iPod Reviews

iPod Classic like any other iPod family underwent design and technical modifications to reach its present seventh generation. Interestingly up till the 5th generation the models were just named as iPod and the tag ‘Classic’ was added later. Considering the transformation from the first generation to the latest, only a few tweaking is done to upgrade the iPod to the latest music players. iPod in the first generation is designed with the scroll wheel model and the second generation altered to a virtual wheel idea. Yet, both the generations had a fire wire port on the upper side. The 3rd generation iPod classic line-ups were packed with the dock connector. Further, many features were added from this model onwards. The 4th generation witnessed the addition of click wheel borrowed from the iPod shuffle. In the next generations viz, the fifth and the sixth video play back was added and the screen size had been increased. It was only at this point of time, that iPod was renamed as iPod Classic.

Overview

iPod Classic stands apart for its storage. Beauty, elegance, efficiency, and last but not the least, it is the memory capacity that puts it forward. With the storage capacity of 160GB, it can hold up to 40,000 songs. Many items such as the photos, videos, podcast can be stored intact and the user will land up finding still more space to add something. It could be because of some internal file compression technology used by Apple. Further, a few games are also added to give the extra mileage.

Design

The sixth generation iPod classic has got itself eliminated from the clear plastic. The main drawback noted in the plastic case is the higher sensitivity to scuff marks. But , this one comes with the anodized aluminum as used in the iPod Nano. The metal face is encompassed elegantly around the glass screen. It is a practical construction and avoids the occurrence of scratch marks on the screen. However, the rear stainless steel is still susceptible to finger prints.

The iPod Classic 7th Generation screen measures 2.5 inch diagonally and is a color LCD monitor with LED backlight. This renders a good visibility and clarity for the pictures and videos. We can understand the love for click wheel by Apple and hence the iPod classic is established with the click wheel as used in iPod Shuffle. The only difference is that an additional option such as the menu and the play/ pause is added to the click wheel, besides the forward and reverse button. But, unfortunately the volume control is hidden inside the menu options. It is not a smoother set-up, because the volume control is something that is highly preferred to be within the quickest reach, and can be cumbersome if it has to be altered through entering the click wheel menu options. The iPod classic can be turned on, by hitting any button on the device.

User Interface

The operation is simple in Apple iPod 7th Gen Media Player. It is just click and scroll. All the features are to be navigated from the main menu using the click wheel and the centre button. The details of the song, settings and information are contained within the menu. The selection is always made using the centre button. The main menu can be activated by pressing and holding it, an action animated from the iPod shuffle. The shuffle song option is also present. It is also possible to skip to any point of the song or the video using the centre button. A scrubber bar appears and the diamond icon represents the exact location of the item. Since the device can hold a good quantity of database, it is possible to search and pick the desired one using the search option. However the search feature is restricted to the music area only and it does not respond to videos or any other items. Something similar to that of a phone lock arrangement is possible in the iPod classic. By pressing the hold switch the iPod classic can be averted by activating from accidental touch. In case of poor video quality, the screen brightness can be adjusted, but prolonged brightness of the screen can affect the battery performance. The battery level is indicated on the extreme top right corner of the screen.

Features

Memory Capacity
The storage part is the alluring feature as far as this model is concerned. Apple iPod Classic 7th Generation Model’s memory is 160GB hard drive. The clearest reason for using the hard drive rather than the flash drive is the cost efficient storage. Most of such devices with flash drive memory fall in the expensive category. As per the latest technology, the iPod Classic picks up from the small sized drive to execute the commands. In addition to it, it runs on a complicated OS system. This aspect makes it susceptible to fail at certain occasions. This is the reason as why iPod classic though being the best amongst the iPod family to hold more songs, it is not integrated with the Nike+ usage. Even it is not highly recommended to be used during extreme conditions such as the running as it can lead to some mechanical failure. The usage of hard drive for storing the content has a limitation of drawing more power, External Hard Drives comes with the capacity up to 3TB. Meanwhile the flash drive memory gives better mileage and has several advantages. The main advantage is the speed and it gives a good operating experience. A smooth interface is maintained. Moreover, content like videos and games need a smart interface system and flash drive is the ideal choice. Further the energy efficiency of the flash drive is higher. Most of the Apple’s iPod models have drifted towards having the attractive flash RAM rather than the hard drive. The iPod classic hard drive has some hiccups such as stuttering during the playback. Though it is not of a major drawback, it is still a limitation.

