A major chain of gyms has banned the new iPod nano with camera from its locker rooms; Adobe claims Lightroom is four times as popular as Apple's Aperture; and a vote is due Wednesday on an accounting rule change that could benefit Apple.
iPod nano with camera not welcome in locker rooms
Apple's new iPod nano sports a slim form factor that includes a video camera. The tiny size of the device has become a concern for Life Time Fitness, a company that runs 84 gyms in 19 states. As a result, the new iPod nano has been prohibited from use entirely in the facilities' locker rooms.
In a new report from the Pioneer Press, company spokesman Jason Thunstrom said it is impossible to tell whether a user is choosing a song to play or shooting a video. Bans have also been placed on camera-equipped cellphones at health clubs for years.
The company will allow exercisers to use the new iPod nano while working out, but shooting video while exercising is also prohibited.
The fifth-generation iPod nano has a total size of 1.1 cubic inches. The 8GB model ($149) can record up to 7 hours of video, while the 16GB capacity ($179) can capture 14 hours.
Adobe touts Lightroom success vs. Aperture
In a new blog post, John Nack, principal product manager for Photoshop at Adobe, provided some numbers that show the purported market share of Lightroom and Aperture in total, and specifically on the Mac platform. The numbers suggest that Apple's proprietary Aperture program has lost ground while Lightroom has seen gains.
"As always, everyone at Adobe couldn't be happier about the warm reception pro photographers have given LR, and we're grateful to the amazing, thriving community that's grown up around the product," Nack wrote. "The team has just scratched the surface of Lightroom's potential, and the future looks great."
In 2008, Photoshop Lightroom 2 was released as Adobe's first 64-bit Mac application, beating Aperture and Apple's other Pro software to the punch.
Accounting rule to receive vote Wednesday
The Financial Accounting Standards Board is set to vote Wednesday on a proposed rule change that could have a significant impact on Apple's reported earnings. Drafted weeks ago, the new rule is expected to help Apple, which is currently required to use "subscription accounting" for its iPhone-related filings.
According to Fortune Brainstorm Tech, the FASB will decide on Wednesday whether to approve the new rule, for which Apple heavily lobbied in favor.
Analysts believe the change could have a major impact on the handset maker's reported earnings. Analyst Shaw Wu, with Kaufman Bros., said that the company's revenue was underestimated by $1.4 billion, or 17 percent, last quarter. In addition, he said earnings per share were under-valued by $0.78, or 58 percent.
The proposed rule change would affect the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) enforced by the FASB, a private, not-for-profit group which sets accounting standards for U.S. public companies under the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Analysts like Wu, and Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray, believe that the change could have a positive impact on Apple's stock price.
SwitchEasy has introduced a new line of CapsuleThin cases for the iPod nano 5G, available in both UltraClear and UltraBlack varieties. Both are built from polycarbonate plastic, which provides protection against impacts and scratching. Openings for the microphone, camera and clickwheel are provided.
Each case comes with a color-matching 30-pin port protector, black and white universal dock adapters, two anti-static screen guards, two clickwheel protectors, a video stand and a microfiber wipe. The UltraClear features a see-through design, while the UltraBlack conceals most of a Nano, only revealing the screen when it is powered on. Both designs can be bought from SwitchEasy’s online store, at a cost of $20 per case.
iLuv has launched its new line of cases for the new iPod nano and iPod touch. The new series features four types of Nano cases, the first of which is a silicon case with a flame pattern on the back. The second and third case designs both feature a clear plastic shell with various graphics of famous cityscapes or a video camera graphic on the back of the device. The last model utilizes an elastic armband and features a glow-in-the-dark frame for running at night.
The latest line of iLuv iPod touch cases includes a gamer-specific case with an ergonomic grip. The case also features a protective film to prevent the Touch screen from being scratched. iLuv has additionally released another silicone case similar to the new Nano case, which also has the flame pattern and a protective screen film.
