Apple iPod Nano (4GB, black)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MA107LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Thanks to its limited capacity, the gorgeous iPod Nano isn't for everybody, but it sets the standard for MP3 players to come.
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Where to buy
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as of 11/21/2008 |
CNET editors' review
Apple iPod Nano (4GB, black)
price range: $165.63
- Reviewed by: James Kim
- Edited by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 09/13/2005
- Updated on:02/07/2006
- Released on: 09/07/2005
The good: The iPod Nano has a gorgeous, superslim design with a bright, photo-friendly screen. It is easy to operate and works seamlessly with iTunes and the iTunes Music Store, which has the world's largest selection of music. It boasts a nimble processor and system performance with no skipping, thanks to flash memory.
The bad: The iPod Nano suffers from unspectacular battery life, and though the device is durable, it scratches easily; blemishes show up more drastically on the black version. The Nano is pricey in terms of gigabytes per dollar, and its 4GB maximum capacity is not a good fit for many power users. The player skips many sought-after extra features such as FM radio and A/V-out, and it doesn't work with Camera Connector. The USB power adapter ($29) is not included.
The bottom line: Thanks to its limited capacity, the gorgeous iPod Nano isn't for everybody, but it sets the standard for MP3 players to come.
User reviews
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Beautiful, but TOO DELICATE
by sbthaut on September 13, 2005
Pros: Size, Style. and 4gig Flash
Cons: Crummy Battery, The unit is completely exposed to fingerprints and scratches
Summary: I got my Nano and I love it, so long as I can admire it from afar. Why is it so difficult to come up with a design that can ...
Summary: I got my Nano and I love it, so long as I can admire it from afar. Why is it so difficult to come up with a design that can handle the minimum wear and tear I put my ipods through? The front scratches just from using the click wheel and I have only had the thing a couple of days! The back is covered in fingerprints and scratches from who knows what. I purchased this the day it hit the stores and the demo unit looked like it had been sitting there for a year. COME ON, for a company that can be so innovative and progressive, you would think that they could at least give us something that we can admire without having to buy and ugly case for. And why can Sony develop 50 hr batterys and Apple is lucky to make it past 10??? Otherwise I love the NANO.
48 out of 58 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Full, Unbiased/Fair/Honest Review of this Tiny Little Device
by gan7114 on September 12, 2005
Pros: Compact, Lightweight, Color Screen, All the Features of an iPod, Comes in Black
Cons: No More Pink, Blue, Green, or Silver Colors! No Firewire Support
Summary: Apple comes out with something new every few months, so it was natural to expect that they'd eventually overhaul the Mini in some way. Let's start out with ...
Summary: Apple comes out with something new every few months, so it was natural to expect that they'd eventually overhaul the Mini in some way. Let's start out with looks. Gone are the stylish individual colors that, in my opinion, have made the iPod Mini the most popular of the iPods to date. That was the reason for me buying my green Mini. Now, the Mini has been made to look similar to its bigger brother. You'll find that the Nano has a high gloss finish to it, and the back is now chrome. This can be either a plus or a minus depending on if you're concerned about scratches. Personally, worries about scratches were what made me buy a Mini, with its brushed metal facade. But no more. The Nano comes in either white or black. But let me tell you, go for the black Nano. Not only is it cool and stylish, you'll be sure to stand out in the crowd.
The Nano is also smaller than the Mini- a lot smaller. Indeed, the Nano is only as thick as a pencil, and it is truely dazzeling to hold it in your hand. It?s very light, very compact. The screen is 1.5 inches, which is even smaller than the Mini. I'm not sure why Apple didn't make it a bit larger, especially since there seems to be a lot of empty space between the screen and the click wheel. The Nano's height is a bit shorter than the Mini as well, so overall the size difference is astounding. There is a tiny Hold Button (same shape) on top, and the USB port and headphone jack are located on the bottom. Some people have made issues with the placement of the headphone jack on the bottom, but lets back up a minute. If you think about it, having the headphone jack on the bottom makes a lot more sense than the top. Ergonomically too. Apple will be releasing a lanyard/headphone ensemble that will go with the Nano, meaning you'll be able to wear it around your neck, ala the Shuffle. It?s very cool, and very smart too. It also means that when you have the Nano in your pants pocket listening to it, it'll be right side up (as opposed to up side down) when you take it out, holding it in your hand.
