Ipod Nano

[stupot42]

Thought people might be interested in this, there's a video on the top right of the page showing the apple phone to go on the market in the UK (i don't like it personally), but also the Ipod Nano, soon to be on my shopping list!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4223938.stm

[stupot42]

I've just ordered one... I'll let you all know what I think and post some photos when it arrives... Ordered it in black! Just look at it! Click it to see a bigger version!

<a href="http://images.apple.com/ipodnano/gallery/images/galleryimage010.jpg" border="0"><img src="http://images.apple.com/ipodnano/gallery/images/galleryimage010.jpg" alt="My new baby!" hight="720" width="450"></a>

[firstadopter]

I'm thinking of selling my 1gb shuffle and getting the Nano too.

[firstadopter]

I ordered it too. I got a white 4gb version. Wheee!

My shuffle 1gb is on ebay as we speak.

Shees, it's pretty telling that I spent $249 on an Mp3 player instead of a Sony PSP. LOL. Welcome to Steve Jobs Twilight Zone!

[stupot42]

LOL! Indeed... couldn't be more true. I got an email from the Apple Store, and mine should be delivered today if they are to be believed.

[stupot42]

It's arrived, and it is the mutts nuts. Smaller than even I exected... and I have to admit that I was sad enough to make a 3d model out of paper! :P

Photos to follow later... or tomorrow.

[stupot42]

Right then... here they are... the pics.

I'll start with the box it came in... as an idea of size, it's about as big as a CD case, and as tall as about 3.

<img src="http://www.decswxaqz.com/littleyellowbird/fa/box.JPG" alt="small box">

I was really suprised at how small the box was, and if they hadn't included a full sized CD for the software, I'm sure it could have been a lot smaller.

The outside box is a sleeve housing this book like inside.

<img src="http://www.decswxaqz.com/littleyellowbird/fa/inside.JPG" alt="fold out!">

On the right is the Nano itself, and on the left is a compartment that opens from the top, with the cables, CD etc in.

Speaking of cables:

<img src="http://www.decswxaqz.com/littleyellowbird/fa/cables.JPG" alt="cables">

Then there's the nano...

<img src="http://www.decswxaqz.com/littleyellowbird/fa/nano.JPG" alt="My Nano at last!!!">

It's so small. I couldn't believe it! But when I took off the protective covers I also couldn't believe how easily it marked with finger prints. That got me thinking that it would be good to have a handy bag to keep it in that could double as a cleaning cloth, like my Oakley sunglasses have. So, I made one, and here it is:

<img src="http://www.decswxaqz.com/littleyellowbird/fa/sock.JPG" alt="It's like a nano sock">

<img src="http://www.decswxaqz.com/littleyellowbird/fa/nano_in_a_bag.JPG" alt="Nano in it's sock">


How did I do it, I hear you asking. Well, I recently changed my sunglasses and therefore have an old pair of oakleys that I use for gardening etc. So, I took the bag and cut away at the seams. once I had the square of bag in front of me, I put my nano in (with the headphones attached, so I could take them into account), and I pinned it up so I could figure out where to sew. I then sewed it up, and turned it inside out to hide the stitches and hey presto! I did have to cut the top bit where the drawstring goes, which was a bit awkward, and the string itself needed cutting to size, and then the end burned with a flame to prevent freying. but a fairly easy job. One thing I will say tho is that those Oakley glasses bags are tough... I had a job getting my needle through the bag! My mum always said learning to sew would come in useful one day, and she was right!

I'm pretty pleased overall... will have to put the thing through it's paces first tho. Oh, and how could I forget; I've subscribed for the first adopter pod casts! :D

[firstadopter]

Doh I took the FA podcasts offline because I couldn't afford the bandwidth costs (too popular), however if you really want to hear them I can put them in a special directory for you to listen to them.

[stupot42]

I would be quite interested to hear them... always intended to download them before and listen to them at work, but was too busy. If you don't mind, I'd like to hear them... perhaps you could PM me the location to save your bandwith! :D

[firstadopter]

http://www.firstadopter.com/podcast/

It was really getting listed on iTunes that killed the bandwidth. Anyone on this forum is welcome to download the 4 episodes.

Who knows, maybe I'll bring it back if there is a big demand for it.

So I guess the Nano doesn't come with a soft case, huh? Sigh.

I bought the white one, but looks like I'm in the minority. The black one is outselling the white one big time.

[stupot42]

Thanks Rendition.

