On this age of transportable music, the iPod has downloaded itself into the public consciousness where it won’t be leaving any time soon. Not that we mind. Despite a big pool of reputable competitors, for example Sony and Dell, who manufacture their own slick mp3 gizmos, the iPod is still probably the most common and best-selling of the bunch. Just think of buying an mp3 player, and I bet your knee-jerk reaction will at least be to consider, if not choose, the iPod.
When Apple Computers’ CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPod Nano in San Francisco’s Moscone Center, it instantly became known as the smallest member of the display-bearing iPod family members line and successor to the iPod mini (the updated version of which was released a mere 7 months prior to the Nano). Compatible with both Mac and Windows-based computers, the iPod Nano comes in two colors, white and black. You also have your choice of a 2GB version ($199) or a 4GB version ($249), which is a bit steep given the fact that the iPod mini held the same price tag for the 4GB and 6GB models, respectively. The iPod Nano’s storage drive is flashed-based, which indicates no moving parts inside (decreased wear-and-tear and breakage possible), higher durability, and no sound skips although jogging, biking, or stumbling house after happy hour. Given the increasing capacities and capabilities of flash drives, I wouldn’t be surprised if some day Apple starts implementing this technologies into much more of its main items. But that’s for yet another write-up.
The first factor one is likely to notice is that the Nano, as its name implies, is tiny. You have to truly hold 1 to see just how astonishingly small this device is, and my very first thought was that the small pocket of my jeans may now lastly serve a greater purpose. The Nano measures three.5″ long, 1.6″ wide (smaller surface region than a credit card), and just .27″ thick (thinner than a AAA battery). Sleek and serene, the Nano is characterized by the simple elegance familiar to Apple fans. Yes, it undoubtedly is a gorgeous-looking small machine due in no little component to the shiny, thin layer of acrylic applied to its surface. But the downside to the finish is its susceptibility to scratching and/or fingerprints (specifically on the black version of the Nano). Weighing in at only 1.5 ounces you could conceivably move the Nano across a flat surface by sneezing on it, although I do not suggested this for health reasons.
The principal attributes: Like all other iPods, the Nano is primarily developed to play digitized music for example mp3 files. And like its relatives, the Nano excels when performing what it does finest. According to my study, the Nano uses the very same sound chip as the Mini, and as mentioned before, overall high quality is superb. The included earbuds do a decent job delivering the sound, although I would prefer higher-end headphones to take full advantage of the audio experience. Fiddling with the included equalizer settings also seems to make noticeable sound adjustments, so fickle sound connoisseurs may possibly have some thing to smile at here.
Owners of previous iPods shouldn’t have a dilemma navigating the interface, as selecting songs, play-lists, as well as the like using the touch-sensitive click-wheel is still as user-friendly as ever (but I hate leaving behind those darn fingerprints!). Setting up and connecting to iTunes on both Mac and Windows machines was smooth and straightforward too. Based on details obtainable at Apple’s website, the 2GB iPod Nano holds 500 songs while the 4GB version stores about 1,000, assuming that the average song is four minutes long and compressed at 128 kbps making use of AAC encoding. And like the larger iPods, the Nano recognizes songs encoded inside the following formats: mp3, AAC (and protected AAC format from the iTunes Music Store), AIFF, and WAV.
Unlike the iPod mini, nevertheless, the Nano sports a color display in addition to the very same photo capabilities as the top-of-the-line iPod Photo. This might have been a “just because we can” idea cooked up by the engineers over in Cupertino, as I received some strange looks whilst sharing my most recent photos on a screen that is barely the size of a postage stamp. But I admit it is a fun feature to be included on such a tiny device. Total with the usual organization alternatives, you might be able to produce slideshows (with music and transition effects) and categorize your pictures any way you would like. The Nano recognizes images inside the following formats: JPEG, GIF, PSD (Mac only), TIFF, BMP, and PNG. I’ll take this time to note that the camera connector for the iPod Photo, used for transferring pictures directly from a digital still camera to the iPod Photo, won’t work with the iPod Nano. Also, other existing third party devices like voice recorders and FM transmitters aren’t presently compatible with the Nano.
You will find also functions that exist exclusively on the iPod Nano, for example the World Clock function, which permits you to see the local time anywhere inside the world. Once you choose a region (or major international city), a clock will appear on the display. The clock graphic will darken or lighten depending on what time of day it is at the other region, which is handy for frequent travelers. Feel like prank calling your pals in Egypt at 3AM local time? The iPod Nano can assist! (Of course, I don’t condone this sort of behavior- use this feature to make sure you don’t accidentally call your friends in Egypt at 3AM).
Other Nano-exclusive attributes consist of a screen lock and stopwatch. The screen lock allows you to develop a 4-digit combination to prevent others from going by means of your music and photos. This would appear like an efficient approach of deterring would-be thieves (or nosy exes), but since I already have so many passwords and codes in my life to keep in mind I can do without having it. Besides, such a pricey gadget like the Nano ought to be kept in a safe place anyway. The stopwatch feature is fairly neat, and permits you to record your finest lap times or to maintain track of how lengthy tech support puts you on hold.
Battery life: The iPod Nano claims 14 hours of music playback, though battery consumption increases when using the photo slideshow functions with music playing in the background. Charging via the included USB 2.0 cable, which connects to the dock connector on its underside, it takes the Nano about an hour and a half to reach 80% capacity, and 3 hours to achieve a full charge. At present, the iPod Nano is not firewire capable. In my research I’ve also learned that the Nano’s battery appears to be permanently soldered into the unit, which leads me to question the feasibility (or even possibility) of future battery replacement. Info regarding this can be updated as it’s found.
Included items: – USB 2.0 cable (backwards compatible with USB 1.1). This connects via the dock connector underneath the Nano. NOTE: Don’t confuse the dock connector with the dock itself. The iPod Nano dock is an accessory that costs an extra $29. Over USB 2.0, the Nano transfers music at about 5 mb per second.
- iTunes software (Mac & PC)
- Earbud headpones: They’re white, (even for the black iPod Nano).
PROS: Great sound high quality, effortless to make use of, beautifully stylish, incredibly lightweight, portable, and durable. Nice color display, handy extras for example photo viewing and international clocks. Flash memory design prevents skipping, integrates simply with iTunes. Mac and Windows compatible.
CONS: High price for comparatively small drive space (compared to other iPod models), lack of much more advanced iPod features/support, no present firewire capability, surface smudges and scratches easily if not protected.
OVERALL: In spite of the relatively hefty cost tag for its storage capacity, the new iPod Nano by Apple is definitely a cool device for most gotta-have-it gadget-philes and for those who just want a reliable, easy-to-use top quality mp3 player. If you want to play your favorite songs although relaxing or running, the Nano and its few additional functions will make you pleased. People who are huge on a lot more complex functions may be disappointed with the present lack of attributes accessible (no support for FM transmitter, camera connector, firewire, etc.). But its ease-of-use, intuitive interface, style, and top quality make this a really challenging gizmo to resist.
4 stars out of 5
Finding the best information about most freebies can be overwhelming at times. One of the best places we found online to get the straight facts is get a get a free Xbox
Online Games apple, computers, freebies, gadgets, gift, internet, itunes, online games