Digital Trends

Apple iPod nano 8GB

November 1st, 2007 | by Jason Tomczak

Testing

One of the very first impressions we get from the iPod nano is that the tiny size must sacrifice some audio quality. There's only partial truth to that assumption. The nano itself produces amazing sound quality. Its digital sound and modern electronics manufacturing processes allow for better and better sound systems to be placed on smaller and smaller chips. The real weakness comes from the included headphones. They're "ok" at best. If you really want to enjoy your music, you'll stuff those white earbuds in a drawer somewhere and never look at them again. To use them is to sacrifice 50% or more of the true audio you could be enjoying. Find an alternate set, like the Bose Triport, the MB210 iMuffs or even some high-quality Sennheiser headphones. Then you'll really get the full effect of your music. The experience can almost be life changing, especially if you consider yourself a music lover.

The new 3rd gen iPod nano also plays videos on its little 2" 320x240 pixel screen. Understandably, the nano has received some ribbing and teasing about the small LCD. It's true that the LCD is small and video is equally small. It does make one squint or pull the nano close in for a better view. That said, the actual quality of the video playback is nothing short of impressive. The colors are rich and vibrant, the motion is clean and the black to white contrast is praiseworthy. Watching an episode of the TV show Shark was fun and engaging, but I tired of the screen after a short while. For kids and teens riding busses, for those on BART or any other metro transportation, the nano screen will clearly suffice for temporary entertainment purposes.

Needless to say, photos display very well on the nano. Still image quality is just as good as video quality; perhaps a little better.

The size of the nano is a very positive feature for many consumers. No one wants a big, clunky, heavy audio/video player making their pockets bulge or their backpacks laden down. The nano measures 2.75 by 2.06 by 0.26 inches and weighs a feathery 1.74 ounces. It is almost unnoticeable in the front or rear pocket of a pair of jeans. In fact, one could pocket 4 or 5 iPod nanos before space began to be an issue.

Conclusion

The 3rd generation iPod nano is one of the most enticing iPods Apple has ever produced. It's thin, sexy, easy to use, holds plenty of music, videos and photos. The sound quality is impressive - seemingly better than earlier iPod nanos. Video quality is great, too.

Downsides? The headphone connector is on the bottom of the iPod nano, making it a total pain in the rear to use on treadmills, in the car or in a pocket (the nano usually ends up being used upside-down, making the controls harder to manage though clothing). The included headphones are less than fantastic and should be replaced by a more powerful set.

Overall, the nano is awesome and would make a fantastic gift for techies and non-techies alike. It's unlikely that you'd ever hear any complaint from someone given a new iPod nano. Conversely, you're apt to hear lots of happy thank-yous.


Pros:

• Super slim and lightweight
• Very impressive audio and video
• Holds up to 2,000 songs or 8 hours of video
• 24 hour battery for music
• Easy to set up and use

Cons:

• Included headphones are "ok" at best
• Headphone jack on bottom of player