The Nano is flash-based. This means there is no hard drive. No spinning parts that can skip while running, or hiccups between songs. It?s nice stuff. Like the Shuffle, Nano sounds clear and audible, better than the Mini or iPod. The battery is, well, a lithium ion battery. Apple says 14 hours, but expect about 7-10 if you listen on loud, use the click wheel constantly, or look at pictures. That's obvious. And even though the 4 gig Nano is $249 (as opposed to the 6 gig Mini for the same price), we're talking about flash technology. That's a GOOD price people! Also consider that as of today, new flash chip technology was just annouced by Samsung, so expect 6 or 8 Gig'ers by the Holiday Season or soon after. Note also, the Nano is only ********** with USB. This means your Firewire plugs will not do a thing when connected it. A minor inconvenience for now, but I'd expect Apple to remedy this soon, so all you Firewire users can be happy. The interface is the same as the iPod, color screen, games, extras, etc. The clock setting did receive a makeover, which I think is nice. Other than that, the funtionality is all the same.
Highly Recommended. My suggestion: gawk at it for now, buy it/ask for it at Christmas, so Apple has time to refine/adjust/improve any technical issues that all new products are prone to have. A must have 4-6 months from now. Also, the Mini is being retired. You might want to keep yours for nostalgia!34 out of 43 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A FAIR REVIEW (I just bought one)
by flashbanger on September 9, 2005
Pros: Size, Audio Quality, Color Screen
Cons: Quoted battery life
Summary: This is a review from someone that has purchased the unit before rating it! This player is Very small and Very functional. Having a 4 gig flash drive is an ...
Summary: This is a review from someone that has purchased the unit before rating it! This player is Very small and Very functional. Having a 4 gig flash drive is an industry first, once again Apple has done it! It has taken awhile to warm up to Apple but I had to face the facts they are the best in form, audio quality, and user interface. The Ipod shuffle was rated as having the best audio quality out of any current audio player and now it comes with a color screen the click wheel and 4 gigs. Only downside is the quoted battery life but Apple always under rates the life of the battery. Still not perfect but by far the best out!!
30 out of 46 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Tips for avoiding iPod nano scratches
by Scenario on October 24, 2005
Pros: Nice try, Steve
Cons: Defective finish
Summary: After a week of careful/normal use of my black iPod nano, I've scientifically determined the cause of the scratches that now cover its case and screen. Avoiding the ...
Summary: After a week of careful/normal use of my black iPod nano, I've scientifically determined the cause of the scratches that now cover its case and screen. Avoiding the following common abrasives will help keep your iPod nano looking "Impossibly New" for weeks and weeks:
1. Cotton fibers. Avoid placing iPod nano inside any pocket or pouch made of cotton or fleece. Also avoid the temptation to place iPod nano face-up on a poker table to show it off. Doing so will cause the wool fibers in the felt to irritate the back of iPod nano so much that the front case and screen will develop "sympathy scratches."
2. Human skin. Avoid touching your iPod nano for any reason. Resist the temptation to feel the existing scratches on iPod nano. Doing so will only cause them to spread in a fractal pattern. This is because a human fingertip is three times more abrasive than a cotton or fleece-lined pocket. Some users have reported success having their fingerprints chemically removed before purchasing iPod nano.
3. Air. Avoid exposing your iPod nano to the dangerously vibrating molecules found in common household air. Also avoid breathing directly on iPod nano at all costs, especially after drinking. These molecules rapidly find their way into the tiny fissures formed by existing scratches and then eat away at the rest of iPod nano's thin resin coating until eventually there will be nothing left of your iPod to return to Apple.15 out of 18 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Expected soooo much....
by ezgolfer on September 25, 2005
Pros: Beautiful, small, sounds great
Cons: Horrible battery life if you use the screen at all, died after one week
Summary: As soon as I saw the anouncement, I ordered one. This is the Ipod I always wanted. However,many issues. First, although beautiful out of the box, this thing scratches ...
