Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (4th Generation) Reviews

• Nano Got Ya's

  
  By A16QTL665GL58K on 2008-09-19
  Just purchased the 8G 4th generation Nano for my 14yr old. He loves it but has expressed concern about the battery life. Not a serious issue but be advised it does not last as long as previous Nano's. Also, the traditional USB based charging accessories do not charge this device. Only a standard computer based USB port seems to work. We tried to use various older ac-usb,battery pwr USB, DC-usb nothing charged it. Seems Apple decided to wire the pwr to the USB pins and not the firewire. Has caused another "Apple" generated situation where you have to go out and purchase product specific accessories.
  
  

• Good Ideas, Poor Execution

  
  By A1RDPVTGOPPN9U on 2008-09-23
  With introductions like the accelerometer, genius, redesigned interface, and an even smaller package, who couldn't love Apple's new Ipod nano? While these sound like great additions, they really don't result in a better ipod. While the new interface, genius, and size, don't hurt, the accelerometer really ruins the whole package. The accelerometer might work well in the iphone and ipod touch, in the nano it is just really annoying. It is way to sensitive and causes problems with simple things like volume. The accelerometer often changes the now playing screen to the cover flow which keeps the volume from being changed without the ipod being pulled out and flipped. The shake to shuffle also causes problems, it is to sensitive as well and will activate when it is not intended to. At least the shake to shuffle can be turned off, I just wish the the accelerometer as a whole could be turned off. If it had that capacity this review could have easily turned from a 2 to a 5.
  
  

• WARNING WARNING WARNING

  
  By A3H2BXH6TNY8AU on 2008-09-27
  The new 4G nanos are NOT compatible with any of the old accessories: speakers, car cables, clock radios, docking stations, etc. If you routinely listen through one of these devices, please be aware that your new nano will not charge through these items. They will also burn through your battery because they prohibit your iPod from going into "power saver" mode- and the only way to charge the new iPod is through the USB cable on your computer. Apple does not tell you this anywhere. When I complained Apple told me "too bad." They told me all accessories that were compatible are listed on their website. WRONG- my products are not on the website at all- but is compatible with 4 other iPods we have in the house (including a new 80GB). The tech also mentioned "currently we have no speaker systems compatible with the 4G nano." Nice of them to make this public knowledge before everyone upgrades.
  
  Besides that, the new wheel feels cheap, is smaller and more difficult to use than the wheel on my old 2nd generation nano. Should have stuck with that- but needed the bigger memory size. Nice look, good screen colors and viewing, but I just can't get past that all my old systems are useless for this new and improved iPod.
  
  

• Update: COVERFLOW CAN NOW BE DISABLED! (New rating: 4 stars)

  
  By A1ZG9WMHNMGY62 on 2008-10-02
  11/12/2008 UPDATE:
  Apple has released a software update (via iTunes) that will allow the user of a 4th generation iPod nano to disable the Coverflow view (which activates upon tilting the nano horizontally). This was a major gripe for many but a big "thumbs-up" to Apple for resolving this issue.
  
  Note: I'd update the 4G nano's rating from my earlier 2 stars to 4 but Amazon does not allow me to modify that part (is this a glaring oversight by Amazon, or a glitch with my Firefox brower?).
  
  -----
  
  Real world testing was not in Apple's nano 4G design process. Otherwise they would've included an option to disable that idiotic Coverflow so users could make casual adjustments to volume and songs by feel. The nano 4G requires you to orientate it vertically to gain back access to those controls! Not good. Maybe Apple will release a software update to remedy this oversight, but they're notorious for not listening to their customers so I returned my nano 4G to Amazon. Colors are vibrant and beautiful, audio quality is excellent, and it feels great in the hand, but if you want a nano then get the 3G one instead...you'll be much happier.
  
  

• Some nice improvement but incompatible with Bose...

  
  By A2MR7JGGFD394J on 2008-10-08
  Having 16GB of storage is a huge plus for the new version of the Nano.
  
  The control wheel seems a bit "stiff" and it is not as responsive as past versions but it works fine.
  
  The menus and setup choices have been improved. These are nice but don't make a major difference. "Shake" shuffle is a bit silly (in my opinion it is just as easy to push the advance on the control wheel) but it can easily be turned off.
  
