iPod new iPod nano a mistake?

[Eggtastic]

yes, the new nano is a HUGE mistake. personally i need an MP3 player thats small enough to not interfere with my workouts but not so small that it is a pain in the ass to search for music. last years nano 5th generation design was so damn perfect, that i was hoping this year they would just have done away with the stupid video camera and put on 32gb of memory.

It was small enough, had a beautiful screen, and the beloved click wheel. I hate the ipod touch because touch screen is not the best way to go at the gym. Plus i have an iphone 4 but i don't want to wear it out from constant use so for me i need a music player and a phone separate.

that was my monday morning rant, have a good labor day everyone and long live the nano 5th generation.

 

[brentsg]

I think the new nano looks great. To me they dropped the useless features from the 5G, and added a nice touch screen. Plus, it's smaller too.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

I've posted it previously and I still stand by my original assessment. The new Nano is targeted primarily at teenaged girls. Apple recognizes that their Nano series has petite sex appeal written all over it so they just took the next logical step: wearable technology that doubles as pendant-style art form. You can now "show" everyone what you are listening to as a style choice.

Just wait....they'll soon be giving these "proximity" features similar to iPhone bump-and-exchange where users can Ping one another simply because they happen to pass while wearing the Jewelrano's (TM).

 

[itryanditry]

what does it matter that there isnt a click wheel? the kid getting the iPod for christmas will still have an iPod they can show off.

it isnt that the click wheel is beloved, although im not dissing it, its just people dont want things to change. change is good, it allows new things to happen

in a year the nano will again have new features. they have effectively hit a reset button, allowing them to either branch out in a new direction or go back if they need too, and the new shuffle is proof apple isnt above listening to the masses and taking a small step back.

Apple does indeed take feedback from it's users seriously and applies it as often as they can. There are times when Apple withholds features and such, usually for the bigger picture. Which is fine by me.

But the iPod and iTunes products shot mobile music into primetime. This bigger plan that Apple has for Multi-touch and iOS I think may be going in the wrong direction. Maybe it has spilt over into the iPod line a little too soon.

Change is indeed good. It's only common sense that the iPod line would inherit multitouch features.

I just have a really bad feeling about this.

 

[nzcatfood]

Dumbest Apple product for a long while

The new Nano has got to be the stupidest Apple makeover ever. Obviously, the follow-up product from the nutty 4th gen Shuffle designer. LOL

 

[LoganT]

I really can't see why everyone hates the new nano.

 

[a.jfred]

The form has grown on me, but I'm still on the fence about it, and will be until I can play with it in person. The biggest issue for me will be changing tracks without looking (and no, headphones with a remote is NOT an option when the thing is hooked up in my car).

I don't really care about the video/camera capability of the Nano - it's going to be purely for music, but the "Shake to Shuffle" feature is virtually useless, when it bothers to work at all (and that's basing it's usage off my old iPhone 3G and my new iPhone 4); and also not very practical when trying to drive your car. Flick to skip? We'll see.

 

[tigress666]

I don't really care about the video/camera capability of the Nano - it's going to be purely for music, but the "Shake to Shuffle" feature is virtually useless, when it bothers to work at all (and that's basing it's usage off my old iPhone 3G and my new iPhone 4); and also not very practical when trying to drive your car. Flick to skip? We'll see.

I honestly hate that feature cause sometimes when I'm walking and trying to say rewind a song, something will happen and hte thing gets shaken and next thing I know it randomly changed songs and I can't go back!!!

I'd turn it off if I knew how/if it was an option (and if it isn't I kinda hope it is an option to turn it off on the new one).

And yeah, I ran into the remote not an option yesterday (when on my roommate's plane. You use the headsets to listen to your music and they're something like 600-1000 dollar headsets so you're not just going to buy a pair of headsets to get a remote for your ipod, even if they made such a thing. Though I kinda think now that I've seen some sort of thing at the apple store that would convert your headsets to have the remote...).

 

[MacFan23]

I can understand why people don't like it and a slightly bumped 5th gen would have made an awesome iPod. But at the end of the day, I have an iPhone, an iPod Touch and an iPad. I simply would not have bought it, no matter what the added features were. Giving it an interesting twist encouraged me to take a further look at it and decide to purchase it, giving Apple a sale. I can imagine a lot of people would have shared the same experience as me and I therefore do not think the new nano was a mistake.

