iPod Pathetic Nano Update: Do you think there will more more storage in the future or end of the line?

[Dark Void]

It never ceases to amaze me how so many people don't see the value in the differences between the iPod Touch and the iPod Nano. Oh, and the iOS music app has progressively gone downhill since iOS 7.x.

If you were referring to me, it's not that I don't see the value in the differences it's just that I feel that there is much more to be had out of an iPod Touch for a small amount of money in comparison to what brings.

I understand why it would appeal to some - its size, layout and basic UI may appeal to some, but I still question it at the same time because I feel that for what it is, it is extremely overpriced especially considering you can get a Touch for just a bit more and it is a much more versatile device.

Is the music application something that is really that much worse than what is provided on the Nano? The answer to some may be yes, but I feel like it is a bit of stretch to use in comparison. It's basically the same when looking at it from a touchscreen point of view. It only recently became cluttered with the revamp that came along with Apple Music. I just feel like it would be silly for someone to state "I don't want the iPod Touch because it uses iOS' Music application" but to each their own.

 

[Traverse]

Another quick question. Since the iP

Is the music application something that is really that much worse than what is provided on the Nano? The answer to some may be yes, but I feel like it is a bit of stretch to use in comparison. It's basically the same when looking at it from a touchscreen point of view. It only recently became cluttered with the revamp that came along with Apple Music. I just feel like it would be silly for someone to state "I don't want the iPod Touch because it uses iOS' Music application" but to each their own.

I can only answer for myself on this.

I would buy an iPod Touch as a music and video only media device in the future simply because it is the only smaller device Apple offers with a high capacity. The reason I like the Nano is mainly the size. Would I go buy a difference device solely because of the iOS Music app, but the Nano brings it's own benefits, mainly the size.

I often use music as sleep aid and a Nano is so small and light that it doesn't get in the way. I don't have a mini heart attack if it's knocked off the bed and it doesn't flop around in my paints when I run. I also like the physical buttons because when I was sleeping earlier I could feel around and adjust the playback without having to open my eyes and look at screen (which makes me wake up). Plus, I love the simple nature of the device. It does one thing and does it well. I don't have to sign into iCloud, I don't get texts, no email, no 3rd party app distractions. I like that.

Unfortunately, like @sracer said, the market for music devices has really fallen. I did a search on Amazon and you either have theres extremely expensive audiophile devices or cheap $20 iPod knock offs. If the iPhones would get better battery life where I could watch video on the road and listen to music without battery anxiety they could become my primary media device (but I will always have a place for a small music device for exercise and sleep).

 

[Dark Void]

I often use music as sleep aid and a Nano is so small and light that it doesn't get in the way. I don't have a mini heart attack if it's knocked off the bed and it doesn't flop around in my paints when I run. I also like the physical buttons because when I was sleeping earlier I could feel around and adjust the playback without having to open my eyes and look at screen (which makes me wake up). Plus, I love the simple nature of the device. It does one thing and does it well. I don't have to sign into iCloud, I don't get texts, no email, no 3rd party app distractions. I like that.

Hey, fair enough, I'd support whatever works for you. I just have a different opinion that's all. I do agree on the buttons however, when I made the transition from an iPod Classic to an iPod Touch, the touchscreen-only navigation was a pain at first.

 

[Traverse]

@sracer @Jessica Lares

Well, after thinking about both of your feedbacks, and despite all my negative talk, I got one.



The new darker Space Gray is sharp. I just came to sracer’s realization that this is about as good as the iPods will get. Making less than 1% of their revenue, Apple’s not going to refine these much more (except for maybe the touch). And if Apple does surprise use and released a 32GB model one day then it’s not a huge deal. $150, while not pocket change, doesn’t exactly break the bank.

I’m happy, so I guess that’s the main thing.

Also, after comparing a refurb Nano with a new one I realized the new one (1) had touch input for better scrolling, (2) bluetooth, (3) easier to feel physical buttons, and (4) 20% better battery life.

EDIT: Wow, this thing syncs fast. Way faster than any other device I have.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Nice setup there.

Yeah, it DOES sync really fast. Don't know why, but I wish my other devices did too. My iPod Touch took a whole hour a few weeks ago to re-sync my library! (but it is a lot of music though)

Ha, tell us how you REALLY feel in a week or so.

 

[sracer]

Congrats! It does sync quite quickly. It's a fun little device. Amazingly small.

