Apple iPod nano 6gen Pro Reviews

You can see why Apple has gone for a new-look nano. In theory, what isn’t there to like about a scaled-down version of the iPod Touch? In the flesh, and in any one of seven different colours, the Nano looks cool.

The new iPod nano is a bit of an enigma. On the one hand, its size and touchscreen interface are sure to generate oohs and aahs, and in many cases provide genuine—and substantial—benefits. On the other hand, the new interface suffers a bit from being confined to a tiny screen, features found on previous models are missing, and the lack of physical playback controls (or at least Apple’s inline-remote earbuds) means the device is less usable than it could be, especially in precisely the environments where it should excel: at the gym and on the go. A slightly larger screen and either basic physical playback controls or Apple’s remote-equipped earbuds would have made for a stellar music player, despite the "lost" features.

Apple’s latest iPod Nano is a simplification of media playback devices. The computer and cellphone giant has finally made three (technically four) separate mobile entities: the Shuffle – light, inexpensive, and for music only; the Nano – screened, high capacity for photos and music, and an excellent exercise companion; and the Touch (or iPhone) – the do-all media device for music, videos, pictures and games. The Nano performs its function marvelously, though interested consumers can purchase similar media players for cheaper. But they won’t find a better, crisper, and cleaner device than the latest 6th generation iPod Nano.

After 10 years of iPod domination, Apple appears incapable of building a bad MP3 player. But it’s not above stumbling over its own feet now and then. Trimming the Nano’s features while keeping its price locked in at $150 has left it as the awkward middle child of the iPod line. If you’re looking for a sporty, go-anywhere MP3 player to keep your heart pumping on a 60-minute run or hit the gym, the $50 iPod Shuffle with physical controls makes a far cheaper, more practical choice. If you’re looking for a robust player that can keep you entertained wherever you go, the cheapest iPod Touch buys you more extra features (superb video playback, HD video recording, Web browsing, apps) than you can dream of for an extra $80.

Apple's mid-level iPod goes super-small, losing some features (and some of its appeal) in its latest iteration.

It isn't that the new iPod nano does anything wrong, but it is a change to the nano line, leaving a regular MP3 player type hole in Apple's line up of music devices. The connector on the bottom means it is still compatible with existing docks, although it looks very strange engulfed in an iPod dock. Perhaps it will find favour with the in-car market due to its size, but for many, we think they would prefer the separate screen and controls of the previous versions. The new Apple iPod nano is a funky little MP3 player and the touch interface works really well. The problem, of course, is that you now have to either buy yourself an extra set of headphones, or lose the ability to change tracks without fishing the device out of your pocket. But buying those headphones is actually a good plan, so for many, the iPod nano will be the perfect little music player.

Comparing the new nano to last year's model we can't help but feel that we're missing out on something. While Apple has given us multi-touch with one hand, it has taken away the ability to play and record video with the other, while charging is £21 more for the trouble. A video-capable 8GB iPod touch is only £30 more expensive, and with an iPod touch you get access to the thousands of apps available on Apple's App Store. If Apple wanted to convince us that taking video playback away from the nano in exchange for multi-touch was a fair deal then it needed to include some sort of nano App Store, or at least bundle a few more apps with the nano beyond the simple Clock, Radio, Photos and Fitness apps you get by default. As it stands, the new nano performs wonderfully as a device purely for listening to audio, provided you invest in some new headphones, but it feels unnecessarily limited in other areas.

To purchase an iPod nano, you have to be happy to do so fully aware than you are paying well over the odds for what is admittedly a beautiful piece of industrial design, but also a work of form over function. But when the form is so exquisite, should you care?

A touch of luxury in a highly desirable package, the new nano has the wow factor no other player can match

Although the nano 2010 dropped features some users may have been fond of--video recording and playback--the revamped iPod nano ushers in a touch-based user interface that feels fresh and is easy to use. We highly recommend it for music-lovers who want something light that they can clip to their clothing while on the go. Athletes, however, might want to take a more critical look. Unless they insist on being able to choose the track that's playing, or like the idea of plugging in the Nike + iPod Kit, they might find that the inexpensive iPod shuffle ($49 for 2GB), with its shorter cord, even smaller form factor, and VoiceOver feature that announces song and playlist titles, makes more ergonomic sense while working out. It's a shame that iPod shoppers need to spend a minimum of $229 now to get video playback (the iPod touch), especially since TV rentals are a low 99 cents. But for music lovers who want a color screen, the nano is an attractive choice.

The new iPod nano really replaces the old iPod shuffle, but now you have a screen and controls and aren't limited just to shuffling. This is a massive improvement. If you are missing the camcorder and video playback and other app features from the old nano, for you there is the new iPod touch, with HD camcorder, iMovie video editing, YouTube upload, a display worthy of video, and iOS apps. With how thin and light and full-featured the iPod touch is, it makes sense now to make that the iPod for everything, and make the nano the best choice for those that want a music player only.

Apple's first misstep in the iPod nano line-up, the sixth-generation model trades its predecessor's click wheel for touch-screen controls. But an ultracompact form factor means the display is much smaller. Plus you lose video capture and playback capability, but it retains the same price.