Review: iPod nano (2012) - Page 2

 

Pretty sure you don't get AM because of how big the antenna would be, plus the fact that AM tends to be especially directional.  It's hard to get Apple-quality AM into something that small.  Even a dedicated portable radio often has trouble.  I feel your pain, though.  I'm going to an NFL game tomorrow, and would like to listen to the live radio broadcast on, you guessed it, AM.

 

The nano is a great pure iPod.  I enjoy having one for the car for podcasting and audiobooks.  I've had all but the 2nd and 4th gen nano, and I've got to say that this new design is pretty good.  I'm not sure you can beat the 5th gen.  The 5th gen had physical controls (you pause a lot while driving, and no look pausing is *very* important), camera, even decent games -- with the accelerometer or whatever it is, they had a neat ball tilting game that, though it ate battery like mad, was lots of fun.  That version of the nano has yet to be beat.

 

But this comes close to matching the 5th gen.  Has video and a dedicated pause button, so great pure iPod audio and video.  If I needed bluetooth, it'd be an improvement, obviously.  Otherwise, still a step backwards from the 5th gen for now, but if you can later sync/shop via bluetooth or they add WiFi, it'll finally start going places.

 

And for the guy suggesting a Zune...  Why not get a used 5th gen nano?  Sheesh.  ;)

 

I agree. I almost bought one last year to use as a watch, because I thought that some of the new watch faces looked cool and many armbands were available for it, but after some quick research, I found out that you couldn't actually have the screen on most of the time, so what's the point then? If I was going to buy an iPod nano to use as a watch, you'd better damn believe that I MUST have the display on all of the time whenever I would be wearing it.

 

I ended up just buying a regular watch.

Edited by Apple ][ - 10/14/12 at 12:03am

I'm the same way- except I already had watches. Really, there was no advantage at all- pure gimmick.

That being said- the day they have more capabilities- where the watch basically becomes a 2nd notification screen, and also gives the ability to have phone call options "remind me later and reply with a text"- then ill buy one immediately. That's my dream nano- saves you from pulling your phone out of your pocket Everytime is vibrates.

The trick is- battery life. Until they get an advanced kinetic charging system like other watches just on a much larger scale- it's pointless. It really only needs to last 20 hours or so- you can take it off and charge it at night, and during the day the kinetic just helps it stay charged longer.


I'm not an engineer- that's apples job. I'm sure once the technology is there, it's affordable to be profitable, and apple feels its marketable- They'll do it. Me- I can just hope.

where is says "insanely precision engineering" it should instead say, "insanely *precise* engineering."

/nazi

Loved the clip in the back when I ran. Now I'll have to buy a case again.

The (design of the) new iPod touch is brilliant.

 

The iPhone looks like a tool.

 

The iPod Lumia looks like a rip off. Both the interface & the hardware look uninspired. Good enough for Nokia, but below the Apple Design standard. Jony Ive can do better. Let's forget this version of the nano.

 

Under what definition?

 

That's because you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

Compare the iPhone 5 to the new iPod Touch. It's tool (read: no magic crossover between the visual arts & technology) versus lifestyle. The Touch looks very inviting with rounded edges, like the original iPhone.

 

The nano is a different story. It looks like it has been designed by Apple's marketing department: "… youngsters, kids blablabla [spreadsheet] … colors blablabla [trendbook] … Nokia blablabla, et cetera et cetera." I am surprised they didn't rebrand the name to iPod Lumia?

 

And what would this mean to you? What would the iPhone have to do to fit this bill?

 

Go back and look at the timeline. Apple had these designs in 2006. Released that design in 2007. And then Nokia came in. And now Apple's just doing what they've always been doing.

Only problem about making the watch nano the new shuffle would be price. I don't think you could make a profit if you sold the watch nano at shuffle prices.

I agree the watch nano should be the new shuffle, but it needs more tactile buttons for eyes-free playback, the current nano included. Most people who use the shuffle need it for working out or some task that doesn't allow the user to look at a screen. They basically need forward, back and volume controls.

I think the new nano is in the same boat, but is that kind of device that is a bridge between the classic and the shuffle. It still makes a great workout/car audio device, but also has the advantage of a larger screen. I think apple will prolly add a camera in the next iteration, hope it does still photos too.

My only real issue with the current nano is the lack of more tactile buttons. People have mentioned the click wheel, but I disagree, I think the only great thing about the click wheel was the scroll feature. But if you have a touch screen for scroll there's no need for a click wheel. However you could add a more secondary directional wheel...like the current Apple TV remote or the current shuffle for the current nano...I believe it might be a better pairing of functionality with eyes-free and touchscreen. THis might be more advantageous over a wider range of users without much redundancy. The touch screen for scroll and selection, but the directional button and center home button for quick, on-the-go navigation.

Personally that could also work for the iPod classic as well, should they ever update it. For something hat needs to sometimes be eyes free but also be useful as a touchscreen device, I think this proposed change to the nano and possibly a new classic would be a ver welcomed update and hit a broader range of users.
Edited by antkm1 - 10/15/12 at 7:17pm

Might be a testament to how much publicity the Lumia has gained, and the forgetfulness of people to Apple's previous iterations of the Nano...Probably because the Nano has gone through so many design it's easy to forget one existed.  I forgot the eliptical one had two iterations myself until I saw this article.

It's not the body, but the white face I am talking about. It's a blatant copy from Nokia's Lumia.

Bull. The white face is a continuation of the original iPod design, the design that started it all. I had a 5GB original iPod, and I have a 7th generation Nano, and it's clear where the design inspiration came from.

Now go away back to Looney Lumia Land.

I felt Nokia mostly took design elements from various nano generations.

The current nano face looks like a combination of a stretched 6th generation with Apple's home button added.

 

Except no. We've been over this.

Now I have the "Merrie Melodies" tune in my head. Great.