  BIG MINUS - Apple un-necessarily changed the plug on this version of the Nano. The unit will not charge using my older iPod chargers. The bigger issue is that my Bose and other expensive speaker units will play this Nano but they won't charge it.
  
  Apple is beginning to act more and more like Microsoft - forcing its customers to make un-necessary software upgrades and expensive hardware changes in order to use their latest product versions.
  
  Anyway - the Nano is a great product. If you already have a Nano the only justification I can find to upgrade would be the need for more storage or the desire to play video on a very small screen.
  
  If you don't need the video or more music storage you should stick with your older Nano.
  
  
  
  
• very disappointed!
  By A2JYRAJVNV6HHC on 2008-10-27
  The 5-STAR reviews are all written by one or two people! Do not believe them!
  What a major mistake Apple made in designing this thing. It is so frustrating trying to deal with this accelerometer; it will drive you crazy! It is so annoying and unavoidable it will make you not want to bring your Nano with you. Just the slightest movement and the Nano goes into a different mode - I don't want it to go into a different mode! I was really looking forward to my new nano. I am returning it tomorrow.
  
  
  
• Not compatible with old gear.
  By A3R9GDKTPJ56LO on 2008-10-07
  This is utter nonsense. I have a Tivoli iyiyi that I love and that worked wonderfully with my last ipod. This one displays a message saying that charging is not supported, then it freezes after a few moments. It does exactly the same thing on my Honda ipod port in my Accord. This is just outrageous considering I now have several hundred dollars worth of apparently useless ipod gear, not to mention a useless ipod. I strongly recommend that you consider this problem if you have older ipod compatible gear and that you consider not getting into ipods at all if they are going to keep changing it's compatibility.
  
  
• More storage, more features, more colors
  By A24MH3V114NGOP on 2008-09-09
  I've purchased every generation of the iPod Nano. My favorite form factor was the second generation - thin, light, tall. My favorite feature set was in the third generation, the first to offer video and Coverflow. The 4G Nano combines the best aspects of Generations 2 and 3, bumps the maximum memory to 16Gb - I'd hoped for 32Gb - and throws in some of the more useful features of the iPod Touch as well: accelerometer, portrait/landscape mode for video and pictures, voice recording.
  
  If you're looking for a top video experience or need an Internet appliance, the iPod Touch is the better way to go, especially with the 2.x firmware and AppStore support. The Touch is beautiful, and approaches a PDA/Palm device for functionality. But for a light, easy to operate audio player, it's hard to beat the Nano. The "missing" features (FM radio/recorder) mean nothing to me; I don't use them on the device that do have it. Of the dozen-plus MP3 players I've used, nothing else comes close for speed, ease of use, and in-pocket operation.
  
  Limitations of the device are more about iTunes: no subscription service. If Apple ever offered one, I'd drop Rhapsody and the Sansa player in a heartbeat. The new iPod / iTunes Genius feature, similar to Pandora and the Rhapsody Channels feature, could close that gap, but only with my existing library. If you really want Pandora, the iPod Touch (with active WiFi) has the actual Pandora app for streaming music.
  
  Other limitations that for the moment aren't a big deal to me: stereo bluetooth support, FM play/recording, lack of support for FLAC, OGG and WMA files; screen isn't 16:9 for optimal widescreen video; memory expansion via micro-SDHC. If these are important to you, look elsewhere.
  
  I confess I preferred the understated colors on the 3G Nano and the black of the earlier generations; the electric-rainbow ROYGBIV color scheme is too much for me, though my wife is thrilled. The black one speaks to me.
  
  All in all: the best keeps getting better. The Nano is my go-to device over 90% of the time for no-hassle audio, chiefly podcasts and audiobooks. Audio, the least interesting feature of the Touch, is the Nano's specialty. For about the price of the first-generation 32Gb Touch, you can get a 16Gb 4G Nano and a 16Gb 2G Touch, and enjoy the best of both worlds.
  