Music capabilities
The music features is similar to that of any iPod family. The iPod Classic can be synchronized through the iTunes and songs be exported. It is possible to enter the song lyrics in to the iTunes in the plain text format. The same can be viewed while listening to the songs. Album art work can be displayed by the iPod Classic and hence if it is added it can be viewed. The music can be synchronized automatically or it can be managed manually. Using the rating system, if the user rates the song from 1 to 5, the iPod Classic can automatically creates Smart Playlist in the iTunes.

Podcast can be downloaded and organized and viewed effectively, it presumes from the place where it was left. Audio Books can be transferred to the iPod Classic and the play speed can also be set. The chapters can be navigated using the forward and the rewind button. By adding the iPod Radio remote accessory available for iPod Classic, it is possible to listen to the radio.

Video Features
The videos such as the movies or the TV shows can be rented from the iTunes, similar to that of buying songs. It can be brought using the Apple account or America Online account. But this option is limited to some of the countries only. Another interesting feature is the ability to watch the iPod Classic videos in the television. By purchasing an Apple AV cable, the iPod Classic can be connected to the television and the videos can be viewed in the large screen.

Photo Features
The photos available in the computer can be transferred to the 7th Generation iPod Classic. Since the resolution factor varies with respect to each picture, the iTunes shrinks the picture resolution. The full resolution is usually not added to the iPod classic and is added only when requested. Otherwise, it is kept in the best possible resolution applicable for viewing in the device.

Miscellaneous Features
iPod Classic 7th Generation release is configured with three games, namely Klondie, Vortex and the iQuiz. Any additional games can be brought from the iTunes. Furthermore, the iPod Classic can synchronise contacts, calendars and manage the To-Do List. Address book from Mac or Windows can be synced with the iPod classic through the iTunes. Voice memo recording can also be done. The voice memo quality can be pre-set by the user. However the recording will continue only for two hours.

Performance

The key feature of the iPod classic is the memory capacity. It can store up to 40,000 songs when stored in the AAC format at the usage limit of 128 Kbps. It can hold even up to 25,000 photos, but has to be shrunk to be fit in the iPod Classic. Apple has integrated wisely, the cover flow technology to flip through the songs rapidly. This is important criteria required, as the iPod classic storage limit is very high. The refresh rate and the response time is good, however iPod Classic does not exhibit the backward compatibility with respect to certain games aspect.

Verdict

It would be an understatement to say that the iPod Classic memory is good, but it is fabulous. The device is sturdy but not solid enough to be taken for gym activities.
The sound effects are not diluted in this generation, but we should say Apple has further enriched the quality. However, the volume control could have been retained in the main click wheel, which is quite a drawback. But, for certain reasons like the excellent storage limit and the music play back time, which runs up to 36 hours, people cannot keep their hands off from the iPod Classic.

iPod Classic 7th Generation - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Apple
Model Name	iPod Classic 7th Generation
Product Type	Digital Player
Dimensions (W x D x H)	2.4 x 0.41 x 4.1
Weight	4.9 ounces
Body Housing Material	Aluminum
Memory	160GB Hard Drive
System Requirements	Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP Home, Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later
Compatible audio CD format	AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, AIFF, HE-AAC, MP3 VBR, and WAV
Software	iTunes version 9.0 or later
Digital Features	MPEG-4 playback, JPEG photo playback, H.264 video
Additional Features	Genius technology, FM radio, Calendar, To-Do List
User Interface	USB port with 2.0 compatibility
Input and Output	Dock Connector to USB Cable, Earphones
Battery	Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Play back Time	36 hours of recharge time
Warranty	One year