Summary: As soon as I saw the anouncement, I ordered one. This is the Ipod I always wanted. However,many issues. First, although beautiful out of the box, this thing scratches and smudges sooo easily. Oh well, I rationalized that I didn't buy it to look at it, but then I started to really use it. Maybe it gets decent battery life if you turn it on and listen to it for 14 hours straight, but if you turn it off and on, switch between songs, etc (ie use the screen) maybe 6 hours max!. Then it died....sooooo disappointed. All of a sudden, there was a folder with an exclaimation mark and the web address to ipod support.
Unfortunately, my son's 20 GB Ipod has been replaced twice in the last 7 months (and he babies it), so I am really wondering??!! Meanwhile, I have an original 5 GB IPOD that has been flawless except for needig to replace the battery. Go figure My guess is that this beautiful concept product was not ready for prime time.14 out of 16 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I don't get it....
by dvd_max on September 26, 2005
Pros: Flash based memory
Cons: Too many to list here, read below.
Summary: Cons:
1. Download Cost!!! From iTunes: "Choose from over 2 million songs. Buy entire albums or specific songs, just 99¢ a song or $9.99 an album." $9.99 an ...Summary: Cons:
1. Download Cost!!! From iTunes: "Choose from over 2 million songs. Buy entire albums or specific songs, just 99¢ a song or $9.99 an album." $9.99 an album???? 99¢ a song??? (Don't steal music)((Just rob the public))
Hmmm let's see. Yahoo lets you download UNLIMITED songs or albums for just $4.99 per month; But wait, the Nano is incompatible with Yahoo, and MusicMatch, and Napster, and Rhapsody, all who have unlimited download services...
2. Pictures are converted first to be displayed on the Nano. The screen is so small, a 5 MP picture looks like, well, um, why would ANYONE want to view photos on this toy? Put them on your nano, move them to another computer, and they look like $#!+. So much for a valuable feature.
3. New display made from "EZ-scratchubtainium". http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-nano-screen-complaints-abound/ "Several iLoungers report that iPodResQ has raised the price of its iPod nano LCD screen replacement service from $99 to $145. ?We are experiencing a temporary price increase on the nano LCD repair due to LCD availability and overwhelming demand,? the company states on its website.
4. Mid-fi Headphones. 50% profit margin on this player by some estimates, and headphones they supply cost them under a buck.9 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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James Kim = Apple Lapdog
by Scratch Musician on November 15, 2005
Pros: none
Cons: Will scratch to the point of uselessness if you even look at it.
Summary: What CNET refuses to tell you is that the nano (and the 5g ipod) now uses a new clear gloss coating that was not present on previous ipods. That is ...
Summary: What CNET refuses to tell you is that the nano (and the 5g ipod) now uses a new clear gloss coating that was not present on previous ipods. That is not speculation, that comes directly from apple. They added a new shiny coating now that they are producing the black version to keep the 'look' consistent. This new coating makes the new ipods laughably easy to scratch. There is no reason for this to be the case, anyone who owns other electronics should be able to tell you that its not hard to produce a shiny black plastic that doesn't scratch from contact with so much as cotton fabric. The nano gets severe scratches from such things as wiping it with a lint free cloth to get fingerprints off. And you know something? Apple HAD to know this was a problem, but decided to put these things out anyway so they could take advantage of the holiday buying season. So if you want an extremely overpriced, tiny drive device which is rendered instantly useless with even the most careful use, go ahead, give your money to a company that knowingly released a majorly defective product.
[Edited by: admin]8 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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First Ipod for me
by chihwaho on September 13, 2005
Pros: Small size, color screen, photo feature, cool factor, flash memory design.
Cons: Fingerprints marks, headphone jack location, and no FM Radio feature.
Summary: This is the first ever Apple product I purchased coz I simply couldn?t resist how cool this product look, and it didn?t disappoint me when I got my ...
Summary: This is the first ever Apple product I purchased coz I simply couldn?t resist how cool this product look, and it didn?t disappoint me when I got my hands onto to it. I previously owned a Zen Micro player and I am satisfied with it, but Ipod Nano just blew me away. I bought the 4 GB black version and it has plenty of storage for me. The color screen is very sharp, and the photo feature is excellent considering the size of the screen. It would be even better if it offered the zoom-in feature.
