Fans of the old Apple iPod Nano media players are flocking to the new Apple iPod Nano 5th Generation players. With new features, like a bigger screen, sleeker finish and design, built-in video camera, and voice recognition, what's not to like about the new iPod Nano 5 Gen.? Check out some of the new features below (and read what users have to say about the new iPod Nano as well) and you can easily determine if the new iPod Nano is worth all the hype.
Video Camera: The iPod Nano is Now Fully Equipped!
While we're on the subject of hype, let's start with the most fantastic addition to the iPod Nano 8GB and 16 GB: a video camera. Considering its petite build and slim figure, you're probably wondering how well the iPod Nano actually shoots video. Well, I'm here to tell you, it's not half bad.
Users have equated the iPod Nano 5 video camera to the Flip's video camera, and most say it's comparable, if not better, as far as quality is concerned. And although Apple could've definitely picked a better location for the lens (it's smack dab where you would ordinarily want to hold onto the player), the video captures very well and plays back all those moments you would've missed while running for your real video camera.
What iPod users like most about the new camera is that they no longer have to carry a real camera with them wherever they go. Many say it's great for YouTube videos, since it doesn't have to be in super-high quality, but it can still be edited using the iPhoto software before uploading or sharing.
Watch Your Movies in BIG Screen Edition!
Say goodbye to the old 2-inch iPod Nano 4th Generation screen; the new iPod Nano 5th Generation has a 2.2-inch screen, and while it may not sound like an earth-shattering improvement, the size difference is very obvious, even to a non-iPod user. Movies are so much easier to watch, and navigation is enhanced a great deal with the bigger screen.
If you're into watching tons of movies and TV shows on your iPod, I would still recommend getting the new iPod Touch 32 GB or higher to get the best viewing advantage, but if you're only watching a movie every once in a while on your iPod Nano, the new 5th Generation iPod is a great improvement on the old styles.
Let the Genius Create Your Playlists for You
If you're like me, you like to have control over what your iPod Nano plays in a playlist. I don't ordinarily enjoy a program choosing my playlists for me, but Genius is an exception. It's not like other players or software that choose playlist songs based on "similar artists" (whatever that means.)
With the Genius playlist builder, you get a unique playlist of your music every time, with songs that match not only the artist type, but the style, beat, and rhythm of the songs you want to listen to. So no longer will you get a Michael Bolton song stuck in your exercise routine when you really wanted to hear Cobra Starship.
Tune into the World with the New Built-In FM Radio Tuner
Apple finally got it right. Instead of making a player with an FM Tuner attached to a clunky pair of cheapo headphones, they added an FM Tuner to the player itself, so the new iPod Nano 5th Generation now has a built-in FM radio tuner.
As an extra-sweet feature in the new iPod Nano, the FM tuner now lets you pause up to 15 minutes of live radio playback, so you'll never miss a sports play or your favorite upcoming song after a commercial break. So, really, you can get rid of that static-y radio now, because the iPod Nano radio tuner is all you really need.
Never Check Your iPod to See What's Playing - Just Ask VoiceOver
I myself get really sick of digging my player out of my pocket because I forgot who does a certain song. With my old player, I had to fish it out of wherever I stashed it just to check the artist, album, or song title. But now, with just the click of the wheel, you don't even have to check the screen to see what's playing; simply click the wheel, and iPod's smooth VoiceOver will tell you the artist and the song title without stopping your music.
Okay, so this is a feature one can live without, but it's a pretty nice bonus, nonetheless, and one I would plan on using quite often.
Make Your Own Memos with the Built-In Microphone
That's right. You don't even have to have a set of headphones with a mic attachment to record memos into your new iPod Nano 5. You can simply record the memo and save it for later, when you sync it with iTunes on your computer. Pretty nifty, considering even the iPod Touch 3rd Generation doesn't even let you do that!
Add to Your Workout Routine with the Built-in Pedometer
Remember how your old iPod would've needed a Nike attachment, or didn't even come with this feature at all? Well, Apple still makes you buy the Nike adapter to experience the full workout extent of the iPod Nano 5, but each iPod still comes with a built-in pedometer that doesn't require the use of any attachments whatsoever.
For someone like me who doesn't like buying a special pair of shoes and a Nike attachment, this is a great way to step up your workout routine without spending a fortune. But like I said, the option for the Nike attachment is still here, if you really want to take full advantage of the iPod Nano 5's exercise workout options.
So all-in-all, the new iPod Nano 5th Generation takes advantage of all extra space with a video camera and bigger screen, plus packs all the features you came to love in the old Nano's and packages them up all together in one sweet package: the iPod Nano 5.
