Crave

(Credit: CNET)

CNET Labs finished their panel of battery drain tests for the fifth-generation Apple iPod Nano, and the results are better than expected. Testing for continuous playback of audio and video, the Nano reached an average of 33.6 hours of audio or 5.3 hours of video.

Given Apple's own modest battery rating of 24 hours of audio or 5 hours of video, we expect Nano owners will be happy to know they have a little extra time to squeeze from their iPods.

When it comes to camcorders, I won't be abandoning my Flip anytime soon. But that doesn't make the iPod Nano any less attractive. The more camera-having gadgets, the merrier.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)

The official CNET review of the fifth-generation iPod Nano is done, and I am officially exhausted. Someone please tell Apple to stop adding features to this thing. Remember when all an MP3 player to do was play music? CNET's first iPod review was only 600 words long. These days, you practically have to write a textbook to cover all the features that get crammed into a device like the iPod Nano.

An extra 0.2-inch really does make a noticeable difference when you're dealing with screens this small.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)

Writer's exhaustion aside, the fifth-generation Nano is a fantastic little gadget that's one of the easiest-to-recommend stocking stuffers out there. The thing comes in a ton of colors, works with iTunes, helps you lose weight (pedometer), and might even get you to record the world's next completely unnecessary viral YouTube sensation. Sure, the earbuds are still garbage, but Sony seems to be the only manufacturer fighting that battle.

To prevent from boring you to tears, one area of the iPod Nano's performance I didn't go into exhaustive detail over is the video camera's image quality. If you're curious, I ran a few of tests over the weekend, shooting indoors and outdoors, and A/B testing the Nano against the Flip UltraHD. Aside from the obvious image quality differences, I also found problems with the Nano's tilt-sensor getting tripped-up on the camera's orientation and capturing videos sideways. ... Read more

Episode 49 of the Digital City, where we find out why Microsoft's Steve Ballmer tried to stomp a co-worker's iPhone; check out the first Windows 7 TV ad; and lament that Steve Jobs had to drag himself onstage at the latest Apple event to basically announce nothing (and that the purported Beatles/iTunes deal never materialized).

We also check out EA's Madden for the iPhone, find out why Batman: Arkham Asylum is such a hit, and fondly remember the 10th anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast.

Related links:
>>iPhone NFL Kick off
>>Arkham Asylum: best of '09?
>>Happy 10th anniversary, Sega Dreamcast!
>>Hands on with The Beatles: Rock Band
>>Microsoft's first Windows 7 TV ad
>>CNBC: Ackerman on Apple

>>Watch the Digital City live every Friday at 3pm EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter!

Update: CNET's official review of the Apple iPod Nano (fifth-generation) is now available.

I'm holding Apple's fifth-generation iPod Nano, and it's feeling like deja vu. Here we are again with an 8GB and 16GB iPod Nano that bear the exact same shape and dimensions as last year's models, priced at $149 and a slightly more wallet-friendly $179, respectively. Sure, the aluminum is a little glossier, and the screen now stretches out to 2.2 inches (up from 2 inches), but most people would really need to have an Apple fanboy's eagle-eye to discern last year's model from today's.

But don't let looks fool you. Under the hood, Apple really juiced the fifth-gen iPod Nano up with a ton of tricks that serve to make the Nano better. I'm not convinced all of the Nano's new features were executed perfectly, but at least nothing about the fifth-gen Nano is a step backwards for Apple (unlike the third-gen Nano's awkward shape, or the button-less iPod Shuffle). For the sake of mentioning it, just know that everything found in last year's model is here as well, located in exactly the same place, with the same font, same everything. Music, photos, videos, podcasts, battery life, sound quality...same, same, same. Well, technically, rated battery life is up a little for video playback, clocking in a 5 hours instead of 4.

iPod Nano oddity No. 1: I can record video, but I can't snap a photo no matter how hard Antuan poses.

(Credit: CNET)

So what's new? Well, for starters, the iPod Nano now has a video camera. On the back of the Nano there's an eensy-teensy fixed-lens camera that runs flush with the body, capable of capturing 640x480 standard definition video at 30 frames per second. Files are recorded as iTunes-friendly .MP4 videos with h.264 formatted video with AAC audio. Video quality looks, well...decent. We'll have a better sense after more testing, but I think it's safe to say that it won't be crushing the Flip Mino HD anytime soon.

Part of the problem isn't so much the camera technology as it is the placement of the camera--located right behind the clickwheel where you can't help but rub your nasty hands across the lens each time you pick it up. After just a few minutes out of the box, video recordings became increasingly cloudy with screen grime.

Maybe I'm just filthy, but I have to think Apple would have done better to move the lens closer to the top and out of harm's ways.

Today's Apple event contained a number of newsworthy announcements--a new digital-album format, precut ringtones at $1.29--but what's more striking is the way that the company really focused the improvements on the iPod Nano.

The Nano was the only Apple device that got a significant overhaul, with a video camera, FM radio, voice recorder, and pedometer. Somewhat surprisingly, the more expensive and higher-end iPod Touch isn't getting a refresh this time around. It still lacks a video camera and built-in FM radio.

It's what's in back that counts.

(Credit: Apple)

Strategically, this makes sense: on stage, Steve Jobs claimed that the Nano has sold more than 100 million units, making it the most popular MP3 player in the world. It occupies the sweet spot in price, between $100 and $200 (the new 8GB version will be $149, while the new 16GB version will cost $179).

Last year, Apple hardly updated the Nano at all, besides introducing a few new colors. So to keep its firm hold on the midmarket, Apple was smart to add a few checklist features, particularly the video camera, which suddenly makes the Flip look overpriced.