  
• I just got it today and I'm loving it
  By A1TW9ZGRDQQZ2Y on 2008-09-15
  I sold my 30 GB 5th Generation iPod that I had for two years and upgraded to this new 4th Generation Nano. I bought the red one off Apple's website (only place you can get that color) and it looks and functions great. The screen is crystal clear and you can turn it sideways for cover flow of all your music, watching videos, looking at pictures or playing games. If you get bored with a song and want to change things up, just shake your iPod (it takes some force, so it won't change if your exercising) and it will jump around your music library and surprise you. The 8 GB version is enough for me because I only use it for music, but the 16 GB is worth the extra $50.00 if you want more than 150 albums or a lot of videos on it. The genius feature is pretty neat as well. You play a song, activate the feature, and it finds other tunes that go good with the one playing.
  
  I love this new iPod! I'm glad I got rid of my bulky one for this sleek looking design.
  
  
• You might want to wait
  By A2L5LSSQ6MDRMU on 2008-09-20
  While this nano is pretty to look at and has a few novel features, it does have an extremely irritating draw back: It can only be charged with an approved apple device or with your computer's USB port.
  
  It will not charge with my Altec Lansing In-motion speakers, as did the previous generation, or the iPod cable on my JVC HD car stereo which also worked just fine with my old nano. These were not inexpensive devices that I purchased to make the most of my 2nd generation nano. While my 4th generation will play with these devices it will not charge. I get an error message that says it is not an approved charging device.
  
  As if this were not enough, the new interface and larger screen drain the battery at an alarming rate. If I had not had the newest nano engraved I would have returned it and waited until the folks at Apple had been cured of their proprietary ways. Now I can only hope for a firmware update that will resolve the issue.
  
  
• GREAT BUT DOESN'T CHARGE IN OLDER DOCKS! BEWARE!
  By A378TF7PX9HV69 on 2008-10-03
  Works great and PLAYS FINE in older speaker systems, but HEADS UP: NANO 4G WILL NOT CHARGE IN MOST OLDER SPEAKER SYSTEMS. Brought it home from apple store today, and doesn't charge in my ihome, altec lansing IM7, or my car FM transmitter module.
  
  Has to do with the pin configuration, and it now only charges via USB (and not firewire). Scroll to the bottom of this macworld article (3rd or 4th to last paragraph) [...]
  
  If you have a lot invested in ipod speakers/etc, beware that they may not charge it. So you'll have to reinvest. Else a fine ipod.
  
  
• No compatibilty
  By AALNRIOAGGESN on 2008-10-06
  Product worked as well as my previous Ipods for the 1 1/2 hours I kept it. Unfortunately, due to a change in the power configuration to save a few cents by Apple, the Ipod would not recharge from either of my car adapters or an Altec Lansing iM3 speaker system. Don't buy this product unless you are willing to replace your accessories or buy an expensive and unwieldy adapter. Your money, your choice!
  
  
• Great ipod for a good price
  By A1PN2U0AWXGVML on 2008-09-11
  Having owned every generation of nano, this is the best, beating the 3rd generation only slightly. The accelerometer works good and there is an included game that uses it. The Genius feature is great and seems more useful than I would have thought. A new spoken menu system works well. Similar to car GPS, its text to speech. The visually impaired will love this ipod.
  However, using the click wheel isn't as easy as the 3rd generation however. The third was easier to hold and use than this one. Battery life has dropped from 5 to 4 hours with this one. There still isn't a built in FM radio like so many other Mp3 players such as sansa and zune. But for $149 for an 8gig, this is a great music player. Built very solid. The first generation nanos had such a soft plastic casing that even cotton jeans would scratch it. Just about everyone was upset about that. So while we didn't get some key features, for the price the player is quite a bargin.
  
  
• Not adaptable
  By A27IUV3N7JK20Z on 2008-10-04
  Really excited to replace my older nano, not so much excitement on my second day. Charging is not an option unless you have your mac with you. The car wont charge it, all the speaker docks wont charge it....
  And the life of the battery? 4 hours!
  
  
• First time I feel apple has a bad design
  By A3PIC4C000MYVZ on 2008-09-19
  In an attempt to keep the product looking and feeling small, they have curved the case of the new nano. This has resulted in a curved surface for the screen. If there is a direct light source, it is hard to angle the unit in order to view the whole screen without glare.
  