The recently-launched iTunes 9 update is causing a variety of problems for iPod classic owners, comments on Apple's support forums suggest. Issues primarily revolve around sync, to the extent that a number of people complain they are unable to to sync media at all. Some Classics may be ejected automatically when connected via USB, while others may cause crashes, or fail to be detected by iTunes, preventing any form of interaction including firmware updates.
Apple has yet to offer a solution for the errors, which appear to affect 80, 120 and 160GB Classics syncing with either Mac or Windows systems. A proposed user remedy involves disconnecting a Classic, resetting it and reconnecting. The tactic may backfire however, as some say they have only been left with an iPod empty of content.
The glossy-finished new fifth-gen iPod nano builds upon last year's tall and slim form factor by adding video recording, FM radio with iPod tagging and Live Pause, VoiceOver navigation, a built-in Nike+ step counter, and a slightly larger and improved 2.2" display, all packed into the same thin aluminum tube.
Hardware features: video recording
The tall orientation of the revised nano might be the ideal design for delivering its biggest new feature, but it's a bit puzzling that Apple put the new video camera at the base of the unit. Unlike the iPhone, which places its camera at the top corner of its back, the new nano fits its camera at the bottom, opposite the click wheel used to start and stop the recording.
As a result, while it's easy to get your hand in the way of an iPhone shot, it's hard to position the nano for recording without having your fingers in the shot. The most natural way to hold the nano completely obscures the camera lens with your hand. Fortunately, there are two approaches that work. The first is to hold the device with the tips of your fingers (below left) rather than cradling it in your hand. This allows for precise aiming with one hand in both the landscape and portrait orientations. The alternative is to hold the device by its edges while recording (below right), something that might require both hands if you lack dexterity.
The only discernible upside to putting the camera in such a location is that it signals when it is being used for recording. You don't have to wonder if somebody is secretly filming you with their iPod nano in the gym unless they're holding it in contorted, awkward way that indicates they probably are. Apart from that, there's no other explanation.
Recording quality
As a video camera, the new nano is remarkably good. It's also extremely simple to operate, takes decent quality video at VGA resolution (640x480) at a fluid 30 frames per second rate. The total bit rate of its movies is around 2,500 to 3,000, making the output files portable and compact, and well-suited for online use.
Video shot by the nano compares favorably with video shot with the iPhone 3GS. An example taken with the nano's camera in landscape mode actually looks better than video taken simultaneously with the iPhone 3GS in portrait mode. Both devices create video output files in VGA (0.3 megapixel) resolution, although the nano has a wider angle, fixed focus lens on a camera mechanism that likely has a much lower native resolution than the 3.0 megapixel camera in the iPhone 3GS. In both cases, the camera's raw video is compressed in software as it is recorded.
Even so, our iPhone 3GS video consumed a higher bit rate (3,700 vs 2,800 kbit/sec on the nano capture) yet delivered muddier video, perhaps indicating that the iPhone can dramatically improve its video capture via optimized software. Uploaded to YouTube, the video is compressed even further, but still good (below).
Also important in creating usable video is the nano's integrated mic, which captures pretty good quality audio. Few things are as disappointing as capturing video with badly garbled audio or blank silence. The nano picks up inside voices quite clearly using the mic next to the camera lens. Video playback on the nano is also readily audible using its tiny internal speaker.
The audio recording quality is even better when you record video using the mic integrated into a pair of iPhone-style headphones. Note that the nano only ships with standard headphones lacking an integrated mic, however. Even using the nano's built-in mic, audio is decent and very usable for the casual applications one can expect of it.
You probably won't want to use the iPod nano's tiny speaker as a boom box for listening to music, as it isn't capable of producing very high fidelity music, but it can serve a functional way to share videos with friends without using headphones.
Moving pictures only
The camera doesn't take photos, although you can of course snap a still video shot and export a frame of the video as a picture. With the camera held still, you can make out pretty good details, although any motion renders still shots quite blurred. The choice to make the nano's camera video-only wasn't just arbitrary, but based on the fact that it uses a simpler camera mechanism to fit its thin body. The fancy autofocus camera in the iPhone 3GS is twice as thick as the nano's.
