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3rd generation iPod nano ReviewThe 3rd generation Apple iPod Nano 8GB and 4GB Models.We have always called a spade a spade here on dukebox.com. Not only slagging off Apple products when they fall short of expectation, but we even banned sales of the apple ipod for a time during 2003 due to the well documented battery fiasco.
We were sceptical and a little harsh on the original ipod nano (we never did see any reports of it bending like a banana - but it did scratch to buggery) so it's fair to say that we will call it as we see it with this iPod nano too. What's it like then?Class. As you would want and expect, it incorporates all the old stuff that was good AND it has all the new exciting bells and whistles that you were hoping for. This may seem like a no-brainer, and the obvious way to develop goods such as dukeboxes, but you'd be surprised how many new products constitute a step backwards, let alone sideways.Regardless, the iPod nano 3rd generation is neither sideways nor backwards - it's forwards and upwise and a little joy of a machine. It draws your eye to it, and every time you gaze upon its pretty little face you get the same feeling of "I really really like you" that you find with a new love. Blah blah. Specifics please.The adonised aluminium is more matte (less shiny) than previous casing models.
Apple have made the super-intelligent decision to go with the screen size as having 320x240 pixels. This is the same size that a lot of internet video are simplified to. It means that no stretching or squashing is necessary to watch most videos downloaded form the net. We did mention that a few years back .... Anyway, you can still out-put full screen video as well, to your monitor, or to your telly (with the right connectors). Up to 1.5 mbps is more than enough to be top-quality, and 30 frames per second is as good as TV. SizeGet out a credit card. Hold the card in "portrait" (like a sheet of A4). The nano is the same width (not depth!) as your credit card. Top to bottom the nano is about 1 and a half cm smaller than your card. It is really small. Really. This thing has a screen in it and can play feature length videos, remember! It's only just over half a cm thick too.The nano itch: you can't help but scratch it.The screen that is. Unlike the original nano, which would scratch all over, this one will scratch on its screen. Mind you the same would probably be true of your TV or monitor, so treat the ipod nano's screen with the same kind of respect. I.e. if you treat the player nicely and try to prevent scratches, you will probably help to minimise any scratch effects. Negatives?Yes and no. Nothing specific, except the glaring omission. WHERE ARE THE PINK MODELS? Ahem - for the ladies, of course.Does my thumb look big on this?The click wheel has become more of a thumb wheel on this nano. The 3rd generation iPod nano is soooo small that you barely have to move your thumb to navigate your way around the menus using the new smaller click wheel.Nice touches:You can flip through your album art, just like flipping through a CD collection. Not just flip, you can zip through the covers using coverflow. This is great for those moments when you want to listen to "that song .. you know, the one I like, on that album ... it has a picture of a bird on it ..." Yes, we do all have those moments.It is outrageously small. We know there is a whole section above about its size, but my god! This is pretty much the limit. Any smaller and it would start to interfere with the usability of the device. Future incarnations may have different features, but this is about as small as they'll get. Other stuffSlide shows for your photos/ thumbnail browsing/ calendar/ contacts/ screen lock/ stopwatch, and lots of games including card games and quizzes (several preloaded and many more several downloadable).Battery newsWe would be lost without you battery news! 24 hours for audio and 5 hours for video, on full charge, and full charge takes approximately 3 hours, although you can do an 80% charge in an hour and a half.PC Requirements: Windows XP se2, or later only! ConclusionIf the original iPods were better than everything else by virtue of being smaller with better styling, then this is the greatest dukebox ever. As a result you, or someone you know, will want one desperately. Select from these models:
Silver 4GB iPod nano model |
Silver 8GB iPod nano model |
Green 8GB iPod nano model |
Blue 8GB iPod nano model |
Black 8GB iPod nano model
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Next Generation Portable Music
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