New iPod nano matches predictions - or were they leaks?

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 06 September 2007 02:46

Your IT - Entertainment

So the "artist's impressions" circulating on rumour sites were quite close: the new iPod nano is squat compared with the slender elegance of its predecessors, but given the need to accommodate a larger screen without blowing out the overall size, Apple has done a good job with the styling.

With prices starting at $US149/$A199, the new nano brings video playback to the budget end of the iPod range for the first time. Think how much we used to pay for the much less capable iPod mini. Australian buyers may be pleased to note they have price parity with the US at current exchange rates when GST is factored in.

At 2.75 x 2.06 x 0.26in or 69.8 x 52.3 x 6.5mm, the nano is definitely small enough to slip into a pocket for go-anywhere viewing. It won't weigh you down either, tipping the scales at just 1.74oz or 49.2g.

Most existing video-capable iPod owners I have spoken to seem to feel that the 2.5in screen is about as small as they would like to go for watching video, so it will be interesting to see how the nano's 2in display is accepted. At least it has the same 320 x 240 resolution, so maybe we'll just need to hold it a little closer.

It's said that Steve Jobs insisted that the iPod should be capable of playing at higher than usual volume levels because he has a hearing impairment. Most over 40s are affected by presbyopia, which makes it hard to focus on near objects such as books and iPods, but presumably the new nano passed the 'Steve test'. Or maybe older users will have to resign themselves to wearing reading glasses.

Another issue is that the screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio, while practically all new TV shows are being made in 16:9, and movies are even wider. With the growing popularity of widescreen camcorders, you might have expected small 16:9 screens would be available at reasonable prices. Perhaps the real issue is that Apple's iTunes infrastructure is set up for 4:3 content.

Composite and component video output is available via the dock connector, so the nano can be easily connected to a large screen.

It's just like an iPod, only smaller.