Below is a picture of a parking ticket that's been laying around, snapped with the nano's video camera and the iPhone 3GS in both still and movie modes. They're all easily readable, but the iPhone photo visibly sharper, while the nano's video still suffers from noisy smearing.
While the new nano makes a pretty decent video camera for casual captures of your friends, the type of photographs it could take, given the tiny amount of room available for the camera, would not make it competitive with even the low end of standalone toy cameras or cell phone cams. On the other hand, its video features make it suitable for replacing a separate digital video recorder unit on outings or at parties.
Like any tiny CCD camera, it takes the best shots in good lighting. Inside in dim lighting, shots get noisy quick and motion blur is a lot more evident. The video-capable nano isn't going to put Flip out of business, but it will dramatically expand the number of recording eyes out there in the hands of millions of iPod users. Given that the nano's video recording feature doesn't cost any premium over the previous generation, Apple is effectively dumping millions of free video recorders into the market, something that will impact the emerging market for standalone video recorders.
Special effects
To spice up recording, the nano offers a series of 15 special effect modes for video capture: sepia, black and white, x-ray, film grain, thermal, security cam, cyborg, bulge, kaleido, motion blur, mirror, light tunnel, dent, stretch, and twirl. These degrade the captured quality and can't be removed later, so more serious mobile filmmakers might want to import their video clips into iMovie for editing with special effect filters instead.
If the target is YouTube or Facebook, however, the nano's simple in-camera effects can help turn a third grader into a short clip cinematographer, with enough variety to make nano videos as fun as Mac OS X's Photo Booth. Simply click and hold the center button while the video camera is up, and you get a preview of what the capture will look like with the effect applied.
Putting basic special effects right in the camera, and making them easy to apply, means kids won't even need to master iMovie to create fun clips they can share like digital-era Polaroid talkies. And for us adults, applying film grain or security camera effects means you won't even notice the crow's feet.
There's no trim video editing features within the nano as there is on the much more powerful iPhone 3GS, but similar simple editing controls are now available in QuickTime X, making it easy to cut off the beginning intro where your fingers were all over the lens. Because the nano captures standard H.264 video, it's also easy to pull them into iMovie or similar tools for more advanced sprucing up as well.
Hardware features: Nike+ and pedometer
Unlike last year's nano, the 2009 model no longer requires the Sport Kit external transmitter and shoe sensor just to track your steps. You can still use the Nike+ Sport Kit to act as your running coach as before, but the new version includes an independent, accelerometer-based pedometer for tracking basic fitness goals.
The system can be turned on to count all your steps in the background, so you can upload your regular walking activity to the free Nike+ website to monitor your progress and perhaps incentivize taking the stairs. Enter your weight and set a daily step goal, and the new nano will keep a calendar of your daily walking activity. While counting steps, a shoe icon appears on the nano screen next to the battery indicator.
The nano also supports regular Nike+ workouts with the Sport Kit and Nike+ cardio gym equipment designed to plug in via the dock connector, both of which continue to work the same as in previous iPod models.
Hardware features: FM radio
Apple has previously maintained that few iPod users are clamoring for FM radio features, and that its external radio adapter is enough of a solution for those who want to listen to the radio rather than their own music. The new nano now incorporates an FM radio, along with support for iTunes tagging, a feature that identifies the song being played and can add it to a favorite list for later purchase from the iTunes Store. Radio stations supporting this tagging feature display a tag icon.
The new radio also features Live Pause, a digital recording window that lets you pause your radio station and play it back with as much as a 15 minute delay, similar to how DVRs like the Tivo pause live TV. You can rewind and fast forward to any point within the cached playback period, making it handy for repeating part of a song, pausing the playing music for a quick conversation, or, of course, skipping ads. If you have a few minutes of radio playback cached and leave the radio app's menus, the stored radio segment is lost.