  
• Finally a leap in the right direction
  By A2EC5VOD8Y8BT7 on 2008-09-21
  I'm not sure where to start exactly, since there seems to be an almost endless amount of good I can say about this little wonder.
  Let's start with the first thing I love about it; NO MIRRORED ALUMINUM BACKING. Now now, I know that this is a huge thing for some people since it's sort of Apple's signature and all, but I'm so happy that it's not there since all it does is get scratched up and ugly anyway. Instead it's replaced by a wrap-around brushed aluminum design which doesn't scratch nearly as easy and will stay looking great for years to come (at least my shuffle of the same design has).
  Another thing I noticed about the player is an almost silent noise floor. For the not so geeky crowd, the noise floor is the level of audible background noise caused by the unit itself (that hiss you hear when music isn't playing). Although most people never notice it because they use the standard Apple headphones, it becomes more noticeable with higher end headphones that possess a greater frequency range. Again, this may not seem like much, but to an audiophile like me you can't begin to put a price on it.
  I'll cut in real quick though with something I'm not too crazy about that Apple is promoting the hell out of right now so I can get it out of the way, and that's the "Genius" feature. The problem is that "Genius" is more "Retarded" than anything else... I wish I could think of a better way to put it but I really can't. You see, when you activate Genius, it's supposed to find similar songs on your iPod or in your library for you to listen to and also recommend other music you might like. The problem is though that there appears to be little to any rhyme or reason to how it selects these songs... For example, activating Genius while listening to Grow Up and Blow Away by Metric (Alt with a soft rock overtone), created a playlist with things like Kill the Poor by The Dead Kennedys (hardcore punk rock). It got it right now and then but was usually the difference between night and day. It's not a feature you're required to use to play your music though so no harm done.
  Also new to the nano is the use of accelerometers like those present in the Touch and iPhone, allowing you to tilt it to watch a video or enter cover flow to browse albums quicker. You can also give it a quick shake to enter shuffle mode, but this isn't as useful as the other features I just mentioned... If the games that are already present on the unit are any indication however, Apple looks to be planning to use this feature extensively and to its full potential in the future.
  The biggest thing that I feel will draw people in however is how big this player isn't. It's roughly the width and length of two sticks of gum sitting next to each other, and only about as think as if there were two more stacked on top of them. Making it incredibly convenient to carry with you virtually anywhere. And at only $150 for an 8GB and $200 for a 16, it's becoming harder to pass these up even with the stiff competition from other competent companies like Sandisk (Sansa) and Creative (zen).
  
  Don't feel like it's a total overhaul though, features that haven't changed are plenty as well.
  The overall interface is the same, and can have a bit of a learning curve if you use the brute force figure it out as you go approach (this was my fist actual iPod myself, since my previous was a menuless shuffle) but can be easily used to it's full potential by logging onto the Apple website for the full manual.
  The docking port looks the same as any of the other iPods, but that doesn't always mean it's compatible with various players. I don't own any docks myself, so I can't comment personally. Although I'm taking a wait and see stand on this though, as many docks seem to have compatibility issues as each generation comes and goes.
  
  Overall it's a wonderful little music player that surely wont disappoint, from the casual listener to the hardcore music junkie, it's a must to be considered for anyone in the market.
  
  Update 10/14/08: I've noticed as I use the player more that occasionally the click wheel has a tendency to "lag" a bit behind or is slow to respond. Hopefully this issue will be fixed in a software update though, since from the way it happens I don't think it's a hardware issue. In any case, it isn't a huge deal unless you plan on playing a ton of games. But that doesn't mean that it wouldn't still be nice to have it fixed.
  
  
• Warning - your accessories may not work
  By A1UNDE5M15QW8C on 2008-09-29
  This nano has two big probems for me. 1. None of my accessories will work with it. 2. There is no nano lanyard solution from apple or from anyone else yet and some are not planning on making one.
  I have Logitech MM50 portable powered speakers - fabulous product with 10 hr battery life and a remote. All the prior generations are charged while inserted in the cradle but not the Gen4 nanos. Ditto for older 110V chargers, and for car chargers. I don't know if every product doesn't work but these don't.
  Lanyard - The benefit of the nano is its small size. For me a lanyard, hangs around my neck and the in-ear sound isolating buds just reach from my neck to ears - so no cables to get in the way. Inside the shirt it is inconspicuous, outside its jewelry. The spacing between the power plug and headphone plug doesn't match any of the prior nanos - so none of the lanyard solutions work either. For me this is a non starter.
  
