Development work on the new iPod nano design began just nine months before the launch date. iPod nano has more flash memory storage than is used in iPod shuffle and has a miniature version of the color screen and Click Wheel found on full-size iPods. The screen also has a higher resolution than the old grayscale iPod, allowing for one more line of text than the mini’s screen. The battery and other internal parts were also reduced in size. The click wheel surface is slightly roughened, allowing for more tactile feedback for out-of-sight operations.

Overview

Size comparison of iPod nano and standard size mouse (grams). The stated battery life is 14 hours. The display is 176 x 132 pixels, 1.5 inches (38 mm) diagonal, and can display 65,536 colors (16-bit color).

iPod nano works with iTunes on Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows (third-party software is available for platforms not supported by Apple). It connects via the same proprietary dock connector as iPod 3rd generation, iPod 4th generation, and iPod mini, using a USB 2.0 port on the user’s computer. Although it uses the same connection as the Apple iPod FireWire cable and can charge its battery over FireWire, iPod nano does not support syncing over a FireWire connection. iPod nano includes a stopwatch and a multi-time zone clock feature. There is also a combination lock feature that uses the Click Wheel to lock the iPod and protects the user’s calendar and contact information. It was also the first iPod to include a new lyrics display, editable with iTunes.

The nano launched in two colors (black or white) with two sizes available: 2 GB (approximately 500 songs) for $199 USD and 4 GB (1,000 songs) for $249 USD. On February 7, 2006, Apple updated the line with the 1 GB (240 songs) model selling for $149. Apple also released a few accessories, including silicone “tubes” and bracelets designed to color the nano and protect it from scratches, as well as a cord-and-earpiece combo accessory that hangs around the neck and prevents the problem of tangles.

iPod nano uses flash memory instead of a hard drive. As a result, it has no moving parts, making it immune to skips and much more durable than disc-based players. The downside is that, as with all flash memory, it has a finite number of read/write cycles. Tests by technology enthusiast website Ars Technica have shown that even after being hit twice by a car, the unit’s screen was damaged but it was still able to play music. The unit eventually stopped playing music after being launched 40 feet into the air.

Although the iPod nano costs more than the range of iPod minis it replaced, it should be noted that the iPod nano is exactly the same price as the iPod mini (2+4 GB) when it was first released in 2004. Unlike the iPod above, Apple does not offer an optional FireWire cable for iPod nano (or fifth-generation iPod). The lack of the remote connector found on the top of the iPod mini and iPod generations 3 and 4 meant that a number of third-party accessories won’t work with the iPod nano. However, from the removal of the remote connector from the main line of iPods to the change to the Universal Dock connector, manufacturers have been forced to develop alternatives to accessories that used it. The nano also lacks the TV-out and voice-recording options of larger iPods. Apple has also said that, unlike other iPods capable of storing photos, the iPod nano will not work with Apple’s iPod camera connector or any other manufacturers’ camera connectors.

Nike+iPod, released on May 23, 2006, is one of many accessories designed specifically for iPod nano. The benefits of Nike+iPod are to sync information, including distance traveled, running pace or calories burned, with the Nike+ website.

electronics

iPod nano uses general-purpose integrated circuits (ICs) instead of smaller, lower-cost custom-developed chips, possibly to reduce time to market. This design, however, increases the number of electronic components and increases cost. Japanese engineers estimated the component cost of the 2GB nano to be between 22,000 and 27,000 JPY, which is high compared to the retail price of 21,800 JPY. The cost of 2GB NAND flash memory is about JPY14000. Apple opted for the higher cost 0603 (0.6 x 0.3mm) components, the latest surface mount technology, instead of the cheaper but larger 1005 (1.0 x 0.5mm) components. In fact, there is space available on the motherboard.

consumer reactions

iPod nano Initial consumer response to the iPod nano was overwhelmingly positive, and sales were strong.

Apple’s launch of the iPod nano as a replacement for the iPod mini is seen by many as a risky move. The mini was not only Apple’s most popular MP3 player, it remained the world’s best-selling player until the end of its lifespan; and sales of the mini didn’t seem to be slowing down. Steve Jobs has argued that the iPod nano is a necessary risk as competitors are starting to catch up with the iPod mini in terms of design and features, and he believes that the iPod nano will prove even more popular and successful than the iPod mini. Analysts see this as part of Apple’s corporate culture, which relies heavily on innovation to continue to attract consumers.

Within days of the nano’s release, some users reported damage to the nano, suggesting that the LCD screen had become so scratched that it was unreadable, even when the backlight was on. Many have reported fine scratches on their nano caused by microfiber cloths. Other owners have reported that their nano’s screen cracked without provocation. On September 27, Apple confirmed a small percentage (“less than 1/10 of 1 percent”) of iPod nanos shipped with a defective screen, and agreed to replace any nano with a broken screen. , but denied that the iPod nano was more susceptible to scratches than previous iPods. Apple started selling iPod nano with a protective case to protect them from scratches. In October 2005, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple, with the plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for the device, legal fees, and “unlawful or unlawful profits” from sales of the iPod nano. Plaintiffs’ attorneys say the devices “scratch excessively during normal use, rendering the nanos’ display unreadable and violating state consumer protection statutes.” They have criticized the demands. Hesseldahl dismissed them as “stupid” and suggested they benefited “nobody but trial lawyers,” but also suggested Apple could have avoided litigation by offering “full refunds for unwanted nanos” instead of charging a restocking fee. and lengthen the time. return period from 14 (if purchased online) or 10 (if purchased at retail) to 30 or 60 days.