Introduction

Apple is number one in the world when it comes to portable MP3 players. What started out as a niche industry by a company named Rio in the late 90s (who almost got sued out of business by the RIAA trying to convince the judge that we didn't have the right to place-shift our music from CDs to MP3s), has exploded in the past 8 years. Apple leads the digital music industry with over 1.5 billion songs downloaded from the iTunes store. Apple now ranks as #5 on the list of music sellers, behind Wal-mart, Best Buy, Target and Amazon.

The iPod nano is the single best selling portable MP3 player in the world and Apple's price point has had much to do with its success. By selling a reasonably sized player (previously 1, 2 and 4GB, and now 2, 4 and 8GB) at prices that appeals to kids, their parents, and college students alike, the nano is perfectly positioned in the market. It has been about a year since this product was last updated, and this refresh not only doubles the storage capacity at the same price points but Apple has also brought back something their iPod Mini line was very popular for. Color! Once again we have a variety of colors to choose from in an iPod, this time in a nano. This will likely serve as a compelling reason for folks to upgrade from their old iPod Minis. I fully expect the new iPod nanos to fly off the shelves this holiday season.

So what improvements did Apple make for the second generation nano? Apple has made a number of improvements over the first generation iPod nano - most notably the anodized aluminum case and the different colors, but also longer battery life, a brighter LCD and new UI features like quickscroll and search. I've got a first generation iPod, a first generation iPod nano, and my new second generation iPod nano here to see how things have evolved the past 5 years.

First Impressions

The packaging for the iPod nano 2nd Generation is quite elegant. Other than the fact that it took me a minute or two to figure out how to remove the nano from its plastic holder (you have to bend the plastic towards the nano to release it), it's quite nice. During Apple's recent Keynote, Steve Jobs said that the new packaging is 52% smaller than previous nano packing, so Apple can ship more for cheaper, as well as have less of an impact on the environment.

Included in the package is the USB adapter (which also charges the unit), the new white Apple ear buds, an insert for an iPod dock (so you can use the nano in a dock sized to fit a larger iPod) and instructions. What isn't included is a copy of the iTunes software on a CD. You have to go online and down that from iTunes.com. That's OK though, because if you are reading this article, you have internet access. So go and download iTunes. Besides, the CD packaged with the iPod didn't usually have the most up to date software on it anyways. Though it would be neat if they actually put iTunes on the iPod and then you installed it from the device itself.

Also not included is any sleeve or any protective casing for the iPod nano. The first generation (after the first few shipments and Apple realized they had a scratching issue) came with a protective sleeve. No such thing here. So make sure to get something to protect this if you're going to be sticking it in your pocket or purse next to your keys. Though I will say the unit isn't nearly as prone to smudges as the first generation nano and from my experience thus far it doesn't seem like it will scratch easily.

Speaking of smudges, I'd like to reiterate how hard it is to smudge the new nano. On the first generation nano, the front of the player was a glossy plastic and the back of the player was a glossy metallic finish. Both sides were extremely prone to smudges and fingerprints. With the second generation nano, the materials have changed on the front and back (now anodized aluminum), and it doesn't smudge or leave behind fingerprints, which makes it look a lot nicer once it's actually in use.

Taking a Closer Look

The iPod nano is surprisingly light. In comparison to my first generation iPod 10GB, the nano is as light as a feather. It's about the same size and weight as the first generation iPod nano, just slightly thinner and a hair longer. The click wheel and the LCD are the same size on both the first and second generation nano. The placement of the hold switch, 30-pin connector and headphone jack have not changed between the first and second generation iPod nano.

The LCD is a 1.5"