High-quality unboxing photos of Apple's new iPod "tubby" nano

[AppleInsider]

Although not expected until later this weekend, the first shipments of Apple's new iPod "tubby" nano -- aka iPod "fatboy", iPod "phatty", iPod "bilbo", iPod "stubby", and iPod "biggie smalls" -- began cropping up at the company's retail stores Thursday afternoon.

Having a large stash of previous-generation iPods in either white, grey or black, we initially intended to pick up a red iPod "tubby" nano to mix things up a bit. That was, of course, before we found out that the red model is anything but red. In person, it looks more like a sparkly magenta-cranberry, or something you might come across in a lip-gloss aisle.

The black and grey models aside, the remainder of the new nano line appears best suited for party favors at a baby shower, or even a spring line of bonnets at your local Baby Gap. So if you're a dude, you may best want to shy away from those. Even the black, however, is not really black. It's more of a deep charcoal when compared to last year's model.

Nevertheless, we must admit that the players are somewhat more aesthetically pleasing in person than they appear in Apple's marketing material. They'd be even more appealing had they come wrapped entirely in brushed aluminum, rather than sport the old-school, mirror-like backside. (Within five minutes, several scratches appeared on the back of our nano and we hadn't even switched the darn thing on.)

Included with each of the new video-capable players is a Quick Start guide, dock adapter, USB charging cord, and a pair of second-generation iPod earbuds. Yeah -- Apple's still skimping on the ear pads, which couldn't cost more than a dime a dozen. You'll have to fetch those on your own.

We'll have a full-blown review for you shortly. In the meantime, enjoy the close-ups.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[JeffDM]

I think that's pretty nice. I'm not so hot with the hold switch location, I hope that works out, it would seem that it would be harder to set. I've never had problems with the hold switch previous models accidentally getting switched on or off. That said, I don't think I really needed it before the nano, it's too easy to accidentally dial the volume, even through clothing. Oh well. I'm more than happy with my current nano, if I accidentally kill it, I'll consider this as its replacement.

[MsNly]

i liked the fact there was a zune ad in the middle

its not as ugly as i originally thought

[shanmugam]

it looks Gorgeous!

they should have switched on and put side by side with 2G iPod Nano and iPod that makes lots of sense, AI can do that?

[Wally]

Is that an arm hair I see next to the click wheel? I hope it's an arm hair...

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by shanmugam

it looks Gorgeous!

they should have switched on and put side by side with 2G iPod Nano and iPod that makes lots of sense, AI can do that?

I take back my comment about it being fugly.

[Joseph_xxl]

Sweet

[XPDude]

Does that look like a recessed headphone jack?! Oh no, please tell me it's not.

[vinney57]

Originally Posted by XPDude

Does that look like a recessed headphone jack?! Oh no, please tell me it's not.

Oh don't panic. Its not.

[vinney57]

I'm starting to really really like 'Fatboy Slim'. Watching video on that is really quite an awesome thought. That's the wifes birthday present sorted. (I'm a man therfore I need the full 160GB baby)

[ALPICH]

Originally Posted by XPDude

Does that look like a recessed headphone jack?! Oh no, please tell me it's not.

Yep one more recessive Apple product. I am predicting that the screen will soon be recessed and we will all need to buy special glasses to use them because our eyes will be considered outdated.

Seriously I actually like the look of the iTubby. It matches my body shape.

[poppymango]

OK so let's just look at how healthy he looks -- forget the ultra-thin (anorectic?) previous model.

[ALPICH]

Originally Posted by vinney57

I'm starting to really really like 'Fatboy Slim'. Watching video on that is really quite an awesome thought. That's the wifes birthday present sorted. (I'm a man therfore I need the full 160GB baby)

You NEED a 160 baby? Come on. No one needs any of this stuff. Its all just great fun to have. I was speaking to a checkout person yesterday and she realised I owned an iPod nano and she said do you have Mac computers. I said yes. She said "Addictive isn't it. I so want a new iMac". I said I think they look wrong... but I want want too. I am so addicted that I have even purchased Apple gear on credit. So don't get me wrong about wanting this stuff. I am just not delusional enough to think I NEED to have an iPod with 160Gb.... but I am working up to it.

