Apple iPod Nano MP3 Player Profile

The Apple iPod nano is a stylish, flash based, pencil-thin mp3 player featuring:

The Nano is favored as the top Flash player, despite not having an FM Tuner and not play ing videos.

On the positive side, the latest version of the Nano has an Aluminum case much more scratch resistant than the previous version.

Battery life has also been significantly improved - 24.5 hours - nearly double that of the older iPod nano.

The screen is also brighter by about 40 percent, and the form a little thinner, making this Nano a lot more competitive than previously.

Form & Function

• Small, sleek, scratch resistant Aluminum shell -at 3.5 by 1.6 by 0.27 inches and 1.5 ounces, it is much improved on the first-generation nano.
• Glossy acrylic face is very susceptible to scratches and, for the black version, fingerprints, which do interfere with viewing text and graphics on the LCD screen
• 1.5 inch Color LCD display
• Bright, 16-bit, 172x132-pixel color display can be used without the backlight in good illumination.
• Easy-to-read on screen menus - touch-sensitive surface to control volume
• 1.75 inch Click Wheel Control - Click to fast-forward, rewind, play, pause or access menus. Its smaller size than the iPod means the reduced range of motion is a problem for some.
• Depends on the Now Playing screen for volume and other player controls
• No quick access to Equalizer settings
• No onscreen turning off the unit
• Flash memory means no skipping
• Good processor and system performance
• Hold switch is located on top
• Headphone jack is near the lower-right corner - working well in the pocket and when connected to the optional lanyard that transforms the iPod Nano into a wearable device
• Standard dock connector port and a headphone jack are located underneath. The dock connector connects to accessories such as ancillary speakers.
• No moving internal parts, means is durable enough as a fitness companion
• Comes with standard earbuds, a dock connector-to-USB 2.0 cable, an iPod dock adapter, and a software CD

Features

• Equalizer presets - to help you adjust the sound to your liking.
• 14 hours of battery life - The iPod battery can be charged up to 80 percent capacity in an hour and a half; a full charge takes just 3 hours.
• Customizable main menu with Music, Photos, Extras, Settings, Shuffle Songs, and Now Playing fields are standard
• Four-digit combination virtual screen lock
• Advanced stopwatch and lap timeradvanced stopwatch and lap timer
• PIM features - Contacts, Calendar, World clock and Notes
• Windows users - Outlook syncing comes with the new iTunes 5.0.
• On-The-Go playlist function
• NO FM radio, a voice recorder, or line-in recording - can be added using third-party accessories.
• The firmware is upgradeable - keeps you up to date with the latest changes in the mp3 field

Media

• Supports digital audio formats - MP3, AAC, DRM AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV, and Audible
• 4GB player holds about 1,000 songs or 25,000 photos; the 2GB version holds about 500 tunes.
• View album art as you play your music.
• Photo viewer - not an ideal photo viewer due to small size
• Seamless integration to download music from iTunes store
• Media format limited to Apple proprietary AAC format
• Audio quality is good - imperceptible hiss and a multitude of equalizer settings [??uses the same sound chip as the Mini]
• Video - no video player
• No FM Player

Accessories

• USB power adapter ($29) - not included with the Nano
• Apple Lanyard Headphones
• iPod nano Armbands
• Camera Connector accessory designed for transferring photos to the iPod from a digital camera does not yet work with the Nano

Note: The Lacks a four-pin smart connector - iPod Nano cannot be used with some accessories, including wired remote controls.

Overall

The Nano is pricey in terms of gigabytes per dollar, and its 4GB maximum capacity is too small for power users. The player lacks extra features such as FM radio and A/V-out, and it doesn't work with Camera Connector.

In spite of these shortcomings, the 4G Apple iPod Nano is regarded as the Best MP3 Player Overall

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