Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL

Apple 4 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Silver (3rd Generation)

Apple's new nano is designed to improve upon past models and add some functionality. The improved video, smaller thinner body and updated firmware are enough to make it stand out. The slightly lower price tag is also sure to help sell more units.

I think most buyers will opt to get the 8GB, considering it is only $50 more than the 4GB and actually makes the video function more usable. Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Blue (3rd Generation) Regardless, the new nano is an improvement in any size.

Pros
+ Small size - so thin!!!!
+ Nice design - shorter, fatter form factor for more reliability
+ Brushed aluminum front seems more durable than plastic composite of 2nd generation nano
+ Many color options - Silver, blue, green, black, etc.
+ Brighter screen with better contrast than previous generation
+ Great video option is a nice to have for sample TV shows, clips, etc
+ Works with most traditional iPod accessories (except old A/V cable)
+ Priced to sell! Lowest price Apple video capable player
+ Lower price tag than 2nd Generation nano
+ Unlike iPod classic, all flash memory means less failures and breakage
+ Flash memory also awesome for running / working out
+ Slightly better sound quality than 2nd generation
+ Apple reputation is highly deserved

Cons
- 4 GB capacity is very limited for a video player and will require constant reloading via iTunes
- New 2GB Shuffle option provides a workout alternative at about 1/3 the price
- New design not ideal for very big hands due to smaller click wheel
- Universal dock now required for video out (no more A/V cable)
- Slightly shorter battery life than other iPods
- No expandability or SD card slot like Sansa View or Creative Zen
- iTunes software with limited native formats (MP3, AAC)
- Coverflow still buggy / slow
- Features built-in to competing players, like FM radio & voice recording, much be bought as add-ons,
- Competing players now available at 16GB flash at similar body size

The Looks

Some people prefered the gen2 nano's longer body and larger click wheel. The longer nano was prone to bend (and sometimes break) when people put them in their pocket and sat down or moved around. The smaller click-wheel can be awkward, particularly for those with large hands. But it's a worthy trade-off for the smaller size and better durability.


Another change motivated by durability is the metal face. The old clear composite face was a magnet for smudges and scratches. The new brushed metal face holds up nicer. Be warned though; it can chip and scratch, so get a cover.

The Sound

Sound quality is not significantly improved from previous models. The slight improvements touted in Apple's marketing are exaggerated. However, let's be fair to Apple here. MP3 and even CD audio have inherent sound quality limitations.

MP3 is a compression technology that does experience quality loss, however minimal. With a lower bitrate your MP3 files will lose more and more of the sound integrity from the original recording. Combine that with the fact many people rip from sources that are not digitally mastered, and you would get inferior sound quality with any device.

Almost no MP3 players are actually designed for audiophiles / musicians / sound engineers; i.e., the people who could tell the difference between good sound and great sound. Fortunately, some of these devices are starting to come onto the market.

Features and Software

Few new features are noteworthy with this device. Changes in the components and software make the screen brighter and allow you to do more things, including watch videos and play games. Some complain there isn't enough memory for video. You can still get enough on here to watch one movie or fit some TV shows with your music. It's a nice extra even if these nanos don't have tremendous memory.

The flash memory in this device could have been a faster speed. However, the main advantages of the flash player are still here: less risk of hardware failure associated with a hard disk drive player (better for running or working out).

The device does seem to have a shorter battery life than advertised. Perhaps because of the smaller body size Apple placed a smaller batter inside. As long as you sync and charge at night, it's ok. You are still likely to get a day's worth of use from a full charge.

Apple's software is still a weakness with very limited direct control over your device library and few native file options. All formats can be converted using iTunes or another software. You can convert pretty much any file to the MP3, MP4, or AAC formats you need for iTunes. This will mean that those of us with other players will have to have 2 versions of our libraries on our computers, eating up hard-drive space. That's because there's no drag and drop adding into the player, you have to add it to iTunes first and then sync.

However, most users have limited needs and will not notice if they are using MP3s. Apple hits the minimum compatibility needs of most of the market.

Coverflow is little more than a gimmick. It's still buggy and covers tend to blank out if you scroll quickly. Cover art has been downloaded with previous software versions and most other video players, so the ability to scroll covers is not really a breakthrough.

