The iPod Nano (stylized and marketed as iPod nano) is a discontinued portable media player designed and formerly marketed by Apple. The first-generation model was introduced on September 7, 2005, as a replacement for the iPod Mini, using flash memory for storage. The iPod Nano went through several models, or generations, after its introduction. Apple discontinued the iPod Nano on July 27, 2017.
Development Development work on the design of the iPod Nano started only nine months before its launch date. The Nano was launched in two colors (black and white) and two storage sizes: 2 GB (roughly 500 songs) and 4 GB (1000 songs). On February 7, 2006, Apple updated the lineup with the 1 GB model (240 songs). Apple also released accessories, including armbands and silicone "tubes" designed to bring color to the Nano and protect it from scratches, as well as a combination lanyard–earphone accessory that hangs around the neck and avoids the problem of tangled earphone cords.
History 1st generation
On September 7, 2005, Apple introduced the iPod Nano and the Motorola ROKR E1 at a media event, with Steve Jobs pointing to the small watch pocket in his jeans and asking, "Ever wonder what this pocket is for?" Advertising emphasized the iPod Nano's small size: wide, long, thick and weighing . The stated battery life is up to 14 hours, while the screen is 176 × 132 pixels, diagonal, displaying 65,536 colors (16-bit color).iPod Nano (1st Generation) Technical Specifications – Apple.com The device has a 1, 2, or 4 GB capacity. On November 11, 2011, Apple announced a recall on this model of iPod Nano due to a battery overheat issue.
2nd generation
The second-generation iPod Nano was announced at Apple's "It's Showtime" event.
On September 25, 2006, Apple updated the Nano line. The second-generation Nano features a scratch-resistant, anodized aluminum casing like the earlier Mini's design; the multiple color choices mirror those of the Mini as well. However, unlike the second-generation Mini, the button labels are gray instead of matching the Nano's casing (except for the black Nano, which has a black click wheel). The second-generation Nano featured a 40% brighter, "more vibrant" display, a battery life upgrade (from 14 to 24 hours), and storage sizes of 2, 4, and 8 GB. The second generation also introduced gapless playback of audio files, along with a new search option.
The 2 GB model was available in silver only. The 4 GB was originally available in green, blue, silver, and pink, while the 8 GB model was initially only available in black. Apple said that the second-generation iPod Nano's packaging is "32% lighter with 52% less volume than the first generation", thereby reducing environmental impact and shipping costs.
On October 13, 2006, Apple announced a special edition iPod Nano: Product Red, with a red exterior and 4 GB of storage. For each red iPod Nano sold in the United States, Apple donated $10 to the Product Red initiative, while retaining the regular price. On November 3, 2006, Apple introduced a red 8 GB model, due to "outstanding customer demand", again retaining the same price point of the equivalent black model.
3rd generation
Apple updated the design of the Nano again on September 5, 2007. The third-generation Nano features a QVGA (320 × 240) screen and a shorter, wider, heavier design, with new colors. New features include browsing via Cover Flow, a new user interface, video playback, and support for new iPod games. Users had to repurchase games bought a month before the debut of the new iPod as they were not supported. The Nano was announced in a 4 GB version in silver and an 8 GB version in silver, turquoise, mint green, black, and Product Red. The battery lasts for approximately 24 hours on audio playback and approximately five hours on video playback. On January 22, 2008, Apple released a pink version of the 8 GB iPod Nano.
Combining elements from previous generations of the iPod Nano, the third-generation Nano has an aluminum front plate and a stainless steel back plate. The Nano also features a new minimalistic hold switch, similar to the iPod Shuffle's power switch, which has been moved to the bottom of the player. The screen had the highest pixel density of any Apple product at the time at 204 pixels per inch, having the same pixel count as the display of the iPod Classic.
On October 6, 2007, Apple released a firmware update (1.0.2) via iTunes that they said would improve Cover Flow and yield faster menu navigation. The update was also released for the iPod Classic. On November 28, 2007, Apple released another firmware update (1.0.3) via iTunes, which includes unspecified bug fixes. On January 15, 2008, version 1.1 was released, which adds support for iTunes movie rentals, music song lyrics support and includes more unspecified bug fixes. Apple released update version 1.1.2 in May 2008 and version 1.1.3 in July 2008 with more bug fixes.
4th generation
At Apple's "Let's Rock" event on September 9, 2008, the fourth-generation iPod Nano was officially announced, returning to the narrow form factor of the first- and second-generation models, while retaining and rotating the screen from the third-gen model. It is also thinner than the first-, second-, and third-generation Nano, measuring tall, wide, and thick, and weighing . It has a curved aluminum shell and glass screen (with the glass screen being held in place only by the shell). Apple said the battery lasts 24 hours of music playback, and four hours of video playback, compared to the five hours of the previous generation.