 

[zkhrhm]

I think the lack of accelerometer is dumb, they tout it being multitouch but the only multitouch gesture is rotating the screen, which should be done automatically with an accelerometer in the first place.

Someone might have beat me to it, (I'm not going to read another 70 posts to find out), but the nano has an accelerometer. Research before posting things that aren't true, please.

 

[zkhrhm]

I ordered one off Apple.com, but I actually went back and canceled my order yesterday. After much debate, I think I would be happier with the previous generation. I like having physical buttons and a larger form factor - it makes changing tracks while the iPod is in my coat pocket that much easier. Even with the smaller size and a clip, I doubt I'd ever clip it onto my coat instead of throw it in a pocket.

I'm the exact opposite. I started with a nano back in 05, then got a classic, then a nano 3g (which I loved), then went with the 1st gen touch. I've been using the iPod Touch since gen 1 (I upgrade every year) but sold my 3rd gen recently since I got an iPad. I was on the market for a smaller iPod for portability. Watched the keynote to see if any of the new ones would strike my fancy and have the capacity I need. But then I thought, "hmmm but the classic has lots of space, let me get that, especially since it might go the way of the dodo." Got it Friday, and it's already in the box with return label. I cannot go back to a clickwheel after using multitouch. Multitouch is integrated into my music listening and internet browsing life. So it will be a new nano for me. It is everything I need + bonus features (pedometer, radio etc) in a small go-everywhere package. The clip is also a big winner in my book.

When your iPod is in your pocket, you can change tracks with the earphone remote. It's safer in your pocket anyhow.

 

[LoganT]

If you really want to control it without looking at it. Look into investing 20 dollars into this thing.

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=496831

 

[Broph]

EDIT: Read more posts above and talked about exactly what I wrote.

 

[psychPurple]

I cannot go back to a clickwheel after using multitouch. Multitouch is integrated into my music listening and internet browsing life. So it will be a new nano for me. It is everything I need + bonus features (pedometer, radio etc) in a small go-everywhere package. The clip is also a big winner in my book.

i feel exactly like that, the iPod touch has all kinds of cool things, but not stuff that i want to use. the new nano has multitouch which is awesome, but just with the features that i will use!

 

[Mactagonist]

I really can't see why everyone hates the new nano.

For the same reason most companies still cant compete with Apple. They have a very narrow vision.

 

[GamecockMac]

You are probably right. But is not Apple the one to blame for this? After they bombard you with so many TV commercial and other PR BS telling how great the current generation is people eventually start believing in this and then BOOM Apple says that now you need to like something else

It's not the words, it's the sheer volume (as in the amount of time Apple buys on TV) that people can no resist.

Yep. People are just mindless zombies that buy whatever the idiot box tells them to. That's why almost everyone in America now has Geico car insurance, because that damn gecko is just so adorably irresistible.

This might be the most ridiculous troll you've pulled out of your ass so far, and that's saying something given your track record of fail.

 

[joeblow7777]

I honestly hate that feature cause sometimes when I'm walking and trying to say rewind a song, something will happen and hte thing gets shaken and next thing I know it randomly changed songs and I can't go back!!!

I'd turn it off if I knew how/if it was an option (and if it isn't I kinda hope it is an option to turn it off on the new one).

To turn off the shake to shuffle on the 5g nano just go to settings. Shuffle on/off is the very first option. And yes, it means shakes to shuffle. It doesn't deactivate the ability to shuffle in general.

And to add my 2 cents about the 6g, the bottom line is that they are asking people to pay the same price for something that does less. If they had enhanced the battery life, or increased the capacity, or dropped the price even $5-$10 I would say it's worthwhile. But to pay the same for something that does not play or record video, or have external speakers, even if you don't use those features is ridiculous. If it does less it should cost less. And my jaw drops when people say that the previous nano was too large and inconvenient for them.

The problem is that Apple isn't trying to make the nano a great media player in its own right anymore. They want you to own a nano AND a touch/iphone/classic. The 5g was perhaps too fine a mix of affordability, compactness, and music/video functionality. Why not cut down on that so that more customers will either buy a more profitable Touch or a nano plus something else?

I'm actually glad that the 6g is so flawed (in my opinion, anyway). I was worried that if it was really good I would regret having gotten the 5g. I will not shell out cash for a new ipod every year. My previous model was a 2g nano. My next will probably be an 8g, if they start moving in the right direction again.

 

[hcho3]

I think new nano is great. The screen is little too small, but I don't see a big issue here.

