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July 30, 2008 1:38 PM PDT

New iPod Nano to bring back slim design?

by Tom Krazit

One possible design for Apple's fourth-generation iPod nano, on the right, as compared to a Microsoft Zune music player.

(Credit: iLounge)

The next generation of the iPod Nano might be getting a slimmed-down makeover, according to a report.

iLounge believes it has hit on the design for the fourth-generation iPod Nano, reporting that Apple plans to bring back the thinner iPod Nano design of years past but in a taller package that's a nod to the screen size of today's "fat" iPod Nano. Video would play in landscape mode, borrowing from the landscape viewing mode of the iPhone and iPod Touch and delivering a 1.5-to-1 aspect ratio.

The current iPod Nano, redesigned for video last year.

(Credit: CNET)

The fat iPod Nano was a bit controversial when it was first introduced, but people seem to have gotten used to the idea. Last year Apple redesigned its most popular iPod in line with its increased focus on video in the iTunes Store, as the screen size on the early thin iPod Nanos was way too small to comfortably watch video.

The new design also reminded iLounge of Microsoft's Zune flash player, although to be fair, that Zune player seemed to remind people of the original iPod Nano design when it was released. In any event, the Zune didn't seem to make much headway in the past year against the fat iPod Nano design.

Apple has held a September iPod event the last several years, and we're pretty sure they'll have another one on tap this year, with a revamped iPod Touch likely to accompany a new iPod Nano. In support of that suspicion, AppleInsider is reporting that resellers have been told to expect shortages of iPods and Macbooks in the coming weeks.

Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (27 Comments)
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by Zen-Masta July 30, 2008 2:32 PM PDT
The Zune 4/8 might not have received much cred but I know in some instances when compared with the new square nano the zune was a more popular choice because of the way it fit in your hand and screensize. I don't see why apple change the shape in the first place. I think it's funny the mock ipod picture has some kind of ms presentation on it. But I wouldn't bet that the nano will actually be bigger than the zune. The original nano is just a hair smaller than the zune 4/8. I don't see why they couldn't have a bigger screen and still have the same dimensions as first gen nano.
Reply to this comment
by beep41 July 30, 2008 2:38 PM PDT
The new nano's look EXACLY like a generic ipod i saw at a flea market
Reply to this comment
by Galaxy5 July 30, 2008 2:41 PM PDT
Nice try, but that's someone's imagination based on an unsubstantiated rumor. In other words, it's a fairy tale - so who cares what it resembles?
Reply to this comment
by J. Blow July 30, 2008 2:44 PM PDT
Yes, too bad it is too late for the Zune. Not only does the Zune fit better in your hand but the Zune software, at least on a PC, is 10x better than iTunes which still feels like a big spread sheet.
Reply to this comment
by Dalkorian July 30, 2008 4:44 PM PDT
Uh, yeah, it fits better in your hand ... AND IT SQUIRTS! ;)
If the zune was so great, it would have sold. It didn't. Now go tell your evil masters that you've done their bidding, maybe they'll pay you again.
by ErnieTheBear July 30, 2008 2:47 PM PDT
My 8GB iPOD Nano 2nd gen is one of the most perfectly elegant industrial designs of all time. I HATE the new iChunk models. I even considered trying to find a couple of spare 2g models to stash away, I like it that much. Now, maybe I won't have to. Watching videos on a Nano is pretty stupid, anyway. It's not what they are for.
Reply to this comment
by Penguinisto July 30, 2008 3:32 PM PDT
Agreed - I still have and enjoy the hell out of my little (by now ancient) 2GB Nano.
by daedbird July 30, 2008 2:54 PM PDT
C'mon Blow, 10 times better? I will give props to the Zune (especially the Media Center DVR compatibility, but if it was SO much better, the Zune would have overtaken the iPod. They are two nice products, but the integration of software and hardware, along with slick marketing, is why the iPod continues to be on top.....
Reply to this comment
by ender21 July 31, 2008 6:54 AM PDT
You just answered your own question. Doesn't matter if the Zune software is 10x better or not, if the other product has better marketing. So no, just because a product is "better" than another does not guarantee success.
by Dissident320 July 30, 2008 4:11 PM PDT
I think that picture is a pretty lazy "artist's rendition" . You can already see with the current 3rd Gen Nano that they've shrunk the click wheel and the space between the screen and the wheel is quite small as well as the wheel and the bottom. I think it will be somewhere in between the 2. Just looking at the 2nd Gen Nano I have, you could move the wheel down, make the screen more than double what is now in height without even making it taller.
Reply to this comment
by wmyinzer July 30, 2008 5:54 PM PDT
I dont think that will look like the next nano at all. When customers go to see the iPod, they'll see the (hopefully) discounted Zune 4/8 right next to it. Lets be serious, Zune's media player vs. iTunes is simply a matter of taste, yet seeing a more futuristic, software (and hardware) advanced player such as the Zune 4/8 compared to the above artists rendition of the next iPod nano would give Zune the boost it needs to come out on top...
Reply to this comment
by sanenazok July 30, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
When Apple goes back to an old design it has to be for RETRO reasons. It couldn't possibly be that Apple made a mistake leaving the earlier design...
Reply to this comment
by Rod Roddy July 30, 2008 10:54 PM PDT
Who cares? look...iphone came in and stole the ipods thunder (sibling rivalry i guess) and yeah, iTunes is a mess. So like I said, who cares what Apple does with this thing. I dont.
Reply to this comment
by tlavoy8 August 4, 2008 6:49 PM PDT
...then why did you comment?
by ktreb July 30, 2008 11:00 PM PDT
The fatty Nano has kind of grown on me, but I don't own one. I still use my 2nd gen.
Reply to this comment
by MagicTentacle July 31, 2008 4:21 AM PDT
I have a 2nd gen and I really love it. I was resigned to the new iChunk format, but my only question these days is, what's the capacity going to be? I've been holding out for 16 gigs since mine is only 4.
Reply to this comment
by inachu July 31, 2008 6:41 AM PDT
I prefer the long lean ipod nano and i felt as if it was a rip off to call the short stubby ipod by the same name. I needed a replacement and the short stubby one is all they had.