[Bacillus]

I still think the 2G is the superior design. The long seam where the front shell and the "scratch me to hell" back meet is worse then the small seam on the caps of the 2G nano.

[Zandros]

I think the centre button of the click wheel is a bit too big in proportion to the diameter of the rest of the click wheel, and the circle hold button isn't something I'm fond of either, but otherwise no complaints.

/Adrian

[Ireland]

Scratchy scratchy!

[astrosmash]

I can't believe the nano has a larger screen than my 4G iPod. The thing looks delicious, too.

[satchmo]

Originally Posted by Wally

Is that an arm hair I see next to the click wheel? I hope it's an arm hair...

Nasty!

[Bageljoey]

I just hope Apple has learned their lesson.
If they EVER drop the price on this I will start a whine campaign until I get my credit...

[theapplegenius]

Is the back still stainless steel?

[mania]

Ye shall call it the fatboy nano and none other henceforth!

[teedoff087]

Originally Posted by theapplegenius

Is the back still stainless steel?

I sure as hell hope not. That's the worst idea Apple has ever come up with. Scratches and smears galore...

[trevorlsciact]

I like the OS X reminiscent welcome message in the choose the language screen.

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by teedoff087

I sure as hell hope not. That's the worst idea Apple has ever come up with. Scratches and smears galore...

It is, and it scratches like crazy. The "red" nano was also a real disappointment. I don't see how they can call it a product (RED) nano. It's just NOT red.

Best,

K

[mcw120]

I was in the mall tonight and stopped by the Apple store. The Nano was not on display, but I went to the register and saw someone buying the Red one. It did not look very "red" but it looked TINY.

I asked if they had a black one, and I bought it for my wife. We have been playing with it for a couple of hours, and I think Apple has a big hit on their hands. It feels much smaller than the old Nano, and the screen is fantastic. I would have preferred no chrome on the back as it scratches easily, but it is a great iPod, and they will sell a ton of them.

Like the original Nano, you really have to hold it to feel just how tiny it is.

[iDave]

Originally Posted by mcw120

I would have preferred no chrome on the back as it scratches easily, but it is a great iPod, and they will sell a ton of them.

I might just use a little steel wool or sandpaper on it and take care of that problem right off the bat. I've used sleeves for my older bigger iPods but this nano seems too small for any kind of sleeve or case.

[donlphi]

I think I'm going to buy one of these with my $200 gift certificate I'm getting from Apple for my 2 iPhone purchases.

Stubby, Fat, Pleasantly Plump, or whatever you want to call it, I think it looks great. Well done Apple.

[michaelb]

Originally Posted by iDave

I might just use a little steel wool or sandpaper on it and take care of that problem right off the bat.

No, that will scratch it more.

The correct way of descratching iPods is to use Brasso, a microfibre cloth, and some elbow grease.

http://todd.dailey.info/archives/200...can-of-brasso/

(Brasso is suitable for the plastic shell, the screen and the stainless steel backplate.)

[michaelb]

Does anyone know if 1st or 2nd generation (they are different) "lanyard" headphones will fit into this 3rd generation nano?

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...ind=MA360G%2FB

The Apple accessories page doesn't list 3rd gen compatibility, but it may not have been updated yet.

I have a sneaking suspicion it will need yet another generation lanyard connector. And I don't even think the 2nd gen got in-ear buds. Sigh.

[iDave]

Originally Posted by michaelb

No, that will scratch it more.

The correct way of descratching iPods is to use Brasso, a microfibre cloth, and some elbow grease.