The problem is the price. It's basically an ipod shuffle with screen. So, why does it cost three times more than shuffle?

 

[tigress666]

And to add my 2 cents about the 6g, the bottom line is that they are asking people to pay the same price for something that does less. If they had enhanced the battery life, or increased the capacity, or dropped the price even $5-$10 I would say it's worthwhile.

Well, for some of us the 6th gen is an improvement (I do think they should have increased storage). It gives us a better interface (sorry, not a big fan of the clickwheel and having a remote solves the needs buttons issue), a smaller size (I like the clippable part) and got rid of features I never used except when the ipod still had the "new toy" feeling and I was still just playing around with it. Then I promptly never used those features (I have an iphone for that, a far better player).

On top of that, I think now that the ipod touch has those features, the whole point is if you want video/camera, get one of those cause it's more appropriate (and if you don't care about size, it really isn't that much bigger than the fifth gen for the much better functionality). The point is if you want a lot of functionality and size isn't as important, get a touch (it will be far better for playing video and shooting it anyways).

I do think they should have included the remote headphones with the nano since they got rid of the physical buttons (doesn't affect me, through my iphone 4 and my mom buying me a nice set, I have two headsets with remotes). And would have been nice to have bigger sizes (but for my music collection alone 16 GB is still enough). I also hope the battery is better than the fifth gen (I know they are both 24 hours but I swear my 3rd gen's battery which was also 24 hours was better than my fifth gen's is). I liked being able to use my ipod for a week without charging (my fifth gen doesn't seem to last that long).

 

[chris975d]

Well, for some of us the 6th gen is an improvement (I do think they should have increased storage). It gives us a better interface (sorry, not a big fan of the clickwheel and having a remote solves the needs buttons issue), a smaller size (I like the clippable part) and got rid of features I never used except when the ipod still had the "new toy" feeling and I was still just playing around with it. Then I promptly never used those features (I have an iphone for that, a far better player).

On top of that, I think now that the ipod touch has those features, the whole point is if you want video/camera, get one of those cause it's more appropriate (and if you don't care about size, it really isn't that much bigger than the fifth gen for the much better functionality). The point is if you want a lot of functionality and size isn't as important, get a touch (it will be far better for playing video and shooting it anyways).

I do think they should have included the remote headphones with the nano since they got rid of the physical buttons (doesn't affect me, through my iphone 4 and my mom buying me a nice set, I have two headsets with remotes). And would have been nice to have bigger sizes (but for my music collection alone 16 GB is still enough). I also hope the battery is better than the fifth gen (I know they are both 24 hours but I swear my 3rd gen's battery which was also 24 hours was better than my fifth gen's is). I liked being able to use my ipod for a week without charging (my fifth gen doesn't seem to last that long).

My feelings on the Nano match those of Tigress666 exactly. The Nano is now almost exactly what I've always wanted it to be..a combination of my 3rd gen Shuffle and 4th/5th gen Nano, without the silly features I never use anyway, like video recording and video playback. I hated the small clickwheel on the last two gen Nanos, as it was very difficult to have fine control over it's movement. It always seemed that when trying to select a menu item, I'd overshoot it with just the smallest of movements, and select the one above or below it, especially when running. I'd have to stop running to select what I was wanting (on the flip side of this, I've always loved the full sized Classic's clickwheel, as it seems a lot easier to control fine movement on it). Now all I have to do is touch the item I want. Plus, it has an integrated clip. Now it can be clipped onto my shirt sleeve when running/working out, and it'll be totally out of the way. I love the whole concept of this new Nano. But, that being said, and as I said on these forums the moment it was announced, I think it should have been released as an additional line in the iPod family, in between the Shuffle and Nano, or maybe as an upscale Shuffle, as possibly the Shuffle+ (Plus). I do see many people still wanting the features of the 5th gen Nano, and I really would have liked to see the now "old" Nano design continue, and eventually phase out the hard drive based Classic as flash capacity increases. I think the "old" Nano styling was the natural progression of the original iPod design, and would hate to see Apple completely discard having something resembling the original in it's lineup.

 

[tigress666]

I hated the small clickwheel on the last two gen Nanos, as it was very difficult to have fine control over it's movement. It always seemed that when trying to select a menu item, I'd overshoot it with just the smallest of movements, and select the one above or below it, especially when running.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who had this issue. The third gen this didn't seem to be as much of a problem.