The downside of Ipod Nano could be the location of the headphone jack. If you have your headphone connected and at the same time Ipod Nano being connected to your PC through the USB connector cable, you have to disconnect the headphone first in-order to disconnect the USB connector cable away from the Ipod. This might be an odd occasion though. Also, after playing around with it for a few hours, I have my fingerprints all over the units. I would consider getting the Nano Tubes Accessories.
I think Ipod Nano is excellent choice for ppl don?t have a ?gigantic? song library and will be satisfy for 500 plus songs + hundreds of photos. Ipod Nano is designed for ppl who primarily use it as a portable music player (but with extra features) and not for ppl who need a portable music player as well as a giant music storage device. Personally, I would like to have the FM Radio feature, but I could careless about the lacking of voice-recording feature. Also, Ipod Nano doesn?t need a remote control because it is almost in the size of a remote control itself.
Overall, I am very satisfied about Ipod Nano and I would certainly consider other Apple products in the future.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Ipod nano is great!
by 15M15 on September 11, 2005
Pros: Everything the original ipod mini had, a color screen, and a more portable size.
Cons: Battery life could be a little longer
Summary: Why are people complaining about things such as storage? You don't need more than 4Gs of memory! Period! Most people in the first place don't have 1,000 ...
Summary: Why are people complaining about things such as storage? You don't need more than 4Gs of memory! Period! Most people in the first place don't have 1,000 songs! Even if you had 1,000 songs or more: a.your ipod doesn't even have enough battery life to play them, b.you probably only listen to about 100-200 of those songs, and c. you don't have enough time! It would take you a couple days of playing non-stop in a dock or charger to cycle through that many songs! Next time, don't ask yourself if you have enough memory but instead ask if you have enough time.
I don't see the use or want for more features on an Ipod. You have to keep in mind that you buy a music player to play music. All your really need are: a. a good screen to see what you're playing, b. a good interface with easy controls to find and set what you are goind to play, and c. good sound quality to like what you are playing. You don't need all those fancy feature such as a voice recorder, FM transmitter, or the ability to write into your music player using headphone jacks. A voice recorder in the first place can be found in cell phones but are rarely even used and all of these products more often than not produce bad sound quality.
The price. Everyone talks about the price. When people see that a price is the same but the memory is less they instantly think that it is a rip off. This is the case of the Ipod nano in replacing the Ipod mini. People must look to both sides at cases such as these. You have to first see that it is not such a rip off because if you look at the price per memory ratio of the nano you will find that it is considerably less than the ipod shuffle. You are buying the same thing in a shuffle and a nano and if you are willing to pay over 100 dollars for 1G in a shuffle why not pay less on the nano at only about 65 dollars for 1G? At another view you must see that you are actually paying for a smaller size and one that is more comfortable. A G in a micro hard drive is the same as a G in a flash card but why is the price different? Well it's all because of the size and portability you get with flash memory that makes the nano my choice for a music player.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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All teh haters...READ THIS, fair, unbiased review
by Hari Iyer on September 17, 2005
Pros: huge capacity (for its size), largest amount of memory on a flash player yet, color screen (always seemed useless to me, but people seem to like it), Dead sexy
Cons: not too many features (but cmon, thats expected in something this tiny!!) Easily scratch-able casing similar to big ipod
Summary: For all of you people biching about its "low" memory capacity, this player has a HUGE memory capacity, you guys realize no other flash player has crossed the 1.5-2 ...
Summary: For all of you people biching about its "low" memory capacity, this player has a HUGE memory capacity, you guys realize no other flash player has crossed the 1.5-2 gig barrier? this thing busted out with 4gb!!
Also, quit biching about its lack of features, you cant expect them to fit anymore stuff into such a tiny package, and honestly, how often do u use an fm tuner? (i hate radio, why listen to commercials and songs you dont even like when u can listen to your own music?)
you really cant judge this thing until you've held one, i used to think it wasnt much smaller than the mini, but the mini is gigantic compared to this thing, the pictures of the nano dont do it justice, u need to hold one.
