With amazingly slimness, light weight and long runtime, iPod
Nano is a reliable MP3 player despite the high price.
iPod Nano is no longer square-shaped. The latest version’s
shape is an extra slim rectangular plate which is quite short, making it more
suitable than its square-shaped predecessor. The device’s 2 ½ in touch-screen
is a multi-pointing type, and iPod mandatorily has Bluetooth, thus you can use a
wireless headphone. The whole unit is only 5.4mm thick and 31g heavy, hence you
can stick it to any place. There’s no clip in the back so it is not as much
suitable for sport lovers as the previous version. However, most users will be
satisfied with advanced movie-playback powered by wide-angle 240x432pixel
resolution.
The touchscreen allows you to switch between menu screens
listing large icons. It even goes with wallpapers that match iPod’s theme. Unlike
iPod Touch, you can’t install apps. The first menu offers shortcuts for music,
videos, podcast and photos, with Nike Fitness app and radio tuner. In the
second screen, you will find a watch, settings shortcut and access to your
audiobooks.
Besides common categories: playlist, singer, song, album,
genre…, you also can use Apple Genius to compose a playlist with the song being
played or create a playlist based on iTunes analysis of your interest, but you
have to activate the feature in desktop iTunes first. iTunes itself went
through changes by simplifying and arranging its interface neatly, plus
removing some common features.
Cover Flow is the biggest feature that disappeared, but
sidebar will help you to easily copy contents from PC to iPod and move them
among existing playlists. You can also choose to sync specific contents only. You
can use sync podcast every time you connect iPod to the connected PC, yet
cannot with music or videos. You also can organize contents in iPod Nano
manually.
The device’s 2 ½
in touch-screen is a multi-pointing type.
Audio files in MP3, AAC, AIFF, WAV and ALAC are supported,
as well as Audible audiobooks; you will have to convert other audio formats to
the supported ones to hear. Sound quality is very good. DAC is preferred for
iPod as Apple has more bass in the same format which other rivals use. The
device sounds quite detailed and accurate, especially when you upgrade it with
a better-quality headphone. iPod Nano’s warm sound provides earphone shells
with extremely good balance and also sounds perfectly via hi-quality dynamic
headphones, such as Soundmagic E10s model.
The world is in your ears
Like newest versions of iPhone and iPod Touch, iPod Nano
comes with Apple’s improved EarPod earphones. They are still white-colored,
plastic-looking and a little uncomfortable, yet they have fewer leaks than the
predecessor and sound more detailed and interesting. They are not in-ear types
but the plastic cover is shaped to conduct sound into your eardrum.
Video player doesn’t have a wide range of support. It can’t
deal with 1080p contents, but will play Apple’s compatible standard formats,
such as 720p MPEG4 or H.264 in M4V, Mov or MP4 wrappers. However, podcast
videos available in Apple Store don’t appear in video player’s menu, yet they
are available in podcast player.
Contrast is low in dark areas and screen size is small,
meaning that viewing some contents, especially quick-action movies, quite
exhausting, despite the small screen’s excellent clarity. However, it suits cartoons
and TV broadcasts. We won’t watch it for long, but it appears excellent in case
you want to follow a favorite sitcom episode of home TV.
FM radio tuner is very convenient when you want to keep up
with news or get bored of your music collection. The touchscreen helps you to
easily scroll through channels, though it is not as handy as a digital radio
tuner. Nike+ workout app can use iPod’s accelerometer or perform Bluetooth
connection with Nike+ sensor or a heart rate monitor to report your
achievements. You don’t have much either option or info as available from workout
apps of iPod and iPhone, but it makes this extra-lightweight MP3 player great
for runners.
Via test, iPod Nano’s 30-hour runtime proved that this
device can provide user with audio for a whole week in medium use. Though, a
result of 3h 57min for video playback was not as good, but video playback must
be considered useful, not vital.
This device is quite expensive though the price is typical
for top 16GB MP3 players, and rival, like Cowon i10, has an equivalent price. To
be fair, iPod Nano is amazingly small and lightweight, despite a narrow range
of support and the necessity of iTunes.
Apple iPod Nano
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Info
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RRP: $172
·
Website: www.amazon.com
Technical
specs
·
Storage: 16MB flash memory
·
Screen: 2 ½ in size plus 240x320pixel resolution
·
Card slot: N/A
·
Audio support: AAC, Protected AAC, Audible, MP3
·
Video support: MPEG4, MP4
·
Image support: BMP, TIFF, JPEG
·
Interface: USB
·
Size/weight: 40x77x5mm/31g
·
Warranty: RTB 1-year
Verdict
·
With amazingly slimness, light weight and long runtime, iPod
Nano is a reliable MP3 player despite the high price.
·
Ratings: 4/5
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