But don't just take my word for it. If you're more concerned about what other people think about their new iPod Nano, check out their testimonials below.
Stephen says,
"First reactions? This Nano appears just as sleek and beautiful as the commendable 4th generation Nano. In fact, at first glance, you would not think must different about the newer version. I quickly tried out the recording of video. This was average. It is nice, if you carry your Nano everywhere, to have the ability to take video. Cool. When played back on the Nano, the video looks pretty good. It's average, when played back on your computer. Again, far from bad, but in the age where digital cameras have some great movie modes, you have to simply call the iPod Nano video average, but most of all convenient. Fun too.
Personally, I have found myself most interested in the new Pedometer built into the Nano. It can keep track of your steps during the day, if you keep the device on you all day. I think this could push me to be more active. Again, is this feature really necessary in an iPod? I'm not sure, but keep in mind that this product is popular among fitness gurus for its portability, almost feather-like weight, and solid state memory.
Finally, in a pinch, to listen to a sporting event or particular talk radio show, the new nano includes a FM Turner. Blah you might say? Yes, that is not particularly exciting, BUT the Nano adds one cool feature to FM Radio. You can "pause" the radio up to 15 minutes, such as you might do with the DVR connected to your television. It works flawlessly. Before one asks, no, you cannot schedule radio recordings. Still, the new nano will make FM radio a bit more modern, with this pause function."
Electronic Gadgetphile says,
"I really didn't need a new iPod as I currently own an iPhone 3G(S), two older Nanos, an older 1 GB Shuffle and two iPod Classics in 15 GB and 30 GB configurations that I recently installed new batteries in. But I HAD to have the new one and justified it to myself by Apple's seductive inclusion of an FM radio in this 5th generation edition.
Having said all of that, I am really impressed with this new 5th generation iPod Nano. I find that the FM radio has great reception and is easy to use, unlike the Apple dongle radio attachment I use on my previous generation Nano. The radio software integration is nicely done and very simple to use, set favorite stations and pause as necessary to talk on the phone and then quickly resume where the music or talk show left off for up to 15 minutes.
The playback of pre-recorded movie video is clear and the sound is very good as with earlier iPods. The video recording is point and shoot simple to use but not of very high quality - about what you would expect from a cell phone- but I really don't plan on using this as a video camera. Would have been nice if Apple had included a still camera as well but I suspect the quality would not be acceptable without adding more componentry requiring more space and cost. I did note that this iPod has a speaker built in (which I assume is the microphone as well) but its sound quality is not good.
The pedometer function (Fitness) is interesting and can be used without any external attachments. It only counts steps and not distance so I assume that I will need to multiply the counted steps by stride length to come up with distance walked. Ironically, it does have you put in your weight but I'm not certain how this is used.
The build quality is superb, the unit is very compact and light weight with Apple's customary intuitive user interfaces that make it easy to use right out of the box without reading the instructions (which I dread resorting to anyway). In summary, I am very pleased with my new iPod and am rapidly working on irrefutable justifications for its purchase before the credit card statement arrives and my wife asks, "Did you buy ANOTHER iPod?"."
R. Williams says,
"This is my second iPod and my first Nano. My older (classic) doesn't support Genius and the interface is almost prehistoric compared to this new one.
The fact that you can press "shuffle", then construct a full, almost perfectly-accurate playlist based on the "Genius" database is amazing and worth the price alone.
The video camera is perfect for catching That Adorable Thing your cat/kid/wife just did or said. And the voice recorder is indispensable. My only complaint is that the "voice recorder" function isn't in the main menu, and you can't program it to appear in the main menu when you explore and customize your settings (you can literally add anything else to the main menu but that, and that is very very odd to me).
There is quite a bit of dissent as to why this product got a video camera and the iPod Touch did not. The biggest rumor is a software/compatibility issue. I don't think that's the case. The iPod Touch is going to go on a crusade to compete with other handheld gaming platforms like the PSP and the Nintendo DS. It is my opinion that they will be pushing the Nano as the "this is the music/media you wanted... our bigger brother is for all you folks who want to bridge the gap between your smart phone and your laptop".
I, for one, am fine with that.
If you are thinking of upgrading and you don't want all the distractions (games, mail, gps, etc) that come with the iPod Touch, this is the item for you. I am able to fit 16 gigs of music and video into a sliver of metal that fits into the credit card slot of my wallet. That's pretty remarkable."
So whether you're already an avid iPod Nano fan, or are just getting hooked on the Apple iPod Nano experience, the new features of the iPod Nano 5th Generation are sure to blow your mind.
You can learn more about the new iPod Nano here or buy Apple ipod nano here.
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