[Macworld]

Post your comments for Review: iPod nano (7th generation) combines the best of its predecessors here

[MutantPie]

"The exceptions are icons for features that aren’t always available. For example, the Voice Memos icon appears only if a microphone is connected,"

"As with all recent nano models, the latest version offers a voice-recording feature."

Could you make a clarification? Is there a built in microphone or not? Is there an optional external microphone and how/to what port does it connect?

[Chris Breen]

MutantPie, on 15 October 2012 - 08:20 AM, said:

Could you make a clarification? Is there a built in microphone or not? Is there an optional external microphone and how/to what port does it connect?

There is no microphone built into the nano. However, when you plug in an iPhone-compatible headset (one containing a microphone) a Voice Memos icon appears on screen. Using that headset you can record memos. Unplug the headset and this icon disappears.

[TylerAllen86]

Garbage! (7th nano) The 6th was onto brilliance. The addition of the huge home button is the meaning of un innovative! The addition of Bluetooth is the only pro. Videos… On a nano. Stupid! Nano is for mobility! I wanted a removable clip. Retina screen & Bluetooth. YES a watch. With 8gb storage only! It could easily go from watch to gym clip. Paired with the iPhone = received calls you view a name/ number and a red/green button. Green = out of pocket/purse or Bluetooth headset. How about iPhone music control. Or let’s say u leave your iPhone on table/ in car. Watch vibrates/ makes noise. How about controlling a keynote presentation from your watch! Add a mic, For Siri integration (paired iphone required) This is no nano nor the iwatch. This is a iPod touch mini! More than what we wanted. We have mp3 and better video on our phones. Or for not much more our real iPod touch! Consider the ball dropped!

[Chris Breen]

TylerAllen86, on 15 October 2012 - 09:56 AM, said:

Garbage! (7th nano) The 6th was onto brilliance. The addition of the huge home button is the meaning of un innovative! The addition of Bluetooth is the only pro. Videos… On a nano. Stupid! Nano is for mobility! I wanted a removable clip. Retina screen & Bluetooth. YES a watch. With 8gb storage only! It could easily go from watch to gym clip. Paired with the iPhone = received calls you view a name/ number and a red/green button. Green = out of pocket/purse or Bluetooth headset. How about iPhone music control. Or let’s say u leave your iPhone on table/ in car. Watch vibrates/ makes noise. How about controlling a keynote presentation from your watch! Add a mic, For Siri integration (paired iphone required) This is no nano nor the iwatch. This is a iPod touch mini! More than what we wanted. We have mp3 and better video on our phones. Or for not much more our real iPod touch! Consider the ball dropped!

So, I'm to take this to mean that you're unhappy that Apple didn't design a product for your specific desires? I suppose that leaves a load of room for you to design your own product. Looking forward to seeing it!

[Dan Frakes]

TylerAllen86, on 15 October 2012 - 09:56 AM, said:

Garbage! (7th nano) The 6th was onto brilliance. The addition of the huge home button is the meaning of un innovative!

I didn't say it was innovative—only that it was necessary and welcome. Do you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch? Would you rather it didn't have a Home button, and everything you currently do with the Home button you had to do by repeatedly swiping the screen to the right, over and over? (Keep in mind that besides this being a hassle, any apps that use the right-swipe gesture would have to either drop such features or come up with a different way to do them.) The previous generation's interface suffered greatly from the lack of a Home button.

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The addition of Bluetooth is the only pro. Videos… On a nano. Stupid! Nano is for mobility! I wanted a removable clip. Retina screen & Bluetooth. YES a watch. With 8gb storage only! It could easily go from watch to gym clip. Paired with the iPhone = received calls you view a name/ number and a red/green button. Green = out of pocket/purse or Bluetooth headset. How about iPhone music control. Or let’s say u leave your iPhone on table/ in car. Watch vibrates/ makes noise. How about controlling a keynote presentation from your watch! Add a mic, For Siri integration (paired iphone required) This is no nano nor the iwatch. This is a iPod touch mini! More than what we wanted. We have mp3 and better video on our phones. Or for not much more our real iPod touch! Consider the ball dropped!

As I mentioned in the review, I think there might be a market for the product you described. But that product isn't the iPod nano—it's something completely different.

[butlerwm]

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As I mentioned in the review, I think there might be a market for the product you described. But that product isn't the iPod nano, ”it's something completely different.

Ouch, Dan! Ouch!

But you get two thumbs-up, anyway.

[blecch]

I still think that a nano with a decent video camera would be incredibly awesome.

[TylerAllen86]

For starters I appreciate the intelligent response from mr. Dan! I don't know if I'd go as far as ouch, but I see no shame in being got from a writer for Mac world! Other tech blogs have not been so sharp!
Secondly I own all devices u mentioned. I also did not say remove home button. Just include it differently... Maybe on the side.
Yes I'm disappointed! No I didn't express that best!
I'll conclude with I feel there is a larger demand / Market for an iwatch than iPod nano!

[Dan Frakes]

TylerAllen86, on 15 October 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

I'll conclude with I feel there is a larger demand / Market for an iwatch than iPod nano!

I think it's a small market, but I agree it's a market, as the demand for iPod-nano watch bands attests. But I do think it's a separate product from the nano, which is really a music player at heart. What the Dick Tracy fans want is sort of an extension of the iPhone on their wrist.

[trip1ex]

INteresting. I know I still use my old fat Nano just for music and podcasts in the car although mainly because I installed a 30 pin dock connector behind the dash to the back of my factory stereo. It is an older 30 pin connector though so it doesn't even charge devices newer than the fat Nano.

[MutantPie]

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MutantPie said
Could you make a clarification? Is there a built in microphone or not? Is there an optional external microphone and how/to what port does it connect? There is no microphone built into the nano. However, when you plug in an iPhone-compatible headset (one containing a microphone) a Voice Memos icon appears on screen. Using that headset you can record memos. Unplug the headset and this icon disappears.

Thank you for the added info. Is this set-up valid with a bluetooth mic'ed headset too?

My two cents on possible features. I'm thinking of the Nano, but these would be good any of the pod/pad line;
-It has an FM receiver, it can record audio, why not a program to record over the air content? (software only change).
-It plays video, and is portable, why not a TV tuner? Would also want recording feature. (hardware change).
-If it plays video, it needs video out, and (as the author may be inferring) with wifi for use with Apple TV.

It's rather sad that in this and the last iteration, there is a teasing mock version of iOS on this device. Perhaps that's the point. That it's a "stepping stone/gateway" marketing function, creating desire in the owner for the next tier up. That seems to explain much of how the line of iPods is structured.

[TimmySlapstick]

Wow…those…round...icons…suck.

[TimmySlapstick]

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Wow…those…round...icons…suck.

Actually, the colors of the shell also suck. I think this is going to do about as well as that one bad iPod Shuffle design that everyone hated.