  
  
  
• Design Flaw in New Nano Beware
  By A34M93HBCHCMKA on 2008-09-23
  I purchased an 8 GB shiny pink Nano from Amazon. I was so excited to see that the Nano returned to the design style I like, longer and sleeker. I followed the instructions to power the Nano and attempted to sync it with iTunes. Everything worked flawlessly, as I expected. That was until I disconnected the Nano from the USB cable and touched a button. Suddenly the screen lock came on and I could do nothing. I mean, nothing. I thought perhaps I made a mistake and so I tried it again...and again...and again...and again...again and again and again.
  
  I searched the Internet to see if anyone else had this problem. Low and behold some people did. Some were able to fix it by simply resetting the Nano to it's factory setting, which I tried again x 5. I really didn't want to send the Nano back because I thought, it has to be something I'm doing, Apple products generally work very well.
  
  No, it's not something I was doing. It is an annoying glitch that Apple needs to fix. The screen lock capability is a very nice feature, but not when it defaults automatically without any type of reset. So I returned it and got my money back. Then I found a Samsung P2 touch at a pawn shop for $50. Sleek, red and it totally rocks. So my Nano experience is over and my Samsung experience has begun.
  
  
• Total disapointment
  By AQBHKU60J9VMS on 2008-09-29
  I bought one of these from the Apple store, and the display was awesome. And that's where it ends. The battery life is about 4-5 hours, as opposed to 24-25 hours. Ridiculous! The artwork for the albums somehow can get mixed up, so when I am listening to ABBA Gold, the artwork to Korn: Untouchables shows. The cover flow is one of the most irritating aspects; I don't want to hold my Ipod totally erect while walking, but if it gets shifted to the side, the wheel no longer controls the volume but the album cover flow, and this can't be turned off. And the "shake the Ipod to change the song" rarely works.
  
  This is my second one, I thought I got a bugged one the first time. I am going to take this one back as well.
  
  Oh, I guess the purple color is beautiful. Oh well =P
  
  
• Advancement and stagnation in one tiny package... Stagvancement?
  By A32GTBNJDU2SJ3 on 2008-09-20
  Pros:
  -Sleeker, slimmer design.
  -Return of the taller (better) body.
  -Still easy to use, as ever.
  Cons:
  -STILL no support of FLAC and other superior formats.
  -STILL no FM radio.
  -STILL no Bluetooth/WiFi, etc.
  -STILL some of the sh***iest audio quality among PMPs (I'm talking just plain abysmal).
  -STILL not enough flash memory, especially given the premium price.
  
  Final judgment:
  If, like my old lady, you like what iPods have done right and can live with what they do oh-so-wrong, then you'll love the newest addition to the line. If, on the other hand, you're like me and can't live without your Cowon PMP - if substance, compatibility and audio quality are more important than style and ease of navigation - then you might want to go an Apple-free route.
  
  
• Sleek, Sexy, Reliable
  By A1RK5JNI942KVU on 2008-10-17
  I got my pink 8 GB a few weeks ago and I absolutely adore it. I also have a 160GB Ipod which does wonders, but because of the bulk and size of the 160GB I can't put it into my pockets, and when I put it into my purse and absent mindlessly set my purse down my ears buds get yanked out of my ears in a painful way. So I've tried to combat the problem by carrying it in my hand, or using a case with a clip, still uncomfortable and the cases were blocky and unappealing. Unfortunately while waiting for the bus I would get many looks of "I'm going to steal your Ipod." Never fun.
  
  So I decided to pick up this little gem, fits in my pocket, the battery life is wonderful at about 24 hours, the screen is surprisingly clear and bright. It's so slim it can fit anywhere. The features are great, being able to shake your Ipod and have it switch to another song is a quirky fun idea. You have to give it a good shake.
  
