Characteristics of i- Pod

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I-Pod Characteristics

The big news: No, the iPod mini hasn't made its triumphant comeback, but it's easy to see the mini's influence over the second-generation nano's new look. Gone is the high-gloss case of the previous iPod nano; this model comes in an anodized aluminum body (all the better for resisting the sorts of scratches the glossier nano was prone to picking up). Not only that, these nanos come in different colors—blue, pink, green, silver, and black. That's virtually identical to the rainbow of iPod mini models available back when that music player debuted in 2004. (Only the gold option is missing in action.) Another key difference from the mini's color selection is that, with the nano, certain colors are only available in certain capacities. The 2GB nano only comes in silver, the 4GB model comes in silver , green , blue , and pink , and the 8GB offering is only available in black.

Capacity changes: The original nano came in 2GB and 4GB sizes; a 1GB model was added earlier this year. Now, the smallest nano you can get is a 2GB version. The second-generation version also comes in 4GB and 8GB sizes.

Pricing: The range of iPod nano prices remain unchanged: $149 for the 2GB model, $199 for 4GB, and $249 for the 8GB offering. But since capacities have grown, as noted above, you're actually getting twice as much storage space for your buck.

New features: Many of the new features added to the full-sized iPod have also been incorporated into the nano line—specifically, Quick Scroll, search, and gapless playback. As with the new iPod, the nano comes with a brighter screen—40 percent brighter, according to Apple—but you can't adjust the brightness level. Battery life has also been improved, from 14 hours of music playback to up to 24 hours. The nanos also pick up a capability that's been present in full-sized iPods for a while: the ability to record voice memos with a compatible accessory. Speaking of accessories...

Accessories: Included add-ons remain the same as before—earphones, a USB cable, and dock adapter—though the included earphones are the redesigned ones that Apple also ships with the new iPods. It's worth noting that the headphone port is farther away from the dock connector than it was on the original nanos, making first-generation accessories that plug into both connectors incompatible with the new model.

What's the same: Technically, the dimensions of the nano have changed—the device is now 0.26 inches thick instead of 0.27 inches. But if you're able to detect a difference, your sensory powers are far greater than ours. And, of course, the overall shape and finish have changed. But everything else remains nearly identical to the original, including the bottom-mounted headphone port, top-mounted Hold switch, and USB-only syncing.


"The second-generation iPod nano is both a welcome step back to the more colorful (and scratch-resistant) days of the iPod mini and a moderate step forward in functionality."