 

[nutmac]

According to Gruber, there's nobody left on the iPod software team, they've all been moved to Apple Watch development. No software updates probably means no hardware updates.

Yup, iPod nano and shuffle are essentially abandoned. If Apple allowed just one engineer to update iPod nano's UI to iOS 7 style, nano fans wouldn't be as disappointed.

Bigger questions are how Apple intends to phase out nano and shuffle and which will die first. iPod classic died 5 years after receiving a minor hardware update. iPod shuffle hasn't received hardware update in 5 years but still chugging along, and nano 3 years. I doubt Apple will even bother to merge these products into one (e.g., $79 iPod nano with 4GB). I am guessing they will simply be discontinued in current form when demand falls off to iPod classic level.

 

[Traverse]

Yup, iPod nano and shuffle are essentially abandoned. If Apple allowed just one engineer to update iPod nano's UI to iOS 7 style, nano fans wouldn't be as disappointed.

Bigger.

You see, I don't mind and actually prefer that they don't touch the software UI. I prefer a black music player on a black device! If it had ever been redesigned to match the other devices it would have been white backgrounds with tiny font. I like the dark look, especially at night.

 

[sracer]

Yup, iPod nano and shuffle are essentially abandoned. If Apple allowed just one engineer to update iPod nano's UI to iOS 7 style, nano fans wouldn't be as disappointed.

I'm a Nano fan... still regularly use a 3rd, 6th, and 7th gen. I would be greatly disappointed if they updated the Nano's UI to an iOS7 UI style. I don't know why you think that such an update would be universally seen as a positive thing.

Bigger questions are how Apple intends to phase out nano and shuffle and which will die first.

Pretty irrelevant as to HOW Apple will phase them out (if they decide to discontinue them). If anyone wants one, get one now. Virtually anything is possible. Apple could decide to update the Nano next year to support Apple Music. Apple could continue to produce the Nano for the foreseeable future.

 

[Traverse]

Pretty irrelevant as to HOW Apple will phase them out (if they decide to discontinue them). If anyone wants one, get one now. Virtually anything is possible. Apple could decide to update the Nano next year to support Apple Music. Apple could continue to produce the Nano for the foreseeable future.

That was my realization. I think it will be around for a little while since they updated the color. I really don't see any more updates, but it's possible. If they ever update it with 32GB ill run out and get one.

As for software, even if there was an update, I wouldn't update. This software is perfect for a music player and makes me miss the same function in iOS. I mean, I had to make smart playlists just for artists because Apple made it way too annoying to shuffle all songs by one artists on iOS 8.4. I also love the bold text which is sometimes more glance able on this relatively low resolution screen than on my iPhone due to the thin fonts on murky transluceny in iOS.

 

[Traverse]

@sracer or @Jessica Lares

Do smart playlists update on the iPod itself or do you have to sync with iTunes to refresh them? Forum search leads to varying answers. I assume you'd have to sync it.

Also, do playlists that pull from other playlists work on the iPod? I can't try it right now and I've seen varying answers online.

 

[sracer]

@sracer or @Jessica Lares

Do smart playlists update on the iPod itself or do you have to sync with iTunes to refresh them? Forum search leads to varying answers. I assume you'd have to sync it.

Also, do playlists that pull from other playlists work on the iPod? I can't try it right now and I've seen varying answers online.

I have only had my smartlists update when syncing with iTunes. I don't have any "nested" playlists... never considered them before. But that is an interesting concept that I will have to try.

 

[Traverse]

I have only had my smartlists update when syncing with iTunes. I don't have any "nested" playlists... never considered them before. But that is an interesting concept that I will have to try.

I Googled some smart playlists ideas and there are some really inventive ones to create your own radio station experiences by pulling songs from other smart playlists, but it looks like the source smart playlists will need to be on the iPod or the main playlists that pulls from them will be missing songs.

 

[speedyraf]

On the current iPod nano, did anyone notice changes to the software to add other capabilities as in calendars and contacts? Does it still sync locally - disk mode?

 

[Traverse]

On the current iPod nano, did anyone notice changes to the software to add other capabilities as in calendars and contacts? Does it still sync locally - disk mode?

It was just a maintence update to sync with iTunes 12.2. No new or changed functionality.

 

[Traverse]

Ha, tell us how you REALLY feel in a week or so.

