iPod nano 5G with camera first hands-on!
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Sep 9th 2009 2:24PM
posted Sep 9th 2009 2:24PM
Update: Quick walkthrough video is now after the break!
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Specs for the new Nano are up: video recording is: H.264 VGA video, 640 by 480 pixels, up to 30 frames per second with AAC audio
And apparently no still picture support. I can't believe that's the case but it doesn't give still picture specs anywhere.
@App4That
I'm trying to think how a video camera would even work on the shuffle. Perhaps it would describe what's in the frame to you in a barely intelligible synthetic voice.
Well, App4That, some of us who use cameras would like to know that we're actually filming what we want to be filming and not end up with several hours of footage of the ground.
I'm still trying to figure out how you knew Matt was eating.
weak!
Word.
co-signs
zzzz...
Agreed. Call it "market-leader" syndrome. Once a company owns the market - innovation goes out the door. That is why competition is so important. Looks like I will go Zune HD for my next PMP.
i never imagined apple would F*CK up this bad!
Very weak, mind you.
It almost looks like a KIRF.
welcome to 2001
I still think the big limitation is the fact that the battery cannot be changed or replaced incase you run out of power.
I'm disappointed. They put all the features that I wanted in the new iPod touch into the Nano. Who cares about the nano? I want my iPhone-minus-phone.
It doesn't even appear to capture stills. Neat, but almost any one with a cell phone can accomplish this new functionality.
You guys are idiots at Engadget, and people claim you all are Apple fanboys?
FM, and you totally forgot to mention itunes tagging and you can pause the radio.
Nike ipod integration and pedometer work in unison, and are much more feature rich now, go look.
Add the video camera in for $150, and this is amazing little device.
Lame indeed! Microsoft seems to be making a re-resurgence and Apple seems to be falling behind. It was only a matter of time.
They've switched the positions of the headphone jack and the USB port? They've got nothing to do, have they?
Yep. Cram a phone in there and I might see cause to replace my current devices. Until then I'll just use them until they break.
Utter FAIL...
fail...
now all the apple fanboys will think/say that apple was the first to have a FM radio...
and will ignorantly rant on forums why microsoft copied them....
Why.
Why can't this thing take still pictures?
A nice "wtf" fits very well right now.
>> "Why can't this thing take still pictures?"
The Flip Video doesn't take picture either... which is what this is supposed to compete with. The Flip Video is the most popular pocket camcorder... so it does very well considering it's a single-purpose device.
Steve said "The Nano is the most popular player in the world, we've sold over 100m." So adding a video camera will only help Nano sales.
That said... WTF is the Nano doing with the camera?!?!? The Touch is MUCH more suitable to have a video camera! Huge screen, WIFI uploading, clip trimming like the iPhone. Seriously.
The Nano will be great for Apple.... but bad for me who wanted to buy a Touch and get a pocket camcorder too...
Apple, be the first to make a glossy screen you can't smudge to bits and I'm on board.
lrn2design apple, you don't put the camera at the bottom...
true that. the thing I don't get is that why is apple not upgrading their biggest selling ipod ever the iPod touch and putting these things on the touch but yet they put it on the nano, now thats just BULL. Apple I know you can do better than this now I ain't a Zune fan but quiet honestly I guess my next Christmas present will be the Zune HD cause apple just lost their BIGGEST customer until they upgrade their iPod touch line. Oh and I wish Steve the best of luck
Glossy finish for the EPIC FAIL. What a huge step backwards from the nice matte aluminum on the last gen nanos.
Has the person running the camera ever heard of FOCUS? Horrible video.
Weak? Weak? You guys don't get it! Apple has cornered the market! So what's left? The Perv demographic! Come on! You guys need to have a BIG picture view.
Can't you see all people buying these to capture women at the gym?
Of course let's not leave out the pedophile demo!
Sheeeesh! People are SOOooooo short sited!
I preferred the matte aluminium personally, but I guess I'll have to see it in person to really judge. It looks highly scratchable
Oh man, every time I saw that violet (amethyst - purple) colored 4G Nano I felt the sex!
IMO the new shiny coating sucks, why why why..
