 Evolution
not revolution is the name of the game when you already have an
award winning gadget and Apple are no strangers to this concept. So
when we got our paws on the new iPod Nano for review we expected
some small tweaks mostly cosmetic and a few new features as opposed
to a leap into the unknown.
So when we opened the box to see a stout and perhaps the more unkind
of our staffers would say squat little Mp3 player it raised a few
eyebrows. Yes there is a 2" full colour QVGA screen that is up to
65% brighter than the old 2G unit, but this 3G Nano is a bit like
marmite, you'll love it or hate it.
Measuring 69 x 52 x 6.5mm and tipping our scales at just under 50
grams its certainly small and thin, but the looks make it seem a bit
tubby which is more to do with the large screen and the way the
familiar click wheel is shoehorned under it. The styling is
obviously iPod and quality materials and good build are Apple
hallmarks.
Inside the new 3rd generation Nano lies 4gb of flash memory which
should be good for around 1000 songs at 128kbps either in Apples own
ACC format or the more sensible MP3. You can also hold around 3500
images and up to 4hrs of video depending on the level of
compression.
We fired up our sample Nano for our first glimpse of the changes
inside and what a set of changes. The new UI is stunning, it feels a
bit mickey mouse at first compared to the old one but after a few
clicks you start to marvel at the little touches. There are previews
of cover art, images and even video while in the menus, these are
very cool our only nag is that the preview of videos is squashed and
this will annoy anyone who understands aspect ratios.
The slideshow is very cool and the viewer even allows images to
drift around slowly so you can see the whole cover if its too big to
fit in the window alongside the menu. The new search is clearly
lifted from the iPhone and is so easy to use much improved on the
previous iPods we have seen and there are hints of the iPhone
thinking throughout the new Nano.
 We
did some quick tests on audio payback and can report that the audio
quality of the new 3rd gen iPod Nano is exactly the same as the 2G,
distinctly average, nothing great but then when using 128kbps MP3's
its not the end of the world. Video quality however is worth writing
home about, the small 2" screen may only have QVGA resolution but
its is both very bright and vivid. The only issue with video is that
a 2" screen may be ok for a music video but a movie? Apple may have
to ship the Nano with eye test vouchers!
A couple of cool new features worth mentioning, first up the rather
sexy cover flow which is a nifty way of browsing your collection by
album cover. Which as the name suggests flows from one cover to the
next with a smooth animation allowing you to select at any time.
Second newbie is a game called Vortex which is like the old Ping
game in a circle with mad graphics, its weirdly addictive and also
responsible for killing our battery!
Battery life is quite good for a pod, with 24hrs audio playback and
4hrs video from a charge and charging is simple but as with all new
pods you only get a dock adaptor not the dock in the kit these days.
You do get a USB charge lead a small pouch and some earbuds in the
Apple packaging, but a dock and better quality earphones like the
Shure E2C's will bump up the price, but are worthy investments.
Priced at £99 the new Nano has taken a little slip in pricing too at
least as the 4gb version which is more than adequate when used with
iTunes to rotate your music. Available in a wide range of funky
colours or as we found the sexy silver which seems to suit the new
shape best the new 3rd gen iPod Nano is sure to be a little hit
until the new iPod touch hits the UK in later October.
Published - 16/09/2007
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