Competitors Pros and Cons

Apple's devices are obviously more expensive than other players on a per gigabyte $ cost. In addition, the iPod still has fewer built-in features than most competitive devices. It doesn't have a built-in FM radio tuner, voice recorder, Bluetooth, WMA support, and an SD card expansion slot. Both the Creative Zen Creative Zen 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) and the Sansa View SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB MP3 Player have micro SD slots, FM tuners and voice recording components built in. Both are better priced. The Sansa View comes in a 16GB size for the same price as the 8GB nano.

Still the iPod Nano beats both those players on size as the Creative Zen is much thicker and the Sansa View is taller. Also keep in mind that the Creative Zen has been somewhat buggy, and the View doesn't have as long a track record only being released in November 2007.

The new Sony players have finally abandoned their own bad software, and now provide some good competition to the iPod nano. In typical Sony fashion, they are priced just as high as the nano. But they do have quality components and better sound quality. Sony NWZA816BLK 4GB Walkman Video MP3 Player (Black)

The new 2 GB iPod Shuffle, released in February 2008, probably provides the biggest competition if you don't care about video and your only use is working out. Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB Silver (2nd Generation) For 1/3 the price, you get a player with half the capacity that's designed for longer battery life and more active use.

Conclusion

In the end, what the iPod nano does, it does very well. Apple really wins with sleek design and a wealth of accessories. This unit is no different. Not all docks and accessories work with the 3rd generation, but many do. And for that large number of users already using iTunes, moving your music over to the nano is a snap.

Overall this device is an improvement. Apple's entry level video player will continue to be popular due to great features, acceptable pricing and the Apple brand.

Enjoy!!!

Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (3rd Generation)

This review is for the 8GB iPod Nano. All the reviews for the third generation Nanos have been combined by Amazon. While this unit is very similar to the 4GB iPod Nano Apple 4 GB iPod Nano (3rd Gen) there are enough differences that they each deserve a closer look.

Choosing Among iPods

Overall, I would choose the 8 GB iPod Nano over the 4 GB nano and the 8 GB iPod Touch. This unit is priced right, and at only $50 more than the 4 GB unit it's a no brainer. Those who want to step up should look to the 16 GB Apple iPod Touch 16 GB or 32 GB iPod Touch Apple iPod touch 32 GB. I have been lucky enough to live with all these players, so I hope this helps you decide.

Hopefully Apple will soon make a 16 GB or even a 32 GB Nano available. Only the iPod Touch currently sports those capacities. Till they offer larger sizes the 8GB is the biggest option. The screen is small, but the regular buttons and click wheel allow easier volume and track changes and better use on the go than the iPod Touch.

Some may choose to pay an extra $100 more than this to step up to the 8 GB iPod Touch Apple iPod touch 8 GB with Software Upgrade. The extra features of the Touch are awesome. The high overhead of the Touch software gives you 6 to 6.5 GB of useable space out of those 8 GB. That is just not enough to justify the higher price.

Comparing to Competing Players - Features and Concerns

The iPod Nano still has less features than most competitive devices. It doesn't have a built-in FM radio tuner, voice recorder, bluetooth, WMA support, or an expansion slot. More and more users demand those features. Both the thicker Creative Zen Creative Zen 8 GB (Black) and the taller Sansa ViewSanDisk Sansa View 8 GB MP3 Player include most of those features. They both also now come in 16GB and 32GB capacities.

The Creative Zen does have slightly better sound and file version support. But its native software is even worse and the company has acquired a reputation for high failure rates. Conversely, the Sansa View is perhaps the best value but the video screen and sound quality is less attractive than either two. Perhaps the new Sansa Fuze may have more improvements, but we'll have to wait and see SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver).

Of course the growing Zune population gets wireless sharing and syncing Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation). But Zune's screen is also less attractive for video and the device has other issues. So I would still choose the Nano over the Zune.

Perhaps the best new competitor is the 800 series Sony MP3 player Sony NWZA818BLK 8GB Walkman Video MP3 Player (Black). For years, Sony devices suffered from proprietary audio formats and both annoying and unethical software limitations. Sony has finally given in to MP3 format, though I'm sure they will try to sneak in DRM at every turn. Surprisingly, even though Apple is the clear market leader Sony's has almost overpriced their units. While expensive, they do have the durable metal body like Nanos. And in terms of sound quality, I would say they are just as good if not slightly better. I just don't consumers should pay them a premium.