At the low end, the Shuffle got a price cut to $59 for the 2GB version or $79 for the 4GB version, but this seems expensive, compared with SanDisk's Sansa Clip+, which costs $40 for a 2GB or $50 for 4GB, and includes an FM radio, small screen for navigating menus, and expandable memory via a microSD slot. Here, Apple seems to be relying on the iPod brand to carry it.

At the high end, the iPod Touch remains one of the most exciting devices on the market--it's basically redefining portable computing, thanks to its Wi-Fi connection and Apple's massive App Store. But as a pure MP3 player, I still think that there's room for competition.

Microsoft's forthcoming Zune HD might grab some hard-core music fanatics, thanks to its built-in HD radio (more stations), all-you-can-play subscription service, and (in my opinion) better navigation scheme that lets you get to more of your music more quickly. The Zune HD also looks like a better deal on a straight-memory basis--the 16GB version will cost $220 (only $21 more than an 8GB iPod Touch), and the 32GB will cost $290, which is $9 less than the equivalent iPod Touch.

If I were shopping for an MP3 player today and had less than $100 to spend, I'd buy a Clip+. If I had between $100 and $200, the iPod Nano is the obvious choice. If I had more than that, I'd have to weigh whether I'm more interested in a broad range of apps (iPod Touch) or music (which might sway me to the Zune HD).

It wasn't very long ago that scoring a 4GB third-generation iPod Nano for $99 was a big deal. Now you can get an 8GB current-gen Nano for $99. Good things come to those who wait!

That deal (which, admittedly, has been around a while) comes straight from the Apple Store--the section that sells "certified refurbished" stuff.

I've purchased gear from there before, and it always arrives in mint condition--complete with the same one-year warranty as the new iPods come with.

Which begs the question: why spend another $50 on a new one? The only real difference is the box: Refurbs come in a nondescript cardboard one, not the fancy plastic shell you see in stores. Meh.

The $99 Nanos are available in your choice of colors: yellow, pink, purple, blue, black, etc.

In case you don't already know everything there is to know about this iPod, check out CNET's First Look video up there on the right.

Want to stock your new Nano with free music? Check out my recent post on scoring free tunes from Amazon, Rhapsody, and MP3.com. That's in addition to yesterday's item on 1,000 free songs from Microsoft. So many freebies, so little time!

Update: Or you could get a refurbished 8GB Zune from Newegg for $74 shipped. It features an FM tuner and Wi-Fi syncing--but only one color choice: black.

It's been widely rumored that the next version of the iPod Touch and iPod Nano to be released by Apple will have cameras inside. Now, a series of photos from Chinese iPod case manufacturers suggest that it's more than just speculation.

Cases purported to be for new iPods with cameras.

(Credit: Cult of Mac)

The Cult of Mac blog has obtained a stack of photos of what it describes as "the worst-kept secret in China." The images show multiple case designs for an iPod Touch and an iPod Nano with notches out of the material, which suggest a camera, much like the way cases for the iPhone accommodate that device's shooter.

For the iPod Touch cases, the camera slot is centered--unlike the iPhone's--while the Nano case camera slot is situated toward the bottom on the left. The Nano also appears to have a wide-screen display.

Most Apple observers anticipate the company will hold its annual iPod and music event in September, where in addition to a camera, the iPod Touch is expected to be updated with a microphone and digital compass as well.

One of the features that iPod Touch users have been requesting from Apple is a camera. According to reports, they may be getting their wish.

Apple's iPhone 3GS still-camera autofocus feature.

(Credit: Apple)

While attributing its information only to a "sources in Asia," TechCrunch claims that Apple has placed an order for camera modules destined for the next version of the iPod Touch. The size of the order, according to TechCrunch, is "massive."

MacRumors is taking the camera information a step further, claiming that both the iPod Touch and iPod Nano will receive cameras when they are updated. New case designs, purportedly for the iPods, show a hole for the camera.

This isn't the first time rumors of iPods getting a camera have come up. In May, AppleInsider said that iPods would get cameras similar to those found in iPhones.

At this point the only handheld device from Apple with a camera is the iPhone. All three models of the iPhone come with a one.

In addition to its 3-megapixel still camera, the iPhone 3GS includes video recording and basic video-editing software, which allows chunks of video to be uploaded to YouTube or MobileMe.

Apple's price on the current-generation 8GB iPod Nano: $149.

J&R's price on the current-generation 8GB iPod Nano: $124.99. Amazingly, that's for a new unit, not a refurb. And there's not a rebate in sight.

The catch? You have just one color option: yellow. (Don't worry, guys: It's a manly looking yellow.) J&R does carry all the other Nano colors, but they're priced at $139.99.

There's probably not much I can say about the Nano that you don't already know. And I've embedded CNET's First Look video if you want a quick overview.

Instead, I thought I'd list a few things you can do with the $25 (er, almost $25) you stand to save:

• Save it for a rainy day. (Plenty of those to go around.)
• Get Michael Jackson's "Thriller" for $9.99 and remember the guy for what he did best.
• Get an unlocked 3G wireless modem card for your laptop for $19.99 (today only).
• Get 5 hours of classical adagios from Amazon MP3 for $2.99.
• Buy one Jamba Juice smoothie, get another one free. Man, I wish there was a Jamba Juice by my house.

Assuming you were planning to buy a Nano anyway, what would you do with an extra 25 smackers?

Whatever the case, J&R says it has limited availability of these spiffy, yellow Nanos, so if you want in on the deal, click fast.

Update: As astute reader ZephyrVolta points out, the Apple Store is currently running a special on refurbished 8GB Nano players (again, 4th-gen): $99 shipped. They carry the same one-year warranty as new models, and they're available in all colors. Much better deal, IMHO!