iPod nano Statistics

The dimensions of the 3 third generation iPod Nano are an impressive 70 x 52 mm, with a thickness of 6mm! It weighs in at around 49 grams. The new Nano is a very compact device and is particularly thin. It’s also available in five different colours.

The Nano’s body is made of aluminium, like the Classics’s; the front has an anodized finish and the back cover has the usual iPod shine. The back is less prone to scratching than the Classic; this may be due to the fact that the player, as a whole, is lighter. It’s still very difficult to keep it from scratching and some form of protection is indispensable. It’s the same for fingerprints, which were unavoidable on the iPod classic.

Despite the Nano’s new format, there’s been no revolution in its capacity or its announced battery life. It’s quite similar to the previous generations; there are 4 and 8 GB models, and the battery of both is be good for around 24 hours of music playback. The supported formats are the same as those of the Classic. This means that (and this is a big new advantage) the iPod Nano supports video files on top of music files. Its power supply is identical to that of the iPod Classic. The Nano still includes a Li-ion battery, and is charged via a USB port. It doesn’t come with a plug adapter.

Design and Use

Apple’s Click-wheel is also great on the iPod nano! Considering its size, a scroll wheel like the one on the Classic would take up nearly all of the face. Instead we find a miniature Click-wheel. In spite of the change in form, the Click-wheel on the “Fatty” is actually narrower than those on previous Nanos. A certain precision is required to handle it, but it doesn’t really lose its intuitive usability. It’s sensitive enough to be used perfectly.

In reality, even with much smaller dimensions we prefer it to the Ipod Classic’s. Here you do not need to “wake” the controls to make sure that your commands have been picked up. With a little getting used to, it becomes easy to quickly select the right menu items on the screen in a single attempt. In some circumstances, the scroll wheel actually seems to be more accurate than that of the last generation Nano. It’s much easier to work with the new model than with its predecessor.

With regards everything else, the click-commands are no simpler or more comfortable to carry out (due to the narrowness of the wheel) but it’s acceptable given the player’s dimensions. Being so small means that precise commands require you to apply a nail. We’d have preferred something a little more practical. Overall, the Nano’s menus are a success, thanks to the Click-wheel interface.

Is the new Nano too small?

When questioning people interested in mp3 players, even with a small capacity, a criticism comes up quite often concerning the iPod nano: it is “too small”. It’s true that with a width of 6.5mm, you can find yourself asking the same question; is the new Nano too small?.

In practice, the answer is varied. Its dimensions are perfectly optimal to be slid into a pocket and forgotten about and we couldn’t dream of a better mp3 player when it comes to keeping it a pocket. It makes itself forgettable, both from the owner’s point of view and from the point of view of a casual observer. It’s perfectly comfortable in the narrowest of jean pockets.

However it is sometimes too comfortable... Here we see the first problem; the Nano tends to fall to the bottom of the pocket, and its new format makes it harder to reach than its predecessor. Surprisingly, it’s possible to slide the old Nano into a “lighter pocket” (or a “Johnny pocket”), which is far from being guaranteed with the new model.

A more pressing problem occurs once the iPod Nano is out of your pocket, and in your hand. Its new format means that the click-wheel is at the bottom of the mp3 player. To use it one-handed, you need to use your thumb for the Click-wheel and have two fingers beneath the mp3 player to hold it relatively firmly. Here its lightness is appreciated, but its design is less practical than that of the older iPod Nano. It is, however, a sacrifice that seems necessary faced with the huge progress made with the screen of the device.