=(
I feel frustrated because of that, it's like my hot girlfriend suddenly gained ugly fat.
I'm intrigued, as I've picked up one or two scratches on my forth gen.
Hm, got a purple Nano, am a guy and it feels awkward. I'd better have picked black or something. (I admit, I do still like the colour.)
Anyway, the new coating indeed is ugly. It looks as if they had put the matte, "grainy" finish of the 4G under under a layer more glossy than even the 1G nano.
I'm sorry, but no camera or radio on the touch? I am VERY disappointed with Apple today.
So am I. I wanted to upgrade my first gen 16gb ipod touch! It´s more waiting time for me! Bad apple!
Agreed. They could have at least said that we tried but someone screwed up the design but we'll fix it in time for Christmas. Give me a built-in microphone or something. Maybe there will be some hideous attachment that you buy and hang off the side of this that will allow one to capture video.
Apple's only saving grace is that I am not sure that anyone else has anything remotely close to the Touch with a camera. I am going to spend my money on a nice pocket camera - possible a Canon SD940is.
Maybe they do not know how to shoehorn this under the iPhone. But damn. I want a 64Gb iPhone. Where is that?
if the Nano is getting those 2 things there is no way the Touch is going to remain long without them. Methinks Christmas would be a good time for the update.
Fox, Apple doesn't generally update a product line more than once per year, so I wouldn't expect any upgrade to the iTouch until next September, and certainly not as early as Christmas... unless the Zune HD actually gets some traction in the marketplace, then you'll see a "refresh" ASAP.
want HD
More importantly, how the hell do you take a picture/video with just your right hand? If you only use your right hand you're going to cover up the screen. How the hell will you see what you're taking a picture/video of? Ugghhh...
How big are the pictures that the camera takes? I know apples specs on their site says the videos are 640x480, but what size are the pictures?
doesnt take pics
Pictures would look silly at that res, they are just saving themselves from embarrassment, the res is just barely good enough for some youtube-clone-site-that-hasn't-gone-HD-yet video.
well this has been a major disappointment
Kinda reminds me of the night I spent with yours actually.
Ohm, nice :)
Am I the only one who thinks the shiny coating is a dumb idea? Sure it looks nice, but the second you touch it it's going picking up fingerprints. Every glossy device ever has had this issue.
...check the iTouches, shiny silver backs. Even in my rubber case its getting scratched up. Whats the point
Just get your current nano and varnish it. Are apple trying to get people to call them turd polishers?
@darknezz
the point is that the current nanos have a really nice matte aluminum finish, so this is a huge step backwards to go to glossy.
Seriously, every single device that comes out with a glossy fingerprint-magnet finish gets ripped upon by every single reviewer, yet apple just goes and does this. seriously, wtf.
i'll be sticking with my current nano that's for sure.
apple is playing catch-up now
I'm surprised that nobody trashed you for saying that. Twit.tv podcast could be right that people are starting to be less forgiving toward Apple's decision nowadays. On the other hand, FM and Apple, whoa!?! Didn't people trash Zune for having it.
This will sell gang-busters. Apple will make yet more money and next year we'll all be moaning again. Seriously!
The sad thing is that they have the brainwashed users already so instead of going on to trying something new as the zune hd they just stick to what they have been having for the last 3-4 years... so in the end apples features are the better ones even if that isnt true because no one really got to see what the zune hd is capable off... although after this fail of an "event" (more like a get together) i think some heads are going to turn the other way....
Radio... nuff said
Put an FM radio in a device when FM radio is ending soon. Brilliant idea. Should have done it years ago when it was asked for.
agreed. if anything Satellite radio would have been better then FM (A la zune)
pssh FM, what is this 1920?
As lame as these new iPods are, FM isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Unless you're in Venezuela... but that's a completely different story.
@Brian: most of the world doesn't have satellite radio.
FM radio is ending soon? what are you talking about? And the Zune HD is HD radio, not satellite. (now satellite radio is probably going away if anything, who the hell wants to pay for radio with commercials?)
shouldn't satellite radio work anywhere, besides tunnels, underground, etc?
"shouldn't satellite radio work anywhere, besides tunnels, underground, etc?"
