iPod Nano 4GB and 8GB Review

Introduction:
The Apple iPod Nano sets new standards for gadget design and stretches the boundaries of technology. It's the world's first 4GB flash player, yet it's also one of the thinnest. Plus, it boasts a bright color screen that takes advantage of the bigger iPod's photo capabilities, though be aware that the Nano's screen scratches easily. Throw in some ancillary improvements, and you have not only the latest MP3 player phenom but a glance into the future. The flash-based Nano (the name is curiously similar to the Creative Zen Nano Plus's) comes in classic white or black and three capacities: 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB at $149, $199 and $249, respectively. It also replaces the current popular iPod Mini line.

Specifications

Size and weight
Height: 2.75 inches (69.8 mm)
Width: 2.06 inches (52.3 mm)
Depth: 0.26 inch (6.5 mm)
Weight: 1.74 ounces (49.2 grams)

In the box
iPod nano
Earphones
USB 2.0 cable
Dock adapter
Quick Start guide

Capacity
4GB or 8GB flash drive1
Holds up to 1,000 or 2,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format2
Holds up to 3,500 or 7,000 iPod-viewable photos3
Holds up to 4 hours (4GB) or up to 8 hours (8GB) of video4
Stores data via USB flash drive

Display
2-inch (diagonal) liquid crystal display with blue-white LED backlight
320-by-240-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch

Audio
Skip-free playback
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
User-configurable maximum volume limit

Video
H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

Headphones
Earphones
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Impedance: 32 ohms

Mac system requirements
Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
Mac OS X v10.4.8 or later
iTunes 7.4 or later5

Windows system requirements
PC with USB 2.0 port
Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later
iTunes 7.4 or later5

Languages
Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, and Turkish
Additional language support for display of song, album, and artist information: Bulgarian, Croatian, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, and Ukrainian

Environmental requirements
Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Input and output
Dock connector
3.5-mm stereo headphone jack

Power and battery6
Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery
Playback time
Music playback time: Up to 24 hours when fully charged
Video playback time: Up to 5 hours when fully charged

Reviews

Good
The iPod Nano has a gorgeous, superslim design with a bright, photo-friendly screen. It is easy to operate and works seamlessly with iTunes and the iTunes Music Store, which has the world's largest selection of music. It boasts a nimble processor and system performance with no skipping, thanks to flash memory.

Bad
The iPod Nano suffers from unspectacular battery life, and though the device is durable, it scratches easily; blemishes show up more drastically on the black version. The Nano is pricey in terms of gigabytes per dollar, and its 4GB maximum capacity is not a good fit for many power users. The player skips many sought-after extra features such as FM radio and A/V-out, and it doesn't work with Camera Connector. The USB power adapter ($29) is not included.

Bottom Line
Thanks to its limited capacity, the gorgeous iPod Nano isn't for everybody, but it sets the standard for MP3 players to come.