But, that being said, and as I said on these forums the moment it was announced, I think it should have been released as an additional line in the iPod family, in between the Shuffle and Nano, or maybe as an upscale Shuffle, as possibly the Shuffle+ (Plus). I do see many people still wanting the features of the 5th gen Nano, and I really would have liked to see the now "old" Nano design continue, and eventually phase out the hard drive based Classic as flash capacity increases.

Now something along this I could agree with. Though I think it would be fine to call this one the new nano, and do something with the classic to pretty much replace it with something similar to the old Nano. The Classic really should be updated to flash memory (for reliability compared to having a portable player you have to worry about dropping!!) and have some actual new features, not just playing music. I don't see how it even sells when all it is is just storage and the price isn't much cheaper! Most people don't need that much storage and the classic seems to equal the shuffle in features minus the small size and add a display and storage (it's really paired down in features. Even the new nano as much as people bitch that it got reduced functionality has more functionality). Really not worth what they're asking.

 

[chris975d]

Now something along this I could agree with. Though I think it would be fine to call this one the new nano, and do something with the classic to pretty much replace it with something similar to the old Nano.

The more I think about it, the less it'd surprise me that we see something very, very similar to the just phased out Nano design reemerge in a year or two as a replacement to the Classic, when flash prices/capacities become feasible to completely do away with the current hard drive based Classic. Basically as a cheap (relatively speaking), mp3 playing only focused device. Similar to how the Nano (new design) is more focused on music playing only.

....Then again, I could also see Apple moving everything other than the Shuffle, including whatever device that eventually replaces the Classic as king of storage space, to touch only interfaces.

The Classic really should be updated to flash memory (for reliability compared to having a portable player you have to worry about dropping!!) and have some actual new features, not just playing music. I don't see how it even sells when all it is is just storage and the price isn't much cheaper! Most people don't need that much storage and the classic seems to equal the shuffle in features minus the small size and add a display and storage (it's really paired down in features. Even the new nano as much as people bitch that it got reduced functionality has more functionality). Really not worth what they're asking.

I still think there's a larger market for an iPod that's focused primarily on high capacity storage than most people on here think. Granted, it doesn't sell near the number of units that the iPod touch sells per year, but I still see at least as many Classics as I do touches, if not more. Hell, in my gym alone, out of all the iPods I see (I'd say one out of about every three people in the gym on average are using an iPod), the vast majority are Classics. I've only seen 3 of the 3rd gen Shuffles (the buttonless design), one of them being mine. And amazingly, NO Nanos of any generation. It's a habit of mine to just observe what mp3 players people are using...guess I'm weird.

 

[tigress666]

I still think there's a larger market for an iPod that's focused primarily on high capacity storage than most people on here think. Granted, it doesn't sell near the number of units that the iPod touch sells per year, but I still see at least as many Classics as I do touches, if not more. Hell, in my gym alone, out of all the iPods I see (I'd say one out of about every three people in the gym on average are using an iPod), the vast majority are Classics. I've only seen 3 of the 3rd gen Shuffles (the buttonless design), one of them being mine. And amazingly, NO Nanos of any generation. It's a habit of mine to just observe what mp3 players people are using...guess I'm weird.

I'm not saying reduce the storage capacity. I'm saying replace the hard drive with flash memory. Then even if they don't add features it's more worth the price to pay that much for something that really is nothing more than an mp3 player and extra hard drive.

One reason I never really got into the ipod classic was I didn't like the hard drive. When you are talking portable device, I really didn't like something that one drop could kill. I honestly never really got into wanting an ipod until they introduced the Nano with a decent capacity but flash memory. Before that I was happy just sticking with my really old fashioned portable music players (that at the time I also liked had a radio player. Now though with how big my music collection is and being able to hold it all at once in a device the radio player is totaly unnecessary).

 

[LoganT]

I like how people keep calling the new Nano as a shuffle with a screen. As if all of the other versions weren't just that.

 

[Alaerian]

I'm not saying reduce the storage capacity. I'm saying replace the hard drive with flash memory. Then even if they don't add features it's more worth the price to pay that much for something that really is nothing more than an mp3 player and extra hard drive.

I think the major issue is capacity versus cost. I'd be curious to see the cost comparison of higher capacity flash memory/solid state iPods versus the current costs.
As much as I love my iPod Brick (which just died, may it rest in peace), I don't know how willing I would be to spend $400+ dollars on an iPod with similar storage, just because it's not a platter.