No, I mean I'll take fine sandpaper to it and just totally scratch it, making my own brushed-metal. Then you'll never see any accidental scratches or fingerprints. Thanks for the tips though.

[Titan10]

Originally Posted by theapplegenius

Is the back still stainless steel?

The only color good for the FatPod is… BROWN !

[Rev. Andy]

Does it really reserve the right hand side of the screen for 'album art'? As someone with absolutely no interest in filling up the storage with unwanted graphics I was hoping this could be turned off and the whole screen used for the menu system.

[iconsumer]

8gb damn, i have 17gb of music,
and the itouch with only 16 gb double damn.
nothing here for me this year , maybe next memory upgrade?

[palegolas]

It looks nice, but what's up with the asymetric black borders around the screen? Fatter border on the sides than on the top/bottom of the screen. It kind of makes it look like a design flaw.

Btw, is it possible to define my own EQ on the new iPod OS? The presets are mostly unusable.

[alek_2]

Right now the best value of all iPods is iPhone ! Fatso with video, classic with 160 gb, touch stripped of camera - boils down to who the F cares; Apparently the battle is on the cellphone market and that is where the value is right now. iPods are still phenomenal products but again we're all now on the wrong side of ipod monopoly equation...

[minderbinder]

Looks great in context, I think there will be tons of people who flipflop on the "fugly" thing. I guess we've all forgotten that initally there was a similar "fugly" complaint when the video ipods first shipped that went away when people first saw the units.

Thanks for the pix, it's great to see the 2 and 3 nanos side by side. It's funny, looking at the two together, the fatty looks right to me while the previous one looks way too skinny and out of proportion. I think a lot of it is just a matter of getting used to a particular design and being resistant to change.

How about a pic of the nanos together with the screens on? I'd love to see the comparison of the two screen sizes and how the new interface compares. That's what's really going to make these fly off the shelves and make people forget about the old ones.

And do these new ones seem like they'd need a case? I don't care about scratching the back, but I'd like to keep the screen pretty pristine.

[alienzed]

The true American iPod. How does it feel though?

[britwithgoodteeth]

Originally Posted by Bageljoey

I just hope Apple has learned their lesson.
If they EVER drop the price on this I will start a whine campaign until I get my credit...

The "whiners" have stopped.

Why haven't you?

[SactoMan01]

Originally Posted by mcw120

I was in the mall tonight and stopped by the Apple store. The Nano was not on display, but I went to the register and saw someone buying the Red one. It did not look very "red" but it looked TINY.

I asked if they had a black one, and I bought it for my wife. We have been playing with it for a couple of hours, and I think Apple has a big hit on their hands. It feels much smaller than the old Nano, and the screen is fantastic. I would have preferred no chrome on the back as it scratches easily, but it is a great iPod, and they will sell a ton of them.

Like the original Nano, you really have to hold it to feel just how tiny it is.

I'm using the new one right now (blue case 8 GB) and it's an amazing little unit. The sound quality is surprisingly quite good, and video quality is quite good, too (I downloaded a DL.TV episode and it displayed quite clearly). Mind you, I hope that Belkin, DLO, Speck, etc. have their 3G nano cases available soon because it appears the case smudges easily and I do have concern about the chrome back scratching easily, too.

I do agree that the unit looks much handier than what you see on Apple's web site. It comfortably fits into your hand, and Apple compensated for the increased width by lowering the height of the player.

One downside, though: the new nano won't charge its batteries through the Cyber Acoustics CA-451 iPod dock/speaker that I used to charge my old 2G nano. Hopefully, Apple will issue a firmware fix to correct this issue.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Rev. Andy

Does it really reserve the right hand side of the screen for 'album art'? As someone with absolutely no interest in filling up the storage with unwanted graphics I was hoping this could be turned off and the whole screen used for the menu system.

In my experience, the album art takes a negligible amount of space. If you added the album art yourself, it might be embedded into the music file anyway.