Still in love with it! It's a perfect little music device for around the house, bed, or exercise. Plus, it really has this premium, yet cute candy bar feel. It reminds me of a part of a Hershey bar. I love how it still uses the iOS 6 black music player so the entire device gets this dark monolithic form (since I have the black one). I would have disliked an iOS 7 style white player.

I showed it to my friend who, to be honest, really doesn't like Apple and even she loved it. But she wouldn't pay $150 for it. I think 32GB at $99 would have been my dream. Aww well, I let I have a 16GB one.

 

[Traverse]

@Jessica Lares @sracer

I've been using it along side my 5th gen and I do have to say that I prefer the touch-input for scrolling through long lists of songs and albums. I never thought I'd say that though. You know what would be neat? If they put the Nano volume and music control button on the iPod Touch!

 

[sracer]

@Jessica Lares @sracer

I've been using it along side my 5th gen and I do have to say that I prefer the touch-input for scrolling through long lists of songs and albums. I never thought I'd say that though. You know what would be neat? If they put the Nano volume and music control button on the iPod Touch!

Yep. What's also neat is the ability to touch the right-edge of the list to directly go to different sections of the list.

volume/music controls would be a step in the right direction, but not sufficient IMO. The music app on the Nano feels better than the iOS music app. And I haven't found an iOS app that has a clean uncluttered UI that offers EQ and crossfading.

 

[Jessica Lares]

@Jessica Lares @sracer

I've been using it along side my 5th gen and I do have to say that I prefer the touch-input for scrolling through long lists of songs and albums. I never thought I'd say that though. You know what would be neat? If they put the Nano volume and music control button on the iPod Touch!

Well, they do have the volume buttons. I'd love a separate control button too, I don't care to have them on headphones/earphones, I've never found any I liked using anyway.

 

[Traverse]

Well, they do have the volume buttons. I'd love a separate control button too, I don't care to have them on headphones/earphones, I've never found any I liked using anyway.

And several third party headphones don't have controls or don't always work correctly with iOS.

 

[Traverse]

Yep. What's also neat is the ability to touch the right-edge of the list to directly go to different sections of the list.

volume/music controls would be a step in the right direction, but not sufficient IMO. The music app on the Nano feels better than the iOS music app. And I haven't found an iOS app that has a clean uncluttered UI that offers EQ and crossfading.

I'm genuinely surprised that someone hasn't made an iOS 6 style music player with those features. Perhaps Apple won't approve it?

 

[Traverse]

I just got a notice for iPod software update 1.1.1

Has anyone tried that? THere's no UI changes are there?

EDIT: No UI changes, but it gave me 0.02GB more space. Anything's nice. :/

 

[Traverse]

@sracer
@Jessica Lares

I know you probably don't care, but with all the complaining on this forum, I thought I'd comment on how much I love this little thing! It's quickly become one of my favorite pieces of Apple tech.

I'm actually surprised how much I like it. It's just a fun little device. I find that I'm even using it to listen to music when couch surfing on my iPad instead of the iPad itself. Ever since iOS 7, all of my iOS devices have a tendency to stutter on background music when doing other things like browsing the web or jumping between apps. That combined with all of the texts and emails I get, it isn't bad, but not great.

Also, I have many sleeping problems, but I refuse to take strong medication, and this little device has been extremely helpful! It's so small and light that it doesn't pull at me when I turn over or move and catch the cable. It's also so small and light that I hardly notice it's in the bed and I'm not worried about knocking it off because it won't get hurt from a 2' drop on carpet (knocking my phone off would give me a mini heart attack). I would never let myself get completely asleep with my iPhone until I put it back on the nightstand. Plus, some jerk called me at like 1am once and almost scared me off the bed. Even when silenced, if you get a call or notification with headphones in, it sounds though the headphones unless you use Do Not Disturb.

If I would have known how much I loved this little thing, I would have bought one back in 2012!

 

[Jessica Lares]

Glad to hear!

I usually am using my iPods when I'm on my iPad too. In my case, headphones other than the Apple ones don't fit in the keyboard case's hole for the jack.

Do you not have DND scheduled then?

 

[Traverse]

Do you not have DND scheduled then?

Honestly, I've never used it and I go to sleep at different times so I'd use the Control Center action. I get many important emails and never wanted to stop those notifications. Plus, I'm afraid it will get left on (or glitch) and I'll miss some notifications. Do alerts still appear on the lock screen when you manually turn it on?

Plus, it doesn't work when the screen is active and you are using the device I believe, but am not sure.