 Review: iPod nano (4GB)Posted 4:51PM October 8 2005 Digital Harmony 
After waiting two weeks for a white 4-gigabyte iPod nano, I was pretty excited when I first opened the glossy, black box last Tuesday. With a color screen, flash memory, and a smaller frame than an iPod mini, the iPod nano seemed like the perfect choice for an MP3 player.
Scratched Expectations While waiting for the shipment to arrive from Apple, I began hearing reports online that the nano's front surface is uniquely susceptible to scratches. Additional first-hand stories and photos were posted, and a discussion thread on the Apple Support site grew to several hundred replies. Addressed in a statement issued by an Apple representative, units with defective LCD screens may be replaced free of charge, but scratched units are not deemed "defective." Users with already-scratched screens are going to have to live with their current condition.
Face the Music 
In light of this new information, I purchased the "zCover," a clear, silicon case that fits snuggly around the iPod body. The photo to the right shows the "second skin" next to the nano.
Despite this obstacle, the iPod nano has proven itself as a dependable, well-constructed device. Thin enough not to be bother-some in your pocket and clever enough to pause the music when the headphones are removed, the new model stands as yet another tribute to Apple's constant pursuit of intuitive, functionable products. Paired with a Mac, iTunes can easily add music and album art. I have not tested the capability of viewing photos on the iPod; however, navigation of the built-in "galleries" is as simple as changing songs. Familiar Theme Like all Apple products, though, there is always a new revision just around the corner. I predict Apple may produce a second generation nano, with better protection against scratches. Also, rumors are currently being passed around the internet that an iPod capable of playing video may be in the works, pending license agreements. Either way, the iPod nano marks the newest generation of Apple's ubiquitous MP3 player, redone from the ground up so that Apple can stay on top.  |