With each unique music player stemming up from global manufacturers to the local produce, one would say there will be no dearth of music listening devices. Amidst the crowd, fancy looking ones attract the market.  Majority of the music gadgets are fabricated with cameras or internet connection or even a calling facility. On due course of time, the user would abandon it because, for the simple fact that merging all these features in a music listening equipment would ultimately fade the fun and joy of listening to the songs. Whilst many manufacturers overlook the product usability and continue with concept of “all in one” strategy, Apple has cautiously laid diverse roads to reach plenty of customers. Apple’s electronic consumer items are neatly bifurcated based on usability and necessity, hence deviate from the path of collating all features on to one music player. In the midst of many music player models, iPod shuffle still race amongst the ace products as is an ultimate musical entertainer.

Overview:

Apple launched its first iPod Shuffle during January 2005, a very simple one sans the click-wheel. The device was simple and primarily it maintained an easy to operate decorum and hence was highly welcomed by the elder people and the kids. The second generation shuffle was coated with metallic finish rather than the plastic one and the third generation was completely bland and faced issues with respect to the usability. Due to the design flaws it had been eventually forced to be recalled from the market, something that Apple rarely does. Until recently, the fourth generation iPod Shuffle is been pitched within a short span of time. It stands for the testimony of the lessons that Apple had learnt from the previous launch and carefully applied it in this model. Except for the additional memory space and some new features this shuffle takes up the similarity of the second generation model. Keeping the price index low, it is definitely competing globally and locally.

Design Parameters:

Wearable and portable could be the two words to describe the iPod Shuffle’s design essence. The fourth generation 2GB iPod Shuffle breathes a fresh air by amending the dimension parameters. It stands tall to a height of 1.14” and width of 1.24 and lighter to the weight of 0.44 ounce. The contrast difference to the previous generation shuffle is the increase in the height and decrease in the width and the weight. By making it slightly taller, there is a notable assurance in the grip. The body is made up of aluminum and gleams up in five different colors. The color contrast is suitably balanced between the body and the plastic control. Especially in the case of silver, the black colored click wheel control accentuates the appearance. Whereas in the case of the other colors such as the pink, orange, blue and green the inner control is touched with white and appears a bit duller than the body color. iPod Shuffle has not abandoned the metal clip on the rear side. It can be personalized using the engraving available from the App store.

Nothing can be compared to the classic click-wheel navigational system which has gained so much of momentum. Up to an 18% size increase has been done to this click wheel; and this gives a better operating freedom, especially for broad handed individuals. The increased size in the click wheel has pushed the iPod Shuffle a bit taller than its contemporaries. The play/ pause button can be operated to lock the device when not in use. The fast forward and the rewind action can also be done.

As opposed to the previous generations, this Apple iPod 4th Gen Shuffle one is engineered from a single piece of aluminum. The body is entirely metallic besides the click-wheel. The top, bottom, rear buttons and ports are entirely metallic, thus giving a sturdy feel to it. The aluminum used in the previous releases were sort of matte looking and gives a polished look. Unlike many flimsy music players, iPod Shuffle can withstand pretty good amount of shock and fall. The metallic body further assures a better robustness while handling it. The metallic finish is not kept glossy, but still looks shiny, however some users complain the iPod’s rear side to be bit slippery to touch especially with wet fingers. Even the color selection has been carefully selected in a not so bright manner than compared to the predecessors.  The orange and the greens appear less catchy and Apple has kept the color key low, perhaps to bring about a good contrast between the metal body and the plastic control.

Regarding the length of the USB cable, it comes a bit short. It is cumbersome to get connected from the rear side of the desktop towards the front. The earphones length is compromised and cannot reach all the way from the ear to the waist. The in-line remote control that aroused moisture related issues during workouts is not added in this generation.

Despite the size, iPod shuffle successfully and conveniently integrates the buttons and controls. The volume button, song selection and the play and pause button retains the same place in the click wheel. The shuffle switch is accommodated on the top panel and it permits three stop sliding. The headphone port can be used to connect the unique USB cable thus lacking the flexibility of listening to music and charging at the same time.

