Forget about the last iPod Nano: this newborn fourth-generation is the one that Apple fans have been waiting for since the launch of the sleek and skinny second-generation model, which had colorful display, capacity for photos and a great design, but yet played no videos. The third-generation, launched on September 2007, had finally brought videos to the Nano, but had disappointed on account of its wider body design. Now, Apple has brought together the evolution of last year’s third-generation with an improvement on that slender and ‘old-style’ design.

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Figure 1: Third generation iPod Nano.

The new iPod Nano, best-known as ‘Nano-Chromatic’, is slimmer than ever (just 0.24 inch / 6.2 mm of depth) and has a 2-inch widescreen liquid crystal display with blue-white LED backlight. It comes in nine colors (silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink) and in 8GB or 16GB flash drive models.

To enjoy a landscape view, users turn the iPod on its side to better watch videos, photos and to flip through the album covers. The LCD display also features an adjustable contrast and backlight settings to make it easier to read in low light.

The good news is that the headphone jack is now compatible with the microphone. But to start recording conversations, you’ll need an Apple-approved headset, which is already available. A new Earphones with Remote and Mic from Apple costs USD 29. An advanced model, an In-Ear headphones, costs USD 79. Both are available at any Apple Store.

Video playback has migrated from last year’s Nano, featuring a screenplay resolution of 204 ppi and a widescreen view (when the iPod is turned to its side). 

It is important to remember that Apple offers some features to people requiring special needs, like spoken menus (to hear names of menus, song titles, and artists without viewing the screen) and an alternative large font for those who have tired eyesight.