Bluetooth is a dud on the new Apple iPod Nano 7th generation. :-(

lshaner · Oct 13, 2012, 11:22 AM

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Phones are too heavy to use while running and wired headphones are too restrictive, so the combination of Bluetooth and the Nike+ pedometer support were the ONLY reasons that I bought the new iPod Nano.

First and foremost, I cannot Bluetooth pair the nano to my iPhone, so the only way to sync Nike+ after my runs is to plug the nano into my Mac--which is a Mac Pro (tower), so it can't go with me, when I travel. :-(

Second of all, the FM receiver still requires wired headphones--there is apparently no FM antenna in the nano, itself. So at the gym, I cannot use the nano to tune into a TV audio (relayed via FM), and listen to it wirelessly on my Bluetooth headphones. Even if I plug in the supplied headphones just to act as an FM antenna, I cannot then send the audio to my Bluetooth headset--the BT icon shows that my BT headset is still active, but there is no way to change output devices in the Radio app. Radio app requires wired headphones as an antenna AND will only send the audio out to the wired headphones, despite the presence of BT headphones. :-(

(NOTE: Music app does let me choose output devices between wired vs. BT headphones, so the fact that the Radio app doesn't let me choose BT is a blatant oversight).

Thirdly, sometimes I like to record an idea, while running--can't do it strictly with Bluetooth. The nano's ability to record voice memo's does not work with BT headphones, even though my BT headphones do have a microphone (e.g. suitable for making calls on an iPhone). The Voice recorder requires WIRED headphones with a microphone. To add insult to injury, the supplied headphones do not have a microphone--I had to borrow the headphones that came with my iPhone 5. It is SOOOOO annoying that Apple did not make Voice memo recording work with Bluetooth, and then they didn't even bother to include the headphones with a mic! :-(

Lastly, the taller form factor doesn't lend itself for use as a running watch. They should fix all of the above and go back to the old form factor.

Conclusion: Apple finally added Bluetooth audio to the iPod nano, but it is only useful for music. It cannot be used to relay FM broadcasts, such as from exercise equipment (and there is no antenna in the nano itself), so wired headphones would at least need to plugged in for FM relay over BT to work. Finally, BT cannot be used for Voice memo recording. THEREFORE, Bluetooth in the new iPod nano is a dud. :-(

PinkyMacGodess · Oct 13, 2012, 12:12 PM

I'm amazed that Apple still makes headphones without the mic. What's the point of doing that? I have a drawer full of older iPod only earbuds that will work with the iPhone, until I actually want to USE the iPhone. I threw a pair out my car window after discovering that I had grabbed the wrong pair on the way out the door. It was odd as hell when the iPhone built-in mic was used for the call. Very noisy rubbing against my pants/shirt/jacket. Glad my car has Bluetooth now I am... I never liked using it until then...

Wouldn't it make more sense, in the long run, to ditch the separate product line run for the iPod only buds and just crank out the iPhone compatible ones 100%? I mean, the cost, in bulk, can't be that much different...

lshaner · Oct 14, 2012, 09:38 AM

I will just have to wait for some future iPod Nano with the same form-factor as the 6th Generation Nano, but with a longer battery life, increased capacity, and especially with fixes for all of the above mentioned Bluetooth and FM problems.

On the bright side, most of what I dislike about the 7th gen Nano could be fixed in software. Also, a third party could easily make a short, flexible, FM antenna accessory that would go in the headphone jack--if the Radio app would only let one choose to send the audio out to the BT headphones.

toxotis70 · Oct 15, 2012, 07:12 AM

is there any other player that can do this ?
I also want an fm radio receiver and bluetooth earphones for gym….

iEvolution · Oct 15, 2012, 04:39 PM

Figures the biggest feature of the new nano is done half-assed. Would be nice if Apple would actually put some effort into updating the iPods.
- iPT gets left over components of the 4S and again NO CAPACITY UPDATE.
- iPod Nano changes from a incredibly wearable audio only device to a crippled mini iPod Touch that seems like a device that may have fit in back in 2008 but now looks like a change just for change.
- iPod Classic, can't even get the 220GB hard drive put in there. Let alone a glass screen, bluetooth or HD video output support.

a.little.geek · Oct 18, 2012, 08:25 AM

Hi all, would you guys have had a battery test on BT with the Nano 7thG?

musicpenguy · Oct 18, 2012, 01:16 PM

iLounge tested it at around 9 hours 30 minutes with Bluetooth streaming.