The Sound

Sound quality has been slightly improved. Apple has a much better reputation and lower failure rates than music players marketed on high fidelity sound. Quality components and jacks still matters. But there is still no player on the market today that can truly claim hi-fi sound.

Some technical limits make it very difficult to get lossless sound out of any device regardless of source file. Lower bitrates make your MP3 files lose more and more sound integrity, and even CDs have quality limits, which are even lower if they are not digitally mastered.

The Looks

Apple shortened the body and added a brushed metal face for durability. There was a previous Nano version with a rounded metal face. Then they tried the clear composite plastic face that so easily scratched and smudged. The back still has the shiny aluminum surface used on most iPods that is known for attracting fingerprints. The brushed metal face holds up better, but you still need a cover.

The screen is smallish, though I would argue still adequate. But the thin body alone allows this player to overcome having less features than many competing players. Apple does lose points for the smaller click-wheel being awkward for those with big hands.

Features

The ability to watch videos and play games is huge. With the 8 GB capacity you can still get enough on here for a flight. That's the main advantage over the 4GB model. Watching videos will cut battery life to about 5 hours though.

Apple's software gives you limited direct control over your music and few file options. For people like me with multiple players, it's harder to manage your music library with multiple copies. iTunes is good enough for most users. You can easily convert and import your files, but it's an annoying extra step.

Cover-flow still underperforms on the Nano versus the iPod Touch. To me it's not a deal-breaker with the nano's real buttons. You still have the advantages of a flash-based player.

Conclusion

Apple's nice price, sleek design and a wealth of accessories overcome any missing features or annoying software limits. Unless you can afford a 16 or 32 GB iPod Touch or demand some of the missing features offered by the competition, go with this iPod Nano 8 GB and don't look back.

Enjoy!

So last night I picked up my first Ipod, got a Black 8 GB Nano. Glad I waited for the new "fat" version. A few months back I bought my sister a Nano as a gift so comparing the "slim" Nano to the "fat" video Nano I like the one better, the extra width helps me hold onto the player better.
My one caution is this: with the new coverflow feature you need to be very careful how you organize your music, spent a fair amount of time last night getting that sorted out. If any of the tag information on any song(s) is off from the rest of the album it will create multiple albums in coverflow, also not having any album art for any music becomes annoying in coverflow. So my advice is; make sure you're meticulous on how you organize in iTunes. I did notice a few times that the coverflow artwork did take a second to load the image as I was scrolling, but this seems to go away after a few times.
The "split" screen from the menu that randomly shows some of your album art is very cool, since the half screen can't show a whole album cover it pans across the album art randomly, the cover that is show is random as well.
Very cool.
Last item, some people will rant about how the 8 GB Nano is on $50 bucks less than the 80 GB Classic. Remember its hard drive vs. flash memory, as I tend to be active and move around a lot and plan to use the Nano while at the gym I wanted the stability of flash memory. to me comparing the two is like comparing a dump truck to a sports car, you may want one or the other at a given time so it's really up to decide what is important, capacity or portability?

If 'TV out' isn't important to you, or you don't care about playing podcasts back to back without fiddling with the ipod, then I'm sure you'll still love the new 3g nano. I like the video feature, the size (great for commuting), style, and colors of the new nano 3g, and iPods have the easiest/best way of selecting and sorting through music of any MP3 player out there. (I've tried a couple other brands.) But....

...in my case, one of the key reasons I bought the 3g was so that I could display photos or video on a TV. Unfortunately, that feature requires the purchase of a new cable which costs 50 bucks(the old AV cables don't work. The new cables connect through the docking port, not through the headphone input.) Of course this is something most people won't find out till they buy the product and the old AV cable. Not only do you need a new cable, but I went to many stores to get the new cable and none of them had it in stock. I finally had to order it directly from the iTunes store. I suppose someday soon, 3rd party cables will be made for one third the cost of the new AV cable made by Apple, but if you want the video out feature now, be prepared to fork over another 50 bucks. Yuck!

Also disappointing to me was a change to the software that significantly impacts what I use the ipod for. I mostly listen to podcasts and like to download all my favorites and then listen to them all without messing with the ipod (very nice feature when you're working out for an hour or more and don't want to have to mess with the ipod on the go). On the old ipod, I could find my podcasts on the music menu under "genres" and could click on "podcasts" and "all" and it would play all of them without my ever having to touch it again. Cool!!! The new ipod doesn't allow this. Not cool!! Podcasts have been moved to the root menu so they no longer show up on the music menu and there is no way to play them all non-stop. (If anyone finds a way to do this, please make a comment.) So, now when I'm on a long ride on my bike, or I'm in traffic, I have to stop and fumble with the 3g after the end of each podcast. That is really annoying and what used to be a great feature of the 2g nano, suddenly becomes impossible on the 3g. Bummer! Now, I'm back to using my 2g nano on my biking commute.