Features:

Shuffle Switch
The shuffle sliding switch gives a cocktail of Playlist or the order that has been loaded. In the three way slide, the extreme left operation rings in a different way, and the middle order plays the songs in order and the right side push gives a randomized collection of songs. The shuffle switch has not undergone any major change and the same pattern descends from the first generation iPod shuffle.

Genius Playlist
Similar to any iPod, this one too needs to be synchronized with Apple’s iTunes (media management application). On connecting the iPod shuffle to the system using the USB cable, iTunes takes care of the rest. The complete synchronization and organization of the music content and ability to shrink the song’s storage capacity is the highlight feature of iPod family. Customization of the playlist for different activities makes it a perfect blend for any theme. The much adorned feature of the latest iPod’s, viz the Genius Playlist is introduced in the 4th generation iPod shuffle. On activating the genius Playlist the user can get a good blend of songs assorted as per their beat and sound level.

Voice Over
The idea to combine voice over feature in a screen-less iPod is great. The voice over is enabled with 25 internationally used languages and it conveys the name of the ongoing song or the Playlist, thus enabling the user to shuffle the Playlist quite sensibly. When compared to the third generation shuffle, that has employed the pressing of play/pause button; the fourth generation has gained a voiceover button that is placed alongside of the power switch. Voice over can be used in several ways such as, pressing the button instantly gives the Playlist title and pressing it twice gives a voice status of the battery level and hence the user need not remember the color code for the battery level.

Storage
The iPod shuffle 4th Generation can also be used as flash storage device and can store files in its decent sized folder. As stated earlier, the iTunes can zip the song size and manages a storage limit of 500 songs. On the contrary to the previous launches like launching the product and adding additional memory and selling it as either a higher or lower margin is refrained in the 4th generation. It straight away comes with 2 GB storage limit and splitting up with 1.88 GB of usable storage. But with the inclusion of voiceover, if it is activated, the iTunes will designate the song details and can add up to a minor space of 10MB for every song; even if it is negligible it can still lower the capacity slightly.

Battery Life
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery assures a run time of 15 hours. Apple states that it is achievable when the device is set at 50% volume and playing the songs randomly at varying bitrate. The battery performance is better than the third generation bud modest when compared to the previous (the 1st and 2nd) models which actually ran for a time period above than the claimed one. The average charge time scarps to 3 hours and an 80% charge is achieved within 2 hours.

Performance:

Transfer Efficiency:
The content transfer speed can be described as the average time required to transfer the data from iTunes to the iPod shuffle. It is slightly higher when compared against the previous model. A rough estimate of almost 6 minutes is necessary to complete the transfer and the synchronization process. A rather sluggish pace when compared against the iPod Nano. At the same time, the content refresh rate to select or eliminate the songs at one shot consumes up to eleven minutes. Considering the aggressive competition, many manufacturers sell the players with features such as radio, display screen etc… Apple claims the iPod shuffle 2GB 4th generation as the least priced iPod ever. Might be this could be the reason that the file transfer speed is bit compromised.

Audio Performance:
The audio performance is regarded as the iPod shuffle’s best catch ever in that particular genre. It is quite common for any manufacturer to save the best for the higher end models; however Apple had broken down that notion by designing the finest sounding iPod shuffle ever. Funny though, the sound effect is very prominent if it is used with good ear phones rather than Apple’s graded ones. The effect is tremendous and the iPod catches even the slightest click and trebles and gives the smoothest listening experience. The audio richness obtained in better quality ear phones must be taken in to consideration by Apple. At some point, aggressive competitors are definitely going to give a better audio performance using their enhanced earphones, even if their music player is not so efficient enough to pull to a remarkable output. Moreover, Apple has a nice theme to bring out an equal sound output from all the songs stored in the shuffle. The sound output from each song varies depending on the quality of recording. However iTunes irons it out by using the “sound check” option and it must be applied to the iPod shuffle. Once this minor set-up change is completed, all the songs would play in a relatively good and equal volume. Most of the iPod’s does not sync well with third part earphones, the 4th generation iPod shuffle is a stand out. The song transition is clean as the hiss sound is made completely inaudible and thereby creating a tranquil transit from each song. The voice in particular has a better bounce and stands apart from the background score. Another solace in this generation is that the user need not drain out money to purchase the remote accessory; it supports quite a good number of third party remote add-ons.

