Quick Look At Apple’s Nano

By Author: Rob Danish
Total Articles: 11
Comment this article

Released in 2005 just three years after the original iPod, the Nano took the MP3 player market by storm, offering a cheaper entry price as well as different colors to choose from. The cheaper cost did come at a price, particularly in the hard drive department. Still, the smaller hard drive did not deter customers from running out and purchasing the latest device Apple had to offer. People continue to praise the Nano for its portability but also for the color variety not seen in an iPod Touch. Sure, the hard drive may not be as large as its counterparts, but it offers just enough to enjoy thousands of pictures and songs.

The Original Nano

The original Nano came in two colors: black and white. The Nano replaced the popular iPod Mini that came in several hues but lacked a color screen. The Nano kept a similar design to its Mini counterpart, but had better battery life and an upgraded screen, and came in different hard drive sizes. Sure, the device was smaller and had a cheaper battery, but it’s how Apple used the device that caused a stir: the company made it more affordable and accessible to people.

Change ...
... in Generation

Each generation of Nano introduces a new design, features, and upgrades. For example, from generation 1 to 2, new colors and different casings were introduced, going from two colors to six and using aluminum casing over plastic. Of course, each new generation required new cases, for instance, unlike Shades iPhone case, the iPod Nano 3rd Generation Cases were smaller and thicker than the 2nd generation device, but new cases did not hurt sales.

As the cases changed, so did the features. Each generation saw its share of changes, but the biggest came at generation 6 when the iPod Nano, a device that historically used a click wheel, began to use a touch screen. Gone were the days of scrolling through songs and searching for artists. Touch was in. Click-wheels were not. Some were saddened; others were relieved.

The Future

The Nano may never grow bigger, but it certainly will offer a cheaper alternative to Apple’s other lines of MP3 devices. Everything for the device will also be slightly reduced. For instance, cases like Shades cases for iPod Touch will typically be $10 more than other products Apple makes. While the Nano may have a cheaper price point, Apple will continue to invest in new features for the product. The future may see the inclusion of the iTunes store or of a wider screen. Future models will also be fully equipped with Apple’s Siri technology—a voice-activated personal assistant.