iPod Are You Disappointed With The New iPod nano?

[gianly1985]

I don't think it's a "downgrade"...

- Video camera was useless and terrible quality (640x480 IIRC). No loss here. You couldn't even take pictures with it, never mind the horrid resolution.

Doesn't look THAT terrible to me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-I--4JrERI

It was a nice added feature for a device that thin.
Same for the loudspeaker and the mic. It was a swiss-knife feather-weighted pocketable gadget. You wanted to film something funny? Bam! You wanted an alarm clock when traveling? Slam! You wanted to watch a Family Guy episode (funny lines are just as funny on a tiny screen, same applies to a lot of other shows, of course you aren't supposed to watch Avatar on it) on the bus? Bam! Plus FM radio, podcasts, etc
With the 5G, the iPod Nano reached its top in functionality.

Now it's a Shuffle with a touchscreen, more storage, the dock connector, video out and fm radio. Which is still a WIN for a lot of people, don't get me wrong. The touch (THAT touch) interface is so natural and fast. And the "clip-on" design is so small and convenient.

Let's just hope it will re-gain the 5th gen features year by year, but in the new touch-based and clip-oriented paradigm.

 

[DakotaGuy]

The easiest iPod for running is the iPod shuffle - Just buttons = easy navigation through songs when your running.

I agree. I still use a 1st Gen Shuffle for this. Anyone have one of those or remember them? LOL The 3rd Gen would have been terrible for running because you had to use the Apple ear buds and they would fall out.

 

[Peterson8765]

I agree. I still use a 1st Gen Shuffle for this. Anyone have one of those or remember them? LOL The 3rd Gen would have been terrible for running because you had to use the Apple ear buds and they would fall out.

Exactly. I hate how shuffle 3G users are basically forced to use Apple's own earbuds unless they buy a third party $20-$30 adapter.

 

[Warbrain]

Pretty disappointed, both with the design and capacities that they're offering overall.

The design is really a step backwards. The square shape is silly, the touchscreen is a gimmick, and it's way too small to be used outside of using it while you exercice. The old nanos were nicely pocketable - small enough you didn't notice but long enough you could grab them. This you'll be fishing around for it.

The capacities (for all models) is just sad. Bump it a bit.

 

[bigmacman]

I think the Shuffle will be discontinued in the next couple of years, and this new Nano will become the entry level iPod in size and price. Apple will then launch an iPod Touch Mini to sit between the full size Touch and the Nano. The iPod range will then be fully touch screen based.

 

[Savor]

A little bit.

The form factor seems nice, but that's it. Apple repackaged the iPod nano into a shuffle with a touchscreen.

Apple took away features which doesn't make it a worthwhile. Keep and savor the 5th gen iPod nano as it got it mostly right in that form factor. Sometimes an upgrade really is not a worthy upgrade. This is one of those years where the oldie is still the goodie.

I find the 6th gen iPod nano as just a trial and error year for Apple in this form factor. Expect more refinement and those features back for next year. I expect alot of buyer's remorse once the touchscreen gimmick wears off with this model.

 

[alust2013]

Note how apple backpedaled on the shuffle - it's basically a slightly repackaged 2nd gen with a couple extra features. I think that the nano will likely do the same, or what would be nice is split into touch and non touch versions. Personally, I think the 5G was brilliant for that type of product. It seems that the nano has been apple's experiment the whole time. When it came out, there weren't other players that small with reasonable features or capacities, then they changed to the squareish one and added video. Video was cool, the shape was awkward, so they switched back to the shape that worked. I'll have to play with one to decide whether or not I like it. Don't plan on buying one, I'm actually looking at a 32GB touch - my 8 filled up pretty quick...and it's losing support for a lot of apps, among other things

 

[chris975d]

I posted my opinion of the new Nano in another thread on the subject, but I'll post a bit of it below:
I may be in the minority here, but I actually really like the device that they are calling the Nano now, although I think it might should have been introduced as a different product altogether, instead of replacing the Nano. It's very small, has lots of storage space (for its size), a color touch screen, and still has hardware volume buttons. I love the concept, and have ordered one already to replace my last gen Shuffle and Nano combined, since with the Shuffle I could never select individual tracks that I wanted, and with the Nano I hated having a 3rd party case just to clip it on my shirt or belt when working out. Plus, I never ever used the video camera function of the Nano one single time. Nor have I ever watched video on a screen as small as the Nano. I only bought the last gen Nano for the FM receiver, which this new one has. The new "Nano" is the perfect device for me to merge my Shuffle and Nano usage into one device. But, as I said, I think it should have been introduced as an entirely new iPod line, because I can still see many people wanting the features the last gen Nano has that got removed with this new Nano. The Nano in it's 5th gen form (last year's) should have been left to eventually take over the iPod Classic's spot. This new Nano introduced today should really be a "Shuffle+ (Plus)", or something to that effect. It's basically a tricked out Shuffle, which is exactly what I want for the device. Something that is similar in size to the Shuffle, but with more control over song selection than the Shuffle has.