Errk! · Oct 18, 2012, 08:46 PM

Not being able to use Bluetooth and FM radio together is a huge oversight. Surely this can be fixed with a software update. What is the proper channel for suggesting/complaining about this to Apple?

musicpenguy · Oct 18, 2012, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Errk!

Not being able to use Bluetooth and FM radio together is a huge oversight. Surely this can be fixed with a software update. What is the proper channel for suggesting/complaining about this to Apple?

apple.com/feedback

olafriis · Oct 19, 2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxotis70

is there any other player that can do this ?
I also want an fm radio receiver and bluetooth earphones for gym….

Well... why not look at it another way. There are just fine affordable BT headsets working fine out there having radio built in. That may meet your needs?

darknessangel · Oct 20, 2012, 02:29 PM

Oh that's not the only thing! I had the luck to find a beautiful pair of fresh Nike+ iPod nano watch remotes ( which I love). And the 7th gen nano has crippled them. First, they work only on the Nike+ app, so you can't use them when not running. Additionally, powersong and voice feedback don't work. I did this with a brand new watch remote.

A great disappointment! Instead of buying a new nano I just bought new headphones and a new sensor for my old 2nd gen.

Apple, you dropped the ball.

kaielement · Oct 21, 2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Errk!

Not being able to use Bluetooth and FM radio together is a huge oversight. Surely this can be fixed with a software update. What is the proper channel for suggesting/complaining about this to Apple?

No software update in the world would fix that. The Nano it self does not have an fm antenna. It uses your headphones as the antenna. Only thing at this point is if someone came out with a dongle and Apple released a software update to run the dongle.

Errk! · Oct 21, 2012, 11:26 PM

A firmware update could most certainly allow the audio to go to a Bluetooth device and use plugged-in headphones as an antennae.

Oct 13, 2012, 11:22 AM	#1
lshaner macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2007	Bluetooth is a dud on the new Apple iPod Nano 7th generation. :-( Bluetooth is a dud on the new Apple iPod Nano 7th generation. :-( Phones are too heavy to use while running and wired headphones are too restrictive, so the combination of Bluetooth and the Nike+ pedometer support were the ONLY reasons that I bought the new iPod Nano. First and foremost, I cannot Bluetooth pair the nano to my iPhone, so the only way to sync Nike+ after my runs is to plug the nano into my Mac--which is a Mac Pro (tower), so it can't go with me, when I travel. :-( Second of all, the FM receiver still requires wired headphones--there is apparently no FM antenna in the nano, itself. So at the gym, I cannot use the nano to tune into a TV audio (relayed via FM), and listen to it wirelessly on my Bluetooth headphones. Even if I plug in the supplied headphones just to act as an FM antenna, I cannot then send the audio to my Bluetooth headset--the BT icon shows that my BT headset is still active, but there is no way to change output devices in the Radio app. Radio app requires wired headphones as an antenna AND will only send the audio out to the wired headphones, despite the presence of BT headphones. :-( (NOTE: Music app does let me choose output devices between wired vs. BT headphones, so the fact that the Radio app doesn't let me choose BT is a blatant oversight). Thirdly, sometimes I like to record an idea, while running--can't do it strictly with Bluetooth. The nano's ability to record voice memo's does not work with BT headphones, even though my BT headphones do have a microphone (e.g. suitable for making calls on an iPhone). The Voice recorder requires WIRED headphones with a microphone. To add insult to injury, the supplied headphones do not have a microphone--I had to borrow the headphones that came with my iPhone 5. It is SOOOOO annoying that Apple did not make Voice memo recording work with Bluetooth, and then they didn't even bother to include the headphones with a mic! :-( Lastly, the taller form factor doesn't lend itself for use as a running watch. They should fix all of the above and go back to the old form factor. Conclusion: Apple finally added Bluetooth audio to the iPod nano, but it is only useful for music. It cannot be used to relay FM broadcasts, such as from exercise equipment (and there is no antenna in the nano itself), so wired headphones would at least need to plugged in for FM relay over BT to work. Finally, BT cannot be used for Voice memo recording. THEREFORE, Bluetooth in the new iPod nano is a dud. :-( __________________ Mac Pro (2010), 12-core (12 thread @ 3.33 GHz, 24 thread @ 2.93 GHz), 16 GB RAM, 4 x 1 TB HW RAID
	2