Verdict:

iPod Shuffle 2GB 4th generation gets the trendy look from the previous model. The features are rightly cooked and not overdone. So none of the inconvenience arises, because the device silently delivers the function it is indeed to be. Many annoying and unwanted accessories such as the picture capturing facility, or wider screen display are pulled away in this model. All these features are futile in a miniature sized music player. Not to mention, it is sold at a very competitive price. At the same time, many users prod that Apple could have added radio feature in to the shuffle as compared against many of its competitors. It is a good idea though, but the beauty of shuffle lies in the sleek and compact design, if radio feature is dumped, the signal strength could be weak or many buttons and controls in addition to the existing ones must be added. All these factors will compound the effect of user interface issues. Therefore, with the least complicated design and operating system, iPod shuffle indeed rocks the world.

Apple iPod Shuffle 2GB 4th Generation - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Apple
Model Name	iPod Shuffle 2GB 4th generation
Product Type	Digital Player
Dimensions (W x D x H)	1.24 x 0.34 x 1.14 in
Weight	0.44 ounce
Body Housing Material	aluminum
Memory	2GB
System Requirements	Mac or PC with USB2.0 port, iTunes 10, Windows 7, Windows vista, Windows XP home
Compatible audio formats	Protected AAC & AAC, MP3 VBR, AAx,AAX+, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
Software	iTunes version 10.0 or later
Additional Features	Genius Playlist Voice Over
User Interface	USB port with 2.0 compatibility
Battery	Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
Accessories	Earphones, USB cable, user manual
Warranty	One year

Speculating a lot of expectations, Apple released its latest Nano series iPod Nano 8GB 6th generation. To understand the uniqueness of the new launch, it is vital for the user to get a glimpse of the iPod Nano history, as well. Here it is summarized:

Overview:

The parent model Nano was simple and elegant, the first scaled up version looked tall and thin, the second version had a shiny aluminum body, the third generation is wide shaped with reduced height, fourth version was elongated and thin, and the fifth version breathed a larger screen than all the other fore-runners. And the recent 6th gen is in for a surprise!

Apple has bifurcated two product boxes. One is exclusively for the music lovers and the other for users who demand more besides music. The iPod Nano 8GB 6th Gen is designed to attract the music lover’s category. It ripped off some features from the previous model, but at the same time has got an edge over the predecessor.  iPod Nano (6th generation) smartly balances the battery life and playback time.

Design Parameters:

Apple iPod Nano 8GB (6th Generation) resembles like a mini TV and is almost a neat square when compared to its previous model. One can readily point out the design similarity with the iPod Shuffle, except for the wide screen. The iPod comes in sleek anodized aluminum and the customer has good selection options, as it brightens up in seven colors.

The latest 6th Gen iPod Nano readily slips between your fingers and the pocket. It weighs around 0.35 inches and it is the thickest Nano ever. The clip on the backside enables the Nano to get fixed on to the shirt sleeve. The screen display is 1.6 inch wide and resolution is 240 by 240 pixels square, which is quite lesser than the previous model. As a result of reduced screen size, iPod Nano wisely got relieved from the regular title bar, and replaced with main icons on the screen. In Addition to it, the menus are arranged in a manner to maximize the visibility, and absolutely no cramming of items in the home page.  Moreover, inconvenience in viewing through the smaller view port is further compensated by using the apt color combination, icon size and font size. Nevertheless, the Voice Over option helps to navigate through the menus. By and large the menu selection is better than the Creative Zen X-Fi model, as it has a resistive screen and requires a firm press.