 

[Peterson8765]

Pretty disappointed, both with the design and capacities that they're offering overall.

The design is really a step backwards. The square shape is silly, the touchscreen is a gimmick, and it's way too small to be used outside of using it while you exercice. The old nanos were nicely pocketable - small enough you didn't notice but long enough you could grab them. This you'll be fishing around for it.

The capacities (for all models) is just sad. Bump it a bit.

I was expecting them to bump it up to 32GB, but it would be weird for a small device to have 32 gigs.

I posted my opinion of the new Nano in another thread on the subject, but I'll post a bit of it below:
I may be in the minority here, but I actually really like the device that they are calling the Nano now, although I think it might should have been introduced as a different product altogether, instead of replacing the Nano. It's very small, has lots of storage space (for its size), a color touch screen, and still has hardware volume buttons. I love the concept, and have ordered one already to replace my last gen Shuffle and Nano combined, since with the Shuffle I could never select individual tracks that I wanted, and with the Nano I hated having a 3rd party case just to clip it on my shirt or belt when working out. Plus, I never ever used the video camera function of the Nano one single time. Nor have I ever watched video on a screen as small as the Nano. I only bought the last gen Nano for the FM receiver, which this new one has. The new "Nano" is the perfect device for me to merge my Shuffle and Nano usage into one device. But, as I said, I think it should have been introduced as an entirely new iPod line, because I can still see many people wanting the features the last gen Nano has that got removed with this new Nano. The Nano in it's 5th gen form (last year's) should have been left to eventually take over the iPod Classic's spot. This new Nano introduced today should really be a "Shuffle+ (Plus)", or something to that effect. It's basically a tricked out Shuffle, which is exactly what I want for the device. Something that is similar in size to the Shuffle, but with more control over song selection than the Shuffle has.

I agree, they should have have made it the Shuffle touch or like you said, the shuffle plus which is better and make it it's own product and continue the same form factor of the iPod nano but with a slightly larger screen at like 2.4", HD video camera, and possibly a touch screen with 32GB. I'm just disappointed.

 

[shoebobs]

I agree. I still use a 1st Gen Shuffle for this. Anyone have one of those or remember them? LOL The 3rd Gen would have been terrible for running because you had to use the Apple ear buds and they would fall out.

Try these. They're cheap and they work with the iPod ear buds. I've ran hundreds of miles with them and they've never budged.

http://www.budfits.com/

 

[Peterson8765]

To be honest, if this new iPod nano was a reasonable $99, which still sounds like a lot for this small of a product with not a lot of features, I would probably buy it. Archos just released the Archos 28 PMP with a 2.8" touch screen, Android 2.2 Froyo, Wi-Fi, with music, VIDEOS (pun to the new nano), voice recording, speaker, photos, and an okay experience app store. All that for $99 at 4GB and $149 for 8GB which doesn't sound bad. Apple is selling this nano at the same price of $149 at 8GB and $179 for 16GB for a downscaled product. Ugh.

 

[Peterson8765]

Try these. They're cheap and they work with the iPod ear buds. I've ran hundreds of miles with them and they've never budged.

http://www.budfits.com/

Looks pretty cool, but at $8.99 - $12.99 prices plus shipping, wouldn't you might as well get a relatively good set of earbuds?

 

[anthorumor]

The screen literally looks like it's been tacked onto the shuffle. It just looks strange with that black border. Why they didnt just let the screen and the casing meet is mind boggling.

If Apple kept on selling the 5th gen nano alongside the new one I'm sure we'd wonder less

here's how it should have been:

Apple store:
iPod nano 'video' 5th Gen
8GB $119 16GB $149

iPod nano 6th Gen
8GB $99 16GB $129

 

[chris650]

really looking forward to find the wrist band that the nano can be attached to... cook watch!!!!

 

[Peterson8765]

The screen literally looks like it's been tacked onto the shuffle. It just looks strange with that black border. Why they didnt just let the screen and the casing meet is mind boggling.

If Apple kept on selling the 5th gen nano alongside the new one I'm sure we'd wonder less

here's how it should have been:

Apple store:
iPod nano 'video' 5th Gen
8GB $119 16GB $149

iPod nano 6th Gen
8GB $99 16GB $129

Agreed. $99 seems way more reasonable. I got a head ache when Steve said the nano was staying at $149 and $179 for 8GB and 16GB.

 

[anthorumor]

Even though the new nano is built for the active person in mind, did it occur to Apple that perhaps direct sunlight would prohibit the usefulness of a touch screen based inferface? You wouldn't be able to see the thing unlike physical buttons.

And $99 nano - c'mon Apple this is how you entice people into your ecosystem!