Really sad.
Reply to this comment
by thomusvoo July 31, 2008 8:54 AM PDT
people still have ipods?
my phones plays music AND more
Reply to this comment
by afterhours July 31, 2008 10:23 AM PDT
Oh, that artistic rendering (not fact, mind you) will really be easy to watch in a dock with external speakers. I can feel my neck cramping already.
Reply to this comment
by AllStar0419 July 31, 2008 11:05 AM PDT
the new ipod nano will have a touch screen. there will be the nano classic and the nano touch. the nano classic will be the same as the current nano while the nano touch will be a small version of the current touch. no wifi though. its too small
Reply to this comment
by BtmnHatesRbn July 31, 2008 11:35 AM PDT
So, your Microsoft Apologists come out as free ads for M$, huh? Zune sucks, plain and simple. If Apple, who has set all the trends of computing since 1977, decides to make a new design, then they know what they're doing. So, please, comment on the item or article's topic, not your personal insecurities for using an OS ripped-off from the Lisa in 1985.
Reply to this comment
by Vegaman_Dan July 31, 2008 1:57 PM PDT
BtmnHatesRbn wrote:


"So, please, comment on the item or article's topic, not your personal insecurities"


You would be wise to heed your own advice.

by lavern July 31, 2008 2:25 PM PDT
Maybe you should follow your own advice?
by Barksfan August 4, 2008 12:03 PM PDT
I've owned a Nano (the last generation, not the latest) and ended up migrating to a Creative Zen. I like it more than any other player I've owned - especially considering the price point along with the expandibility. I paid $270 for a 32GB flash memory player with a beautiful color screen. It also has a SDHD card slot so for an additional $70 (all from NewEgg by the way) I turned it into a 48GB flash memory player. When larger cards come out, I can increase the memory even further. No hard drives, no susceptibility to shock, great battery life. One area of weakness, nobody can touch the I-pod when it comes to accessories - that is something I miss. But I don't miss I-tunes (Yuch)
by elmarv August 4, 2008 10:09 AM PDT
I bought the Zune 30 Gig for my son for $99.00 great deal and he loves it but does not use it for Video...Bought my daughter the fat IPOD nano and its ok but again she does not watch video on it...I have the old style Nano and use it for music at the gym and if i garden and that is good but wish it had a radio...i do have an older Philips juke box and it has a radio and i can use it for any mp3s i need....
Reply to this comment
by juicboxx September 5, 2008 6:24 PM PDT
MY prediction for the Apple Lets Rock conference on September 9th is that Apple would go through major product transition with one or possibly two of their current ipod line and possibly add a new line of ipods, think entry level iPhone or entry level iPod touch. AS for the rumored Zune-alike iPOd, I just don't see that ipod as a product that apple would make, it seems liike a cheap knock-off. Here is a breakdown of what will happen.


iPod Shuffle

The least interesting of the ipod line. 4 gigs of memory, some new colors and maybe a little thinner. But it will keep the screen.


iPod Nano

The iPod Nano is a tough product to predict because part of me wants to see it complety rehabed into a completly different product such as the zune-alike but the other half wants to just do minor updates. I decided to go with the minor updates. iPod nano increases memory to 16 gig for 150 and possibly 8 for 100.. The nano will get a handful of new color options also.And most likely become thinner

iPod Classic

The iPod Classic will stay classic get more memory and become cheaper and thinner.

iPod Touch

The iPod touch will get a major pricer reduction and memory increase and maybe some new firmware. Im thinking 16 gigs at 199.

Ipod touch 2

I think that apple is going to utilize their touch capability and add a new low-end ipod touch. Probaly a smaller screen and 100 for 4 gigs. It would probaly lack features such as wireless. Apple will introduce it as a new version of the iPod Nano. Such as the iPod Nano with Touch.
Reply to this comment
by juicboxx September 5, 2008 6:25 PM PDT
MY prediction for the Apple Lets Rock conference on September 9th is that Apple would go through major product transition with one or possibly two of their current ipod line and possibly add a new line of ipods, think entry level iPhone or entry level iPod touch. AS for the rumored Zune-alike iPOd, I just don't see that ipod as a product that apple would make, it seems liike a cheap knock-off. Here is a breakdown of what will happen.


iPod Shuffle

The least interesting of the ipod line. 4 gigs of memory, some new colors and maybe a little thinner. But it will keep the screen.


iPod Nano

The iPod Nano is a tough product to predict because part of me wants to see it complety rehabed into a completly different product such as the zune-alike but the other half wants to just do minor updates. I decided to go with the minor updates. iPod nano increases memory to 16 gig for 150 and possibly 8 for 100.. The nano will get a handful of new color options also.And most likely become thinner

iPod Classic

The iPod Classic will stay classic get more memory and become cheaper and thinner.

iPod Touch

The iPod touch will get a major pricer reduction and memory increase and maybe some new firmware. Im thinking 16 gigs at 199.

Ipod touch 2

I think that apple is going to utilize their touch capability and add a new low-end ipod touch. Probaly a smaller screen and 100 for 4 gigs. It would probaly lack features such as wireless. Apple will introduce it as a new version of the iPod Nano. Such as the iPod Nano with Touch.
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