The traditional click wheel navigational tool in iPod Nano is replaced by the touch screen option. The user can move through the screen just by flipping two fingers on the screen. In contrast to the touch screen model, the click wheel facilitates the iPod Nano to be navigated casually without even looking at the screen once it is clipped on to the jean pocket. The users got tremendously familiar to this methodology and can do blindfolded. This would be quite a miss in the new iPod Nano. But the screen twisting feature on the touch screen swipes the display menus either sideways or upside down. So the iPod Nano need not be unclipped every time to select a menu, but rather can just look down and change the option. The touch screen can be rotated to the tune of 90 º in either direction and the user can get a good view even if it is placed upside down. For further search from the main menu to its contents a neat drag on the screen upwards or downwards or flick to jump for quicker selection is sufficient.
The sleep and wake button is placed directly on the top of the Nano. The volume up/down button is also placed upwards. The buttons are less complicated like with any iPod Nano generations.  On the bottom side 30 pin dock connector port is available, and adjoining to it is the 1/8-inch (3.5mm) headphone jack.

Characteristic Elimination from the Past:

Click Wheel:
The click wheel option is been replaced by Apple’s patented touch screen technology. The touch screen measures about 1.5 inches across. The touch screen technology is deployed in the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and is now integrated in the iPod Nano 6th Gen 8GB Capacity. The touch screen senses touch near the display and not on it.  Hence, it is easier to slide though the small screen by touching the edge of the iPod. The display is made thinner by diffusing the image generator and touch sensor at each touchable spot on the view port. To sum up, smaller yet a brighter display on the iPod Nano is achieved. The touch screen has added value to some features which was difficult in the previous Nano models. The photo viewing option was cumbersome in the click wheel model whereas it is simple to use in touch screen. The user just needs to flip through the screen, tap to zoom in or out. The touch screen also facilitates good FM tuning and the stations are readily set just by swiping the screen in clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

Video Capturing:
The video capturing feature was launched in the Nano 5th generation. During the launch phase, the sales picked up as most users found that interesting. But the overall usability results pointed out only the disturbance of having a video camera in the iPod Nano. It was because the screen size is small and the picture quality was not highly appreciable. Further, the screen size and an elongated slim model pushed the “click wheel” further down. This annoyed the iPod fans a bit, as they got accustomed to navigate click wheel placed within their finger reach, and need not search beneath. All these factors contributed to the elimination of video recorder in this model and as stated earlier Apple wanted to dedicate this iPod for sheer music lovers!

Games:
Games were purposefully eliminated in the Apple iPod Nano 6th gen primarily because of its size restriction. User cannot benefit good return on investment even if the games are inserted. The gaming experience cannot be stretched to the fullest, hence it was deliberately removed.

Features:

Apple has truly made it for music enthusiasts, because all the features are focused to enthrall that particular market segment. Even with limited options, each menu is designed to meet perfection that renders a great music listening experience.

Nano for Music:
The music can be categorized by albums, artists, genres or composers. Organizing the music content is easier and made quicker devoid of pressing the click wheel. As each song plays, a photo display of the song on the screen appears. The battery back up is almost 24 hours of non-stop music. The shake to shuffle option is also present and can listen to bizarre musical collections that can stir the user’s interests. The user can upload songs from the iTunes. The Genius Sidebar offers suggestion on new music by analyzing the user’s inclination. The song can be bought after a 30 second preview and can be easily loaded to the iPod.

Genius Playlist:
The genius playlist always cuts the boredom and peps up with exciting medley mix. It picks up a song adhering to the rhythm the user is listening to, and flocks it all to make an ultimate collection. It is possible to create Genius mix in the iTunes and later load on to the iPod. The loading time is negligible and quite faster.

FM Radio:
The FM radio introduced in the previous version is continued in the 6th gen iPod Nano Portable MP3 Player too, and is intended for global use. The manual tuning is carried out by flicking the tuner either left or right. The tuner pauses when it spots a station. Automatic scanning and signal recognition are possible, and the station is recognized in a matter of seconds. The station can be added to favorites. The headphones act as antenna. The reception is somewhat unclear at weak signals. The radio buffer feature which was introduced in the previous gen is also present.

