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8GB Nano earns PC Mag Editors' Choice

updated 12:15 pm EDT, Fri September 15, 2006

PC Mag honors 8GB nano


PC Magazine has reviewed Apple's new 8GB iPod nano, and honored the tiny player with its Editor's Choice award. Noting the new Nano's thickness, aluminum enclosure, brighter screen, search functionality, and extended battery life, the new Nano is still "trumped" on features when compared to the Sansa e200 -- which offers an FM tuner, a voice recorder, and video playback capability. Nevertheless, Apple's new 8GB Nano offers features unavailable with Sansa's e200, such as gapless playback and lossless compression. "It's a good bet that this will be Apple's most popular iPod yet, and with good reason." While the matte black finish "picks up tons of fingerprints," the new Nano feels smaller in-hand and features a slightly concave center select button. "The iPod's navigation system is still the best in the business," according to PC Magazine, and aside from the "Scrub problem" which can cause various glitches, the new Nano "is another solid digital audio player from Apple."


by MacNN Staff

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  1. WiseWeasel

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 1999

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    09/15, 12:52pm | report spam | Reply |

    video playback

    Video playback would be pretty worthless on a postage stamp-sized screen. As for audio recording, it's a shame Apple doesn't build it in, but at least some decent microphones are available from 3rd parties that interface with the nano (and other ipods), so there is a solution.

  1. benhur

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2001

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    09/15, 01:27pm | report spam | Reply |

    sigh

    Another great Apple product but I'm going to continue to whine about it the iPod line not having these features . . .

    FM tuner and a voice recorder

    There's simply no good reason to not include these. Competers like the Sansa e200 and many others, including cell phones, have these now "basic features"

    I have two iPods right now and want to upgrade to a new player but decided that I will get either a cell phone (Sony Ericsson W800) or an iPod that has these features first.

    The Sony W800 is a perfect example but it is not currently available from any US carriers (Asian and European markets get all the cool phones)

    Just an example of why I think it's needed is going to the gym. You need your iPod for music, FM tuner to hear the game or news, etc, and phone so you don't miss a call.

  1. Roehlstation

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    09/15, 02:06pm | report spam | Reply |

    Features

    Not having those features does open it up for others to produce them. There are over 3000 accessories for the iPod out there. The iPod is open enough that you can add a voice recorder and you can add an FM tuner (Apple produces one built into the remote control now). I do believe in optional accessories. I would have no need for a voice recorder at this time and I wouldn't want to pay for one if I don't need it. But if I need one later, I can always get one.

  1. WiseWeasel

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 1999

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    09/15, 03:32pm | report spam | Reply |

    FM Tuner

    Who cares about FM? There's not much room in the nano for an extra tuner, so making it an external part of the remote control dongle works fine for me. I don't listen to radio, so I prefer the space and power savings over the added feature, but there are perfectly usable alternatives for those that do. I don't think Apple is losing many sales for that...

  1. smitch

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2005

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    09/15, 04:31pm | report spam | Reply |

    FM is still alive?

    Face it. Adding recording and FM to competing products is the only way that they can begin to compete with iPod. The few that want those features... well there just a FEW. The only time I listen to FM is when I can't get to my iPod to listen to the content I really want to hear. FM is filler otherwise. Voice recording is not something many people use either. Neither of those features will have significant impact on the iPod since the iPod is about the USER controlling content.

  1. shawnpetriw

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2006

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    09/15, 05:26pm | report spam | Reply |

    FM is like the floppy

    Apple deciding not to include an FM tuner in the iPod line is exactly like Apple deciding not to include a floppy drive in the iMac line.

    Apple was ahead of the trend then, and it is now.

    If you needed a floppy for your iMac, you could purchase an external; if you need FM or voice recording for your iPod, you can purchase an external.

  1. lamewing

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2004

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    09/15, 05:28pm | report spam | Reply |

    I care!!!

    I just picked up a new nano. Last year I avoided them until Apple figured out that the Mini's aluminum body was the best choice. Maybe someday Apple will realized the full-sized iPod should be aluminum as well.

    In regards to FM and voice recording. I WANT THEM. Voice recording,even with a micro external mic would be great in class. But a built-in mic would work since there are no moving parts to produce noise - HD noise. FM radio would be nice since I could record NPR talk radio wherever I am and record it to the nano's memory too.

    Of course Apple will NEVER include these features since they want a simple player.

    /sigh

  1. f1000

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Jan 2003

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    09/15, 09:11pm | report spam | Reply |

    Cellular & Digital Radio

    Cingular offers streaming digital radio, and terrestrial radio is undergoing a transformation to digital format. Should Apple decide to sell its own iPhone, it may very well incorporate streaming radio as well, thereby giving both satellite and terrestrial digital radio a run for their money. Forget about traditional analog FM; its days are numbered.

  1. Fast iBook

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2003

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    09/16, 04:44am | report spam | Reply |

    The best.

    It has been said by steve himself, the trick with the iPod is what to leave out, because once you put something in you can't take it out. FM tuner on an iPod is like having one of those hardcore ricer spoilers on a never-been-used Maybach 57 fresh off the assemby line. I agree that the iPod should be made from stronger materials. At the same time, it's like a zippo gaining charicter with age. I just wish the screen didn't scratch. iPod is the best, and will be for a long time. Sometimes less is more. This is one of those times.

  1. kw99

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2001

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    09/18, 12:09am | report spam | Reply |

    Just buy the FM remote

    Apple excludes those features by design choice. Then it offers the FM remote control for those who want it. Voice recording can also be added as an accessory.

    So that's smart. For the majority that do not want those features, the size and cost of the nano is reduced. For those who want FM and voice recording, just get the accessory you want, just like runner who get the Nike kit.

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