 

[bruinsrme]

I agree, they should have have made it the Shuffle touch or like you said, the shuffle plus which is better and make it it's own product and continue the same form factor of the iPod nano but with a slightly larger screen at like 2.4", HD video camera, and possibly a touch screen with 32GB. I'm just disappointed.

I was looking forward to the new nano hoping for a camera improvement and maybe a larger screen.
Unfortunately to me the new nano is a touch screen shuffle.
Put the $200 allocated for a new device towards my sons new tv.

 

[imsoindy]

Go back a decade to when the iPod was invented - What is it for? Playing music, that's it. Sure there are a few people who used the camera and alarm clock and watched video...but the keyword is a few. If people want to have a high functionality device, they should go for the touch, not the nano. All that being said, I only have one beef with the new Nano: the price. 150 wasn't a bad price for the feature-filled 5g, but for such a simplified device (which I'll repeat that I do personally like), there should have been a big price drop. And the 230 entry point for a touch is really high. Price points should be this: 8gb nano - 100, 16gb - 120, 8 gb touch - 175 or even up to 200 and then 100 more for each HD upgrade. This is getting long, but one last point. There were no HD upgrades at all this year. An 8 gb touch sounds like a thing of the past, especially when the tiny new nano with 16 gb is $50 cheaper.

 

[rgarjr]

Go back a decade to when the iPod was invented - What is it for? Playing music, that's it. Sure there are a few people who used the camera and alarm clock and watched video...but the keyword is a few. If people want to have a high functionality device, they should go for the touch, not the nano.

I would agree with that statement except for the fact that the nano already had all those features (bigger screen, video) and were stripped away.

 

[Savor]

I agree that this iPod nano should have an entry price of $99. Instead, Apple took away some features, didn't give it a memory boost, and the price still didn't drop. The minimum $149 price just doesn't seem to warrant a buy for what it actually will offer.

The concept of it being a watch is cool though thanks to its new form factor. Skip this year, but the seeds of an idea to have more potential mp3/gadget watches has already been planted...

 

[iEvolution]

- Same price point, despite the fact I'm sure it is cheaper to manufacture
- No video support
- No camera
- No tactile feedback
- No capacity bumps
- Interface looks like it has no originality to set it apart from the touch

Yeah, not getting this one.

Will definitely get the shuffle, but won't get an iPod Touch until the magic 128GB point is reached [if ever].

 

[aafuss1]

I'm disappointed that Apple got rid of video recording camera on the new nano (sure the quality isn't good, but is fine for me).

Apple could have added some of the previous nano's video effects to the touch (which records video),

 

[smiddlehurst]

Steve hates buttons. That is what happened to the iPod Nano.

The same thinking went into making the 3rd Generation Shuffle. The reason why we see the buttons make a return on the 4th Generation Shuffle is because the 2nd Generation was much more successful. If the 3rd Generation Shuffle was really successful do you think Apple would have went back to a 2nd Generation design? Never.

I don't think the new Nano will do as well on the market, but maybe that is what Apple wants. People look at the Nano and think "that stinks" and then ending up buying an iPod Touch.

Umm, I think you've put the cart before the horse here. It's consumers that have been moving away from the Nano to the Touch for the last couple of years now, Apple have just looked at that trend and decided it's probably not worth building another Nano along the lines of the 5th Generation device as the consumer demand doesn't justify it.

I don't think any of us can say how it'll do on the market but I will say this: Apple just introduced a new nano that looks, well, new. I can't think of much that matches it on the high street and it definately has a niche all its own in the iPod lineup. Based on that I don't think it'll be a disaster at all. Will it sell less than the old Nano? Well, yes, because as Apple said demand was already dropping off for the nano and with the new Touch only $80 more the Nano line was going to suffer no matter what. Frankly with the Touch as capable as it now is it shouldn't come as a surprise to find anything below that in the range being a niche product.

 

[Parkin Pig]

Not for me, thanks

I'm glad I have my 5th gen Nano. The size and form are perfect for me when walking or cycling, and the clickwheel is definitely the control of choice for in-pocket manipulation (cue smutty remarks).

I'm not an anti-touch Luddite, as I have a 2G iPod Touch and an iPad, but I don't want to have to fiddle with an impractically small screen everytime I want to change songs. IMHO the new Nano screen is just too small to be used effectively as a touchscreen, and the interface is a poor compromise. The loss of video playback is another unwelcome step backward.

I like the video camera and its filters on the 5G. Sure it’s only low-res, but it’s for fun, and fine for basic YouTube clips. As they say, the best camera is the one you have with you.

Grumbles aside, I’m sure the new model will sell well, as there is bound to be an audience for it. I think Apple missed an opportunity by not including a full-screen clock, as I would imagine a lot of young people would wear it on their wrist.

...and that’s my 2 (euro)cents

 

[bruinsrme]

Apple cut the nano line, its dead.

What we saw yesterday was:

The ipod shuffle of 2 years ago back from fat camp.

And the introduction of the shuffle pro.