The nano's FM radio uses the headphone cord as its antenna, so without headphones plugged in, the radio won't work. Given that the nano is the most gym-friendly iPod model, inclusion of a radio may be welcomed by those who run treadmills in front of a bank of TVs with their audio broadcast on different FM stations. No iPod models support built-in FM radio transmitting though, so if you want to play back music through your car's speakers, you'll still need to use an external radio or cassette tape adapter.
Hardware features: VoiceOver
The new nano now supports VoiceOver, a feature that debuted on the iPod shuffle. VoiceOver will announce the name of the currently playing song with a single press and brief hold of the click wheel, if you're eyes are too busy to check the screen. The feature is enabled in iTunes, which involves installing the VoiceOver component. Once installed, the system can be set to speak song information in twenty languages, and will automatically read off foreign song titles in the correct language.
Using headphones with integrated playback controls (which again do not ship bundled with the nano), you can also control playback blindly in the same manner as the shuffle: click once to pause or resume, double click to jump to the next song, or triple click to restart the song or jump to the previous song.
VoiceOver uses high quality voice synthesis created on your iTunes computer, so it doesn't tax iPod playback and provides more natural sounding voices than the iPod itself could generate given its low power embedded processors.
Software features: iTunes 9 Genius Mix, games, voice memos, and other basics
The new nano also benefits from some other features introduced in iTunes 9, including Genius Mixes. Previously, iTunes scanned your music to compile Genius Playlists based on a song you selected, which paired it with other, similar music.
Along the same lines, Genius Mixes just make up a series of up to a dozen ready-made playlists from your music to help you discover tunes you have but don't regularly listen to. No need to pick out a seed song for iTunes to base your Genius Playlist on; iTunes just compiles several lists for you so you have ready to go mixes that are digitally computed to play well together.
The new nano carries forward previous features, from Cover Flow album browsing to synced photo viewing and TV slide shows; simple iPod games, which now number up to four dozen in the iTunes store in addition to the three included for free; voice memo recording, which now works using the new built-in mic; and the mini apps ranging from the stop watch and alarms to the synced calendar and contacts.
Polished colors and specs
Both nano models come in a spectrum of 9 different colors: silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange, pink, along with (PRODUCT) RED and orange, which are exclusively available through the Apple Store. The colors are similar to last year's spectrum but generally darker and more serious looking than the powdery rainbow "nano-chromatic" colors introduced last year. The deeper blue, forest green and rosy pink versions are the most noticeably different shades this time around, but all of the colors sport a glossy new clear coat finish that sets them apart.
All have a white click wheel apart from the black and silver models, which sport a black click wheel. The 16GB model holds up to 4,000 songs, 14,000 photos, and 16 hours of video, and the 8GB model holds up to 2,000 songs, 7,000 photos and eight hours of video. Capacities are unchanged over the previous generation.
While using the same shell size, the new 5G nano has a slightly larger 2.2" display (versus the previous 2.0" screen on earlier nanos) with a few extra lines of resolution, 240x376 versus the previous model's 240x320. This gives the new nano more pixels than the latest iPod classic, and a screen nearly as large as the classic's unchanged 2.5" display. The new nano also sports what Apple calls a "TFT display" as opposed to the "color LCD with LED backlight" used on the latest classic. The new nano screen seems to be noticeably brighter.
Despite the new larger screen, camera, mic, speaker, radio and other hardware features, the new nano is also slightly lighter than the previous model, at 1.28 oz rather than 1.3 oz. The click wheel is ever so slightly smaller than the previous version by a millimeter or two. Battery life is still rated at 24 hours of audio playback, but video use has increased from 4 hours to 5, matching the rated life of the earlier, squatty third generation nano.
What ships in the box
The new nano comes in the same plexiglass case with the standard stickers, a thin guide, a Universal Dock adapter, standard earbud headphones (no mic, no playback controls), and a USB to dock connector cable. There's no power adapter or dock or, in a nod to Apple's increasing environmental efforts, any other superfluous packaging. The new nano is also advertised as having a recycle-friendly aluminum design that uses arsenic-free glass, and no Brominated Flame Retardants, mercury, or PVC plastics.
