Apple iPod Nano 3rd Gen

According to Apple the iPod Nano is the most successful portable music player in history. Up until now the device lacked many of the features found in its bigger sibling. The new generation of iPod Nanos remain smaller, thinner but now include video playback and photo viewing features. To accommodate the new display intensive features the form factor of the Nano is substantially different. Known on the street as the "phatpod" the new Nano is wider and stubbier with dimensions coming in at a boxy 2.75 inches high and 2.06 inches wide. The thickness is reduced to a depth of 0.26 inches, or 6.5mm.

Apple iPod Nano red
MSRP $199.00
Release date September, 2007
Brand Apple
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
40 reviews
60
negative
mixed
positive
25 positive
8 mixed
7 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
Ridiculously thin
+27agreedisagree

Now plays video with a high quality screen
+19agreedisagree

Feels just right in your hand.
+17agreedisagree

Good capacity and features for the price
+16agreedisagree

good gui
+10agreedisagree

Cover flow is awesome
+8agreedisagree

long battery life
+4agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
Battery still not user replaceable.
+17agreedisagree

The backside is very easily scratched.
+10agreedisagree

More expensive than competitors with similar features
+3agreedisagree

The "manual" is a joke
-1agreedisagree

Overpriced and overrated - the Sandisk 8gig is head & shoulders above the 3rd gen nano. Does more for less outlay, accepts generic recharger (the iPod needs a dedicated Apple charger) and generic cases. Easier to download CDs from Windows Media Player. A great con job by Apple
-2agreedisagree

Cover flow is choppy due to less powerful processor
-3agreedisagree

screen freezes
-4agreedisagree

Some units have a crooked screen (~2mm slant)
-5agreedisagree

Chubby form factor looks lame
-11agreedisagree


41 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!

Details

The Nano's screen at 320x240 is the same resolution as the fifth generation iPod Video and the iPod Classic. At a screen size of 2.0" Apple states that the Nano's pixel density is the highest in the world. All iPod compatible videos and photos are viewable on the Nano and are accessed with the new "Enhanced" user interface. Apple has upgraded the interface to make full use of the extra screen real estate. Now there is more information and graphics displayed when browsing through the music, photo, and video library. The unique Cover Flow navigation system where you "flip" between albums is also a new addition.

Similar to the bigger iPods custom games are supported on the Nano. Three different games are bundled with the device stored in the memory, with more games available for purchase from the iTunes store.

Despite the new form factor the Nano retains the same data connection port making it compatible with all current iPod accessories. Furthermore a new arm band will be released for runners to use with the Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

Apple rates the battery life for the Nano at 24 hours for audio playback, and 5 hours for video.

iPod Nano Versions

  • 4GB version retails for $149 and comes in only one color: silver.
  • 8GB version retails for $199 and comes in five different colors: black, red, silver, blue, and green.

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This report was started September 5, 2007 at 5:00 pm by Omar
with the last edit occurring May 20, 2009 at 11:42 am by justafire
This page has been viewed 39855 times, with 447 edits by 52 contributors.
See the full report history »

Competitors

Apple iPod Nano 3rd Gen is ranked 2nd among it's competitors.  See the top picks in MP3 Players »

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Comments

1.  avatar Amanie said:

Ok, so the iPod Nano has gone video. Uh...yeah, I definitely want one!
Sep 06, 2007 12:11pm
2.  avatar aspade said:

I bought this for my gf and it's great other than the fact that the wheel is a little too small for my fingers. lol
Oct 04, 2007 4:06pm
3.  avatar krynsky said:

This is the first Ipod I have owned...I was holding out for a small version like this with a nice color screen that played video. This fit the bill and I love it.
Oct 17, 2007 2:32am
4.  avatar bugmenot said:

cheap, bad service, use-unfriendly, expensive, featureless. GET A SANSA VIEW. BUt its still got tons o fake accessories so its AWSOME right?
Jan 14, 2008 11:34pm
5.  avatar Wolfmaan said:

I currently run Linux Fedora Core, an alternative to your standard Windows operating system. I won an iPod Nano 4gb in a contest.

The iPod's size is very impressive. Very small, and very capable.

The only thing I might recommend for the iPod is the otterbox protective case if you are the rugged Indiana Jones type because you will quickly destroy the unit. http://www.otterbox.com
iPod has a nice, sleek, and relatively easy to use interface, and has excellent sound playback quality, even with stock earbuds.