  For those who are worried about the cover art kicking in, or while running or jogging it switches to a different track..you really shouldn't worry! I'm trusting that fellow Ipod users know to switch it into hold mode whenever it is in your pocket, (or wherever else) due to the click wheel being able to turn the vol up and down and your battery draining in case a surface, like the inside of your pockets rubs up against it and makes the backlight be on constantly. I use to put any of my older ipods straight into hold mode as soon as I was done picking a song.
  
  It's the same with this little player, put it on hold mode and cover flow will not be turned on when your player rests sideways, as well as the shake and switch feature will not comply, so you can run, jog and do whatever without having to worry.
  
  This is a solid player, portable, with all the great vibrant colours, you can pick your favourite.
  
  It does feel quite fragile however for being so thin, but there are many great case choices online to combat this. Clear plastic cases that don't add so much bulk or block the colour/style of the player will do the trick!
  
  
• Pink for Mum, Lower Price and Great New Features
  By A1JUBRIZMO0RJV on 2008-09-10
  I'm always skeptical if they can improve the next iPod. I just got the brand new iPod Nano 4th generation. It's quite the impressive device. The thinness blows my mind.
  
  COOL NEW FEATURES - This new generation iPod Nano features accelerometers like had been in the iPhones and iPod Touch. This sensor knows when you rotate the device sideways, so that cover flow view appears automatically. Brilliant! Furthermore, if you want to change up what you're listening to, just shake the device. Some games will also use the accelerometer.
  
  The new Genius feature is also great. Select a song, and then tell the iPod you want to use the Genius feature. It will find songs in your collection similar and create a playlist to suit the mood you're in. You'll be amazed by what it finds!
  
  The way they curve the metal and glass is so incredibly impressive, when you see the device in person. Next, the device has a very solid feel to it, and the colors are gorgeous, all of them.
  
  Space - This is the 8 GB version, which I think is great. However, if you want extra space, the 16 GB is just fifty more.
  
  Overall, the new interface of the Nano is gorgeous. You'll enjoy using this device.
  
  Finally, if you're looking for a solid music player, the iPod Nano delivers fantastic features and continues the solid iPod line. Really, what else could you need in a small music player? I think it's fantastic, and I can't wait to go continue to enjoy the music on mine. The new features have really impressed m
  
  
• Beware backward compatibility issues for any previously purchased ipod charging devices
  By AR2ILKPCRWJZR on 2008-09-19
  The new 4G ipod 16 nano is not backward compatible, in terms of charging, with any of my previously purchased ipod accessories, including my 2005 'universal' dock, my car charger, and my JBL onstage portable speaker system. That is, it attaches and plays music through these devices, but does not charge.
  
  Apple says that this nano holds a music charge for 24 hours. And video for 4. I. If true, it won't need to be charged as frequently as the 2g. But why did Apple not design this with backward compatibility for charging, so buying new charging devices for playing it in our car, our home stereo and for traveling is not necessary?
  
  If this is your first nano, then it's great. I too like the new look , feel and weight. Sound quality is better as well.
  
  
• cover flow IS turn off able
  By A1H3S9I5TFHC0 on 2008-11-20
  this is my 6th portable digital music device so far, and i tried to avoid ipods because they always got bad reviews for mal functioning and lacking features. this on is a different story. not only is this ipod the thinnest ipod ever made (you can stop here, apple, any further and it will vanish), its made smart, and so far its a very good buy for me. unlike everyone thinks that cover flow cant be turned off, it can. instantly after i connected my ipod to itunes a new firmware offer came up, and one of the updates was an option to turn off cover flow, among other things.
  