The six previous colors were replaced by silver, black, purple, light blue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink, for a total of nine, although the Product Red color was only available directly from Apple's website and retail stores. Apple marketed the new colors as "Nano-chromatic". Also added is an accelerometer which allows the Nano to shuffle songs by shaking it, the option between portrait and landscape display modes by tilting the iPod left or right, and access to Cover Flow when tilted sideways. Videos, however, can only be played in landscape mode. The user interface was also refreshed, adding a more stylized look in keeping with the new hardware design. It includes a new voice recording feature which starts automatically when an Apple-compatible microphone is plugged in. It also includes the new "Genius" feature, introduced by Apple the same day, which automatically creates playlists based on a selected song using an algorithm built by Apple.
It was touted as "the most environmentally friendly iPod Apple has ever made", containing arsenic-free glass and a BFR-, mercury-, and PVC-free design. Apple also said it was highly recyclable. The fourth-generation iPod Nano was shipped in cases similar to the second generation, with a clear window in the front, and was marketed in capacities of either 8 GB or 16 GB. However, there were reports of an unannounced 4 GB model in some European markets. The iPod Quiz game was dropped in favor of a Maze game that made use of the iPod's accelerometer, like the labyrinth games originally made popular on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
The fourth generation dropped support for charging via FireWire. "This change means that any dock accessories that use the dock connector's FireWire pins to send power—many older speakers and car chargers, for example—will not charge the fourth-generation iPod Nano."
5th generation
At Apple's September 9, 2009, event, the fifth-generation iPod Nano was unveiled with reduced prices on the larger models (at the time of release, the 8 GB was priced at US$149 and the 16 GB at $179), a larger, diagonal screen (up from in third- and fourth-generation iPod Nano models), which is also wider, integrated video camera with 16 special effects, microphone, FM radio with iTunes tagging (via RDS) and supporting multiple radio regions including Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Japan.
As well as continuing to offer picture viewing and video playback, it also includes Live Pause, a built-in pedometer, Nike+iPod Support and a speaker. This model also has the Genius Mix feature installed.
The headphone jack and dock connector swap locations so that the headphone jack is to the left of the dock connector. Therefore, the fifth-generation iPod Nano uses a different Apple Universal Dock insert than the fourth generation.
The fifth-generation iPod Nano has nine finishes: silver, black, purple, blue, yellow, orange, Product Red, green, and pink. All have a glossier, shinier finish than the fourth generation. Just like the fourth-generation iPod Nano, the Product Red Nano was only available on the Apple Online Store and Apple Retail Store.
This generation was discontinued on September 1, 2010. It and the 2009 revision of the sixth-generation iPod Classic are the last Apple products to use the Click Wheel.
6th generation
At a media event on September 1, 2010, Apple announced the sixth-generation iPod Nano, which, among many new features, is designed around a high-resolution square touch-screen.
The device features a small 1.55-inch multi-touch screen with a lower resolution of 240 × 240 pixels but a higher pixel density of 220 pixels per inch, as opposed to the larger 2.2-inch screen on the fifth-generation iPod Nano. The device has a 0.39 watt-hour battery rated at 3.7 volts, giving a capacity of 105 mAh, and specified to give 24 hours of music playback on a single full charge. The device takes about three hours for a full charge. The device retains the same 30-pin dock connector as previous generations, but loses the previous generation's video camera, built-in voice recorder microphone (although plugging in headphones with a built-in microphone reveals a Voice Memos app) and built-in speaker, and games. It also loses support for video playback, but music videos and video podcasts (vodcasts) can be synced onto the device, and the audio from them plays on the device, with a single key-frame shown on the screen. It still includes the Nike+iPod fitness option as well as an FM radio tuner with RDS (Radio Data System). It has a black-on-white screen contrast option and other accessibility options. The sixth-generation iPod Nano has the same price point as the fifth-generation device.
A firmware update (version 1.1) for the Nano was released on February 28, 2011. The update adds the ability to change songs or pause with a double click of the sleep/wake button. It also adds the ability to turn the device off by holding the sleep/wake button. The user interface is also enhanced. On October 4, 2011, the iPod Nano 1.2 update was unveiled at the Apple "Let's Talk iPhone" event at the Town Hall, 4 Infinite Loop. This update adds the option to increase or decrease the size of the home buttons for easier use. The update also adds a better fitness app, which has a better pedometer split into walking and running style. The update also includes 16 new clock faces, which includes designs such as a Nixie tube clock face or an old-style clock face, and Disney-licensed designs, such as Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, bringing the number of clock faces to 18. Three more background images were also added.
Some accessory makers produced watch bands for the sixth-generation Nano, allowing it to be worn like a watch. In September 2013, TUAW compared the iPod Nano to the Samsung Galaxy Gear, and considered the three-year-old model to be a "better, cheaper smartwatch" than the Galaxy Gear because of its more complete functionality in comparison, and its inclusion of a headphone jack.
7th generation