To make iPod 3rd generation work with Fedora Linux, you have to modify a few internal files in the iPod which took about an hour including learning how to do it and make it work with Linux media players like gtkpod and Amarok.
May 26, 2008 5:27pm
6.  avatar bobparker said:

The video is real clear for how small it is. Looking at Vodcasts gave it an almost 3d effect (the talking body in front of the green screen) with the sharpness. Software/syncing is different from the old 'nano' and shuffle. One of the more intersting points is that each device and desktop-iTunes sort differently (where the capitals go, where digits (1,2,3,...) sort, how it handles throw-away ('the'...) - trying to find pod casts can be a challenge. Overall if you like iTunes, and don't need the whole library in one device - this does the job well after 2 weeks for me as an upgrade to the Shuffle (18 months).
Jun 05, 2008 8:51pm
7.  avatar bruce thom said:

Overpriced and overrated - the Sandisk 8gig is head & shoulders above the 3rd gen nano. Does more for less outlay, accepts generic recharger (the iPod needs a dedicated Apple charger) and generic cases. Easier to download CDs from Windows Media Player. A great con job by Apple
Jul 02, 2008 9:09am
8.  avatar cybernaut said:

I picked mine up through Woot for $ 99 - I just use it for podcasts only.
Oct 01, 2008 4:06pm
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

wendywallflower

avatar
July 11, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
62
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
3 cons
trustedtrusted
have ithave it
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • Cover flow is awesome
  • long battery life

Cons

  • The backside is very easily scratched.
  • The "manual" is a joke
  • screen freezes

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Wolfmaan

avatar
May 26, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
62
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
3 cons
trustedtrusted
have ithave it
love itlove it
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • Cover flow is awesome

Cons

  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • The backside is very easily scratched.
  • More expensive than competitors with similar features

Comments

"I currently run Linux Fedora Core, an alternative to your standard Windows operating system. I won an iPod Nano 4gb in a contest.

The iPod's size is very impressive. Very small, and very capable.

The only thing I might recommend for the iPod is the otterbox protective case if you are the rugged Indiana Jones type because you will quickly destroy the unit. http://www.otterbox.com
iPod has a nice, sleek, and relatively easy to use interface, and has excellent sound playback quality, even with stock earbuds.

To make iPod 3rd generation work with Fedora Linux, you have to modify a few internal files in the iPod which took about an hour including learning how to do it and make it work with Linux media players like gtkpod and Amarok."
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

hero06

avatar
June 10, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
42
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
7 cons
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • good gui

Cons

  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • The backside is very easily scratched.
  • More expensive than competitors with similar features
  • The "manual" is a joke
  • Cover flow is choppy due to less powerful processor
  • Some units have a crooked screen (~2mm slant)
  • Chubby form factor looks lame

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

hawks22gk

avatar
April 6, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
6 pros
3 cons
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • good gui
  • long battery life

Cons

  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • The backside is very easily scratched.
  • More expensive than competitors with similar features

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

1stade

avatar
April 8, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
7 pros
0 cons
love itlove it
have ithave it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • good gui
  • Cover flow is awesome
  • long battery life

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

fractalhorizon

avatar
January 7, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
7 pros
0 cons
love itlove it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • good gui
  • Cover flow is awesome
  • long battery life

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Competitors

fractalhorizon prefers Apple iPod Touch 1st Gen over Apple iPod Nano 3rd Gen
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

coronero

avatar
July 10, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
71
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
2 cons
have ithave it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • good gui

Cons

  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • The backside is very easily scratched.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Lawrenceald

avatar
May 5, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
43
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
4 cons
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price

Cons

  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • The backside is very easily scratched.
  • More expensive than competitors with similar features
  • Cover flow is choppy due to less powerful processor

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

kayleech

avatar
April 20, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
71
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
2 cons
have ithave it
love itlove it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
  • Good capacity and features for the price
  • Cover flow is awesome

Cons

  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • More expensive than competitors with similar features

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

SamsLembas

avatar
January 14, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
17
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
5 cons
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Ridiculously thin

Cons

  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • The backside is very easily scratched.
  • More expensive than competitors with similar features
  • Overpriced and overrated - the Sandisk 8gig is head & shoulders above the 3rd gen nano. Does more for less outlay, accepts generic recharger (the iPod needs a dedicated Apple charger) and generic cases. Easier to download CDs from Windows Media Player. A great con job by Apple
  • Cover flow is choppy due to less powerful processor

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No
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This product is also known as:

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