  + pros
  -incredibly thin. i cant even tell its in my pocket
  -aluminum casing and glass screen offer excellent scratch resistence
  -very light
  -very competitive pricing - 16 gb for what the nano offers is an excellent deal
  - accelerometer - this adds a few fun touches to operate without pressing buttons, is very useful for rotation on the screen when viewing pictures or watching videos. games are now actually very interesting
  - screen clarity
  -simplicity of use
  
  - cons
  ITUNES- aS usual itunes is very frustrating and needs redesigned
  - battery life- slightly below average for me so far, no big deal though
  -everything is automated - when i put the headphones in the jack, or disactivate the hold button, it shouldn;t automatically turn on.
  
  overall a big improvement compared to other ipods ive seen. the pricing and compactness, features and ease of use stand out. (get the 16 gb if you really want movies, or go for the classic or touch) i give it ****. for now
  
  
• Big Improvement Over The 3rd Generation Nano
  By AGRYDACL809GW on 2008-09-11
  The tapered design is truly a thing of beauty. The curved finish and glass are aesthetically exquisite. Just holding and operating the new nano is something special. This is a huge improvement over the 3rd generation nano with its squat and awkward dimensions. The screen now shows a larger picture of the album artwork, which is great. My opinion is that the motion sensing device doesn't add much, but I could understand how some will like it. 16 GB of memory is great for such a reasonable price, especially when it comes to video. The only down side is that the 2 inch screen (same as 3rd Gen) is really tiny for watching videos or movies. You take what you can get from something designed to slip into a small pocket, but I can't see myself enjoying too many movies on a screen this size. The curved glass also picks up more glare than the previous nano.
  
  
• A couple things you need to know before you buy
  By A118R63SR37ONE on 2008-09-23
  One is that none of the old accessories work, I have a radio in my car that controls my old ipod, the new nano doesn't work with it. When I called apple they originally said it should work, then tech support said it will not. Basically when I buy a new ipod I have to buy a new deck for my car.
  
  The accelerometer feature is extremely annoying, you can't change the volume on it when the player is rotated and there's no way to turn it off according again to tech support.
  
  Next issue, if you plan to plug anything into the headphone jack while charging you will need to use one of the "mini" plugs, the standard ones are too big and both can't be plugged in at the same time, i managed to "shave" down a fullsize one to get it to work.
  
  Other then that, these players are awesome, the screen is great the sync very quick, super small and lightweight, very easy to navigate, definitely nice, just not sure it's a step forward.
  
  
• Problems charging on old devices
  By A11STDASBLQ5FI on 2008-09-28
  I have recently bought this 4G IPOD Nano and does not work on many devices. It seems that the pin that do the charge of the battery was changed. So let's stop buying it until Apple corrects the problem.
  
  
• Get album artwork into iTunes before you sync your iPod
  By A1SRI13D6GR0X8 on 2008-10-13
  I have over 11 GB of music on iTunes and I'm a runner, so the 16GB iPod nano is the iPod I've been waiting for. I had a couple hard drive failures in the past ten years which gave me another reason to hold out for the flash-based iPod nanos to increase their capacity and come down in price. The price is right (under $200) and I really like the simple sleek minimalist design. I bought mine through Amazon at the end of September 2008 and do not have any trouble with the click wheel being sluggish. Maybe this was only an issue with a few of the first ones to come out and has already been fixed?
  
  I already use iTunes (since 2002) to send music from my Mac to my stereo receiver. I had to download version 8.0 of iTunes for the Mac (I had 7 and version 8 is required to sync with the iPod nano 4G). After that I hooked up my iPod to my MacBook, went for a run, and when I came back my entire 11GB music collection had been automatically transferred to the iPod. Sweet! There is an option to transfer only checked songs but I haven't used this yet (I will if space becomes an issue when I begin transferring some photos, too).
  
  This is my first iPod and I'm super impressed by the way most features were very intuitive and easy to figure out. No wonder iPod tramples all other MP3 players. The only things I had to go online to figure out were how to completely reformat my iPod (something which shouldn't be TOO easy) and how to shuffle playlists rather than shuffle my entire music collection. To shuffle a playlist, first choose "Settings", "Shuffle" and change to "Songs." Then go to Playlists and press the play button when you are on the name of the playlist you want, BEFORE opening it to the screen where see specific songs.
  