The 8GB nano retails for the same $149 as the previous video camera-free model, while the 16GB model is twenty bucks cheaper than last year's at its new $179 price. That distinguishes the sporty, video capturing iPod nano from its gaming-oriented, web browsing, multi-touch big brother, which now drops down to hit the magical $199 price point with its low end 8GB model.
Product Review Rundown
With the latest 5G iPod nano, Apple has taken its most popular iPod and given it an entirely new use as a pocket sized video camera. The new step counter and FM radio shore up its gym-savvy, and new Genius Mixes make it all that more effortless to find collections of songs to listen to from your own library.
What's missing? Apple didn't include its mic-integrated headphones with playback controls, but it did include a new integrated mic that works well enough for both voice memos and video recording to avoid making a headphone upgrade essential. The missing hour of battery life we counted against the previous nano is back, along with a lower price on the 16GB model.
The new 5G iPod nano shows Apple isn't content with selling last year's products, and is constantly working to deliver desirable new features in the same sized package at the same price. Anyone in the market for a slim, easy to use MP3 player should be extremely satisfied, particularly with its fun new camera and other hardware upgrades.
Rating 4.5 out of 5
Pros
Thin and compact, scratch resistant, sturdy construction.
Great new video capture with fun special effects.
Audio recording using an built-in mic and speaker for playback.
High quality, larger, bright 2.2" screen.
TV output for slide shows, movie rentals and downloads.
Simple step counter in addition to Nike+ option; FM radio features
Cons
Doesn't include iPhone-style headphones with mic or playback controls
Arguably the biggest announcement of this week’s Apple event was the inclusion of a video camera in the latest generation of the iPod nano. That bit of news was only slightly unexpected: Rumors had circulated before Apple’s event that the iPod touch would be getting a camera or camcorder. Instead, it was the iPod touch’s tiny sibling that gained video-shooting capabilities.
The new Nano shoots standard-definition, 640-by-480 VGA video in MPEG-4 format. Missing from its skill set is the ability to shoot stills; the Nano’s camera captures video only. Also disappointing is the fact that you don’t get the full range of video-editing features that you do on the iPhone 3GS; on the other hand, you do get a nice range of fun video effects to choose from.
Shooting video with the Nano takes some getting used to. The lens and microphone are smack-dab on the flip side of where your hand would be when you’re using the scroll wheel, so if you’re shooting in landscape mode, your index finger will tend to make cameo appearances in your videos when you’re pressing the iPod nano’s center button to start and stop recording.
You can also shoot video fairly easily in portrait mode by flipping the nano upside-down. Thanks to the iPod nano’s accelerometers, the device automatically reorients the video to portrait mode, and your fingers are less likely to get in the way of the lens.)
To test the iPod Nano’s video chops, we shot identical footage with the nano, the standard-definition Pure Digital Flip Mino, and the iPhone 3GS (which has a bigger lens and image sensor). Just to show how the nano’s video compared to that of a high-definition camcorder, we also shot the same footage with Kodak’s Zi8, which is the first pocket camcorder to shoot full HD, 1080p video.
The verdict
Though the iPod nano’s video quality is nothing to write home about, its video camera is a welcome addition. Don’t expect to get the same quality as you would from a pocket camcorder, a point-and-shoot camera, or even the iPhone 3GS.
The Nano shoots better video than most cell phones do—as long as you’re in a well-lit setting—but it can’t quite compete with a pocket camcorder such as Pure Digital’s Flip Mino. High-definition pocket camcorders such as the Kodak Zi8 trounce the Nano, but the Zi8 is also the best pocket camcorder I’ve seen in regards to video quality.
Then again, with the Nano’s camera, IMAX-quality movies aren’t the point. Apple products are all about fun, convenience, and simplicity, and the addition of a video camera on a device of this size will be a draw for many people.