You mean in the entire world? Nope. It only covers the US (and Canada I think). It's not like GPS which has over 20 satellites to cover the entire world.
GPS doesnt cover entire world. The poles have poor satellite coverage, meaning there are times when you don't have enough satellites to get location. But there arent that many people there that are effected by it.
An HD radio would have been a great idea.
Is it only video camera NOT a camera? Can one take pictures? what is the mega pixel count?
I'm glad they did not release the ipod touch with camera. I already had the money to buy one today, guess I'll spend it in some strippers.
on some strippers.
I don't know it depend on what he is in to.
No, I'm pretty sure he meant in.
He said what he meant to.
Screen is 376x240. What a weird aspect ratio, 1.5666:1
Pbbbbtttt.
Like most ipods, I'm sure its battery life wont be great. And most likely get worse steadily over a short period of time....
Can this take photos or is it video only? I think that's pretty dumb if it's video only :\
I was wondering the same thing. Apple's website makes no reference to still photos at all. Strange.
(Don't) want.
Overpriced, over exaggerated, over hyped, under performed.
Apple has failed.
Any stats on the resolution? They heavily touted the increase to 3.2MP for the iPhone so I'd expect they'd at least give a figure for the nano
640x480px
Oh, it's on their webpage. Wait... what the hell... video capture only? WHY?!?!?!?!
Well I guess image capture will be available on the next release of the iPod nano. Ugh. Seriously, that's kinda lame. Why can't it capture still images when it captures video which is a series of moving images. A very weak move indeed.
First an iPhone camera that does pictures but not video, now a Nano camera that does video but not pictures?
When will Apple learn?
How many meg is that camera? look more like iphone 2g or 3g camera than 3gs, without lens protection and is in that lower end position a can easily make the lens dirty or damage.
The glossy finish makes them look like fakes. 5 generations to put an FM radio in, nice.
dude, your hands.. why are they so red and irritated? hard to look at the ipod with those hands.. blushing hands?!
Any particular reason why the lens is not on the opposite side (the top)? You know, I'm only asking because for a minute there I thought that that was a dumb place to put it. Well, it's been three minutes now, and it still looks like a dumb place to put it, unles I'm missing something...
It's on the bottom, because you're supposed to take videos in landscape mode, not in portrait.
Yeah I got that part, I was just thinking that it would be better on the top of the back, seeing as the record buttons are on the same side as the lens there may be problems with fingers getting in the way and stuff.
doesn't really matter where they put the cam. I don't think it would get used that much?
Camera lens is exactly where I want to hold it with my adult man size hands. They should have put the camera lens at the top. I guess that you can hold it upside down but then risk covering the screen with your hands.
Maybe I am missing something but it almost seems like an after thought. "Let's throw in a camera and stick it wherever the circuitry allows."
This is probably the strongest announcement today - it's a good device.
Well it would be if everyone's mobile phone didn't already take pictures, shoot video, play music and video and be able to upload it on the move.
Good purchase if you just want a PMP though.
yeah I bet if some foreign company had done this you'd be saying Apple needs to catch up. Bias!
I think what they did was awesome and it will drive the sells way up. And I have a feeling those nanos will eventually connect with the internet real soon.
I don't mind that they put a camera in the nano. What I don't like is that they didn't put the iphone 3GS AF video camera in the Touch. As a current Nano user who was planning on an upgrade to a touch, it just doesn't seems appealing without the iPhone's camera.
I am SOOO excited...at least I would be if I cared. Why in a nano? Is it purely for experiemental purposes Apple?
Great. Where is the iPod Touch w/ camera, again? OH WAIT, they didn't announce one!
Last minute production problems, or maybe it was Steved altogether. Or maybe they are saving the Touch release to make a mockery of an upcoming announcement from those cool guys in Redmond...
No Unicorns with rainbows shooting out the horn? Well I guess we'll have to settle for the flying cars.
I swear I would kill for a flying car. But I'll settle for high speed maglev trains instead.
Epic FAIL
Matte was nicer. But nicely specced up, really. I was hoping for a bigger classic. Bigger as in >200GB.