Nope, no soft case, but my self made one is pretty good even if I do say so myself, and I had a look on ebay, and in the UK you can buy an oakley case/bag for a couple of quid. Well worth it, and it's easy to make one. I must say it's easy to keep smudge and scratch free with my self made case., or Sock as I like to call it.

Yep, the black one is selling big over here too. I had a look on ebay, and people are going mad for them. A 4Gb Nano costs (in the UK) from Apple £179. On ebay the white ones are selling for £150-ish at best, but the black ones are topping £190! Why pay more on ebay than you'd have to from Apple! That's just madness!

[firstadopter]

I just got mine today, I can't believe how small it is. It is charging up right now, I can't wait till the initial 3 hr charge is over.

[firstadopter]

Dang I need to find me a soft case for this thing. :)

So far I'm loving it, it's really is amazing how small it is. Having all my photos on it is also a great touch. When I spin the wheel, it's like a retrospective of my whole life animation, kind of spooky.

[stupot42]

Yeah, I'm really loving mine too... I have found the odd little problem tho. For instance I can't reboot my PC whilst it charging because my PC refuses to boot with the Ipod attahced (even if boot from USB is not selected in the bios)! Weird, but I'm kinda hoping a firmware update will fix that in the future. It's still the best bit of kit I've bought in a while tho.

Rendition, have you seen these:
http://www.pull-i.com/

Just as a thought.

[firstadopter]

Thanks for the link, it's a bit pricey cuz I live the states.

I'm going to try to buy a cheap cellphone or sunglass pouch somewhere.

So far I love it, it's so much more usable than the ipod shuffle for podcasts because you can see what is playing and fast forward more easily + it's just as portable as the shuffle.

Apple hit another homerun again.

[firstadopter]

I've had my white iPod Nano for one day now and I can say I'm very impressed. Apple knows how to make simple clean breath-taking designs and with the Nano they have hit it out of the park. Basically it takes all the functionality of a full size iPod Photo and crams it into the space to two thick sticks of chewing gum. Yes it is THAT small.<br><br>

The display is razor sharp and the colors are vivid. The downside is the screen is a bit small for photos, but it still pretty neat to have hundreds of pictures to go through at a whim. The user interface is basically the same as previous iterations with a few new apps added in. The games are pretty weak (Apple just copy Nokia or Blackberry's games please), but the iPod music functionality is as good as ever.
<br><br>
I used to have a 10GB iPod and a iPod 1GB Shuffle, both of which lasted less than a year before they were sold on eBay. The 10GB iPod just wasn't portable enough and I didn't feel comfortable with the hard-drive's lack of durability. The durability of the iPod Shuffle was great due to it using flash storage, but the lack of screen made a big pain to find songs and fast forward on podcasts.
<br><br>
The iPod Nano gives me the best of both worlds with the added feature of color and the best museum piece quality design yet. I don't plan on selling the Nano for years. I'm a happy customer.

[stupot42]

I have to say I love mine too. The only MP3 player I had previously owned was 256mb flash one, but it was a pain in the arse. The thing was as big as a brick, and just didn't take enough songs to keep me happy going to work, and coming home again. No problems there with the Nano. And the old one had dodgy sound, but the Ipod repoduces the sound in crystal clarity. I couldn't be more pleased.

I also think the games are a bit rubish... enough to keep you entertained for a little while, but nothing special. The game I did like tho, which I thought was genius, was the Music Quiz. You're played a random song from your Ipod, and given 5 track names to choose from. You just have to pick the right track, but you don't get long, and the longer you wait the fewer points you score. The thing also removes a wrong answer every couple of seconds too. It's great fun, but I can see that the novelty would wear off after a while.

The display is small for photos, but Rendition is correct that it is very vivid and bright. I like the fact that I don't have to carry photos in my wallet any more. I now keep my Nano in my wallet, and have 20 photos of my familly rather than the 2 scrappy old ones I used to have! I've also photoshopped the digital images to suit the screen of the Nano better... all in all brilliant. And I didn't think I'd use the photo option!

Sorry about the Pull-I thing Rendition. I couldn't find shipping prices on the website. How much was it out of interest? I had a look on Ebay for the US, and if you want to follow my lead an empty Oakley bag can be had for $0.99, probably $4 with shipping. Mine's the business! Even if I do say so myself. :P

[firstadopter]

Thanks! That's a good idea, does the Oakley bag or your custom bag scratch the Nano at all after some use?