Update (Jan 12)... The 'shuffle on' setting is what has caused my podcasts to stop playing back to back. If shuffle is set to 'off' they play without touching the iPod. Thanks for the comments that led to this discovery. Still, there hasn't been a software fix for this and it is annoying to have to fiddle with the shuffle setting depending on whether I want to listen to music or podcasts. Hello Apple!

Finally, the 3g nano has some compatibility problems with other products. For example, I bought the iHome alarm clock and it has glitches when I use my 3g but works well with my older 2g. Same thing with a sports watch I tested in the store. The TIMEX ironman watch that has wireless controls for the ipod didn't work with the 3g. So, if you are an early adopter, be aware of that. I'd recommend that if you have the 3g nano, that you test it carefully in the store with any product that claims to be 3g nano compatible before you buy and make sure the features you care about actually work.

I was prepared to love the nano. It certainly is typical Apple product design - elegant, beautiful and stylish -- and it would be perfect except for two very annoying software/firmware issues, and Apple's apparent lack of interest in addressing the first problem. If it were not for these two problems, I'd give the nano 4 1/2 stars. Maybe 5 stars.

1. First issue -- this is apparently widespread from what I have read on all the forums -- is that some .mp3 encoded files will skip to the next song for no apparent reason. The skip is always in the same place in the song, and immediately moves to the next song. No reboot, iTunes reinstallation or anything else helps. The same song will play fine in iTunes (on the computer) and in every other device and .mp3 player, only the Nano chokes on it.

Apple's helpdesk advises only one thing. Discard the track and reburn the CD using Apple's iTunes encoder. Since I have over 1500 tracks recorded to .mp3 and the skips occur randomly throughout, this is a ridiculous waste of time, and since the problem is very likely firmware related, it should be up to Apple to fix, but they apparently do not wish to do so for reasons only they know or understand. Apple just isn't talking. This is probably the most annoying part of the problem. They won't admit to the problem and won't fix it. (Microsoft never admits error either and it's obnoxious. How 'bout a changelog for software updates so the rest of us know what you fixed? Is that too much to ask?)

2. It took me most of a day to figure out why my movies weren't synching to the 'pod. The answer is that there is an iTunes 'synch movies' check box on an obscure menu which is unchecked by default. Since Apple doesn't include a manual (or even a disk with a manual, users are pretty much left to download the manual if they can find it from Apple's site, and try and diagnose the problem itself. Again, the Apple helpdesk is not very informative. iTunes LOOKS like it is well designed, but for some reason its menus and setup is not completely intuitive. Perhaps it might be more intuitive for a Mac user but I had more trouble than I expected getting my iPod set up correctly and loaded with the music I wanted.

Apple's proud boast is that their products "just work". In this case, the nano "just works, sometimes". I hope, but am not very hopeful that the skip problem will eventually be fixed with a firmware update. In any event, those of you with big .mp3 software libraries should be warned.

-- Other quibbles --
An option to go to 16 gig would be nice, but Apple likes sealed machines. The only thing you can put into the nano is a stereo miniplug. Additionally, there is no user-replaceable battery -- but by the time the rechargeable battery gets worn out (I suspect that it has a lifespan of 1000 charges like all Li-ion batteries), you'll probably ditch it for the latest and greatest anyway.

I should note that the Apple iTunes Store is brilliant - well designed, interesting and just makes you want to throw money at them for songs you'd never consider buying on a CD. Apple is gradually getting around to introducing more high-definition encoded (256 kb .aac) non-DRM'd music, and this is something that noone else is doing as far as I know.

UPDATE 12/3/2007: Apple just released firmware upgrade 1.0.3; it's not clear yet what was fixed, as again, there is no changelog or buglist included with the upgrade to tell you what's fixed. One thing that was NOT fixed is the 'skipping' problem described above.