Oct 14, 2012, 09:38 AM	#3
lshaner Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2007	I will just have to wait for some future iPod Nano with the same form-factor as the 6th Generation Nano, but with a longer battery life, increased capacity, and especially with fixes for all of the above mentioned Bluetooth and FM problems. On the bright side, most of what I dislike about the 7th gen Nano could be fixed in software. Also, a third party could easily make a short, flexible, FM antenna accessory that would go in the headphone jack--if the Radio app would only let one choose to send the audio out to the BT headphones. __________________ Mac Pro (2010), 12-core (12 thread @ 3.33 GHz, 24 thread @ 2.93 GHz), 16 GB RAM, 4 x 1 TB HW RAID
	1

Oct 18, 2012, 08:25 AM	#6
a.little.geek macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2009	Bluetooth Battery Life Hi all, would you guys have had a battery test on BT with the Nano 7thG?
	0

Oct 18, 2012, 01:16 PM	#7
musicpenguy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2006	iLounge tested it at around 9 hours 30 minutes with Bluetooth streaming. __________________ (2006: 17" MBP, Rev A: MBA Sold), 2009 Mac Mini, MBA 1.4GHz, 2GB, 128GB, 11" - iPad 64GB 3G, eMate 300, MP2100, 2G 8GB iPhone, 3G 16GB iPhone, 3G&6G Nano, 2G Shuffle, 160GB TV, TV-V2 - TPPN.TV
	0

Oct 20, 2012, 02:29 PM	#11
darknessangel macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2012	Not only that Oh that's not the only thing! I had the luck to find a beautiful pair of fresh Nike+ iPod nano watch remotes ( which I love). And the 7th gen nano has crippled them. First, they work only on the Nike+ app, so you can't use them when not running. Additionally, powersong and voice feedback don't work. I did this with a brand new watch remote. A great disappointment! Instead of buying a new nano I just bought new headphones and a new sensor for my old 2nd gen. Apple, you dropped the ball.
	0

Oct 13, 2012, 12:12 PM	#2
PinkyMacGodess macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Midwest America.	I'm amazed that Apple still makes headphones without the mic. What's the point of doing that? I have a drawer full of older iPod only earbuds that will work with the iPhone, until I actually want to USE the iPhone. I threw a pair out my car window after discovering that I had grabbed the wrong pair on the way out the door. It was odd as hell when the iPhone built-in mic was used for the call. Very noisy rubbing against my pants/shirt/jacket. Glad my car has Bluetooth now I am... I never liked using it until then... Wouldn't it make more sense, in the long run, to ditch the separate product line run for the iPod only buds and just crank out the iPhone compatible ones 100%? I mean, the cost, in bulk, can't be that much different...
	3

Oct 15, 2012, 07:12 AM	#4
toxotis70 macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007	is there any other player that can do this ? I also want an fm radio receiver and bluetooth earphones for gym….
	0

Oct 15, 2012, 04:39 PM	#5
iEvolution macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2008	Figures the biggest feature of the new nano is done half-assed. Would be nice if Apple would actually put some effort into updating the iPods. - iPT gets left over components of the 4S and again NO CAPACITY UPDATE. - iPod Nano changes from a incredibly wearable audio only device to a crippled mini iPod Touch that seems like a device that may have fit in back in 2008 but now looks like a change just for change. - iPod Classic, can't even get the 220GB hard drive put in there. Let alone a glass screen, bluetooth or HD video output support.
	0

Oct 18, 2012, 08:46 PM	#8
Errk! macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2006	Not being able to use Bluetooth and FM radio together is a huge oversight. Surely this can be fixed with a software update. What is the proper channel for suggesting/complaining about this to Apple?
	0

Oct 21, 2012, 11:26 PM	#13
Errk! macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2006	A firmware update could most certainly allow the audio to go to a Bluetooth device and use plugged-in headphones as an antennae.
	0

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