iPod classic, 3rd Gen iPod nano Review Roundup

MacRumors · Sep 16, 2007

Reviews are emerging for Apple's newly released 3rd generation iPod nano and iPod classic.

iPod nano
Reviewers seem to be generally impressed with Apple's new nano. The update provided popular features such as video and games to the nano but keeps reasonable price points. Playlist and CNet didn't seem to mind the smallish 2" screen for watching video, however iLounge notes that the even the largest capacity offered (8 GB) doesn't do much for video storage. All 3 reviews were once again impressed that Apple is under-estimating battery life.

For more, read the sites' in-depth reviews:
- iLounge Review
- CNet Review
- Playlist Review

iPod classic
Reviews for the latest revision in the standard iPod line, now "iPod classic", were mixed. Perhaps the most critical review was that of Playlist, which noted a "sluggish interface" and "unresponsive controls" when album artwork was synched. All 3 reviews noted that previous 5th generation iPod games are incompatible with the iPod classic as are some iPod accessories, namely video-out accessories. While Apple has chosen to provide higher-resolution component video out, it has rendered previous video output accessories useless with this iPod.

This is not to say that all is dim with the classic. iLounge notes that the games offered for the classic are of better quality, and the increased storage sizes are industry-leading. Also, Apple is once again conservative on its battery life numbers (Playlist got 11 more hours of audio playback than Apple had promised).

For more, read the sites' in-depth reviews:
- iLounge Review
- CNet Review
- Playlist Review

Article Link

twoodcc · Sep 16, 2007

well i ended up getting a black nano last night, even though i really didn't need it. i used my $100 iphone credit.

so far so good. i think both the classic and nano are a good step forward for the ipods....apple has done it again :apple:

F.D. · Sep 16, 2007

twoodcc said:
well i ended up getting a black nano last night, even though i really didn't need it. i used my $100 iphone credit.

so far so good. i think both the classic and nano are a good step forward for the ipods....apple has done it again

Is it as ugly in the flesh as it looks in the pics?

Sayer · Sep 16, 2007

There is already an update for the iPod Classic to address the sluggishness of the UI/Coverflow.

Another case of ship now, fix later.

TheSpecialist · Sep 16, 2007

Sayer said:
There is already an update for the iPod Classic to address the sluggishness of the UI/Coverflow.

Another case of ship now, fix later.

It's just a case where a product has to go retailer at a time. If there is another problem aftherwards they can fix that later. Time is time when it has to hit stores.

Stridder44 · Sep 16, 2007

Sayer said:
There is already an update for the iPod Classic to address the sluggishness of the UI/Coverflow.

Another case of ship now, fix later.

Thank God. My biggest beef was the sluggishness of the UI with the previous gen. iPods. It was really disappointing to read the same problem was carried over to this gen., but I'm glad to see Apple fixed this issue.

twoodcc · Sep 16, 2007

F.D. said:
Is it as ugly in the flesh as it looks in the pics?

no it's not. you gotta see one in person, they look great.

but i did name mine "fatty"

vwcruisn · Sep 16, 2007

Just got the ipod touch, and the video does NOT work on my Pioneer Avic D3 in dash navigation unit, where previous ipod video did. I'm a little pissed off...

sikkinixx · Sep 16, 2007

I saw a Nano at Bestbuy yesterday and was very impressed. The slimness is amazing. Perfect little thing, I would love to have one if I didn't already own an older Nano

Still contemplating that touch though....

Teifion · Sep 16, 2007

I'm torn between a touch and a classic so having the above article replace "iPod nano" with "iPod touch" would be really handy.

DaveTheGrey · Sep 16, 2007

After reading the review I'm really interested in one of the 160GB classics.

I got one question left:
Is it possible to sync music with iTunes and ad films without? (e.g. with copy / paste)
All my famlily fims are located on an external drive, because I don't have enough space on my mbp.
I really hope there is a way, otherwise it would be a dealbraker for me.

Dave

syklee26 · Sep 16, 2007

i dont know why nobody is talking about Classic's superb audio quality. this is the best sounding iPod I have ever listened to and I have had every generation of iPod so far.

i do hate the new clickwheel on Classic though. it's borderline unusable.

KittyToy · Sep 16, 2007

i spent my 100 store credit on the product red nano.....cant wait till i get it.. i have no use for it seeing i have an iphone but i had to buy something with the credit and i couldn't

justify buying the classic, they dont come in color so that was the deciding factor.

chriswheat · Sep 16, 2007

Dave187 said:
After reading the review I'm really interested in one of the 160GB classics.
I got one question left:
Is it possible to sync music with iTunes and ad films without? (e.g. with copy / paste)
All my famlily fims are located on an external drive, because I don't have enough space on my mbp.
I really hope there is a way, otherwise it would be a dealbraker for me.

Dave

Dave -

I'm not sure I get what you're asking 100%. An easy solution to this (assuming I understand) is to add all of your films to iTunes on your MBP, but don't copy them over from your external drive, just add the file to the library's database. To do this, just hold down the :apple:

key while you drag the file(s) into iTunes.

There's a thread on this here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/300826/

The thing that I did next was to tell my iPod to only sync "checked" videos, and I check and uncheck videos in the Movies folder as I want them to be synced to my iPod.

Now all of my movies stay on my external drive, not taking up space on my MBP, but I use iTunes on my MBP to manage which movies get copied to my iPod.

Hope this helps.