A few week's experience with the Nano has essentially confirmed my first impressions -- yes, the design and looks of the hardware are pretty good -- it's the software / firmware that's the problem. As the Nano is limited to 8 GB (who ever thought that 8 GB would be limiting, heh) there's a real problem when your library exceeds 8 GB and you keep adding music. There doesn't seem to be a way to add music to your library without having it "checked" for synching. Thus if you're already over the 8 GB limit and you add new music, you have to unselect the new music manually in order to preserve your existing Nano mix without synch difficulties. If there's a way to add music without disturbing your current synch list, I haven't found it.

Another feature I haven't located is a quick and easy way to keep different synch lists for different moods (i.e., all classical mix, all 60s mix, all vocalists list) so that you can quickly resynch and get the mix you want loaded without much manual tweaking. It's probably there somewhere, it's just not obvious where it is.

I agree that the newly required $50 Apple cable for video output is a cheesy ripoff. It's not 'sold in stores', so there's no telling how many people have been burned by clueless Circuit City or Best Buy clerks unaware that the third-party cables they've been selling no longer work with the 3rd generation nanos.''

And finally, yes, it would be nice to have an FM tuner but Apple "doesn't do that" with Ipods, maybe it's a Steve Jobs thing (besides, I suspect they've already crammed as many chips as they can into the Nano form factor and it may be impossible to do so, but what do I know.)

Well I must say, it has taken me all this time to finally succumb to owning an Ipod. When these new little gems came out, I just couldn't resist it. I think it's the best MP3 player I've ever owned, and I've owned quite a few. I'm very impressed with Apple overall, and can see why these are so popular. I love the design and the amazingly brilliant screen. The cover flow is a really cool feature and I'm really happy I can get a flash Ipod with pretty much the same features as a hard drive Ipod (classic). The best feature for me is the shuffle mode. I usually like to put my music on random and this player lets you access the shuffle mode easily and change it easily. I also like the 3 games that are included. Two of them are really fun, but I'm not as big a fan of the solitaire knockoff, but that's just me. I've never been as much a fan of hard drive MP3 players since mine always seemed to freeze and they are more delicate due to the moving parts, so I wasn't really interested in getting a Classic even though you get more GB for your $.

This 4GB Nano is perfect for me since I really don't need much more space than that and I feel I'm not throwing money away. I couldn't see myself ever filling up 80GB of space if I got a Classic, especially not in time for when (inevitably) the next version of the Ipod comes out that I will probably want!

I have another MP3 player that I use for my car that is a little bigger and hard drive based, so this is my travel player to use when I'm out and about or exercising. The size is perfect, and I actually prefer the more square design to the long design of the previous Nano. It holds just enough files and keeps me from putting too much music on it that I don't really want to listen to after a while. I've put about 3GB of music on and left the other 1GB for photos, videos, etc. I doubt I'll ever watch movies on it since it's kind of a small screen (and the PSP is much better for that) but I have added some music videos and maybe will add some TV shows.

Like another reviewer said, it would be nice if these were offered in other colors too, but it's not that big a deal to me and definitely not enough to stop me from buying it. Silver is a good neutral color, so I'm happy with it.

Anyway, I think this is a great deal for $149 and really is worth every penny!

I really struggled between 3 and 4 stars. If you don't mind being locked into iTunes, locked into Apple and having to pay $50 for a video cable, then I'd consider this a 5 star product. However, I do mind.

Without repeating everyone else, the hardware is a thing of beauty. Specifically what made me make this my first iPod ever was the fact that this is by far the most compact video player available, especially for one that can output to a TV or projector. This was the only reason I left my drag-and-drop, user-replaceable battery Sansa behind. I'd give my new iPod 5 stars for this feature alone if it weren't for the $50 cable you have to buy only from Apple because they inserted an authentication chip. I consider that kind of restriction blatantly anti-consumer.

In fact, it's that let's-lock-you-into-Apple aspect that has me downgrading my opinion. Many people will not care, but I still chafe under the necessity of DRM, how I will lose most of the utility of my iTunes purchases if I ever abandon the iPod, the mandatory use of iTunes, etc.. Still, I knew what I was getting into and was willing to overlook these little uglies. I can even understand how some of those measures were perhaps necessary to placate the recording labels, but the authentication chip and $50 price tag for the video-out cable was definitely not a necessity. I guess Apple was sick of being undercut on video cables for the last-gen video iPod. For $20, I'd be happy. For $30, I'd shut my mouth and take it like a man. But $50 for a cable that they are in essence telling me I cannot buy elsewhere? Sorry, but for me that's more than just a blemish on something otherwise so pretty.