[stupot42]

I've been using my bag for about a week now, and when it's not in use it sits on my desk at work, and when it is in use I put it in the bag in my wallet. So far it's not marked at all... looks as good as it did the day it arrived. However I would say that if it were to be put in the same pocket as loose change or keys I don't think the bag would stop all damage.

I'm pleased so far tho. If I were making it again I'd use a sewing machine if one were available. It was hard work! Another thing to think about is to not make it too close to the actual nano size, because you loose a little of the size of the bag when you turn it inside out to hide the stitches.

[stupot42]

Rendition, just wanted to say thanks for the name check in yesterdays news! :D

[stupot42]

I've got my first scratches! :( It's not too bad tho, they're nothing major, and you don't notice unless you're looking for them. I think I got them whilst it was changing. I knocked it off my computer desk. I think I'll have to invest in a dock when they become available.

[stupot42]

Apple have today announced in the UK that they accept that some Ipod Nanos are faulty, and the screens break or crack too easily. They have agreed to a free replacement or money back if your Ipod Nano screen breaks. However they refuse to admit the nano screen scratches too easily.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4286294.stm

[stupot42]

Would you believe it? The screen on my nano broke! I've been treating it like a baby ever since I got it, and I'd finally reached the point where I'm happy to put it in my pocket without worrying about it. I take it out of my pocket, and low and behold a broken LCD. I can understand people's frustrations. This thing is way too fragile. The screen is smaller than that on my phone, and I treat the thing a damn sight better, and it's broken the first time I've been even relatively hard on it. My mobile phone has been dropped, kicked, thrown into a wall (I'd had a drink, but didn't mean to do it, long story) and the LCD is perfect. I'm not convinced this thing is suitable for the purpose for which it was sold.

Now I have to make the decision of whether to get another one, or my money back? I can't be going through this every month or so. Plus I've discovered Apple's customer service sucks. I can't get hold of them til monday now, and I'm going on holiday tomorrow morning (now without my ipod or any music!). It's going to have to wait until I get back. This is probably my last post until I get back on the 10th BTW.

Man am I pissed! (Please excuse the language!)

[firstadopter]

Hang in there man. Apple said last week they will replace all broken screens.

I actually have been putting the Nano in a ziplock bag for now, until the real cases start coming out.

I'm treating it like a jewel till then.

No pockets for me.

[firstadopter]

I have a scratch on the body of the Nano and it has me sad. I've been carrying it around in a Ziplock sandwich bag, which looks really dorky, but hey I'm anal.

HOWEVER everytime I carry it around, people and friends ask to see and touch it.

One friend who is kind of clueless, took my Nano saw dust, and wiped the face of the Nano on his rough shirt, which obviously scratched it.

ARGH!

Now I hide my Nano from people. LOL.

[firstadopter]

I just ordered the Incase Neoprene iPod Nano case on the Apple store for $19.95. It says it will take 1-2 weeks to get here.

You can find the pictures here: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/5535/

[firstadopter]

I'm feeling a little buyer's remorse now with the iPod Video out for only $50 more than what I paid for a Nano.

Steve JObs!!!!!! I raise my fist to thee!

[stupot42]

Return it. You've got a 90 day cooling off period, during which time you can return it for any reason.

I have to be honest tho, they reviews I've read in the UK about the Ipod video all say that the software that converts your vids into Quicktime files (which apparently is the only format that it plays without being glitchy in places) of the right size etc is a bit buggy. One reviewer said it FAILED to convert over 75% of avi videos he had on his hard disk at the time of testing. I can't remember which mag it was, but it was a reputable one.

Could have been a testing model however. Who can tell?

[firstadopter]

You sure you can return it for 90 days? I also put the laser engraving thing too, so I doubt they will take it back. Sigh.

[firstadopter]

Oh well, no returns for me. I'll just wait till next year when the real iPod Video comes out. LOL.

--
Please note that Apple does not permit the return of or offer refunds for the following products:

1. Product that is custom configured to your specifications
2. Personalized iPods

[firstadopter]

After a week of using my new Nano case, the small scratch that was on the top of the Nano disappeared! Yay!

Weird stuff. I tried to clean it b4, but now it just fixed itself.

[stupot42]

I had a friend sent his nano back in the 90 days and that was laser engraved (they replace the back and front casing before reselling anyway). You just need to tell them that it's not fit for purpose. They won't quibble with all the stuff that's been in the press. And if they do, tell them you've lost confidence in the product after the news, I'm almost positive they'll take it back.