  When you add new music to iTunes, my advice is get any album artwork BEFORE you sync your iPod. All my music in iTunes was transferred from CDs and I did not have album artwork either on iTunes or my iPod the first time I synced the two. The command "Get Album Artwork" requires you to register at the iTunes store (the artwork is free, and they are high-quality images). I signed up on the iTunes store, ran the command "Get Album Artwork" and about three-fourths of my albums got matching artwork in a matter of minutes. A small number of these got an incorrect match. I fixed these and tracked most of the other missing album artwork for several dozen remaining albums in 2-3 hours on either Wikipedia, Amazon or Google images (the image quality varies a great deal in all three places). A few times I had to go to MySpace music or a band's own website. Once you find the album art, in iTunes simply get "info" on a song with the blank note image, click the "Artwork" tab, then drag the album art from your browser window into the iTunes artwork window. After the first time iTunes info defaults to Artwork and the process takes only a few mouse clicks and movements each time. Syncing my iPod again still did not transfer the new artwork. I think the artwork is saved as part of the song file, and apparently the iPod doesn't re-save the songs (now with artwork included) if they have been transferred over already. I chose the restore command (complete reformat of iPod memory) which downloaded and ran in ten minutes or so, and this time when it synced I got all the album artwork with the songs. Transfer speed from iTunes on my MacBook to my iPod nano was 23 minutes for 11.5 GB = 2 minutes per GB. So even a complete reformat and re-transfer of nearly the entire contents of the iPod nano was no big hassle. (If you only need artwork added or changed for a few albums, I expect you could just delete those selected songs and sync again, instead of a reformat of the entire iPod)
  
  I was amazed at how few hours it took me to get everything set up and running just the way I wanted it. Keep in mind that I used iTunes for the past six years (to play music at home and burn CDs for my car or portable CD/MP3 player) and already had all my playlists set up in advance.
  
  
• Impressive!
  By A3RXFWPDN1MVMX on 2008-09-14
  I wanted a nano after selling my iPod a couple of months ago. I didn't use my iPod because I had an iPhone. But sometimes using my iPhone as an iPod for long periods of the day would drain my battery and I didn't want that happening. So i seeked out for a new iPod Nano. Cheaper and smaller was what drew me to the nano. I looked all over to maybe get a good deal on it but decided that I should wait. A couple of weeks later the new nano comes out and WOW. Have you seen the new features? Wow. Apple has almost out done itself. The new design and features are just what blew me away and I had to get one.
  
  I would highly recommend this newly designed iPod Nano. i have the blue one and it's just so cool looking. Love the free games that come with it and everything about it.
  
  Maybe after a few weeks I can have bad things to say about it, but until then...I LOVE IT!
  
  
• Cover Flow gets in the way of easy volume changes. Sluggish click wheel
  By AAJIGWE242MSN on 2008-09-24
  First, I gotta say I love the colors. And Apple has added some very nice touches to the interface. But in the end, my 4G Nano went back to the store for two reasons:
  
  1. Without an ability to disable Cover Flow, anytime my 4G Nano slid sideways, Cover Flow kicked in. This was fine except for those times when it was in my pocket or on the car seat and I was trying to change the volume. In Cover Flow, you can't change the volume, so I had to remove the Nano/pick it up off the car seat, hold it upright, wait a second for Cover Flow to turn off and then I could change the volume. Kind of a deal-breaker for me at the moment.
  
  2. The click wheel is decidedly less sensitive than earlier versions. There is noticeable lag and I would sometimes run my finger 1.4 of the way around the wheel before it picked up the gesture. it would the either start to move or would jump around (presumably making up for the gesture I had already made). It definitely was not instant response.
  
  It's really too bad too. I liked the purple and white since it went with my school (TCU) and a 16Gb option was great. I'm crossing my fingers that a future firmware update will address these two concerns. When that happens, I'll gladly buy a 4G Nano.
  
  

• Belkin Eco-Conscious Folio Case for iPod nano 4G (Walnut Brown)
• Incipio Technologies dermaSHOT Case for iPod nano 4G (Black)
• Incipio Technologies dermaSHOT Case for iPod nano 4G (Light Blue)
• Incipio Technologies dermaSHOT Case for iPod nano 4G (Fresh Pink)
• Incipio Technologies dermaSHOT Case for iPod nano 4G (Molina Red)

• Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation)
• CTA Digital Rapid Travel Charger for iPod (White)
• Belkin Dual Fit Armband for iPod nano 4G (Black)
• Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation)
• Apple iPod shuffle 1 GB Silver (2nd Generation)