DaveTheGrey · Sep 16, 2007

chriswheat said:
Dave -

I'm not sure I get what you're asking 100%. An easy solution to this (assuming I understand) is to add all of your films to iTunes on your MBP, but don't copy them over from your external drive, just add the file to the library's database. To do this, just hold down the key while you drag the file(s) into iTunes.

There's a thread on this here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/300826/

The thing that I did next was to tell my iPod to only sync "checked" videos, and I check and uncheck videos in the Movies folder as I want them to be synced to my iPod.

Now all of my movies stay on my external drive, not taking up space on my MBP, but I use iTunes on my MBP to manage which movies get copied to my iPod.

Hope this helps.

Excellent!
I didn't knew this :apple:

-key trick!
You made my day

Thanks a lot chriswheat!

CalBoy · Sep 16, 2007

twoodcc said:
no it's not. you gotta see one in person, they look great.

but i did name mine "fatty"

Well this is good to hear. I keep looking at Apple's site, hoping for the Nano to look better, but no matter what, it doesn't look good on a screen. I'm hoping I'll have time to pop by an Apple Store in the next few days to check one out myself. I'm glad this review noted good battery life, always a good sign. Now, if only I could justify buying another one, seeing as how I bought my Nano just three months ago

Stampyhead · Sep 16, 2007

Dave187 said:
Is it possible to sync music with iTunes and ad films without? (e.g. with copy / paste)
All my famlily fims are located on an external drive, because I don't have enough space on my mbp.
I really hope there is a way, otherwise it would be a dealbraker for me.

Dave

No, music and video all have to go through iTunes in order to be useable on the iPod. I have the same issue you have, though. When I want to add a video to my iPod I just copy it over to iTunes from the external drive and then delete it from iTunes after it is done synching.

DaveTheGrey · Sep 16, 2007

Stampyhead said:
No, music and video all have to go through iTunes in order to be useable on the iPod. I have the same issue you have, though. When I want to add a video to my iPod I just copy it over to iTunes from the external drive and then delete it from iTunes after it is done synching.

Just read post #14

JonMan · Sep 16, 2007

CalBoy said:
Well this is good to hear. I keep looking at Apple's site, hoping for the Nano to look better, but no matter what, it doesn't look good on a screen. I'm hoping I'll have time to pop by an Apple Store in the next few days to check one out myself. I'm glad this review noted good battery life, always a good sign. Now, if only I could justify buying another one, seeing as how I bought my Nano just three months ago

The new Nano looks amazing in person. The pictures don't capture how tiny this thing actually is. Once you see it in person, you will be sold.

CalBoy · Sep 16, 2007

JonMan said:
Once you see it in person, you will be sold.

That's what I'm worried about

Seriously though, I have faith that Apple would not release an ugly product. The images online though don't do it for me. I think Apple needs to do a better job with the way the Nano is presented on the Apple Store site.

zioxide · Sep 16, 2007

Glad to hear that the UI slowness of the Classic has been addressed in a firmware update. I'm getting a 160GB Silver Classic in the spring.

Multimedia · Sep 16, 2007

Seek Confirmation Last Dock Won't Send Composite Video From Connected Classic

All 3 reviews noted that previous 5th generation iPod games are incompatible with the iPod classic as are some iPod accessories, namely video-out accessories. While Apple has chosen to provide higher-resolution component video out, it has rendered previous video output accessories useless with this iPod.

I find this hard to believe. Can anyone confirm the Apple composite video cable does NOT work out of a Classic and the last Dock?

They might have forgotten to turn on the external video out setting.

chucksmac · Sep 16, 2007

Just bought a classic and hooked up to a hardwired ipod kit for my car and the ipod turns into this sluggish, jumpy, unrepsonsive mess. It's a kit from a local car audio specialist who installed it years ago when the the 3Gens came out. Since then I have used a 3G, iphone, and two generations of Nanos on it and it works great. This classic has issues.

You can spin the click wheel and nothing happens, unplug it and it works fine. The menus will jump around in 6-12 second bursts while plugged in and when I mean jump it goes from the top of the menu/song to the bottom, there is no inbetween.

Sucks, will probably have to drop another $250-300 for another car kit.

C.

Multimedia · Sep 16, 2007

You Can Copy Audio & Video From Anywhere On Your Hard Drives Direct To iPod

Stampyhead said:
No, music and video all have to go through iTunes in order to be useable on the iPod. I have the same issue you have, though. When I want to add a video to my iPod I just copy it over to iTunes from the external drive and then delete it from iTunes after it is done synching.

Not true. You can copy video and audio files directly into the iPod from anywhere on your hard drive if they are iPod compatible. I do it all the time. Going through iTunes is optional.

I mean you use the iTunes interface to see where you are copying to in the iPod - what play list(s). But you don't have to copy to iTunes on your Mac first.

abrooks · Sep 16, 2007

chriswheat said:
Dave -

I'm not sure I get what you're asking 100%. An easy solution to this (assuming I understand) is to add all of your films to iTunes on your MBP, but don't copy them over from your external drive, just add the file to the library's database. To do this, just hold down the key while you drag the file(s) into iTunes.

There's a thread on this here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/300826/

The thing that I did next was to tell my iPod to only sync "checked" videos, and I check and uncheck videos in the Movies folder as I want them to be synced to my iPod.

Now all of my movies stay on my external drive, not taking up space on my MBP, but I use iTunes on my MBP to manage which movies get copied to my iPod.

Hope this helps.

According to the thread you linked to it's the Option key no the Apple key.

iPod classic, 3rd Gen iPod nano Review Roundup

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