Apple iPod Nano (3rd Generation)

(Review) - We couldn't wait to get our hands on the latest of Apple's iPod music players, as the company put on its annual show to update the most successful product line in its history last week. Needless to say, the industry is buzzing once again and for a good reason. We've got to be honest though. When Jobs first showcased the new line, our jaws dropped. We were horrified with the new designs. They appeared to be chubby, clunky and anything but sexy. Was Apple losing its touch with reality? Who would want an out of shape iPod? Certainly not us. But we were wrong. Boy, we were wrong. Just like with a lot of other Apple products, you can't truly get a feel for them with text, photos, audio and videos. You have got to see them in real life to truly appreciate their beauty. That's what we did, and thankfully, our horror turned into a pleasant surprise. In real life, when we actually held the 3rd generation of iPod Nano, we realized how cute it really is. It's sexy, but in a cute sort of way. Are we making sense here? All you need to know is, especially our male readers, it won't make you look like a dork.

We have already reviewed the 2nd generation of iPod Nano on CoolTechZone.com, and the 3rd generation boasts a lot of similarities, and like always, we'll cut through the chit chat and product introduction and send you directly to our original review of the Nano from years earlier. With that said, there are certainly some interesting features that the updated Nano is loaded with. To start off, the exterior design with a slew of suave colors is impressive. It carries a matte, aluminum faceplate that makes it lightweight and durable for occasional drops. However, be careful with those drops, though. The display, as gorgeous as it is with its 2-inch display and 320x240 resolution, is fingerprint and scratch prone. Ouch! What was Apple thinking? Really, hasn't the company learned anything? Scratches = bad. We don't like it. Nonetheless we are holding our breath and hope that it's just a result of a 1st batch of shipment. You know how Apple is silly like that.

Apple iPod Nano: Another Winner from Apple

The back continues to be the wonderland of fingerprints with a shiny metallic surface. Also in the front, the Clickwheel continuous to be the main navigation tool, but it's far smaller than the previous Nano. If you thought the earlier Nano had a small Clickwheel, make sure to try out the new Nano before getting one. On the bottom are the headphones jack, the hold switch and the proprietary USB connector.

On the UI front, Apple added a plethora of new functions that look amazing, thanks to the wonderfully bright display. One such feature is the added video capability. It can play H.264 or MPEG4 in either MOV, MP4 or M4V formats. Although we didn't expect it to blow us away with its quality, we were surprised yet again. The video quality is amazing, and if the only video device you own is the iPod Nano, you could possibly survive with full scale movie watching on a 2-inch display. But hey, don't get too excited and think about replacing your dedicated portable video players or notebook computers in lieu of the Nano. It's excellent, but it's not a replacement for a dedicated video device. If for nothing else, then think about your eyes and the migraines you will get after hours of squinting on a tiny display. Also, the device is smart enough to skip the unnecessary DVD chapters and start right off with the video, and it also remembers to start the movie at the point you stopped it the last time. How nice is that!

In addition to video playback capabilities, there's now Cover Flow for better visual navigation with Album Art. Remember Cover Flow? The quick way to zip your finger across the display on your iPhone and zoom past your music collection in a seamless, liquid flow. It's here, and it works, albeit not as well, especially if you have a multitude of albums. But it's cool and interesting, if nothing else. Besides, Click Flow doesn't feel quite the same with Clickwheel navigation. Ah, well, at least Apple tried. Thanks, Apple. We still love you.

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