On the other hand, to those who find that their generic USB chargers do not charge their iPod -- this is not a scheme from Apple to force you to buy their stuff. After reading through the newest USB specs, I believe Apple is just following the new standard which specifies that the two middle USB pins (D+ and D-) on the charger should be shorted together.

This is how all future USB devices are supposed to instantly detect that they are connected to a charger and not a hub or computer USB port. Most older and/or generic chargers do not comply with this spec and the newest iPods will not recognize them. Even Apple chargers made for the 1st-gen Shuffle do not work with the newest iPods for this very reason. So if you're buying a USB charger for your iPod, make sure it supports the newest models.

Also, I've found the player to be somewhat buggy. For instance, my iPod will sometimes not let me adjust the volume level if I don't exit the song first. Some album art shows up in iTunes on my PC but ends up as a black box on my iPod. I expect future firmware updates will correct those bugs. I also wish there were some way to scroll through files faster. I have some files (like lectures) that are an hour long. Trying to fast-forward to a spot near the end of the lecture is a frustrating exercise of thumb-spinning. Many of my previous MP3 players allowed me to just hold the FF button and the longer I held it, the faster it would forward.

Overall, I'd give me iPod 5 stars on hardware. I knock it down to a 3 or 4 because of unnecessary or anti-consumer product restrictions.

This is my first iPod. So I can't compare it to previous versions like some reviewers so successfully have done. But it has a crisp, bright video playback that I find especially kind to my eyes. It also sports a very thin all-metal body.

One thing I really appreciate is the excellent battery life. So many players, and other electronics, don't offer good battery life. This unit also has built-in games and an advanced user interface. I don't use the games much. But it's sort of nice to have them.

I find the body a bit wide for my liking. I also think the scroll wheel is slightly smaller than I'd like. I was also a bit disappointed with the audio. When I played it in the car, I noticed some static and distortion. I didn't have that with my former player.

I use mine mostly for mp3s. I like the fact that it holds a ton of them so I'm not constantly having to reload like I did with my Creative Zen.

I also find that the price is reasonable. All in all, I think it's a good device and, if it fits your needs, you should consider buying it. I personally think it may be better suited to those who use it more for video than audio, however. On the other hand, most people may not even notice that the audio is not quite up to par.

I would have given five stars if the audio was a bit better.

I have gone through two Apple iPod nanos before this one. The sound quality of this latest Nano is better than the previous ones. The screen color is wonderful and the "Cover Flow" feature is one of my favorites. Not to mention that it now has video too and I must say that the quiality of the video is exceptional!

All is well EXCEPT for the design. The material used is shiny and somewhat slippery so I always have the fear that I will drop it. It's square-ish design fits awkwardly on my hands and it's so small that it too feels awkward when I am scrolling through my music collection.

Bottomline, when it comes to sound quality and added features (Video & Cover flow), this new generation Nano is unbeatable. As for the design and comfort, I'd still go for the second generation Nano. So 4 stars!!!

I've owned two models of the 5.5G video iPods (the 30 and the 60GB models) and have been very pleased with them. I'm a teacher, and I use them for playing videos in class--so much better than DVDs! I was tickled pink when I heard that the new solid-state flash-based nano would include video; I bought it the first week because the school year was starting.

Well, I bought too soon. It seems that without disclosing the change to customers, Apple has locked the "TV Out" feature, preventing users from outputting iPod content to their TV sets. When you go to the Videos > Settings menu and bring up the "TV Out" option, toggling it on/off is now unresponsive, showing only the word "off." When locked, video content will display on the iPod's screen, but not on your TV or portable display accessory.

According to the guys on the tech support line, the only way to turn this feature on is if you connect your iPod to a device with an "Apple authentication chip" built in, or buy the soon-to-be-available Apple video cables that will work with the new iPods and will sell for a shocking $49, plus shipping and tax.

Quite a blow to this long-time hardcore Apple fan and defender. It strikes me as underhanded. Perhaps if they had made it clear in the pitch that a $50 cable would be required to play to TV, I would have still made the same choice, but as it is, I feel, you know, tricked.

That issue aside, the nano is as cute as a button, and the little screen looks great. I will refresh this review in a few weeks when I have had a chance to put it through the paces.