THE ARTIFACT

If you think Apple is getting a little foreseeable with its yearly device refreshes, you probably haven't been charting the advancement of its iPod nano. While most items in the Apple line receive an improve every 12 months or so, few have encountered the kind of annual reinvention of the nano. It's a rare sample of the company substantially re-thinking a product with such geometrical regularity -- or of simply not really realizing what to make of it.Depending on how you looks at it, this new seventh-generation iPod nano is either the contemporary, most optimal design of the long-running series, or it's Apple's latest shot in the dark. Even the cynics will have to profess this is a pretty good shot, thinner than ever and packing more functionality than in the past -- including Bluetooth 4.0. It sure doesn't make much of a wristwatch, but is the latest littlest iPod really the $149 price of entrance fee to its 16GB capacity? Read on to find out.It's a tiny simple thing, this new nano. No, it isn't the smallest in terms of volume -- that honorific resides with the decidedly square sixth generation, which measured 37.5 x 41 x 8.8mm. This new, clipless model is far thinner, just 5.4mm, but it's also taller (76.5mm) and a bit wider (39.6mm), creating a device that is overall slightly larger. But, that's like statement Gerard Butler is a slightly hunkier dude than Hugh Jackman. Both individuals are pretty hunky.This new nano is completely tiny. Its weight, 31 grams, is less than half that of the new iPod reach and about the same as 10 sticks of blue Fruit.Indeed, this new nano is perfectly tiny. Its weight, 31 grams, is less than half that of the new iPod touch and about the same as 10 sticks of Juicy Fruit. It weighs less than the batteries in many modern smartphones -- those that still have removable batteries, anyway. Put it in your air pocket, even the tiny fifth pocket that Steve Jobs famously pulled the primary nano from back in 2006, and you basically won't be able to tell it's there.The reason for this change in dimensions is the move away from the square, 240 x 240 physical phenomenon LCD found in the last-gen nano. That's replaced by a 2.5-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio, multi-touch LCD that clocks in at 240 x 432. It's actually a slight step downward in terms of pixel density, but the other space is more than worth it, as now this can make for a indifferent video player. In a grasp.Still, even ignoring its size, this panel won't dazzle you like the one on the new iPod touch does. It's bright and clear and reasonably good-looking, but viewing attitudes are not this thing's forte. Tilt the screen downhill and the contrast quickly plummets, and the color balance happens pretty sickly when staring onward from any other management.Situated less than that display is a tiny home button, a first on the nano. (Previous iPods had click-wheels or no such buttons at all.) That allows one of five buttons here -- yes, five. There's a slim power button up on the top and, on the upper-left, a three-way volume cradle like those found on many BlackBerry handsets. With this you can align volume and, by pressing in the middle, play/pause music or indulge in any of the Morse code-like commands for shuffling or skipping tracks.This rocker is located flush with the side of the device, the indentation in the middle servicing as the only thing that sets it apart from the left extent. Still, it's easy to find, but given the size of this thing we think you'll might want to rely on the inline outside on a pair of suitably rendered headphones. Sadly, the EarPods included with the device are lacking in that view.On the underneath are the three means of connectivity -- two ports and a tiny plastic window through which this thing's Bluetooth 4.0 antenna talks. On the left is the 3.5mm headphone jack and on the right, the Lightning connector. As on the iPhone 5 and the new iPod touch, the flash connector is a huge upgrade in terms of usability and size -- far easier to connect and, of course, much smaller. But, that comes at the expense of adaptor-free compatibility with the zillions of iPod docks out there today.The design speech of the device is simple, clean and, frankly, not too far off from the previous nano.The design dialect of the device is simple, clean and, truthfully, not too far off from the previous nano. The anodized lightweight aluminum chassis curves around to cradle the LCD on the left and well, but it's flat on the top and bottom, with edges presenting the subtle chamfering that appears to be all the rage these days. It has a soft, polished finish to it that we think will hold up reasonably well to scratches. It will, at least, be far more scratch-resistant than the recent mirrored, stainless stainless steel backs.Overall, the new nano isn't quite the pleasantly arresting device that the latest iPod touch is, but that's at least in part because it's so much smaller -- it's harder to love the design features. Look closely, though, and the attention to detail shines through. This is a great-looking and great-feeling device.iPod nano review 2012Users of the previous-gen iPod nano will experience right at home here, for the most part. Not an awful lot has impacted in the interface or functionality, though things are a bit more flowing than before. It's still the same basic iOS-like UI, but again we're not talking actual iOS. There are nine icons this time, spread out across two pages -- with just three icons taking up the second. Thankfully you can re-arrange them and relegate your least-used functions to the deepness of the second page.Music and playlist handles are all contained beneath the single Music icon now, which brings up the familiar iPod interface for checking tracks by painter, album or playlist. There are the equivalent loop and shuffle playback suggestions as before. Making a triumphant return after a few years off is the video player, which makes the best use of the limited screen real house to play back footage in 16:9 Tinyvision.iPod nano (2012) interfaceNike+ usability is still here, made even better in this iteration by having everything built into the appliance. You no longer need to clip on a receiver or put an accelerometer on your shoe to track your strolling or runs, and you can even connect Bluetooth core rate monitors wirelessly. That makes this an even better workout companion than before -- though the lack of the integrated clip will be seen as a bit of a step backward by those whose moving shorts lack pockets. (Surely some intrepid case maker will fix that problem in short order.)iPod nano review 2012Photo finding is still possible, made better with pinch-zooming this time around. And, thanks to the accelerometer, images will auto-rotate as you go from present to landscape. Radio playback is largely unchanged, including song tagging and the Live Radio pausing, which enables up to 15 minutes of time shifting. There are lots of clock deals with, made somewhat less vital thanks to this thing's shape being unsuitable for wrist wearing, but we have no doubt someone will prove us wrong on that front. Finally, pop in a headset with a built-in mic and you'll get the Voice Memos icon, which allows the audio of little reminders.But, since the set of EarPods involved with the nano lack inline supervises and the inline microphone, if you want to make such tones you'll have to BYO ear buds. http://ipodnano6thgeneration.com/