Ive never liked ipods, i could always find something smaller, with more features, and for a better price, i always hates teh ipoder...but frankly, i cant find anything that can even compare to this player, apple, you have successfully converted me. Congradulations ipod, you came out with the first and ONLY GOOD IPOD
one major gripe, the casing:
u know how nice the ipod mini casing was? how it was so scrath and smudge resistant? why did apple not use the same casing on the nano? why did they have to use the 20gig ipod's casing on it? this thing could have been perfect, if it werent for the casing.
btw, its not overpriced, flash memory isnt cheap compared to hard drive.5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MA107LL/A
- Description: Take everything you love about iPod and shrink it. Now shrink it again. The pencil-thin iPod nano packs the entire iPod experience into an impossibly small design. So small, it will take your music places you never dreamed of. Call it astonishing. Unbelievable. Impossible, even. Then pick it up and hold it in your hand. Take in the brilliant color display. Run your thumb around the Click Wheel. Put on the earbuds and turn up your music. That's when everything becomes clear: It's an iPod. It holds up to three days' worth of music. It plays for up to 14 hours between battery charges. It displays the color album art for the song you're listening to right now. It carries your photos, podcasts and audiobooks. It syncs seamlessly with iTunes. It connects to a host of iPod accessories. Simply put, iPod nano is 100-percent iPod. iPod nano's Click Wheel puts music under your thumb. Click to fast-forward, rewind, play, pause or access menus. Use the touch-sensitive surface to control volume or browse music. You can do it all without looking. But with an iPod this beautiful, who'd want to? Now that you can take your music everywhere, there's no limit to where it will take you.
General
- Width 1.6 in
- Depth 0.3 in
- Product type Flash player
- Height 3.5 in
- PC interface(s) supported USB
- Weight 1.5 oz
- Color Black
- Available body colors Black
- Flash memory installed 4 GB Integrated
- Digital storage None
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 1.6 in x 0.3 in x 3.5 in
- Included accessories Docking station adapter
- Packaged quantity 1
- Software type Apple iTunes for Mac, Apple iTunes for Windows
- iPod Generation 1G
- Digital storage media type None
Digital Player / Recorder
- Digital player supported digital audio standards WAV, AIFF, Audible, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless
- Digital player response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Digital player playback modes Repeat all, One track repeat, Random play / shuffle
- Digital player edit functions Erase
- Digital player supported bit rate 16 - 320
- Digital player ID3 tags support Yes
- External hard drive function Yes
- Digital player additional features Variable bit-rate compatible
Carrying Case
- Case type None
Video Playback Features
- Still image format JPEG|BMP|GIF|TIFF|PSD|PNG
- PIM features Yes
Battery
- Required Qty 1
- Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
- Battery Enclosure Type Integrated
- Technology Lithium ion
- Recharge Time 3 hour(s)
- Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
- Mfr estimated battery life 14 hour(s)
- Battery Life Details Digital playback 14 hour(s), Slideshows with music 4 hour(s)
Audio System
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Additional features USB 2.0 compatibility, Upgradeable firmware, Date display
Cable(s) / Peripheral(s)
- Cable(s) included USB cable - External, 1 x
System Requirements
- Peripheral / Interface devices USB port, Docking
- Min Operating system Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later, Apple MacOS X 10.3.4 or later
Connections
- Connector type 1 x Docking station, 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display LCD
- Diagonal size 1.5 in
- Resolution 176 x 132
- Backlight display Yes
- Display illumination color White, Blue
- Display menu language Hungarian, Norwegian, Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Greek, French, German, Polish, Finnish, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Czech, Dutch, Korean, English, Portuguese, Chinese (traditional), Turkish, Russian, Japanese
Power
- Power Supply / Device None
Audio Features
- Amplifier response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Timer Sleep, Wake
- Built-in clock Digital clock, Timer
CD System
- Playback modes Shuffle play, Program play, Repeat one/all
- Digital audio standards supported WAV, MP3 VBR, AIFF, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless
Equalizer
- Equalizer type Built-in
- Equalizer factory preset qty 20
- Equalizer factory presets Classical, POP, Normal, Jazz, Rock
Remote Control
- Remote control None