2008 2:36PM]

"...build quality is on par with the 1st generation iPhone."

Is that a good thing or bad thing? Can someone enlighten me because I'm thinking about buying one of these. Thanks.

[Anthony @ Sep 11th 2008 2:45PM]

I believe it to be a good thing. The original iPhone is built well. In the year plus that I've owned it the only "damage" I've noticed is the camera lens' coating has rubbed off of 2/3 of it and you can tell in a bright light/reflection. It just looks smudged. Picture quality (or lack of) has not been effected.

If you're thinking of buying the new Nano and were worried about the build quality I'd go ahead and buy.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 11th 2008 2:46PM]

The 3G's build quality is inferior to the original iPhone. So they just made that distinction. It was a compliment.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 11th 2008 6:58PM]

Sounds like an insult to me. Half of my friends with original iPhones had to take them back at some point because of touch conking out, unhearable speakerphones or such.

[Nomi @ Sep 11th 2008 2:39PM]

I am more curious about the screen, they said its glass, is it the same scratch resistant glass as the iPhone?

[crazypenguin @ Sep 11th 2008 3:19PM]

HA HA, i usually say stupid things on this site, but that was really a bad comment.

[Josh @ Sep 11th 2008 3:21PM]

most likely, it's the same as the previous nano, it's very scratch resistant, you basically don't have to worry about it

[NST @ Sep 11th 2008 2:42PM]

The title should say 8GB since one of the shots is that model, not 4GB.

[Nomi @ Sep 11th 2008 2:44PM]

WOW!...walks away...

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 11th 2008 2:45PM]

Yes, you are correct.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 11th 2008 2:46PM]

LOL!

[Phoenix @ Sep 11th 2008 2:47PM]

...Fucking retard. You've missed ALL the news?

4G stands for "fourth generation"

[Duke 2 @ Sep 11th 2008 2:49PM]

DUHH

4G- 4th Generation, not 4GB

[Dan Wesnor @ Sep 11th 2008 2:53PM]

Actually, all of the shots are the 8GB model. You see, they're all of the exact same unit, and "spontaneously morph from 8GB to 4GB" is nowhere to be found on the feature sheet. And there is no 4G 4GB model. So there.

#1 rule of correcting someone: BE CORRECT!

[whatishalo? @ Sep 11th 2008 3:03PM]

OMG...is that what it is??? I have an iPod Nano 3G and couldn't figure out why the damn thing won't make phone calls...

[JJV @ Sep 11th 2008 4:41PM]

@Phoenix don't be such a fucking douche
my god is it a crime if someone didnt get the abbreciations
grow the fuck up

[Andrew D. @ Sep 11th 2008 5:27PM]

Sure it was funny, but many of my friends think that the iPhone has a 3GB capacity because of 3G. It's an honest mistake, I would never call anyone a retard for it. Although, before I correct anyone, I ensure my facts are right first! Keep that in mind next time, NST.

[Scotty @ Sep 11th 2008 2:44PM]

Meh, I bought a Zune last night and could not be happier.

[Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Sep 11th 2008 2:46PM]

I think the Zune's a pretty good player but I wish they made an Ipod Touch equilvalent. : )