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iPod nano
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iPod nano
The iPod nano is Apple's fourth digital audio player, combining features of the iPod shuffle and iPod and was introduced on September 7, 2005. The iPod nano replaced the iPod mini which was discontinued.
Work on development of the all-new design of the iPod nano had started only nine months earlier. The iPod nano has more flash memory storage than used in the iPod shuffle, and has a smaller color screen and click wheel than those in the full-sized iPods. The screen also has a higher resolution, allowing one more line of text than the mini's screen. The battery and other internal parts were also reduced in size. The surface of the click wheel is slightly rough, allowing the user to feel it, and operate the nano without looking at it. [1]
Advertising emphasizes the iPod nano's small size: it is 0.27 inches (6.9 mm) thick, 1.6 inches (40 mm) wide, and 3.5 inches (90 mm) long. It weighs 1.5 ounces (42 grams). Its stated battery life is 14 hours. The screen is 176 by 132 pixels, 1.5 inches diagonal, and can display 32,768 colors.
The iPod nano works with iTunes on Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows, and connects through the same proprietary dock connector as the third generation iPod, the fourth generation iPod and the iPod mini, using a USB 2.0 port on the user's computer. It is worth noting that, although it uses the same connection of Apple's FireWire iPod Cable and can charge over FireWire, the iPod nano does not support syncing over a FireWire connection. The iPod nano includes a stop watch and a multiple time zone clock function. There is also a combination lock feature using the click wheel to lock the iPod, which serves to secure the user's calendar and contact information if the iPod is lost.
It launched in two colors (black or white) with two available sizes: 2GB (roughly 500 songs) for $199 USD and 4GB (1000 songs) for $249 USD. Apple also released some accessories, including armbands and silicone "tubes" (possibly a play on nanotube) designed to bring color to the nano and protect it from scratches, as well as a combination lanyard-earphone accessory that hangs around the neck, and avoids the problem of tangling earphone cords.
Observations
The iPod nano uses flash memory instead of a hard disk. Therefore, it has no moving parts, making it immune to skipping and far more durable than disk-based players. Testing by technology-enthusiast website Ars Technica has shown that even after being driven over — twice — by a car, the iPod nano could still play music (although with a damaged screen). [2]
Initial criticisms: the iPod nano offers less storage capacity than the iPod mini for the same price. Also, the iPod nano has a lack of connectivity options. Unlike other current iPods, Apple is not offering an optional FireWire cable for the iPod nano. The lack of the remote connector found on the top of the iPod and iPod mini means a number of third-party accessories, such as the iTrip, will not work with the iPod nano. [3] It also lacks the TV-out and voice recording options of the larger iPods. Apple has also said that, unlike other iPods capable of storing photos, the iPod nano will not work with either Apple's iPod Camera Connector or any camera connectors from third-party manufacturers. [4]
Apple's release of the iPod nano as a replacement for the iPod mini is viewed by many as a risky move, as the mini was Apple's most popular MP3 player, and the world's best-selling player. Steve Jobs has argued that the iPod nano is a necessary risk since competitors are beginning to catch up to the iPod mini in terms of design and features, and believes the iPod nano will prove to be even more popular and successful than the iPod mini.
ReactionThe initial consumer response to the iPod nano was overwhelmingly positive and sales took off. [5]
MP3 Newswire reported how in one New Jersey Apple store some consumers bought multiple nano units, while in another mall store nearby a display of Creative Technology Zen Micros stood ignored. [6]
AppleInsider reported that according to American Technology Research analyst, Shaw Wu, after one week of sales, iPod nano sales are lower than expected with only the 4 gigabyte black model selling strongly. AppleInsider's own investigation found that two of the Apple Stores in California had only sold a couple hundred iPod nanos, out of a stock of over 1400, by Saturday September 10. [7]
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