In case of any interruption, by means of the radio buffer aka Live Pause the music can be paused. The buffer period is almost 15 minutes. The song resumes on activation and starts playing from the point of interruption.

Fitness Features:
The Apple iPod Nano sixth generation features pedometer like the previous model. The pedometer works with Nike+ iPod Sportkit. The iPod must be clipped somewhere and can begin the workout using the Nike+ running shoes. The pedometer along with accelerometer counts the steps taken. Prior to the workout, details such as weight, goal, and screen orientation can be set in the pedometer. Once the workout session is completed, an overview of the workout is readily available. Synchronization of the pedometer data to the Nike+website is also possible. The registration in the Nike website is free and this gives the user a good workout tracking and can be a motivational factor.

Accessibility:

The Accessibility helps individuals with disability to enjoy music. The Voice Over feature is the first gesture based screen reader providing an avid description of the menu on which the finger is placed. The accessibility is enhanced with 29 languages and it is indeed a global application.

Memory:

The number of songs which can be loaded on the iPod depends on the length and the bit rate encoded on the song. In the iPod Nano 8GB, an average of 2000 songs, assuming it is of lower bit rate can be loaded. On the other hand if the quality is high, the storage space is high, and hence the number of songs will be reduced.

Battery:

The battery is lithium-ion type and supports a play back time of almost 24 hours on complete charging. The iPod requires 1.5 hours on fast charge that builds up to 80% battery capacity, whereas a full time charge is about 3 hours.

Audio:

The audio formats supported includes protected AAC with the tune of 8 to 320 Kbps MP3, HE-AAC, Audible Enhanced Audio with formats 2, 3 and 4,  MP3 VBR , AAX, and AAX+, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV.

Accessories:

The product is accessorized with a pair of ear phones, USB cable, dock adapter, 3.5mm stereo headphone dock connector and a guide start-up guide.

Summary:

The iPod Nano family evolved at each generation by either adding a feature or eliminating one. The user might have acquainted with the product development concepts and strategies. Any organization constantly revamp its product lines so as to keep abreast with the latest technical evolution, overcome challenges faced in the previous releases and so on. But the most focusing factor is gathering the pulse of the users in different market segments classified broadly regional wise, gender wise, age wise, usability and so on. Agreeing to the above statement, Apple never loses it sight with respect to their customer requirements and demands. Hence, that is the reason that so many modifications with respect to design and feature are constantly carried out.

Apple wanted to differentiate their music player product lines intelligently in two ways. One set of products target the market that demands more than music in music players and the other category feel uneasy with new features hoarded on to their music player. This is basically because they might have good electronic gadgets supporting the purpose. To support this statement, there are many users who use mobile phones for taking picture, browsing and so on and they would want their iPod to perform just the function of music and utilities that support the same.

Apple iPod Nano 8GB 6th Generation - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Apple
Model Name	iPod Nano 8GB Sixth Generation
Product Type	Digital Player
Dimensions (W x D x H)	1.6 x 0.35 x 1.48 in
Weight	0.74 ounce
Body Housing Material	Aluminum
Memory	Integrated 8GB
System Requirements	Microsoft Windows Vista with Apple Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later version, or, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Compatible audio formats	MP3, Audible 2, 3 AAC, MP3 VBR and WAV format or Apple Lossless or AIFF
Software	iTunes version 8.0 or later with an iTunes stores account and drivers and utilities
Digital Features	MPEG-4 playback, JPEG photo playback and Variable bit-rate compatible
Additional Features	Genius technology, FM radio, Voice over, Nike with iPod support. USB 2.0 version compatibility, battery level indicator and digital clock
User Interface	USB port with 2.0 compatibility
Input and Output	1 external USB cable, one docking station and one 3.5mm stereo binaural headphone set
Battery	Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Power	3 hours of recharge time
Warranty	One year