You’ll find a few goodies and surprises in the mix, too: Pressing and holding the center button after you select ‘Video Camera’ from the Nano’s main menu brings up a list of 16 video effects. You can get trippy (Kaleidoscope and Twirl), robotic (Cyborg and Thermal), or classic (Film Grain and Sepia) with the effects, which the Nano applies to your footage as you shoot. That’s something we haven’t seen in a pocket camcorder yet. The effects menu even previews what your video will look like while you’re deciding on a filter to choose.
The lens, though small, also has strengths: It’s the widest-angle pocket camcorder we’ve seen by far, and it also does a nice job with macro shots. Business cards and other objects placed within an inch of its lens appeared sharp in the resulting footage.
In the end, the Nano won’t replace a dedicated pocket camcorder, just as a pocket camcorder won’t replace a full-size video camera. But the Nano has its benefits, namely ultraportability, fun features, and the fact that it’s an iPod. Though its overall performance isn’t stunning, the included video camera will only sweeten the deal for prospective Nano buyers.
iPod nano Video Strengths
Extremely wide-angle lens as compared to pocket camcorders.
16 video effects to choose from.
Macro mode is surprisingly good.
Small video-file sizes.
Nano is much smaller than any pocket camcorder on the market.
iPod nano Video Weaknesses
Awkward lens placement.
Shoots only video; no still images.
Bad low-light footage.
Can apply video effects only before you shoot video.
A friend just asked if there was any place he could download the video from Apple's September 9th special event announcing iTunes 9, the new iPod nano, and the iPhone OS 3.1. He knew all about the liveblogging done by the likes of Macworld and Ars Technica, but he wanted to see the real deal, complete with Steve Jobs and the musical performance by Norah Jones.
The easiest way to tune in - albeit a day or so afterwards - is to subscribe to the Apple Keynotes podcast in iTunes. You may need to update the podcast manually every so often, since new episodes appear only every few months, so iTunes may decide you aren't listening sufficiently often to continue with automatic downloads. An added benefit of this for people like me is that I can keep the videos around to see what Apple really said at some time in the past in case I suspect that a story is changing.
Readers Ben Wheeler and Michael Schmitt informed me of two other ways you can reliably find the video of an Apple event, either later that day or the next day. Ben pointed out that the Apple home page will usually have a link (one of the boxes at the bottom) to the video of the event, though that will disappear once Apple has something more timely to replace it with.
Michael noted that Apple provides an Apple Events page in its QuickTime Guide that lists recent events; this is probably the most reliable place to find events after the fact if you don't want to subscribe to the Apple Keynotes podcast. The other advantage of this page is that you can choose among different formats, including full HD.
The folks at iFixIt, who disassemble and examine new hardware, found a Broadcom chip that uses single-stream 802.11n in the new, faster iPod touch models released just this week. Does that mean that the iPod touch is suddenly much zippier on the network? Not quite.
The 802.11n standard - finally ratified by the IEEE engineering group on 11-Sept-2009 - sped up Wi-Fi network throughput by several factors. Apple started putting a relatively compatible version of 802.11n in all its new computers in October 2006, and all its new router models in January 2007.
However, 802.11n hasn't appeared in any major handheld devices, such as the iPhone or other smartphones - at least, until now, if Apple has already activated 802.11n in the new models, or has plans to enable it through firmware and driver upgrades later. It's barely possible that Apple used the chip for cost and integration reasons, and has no plans to enable 802.11n. (Back in October 2006, Apple started shipping 802.11n chips within Macs, but didn't release an enabler until February 2007.)
The lack of 802.11n before now was partly due to some basic design principles. The flavor of 802.11n that's in nearly every computer adapter and base station shipped to date uses at least two antennas, and has the equivalent of two separate radios inside for each of the two common unlicensed radio bands. (802.11n can use either the 2.4 or 5 GHz spectrum bands, but aren't required to use one over the other, nor support both. Newer base stations, including Apple's, can broadcast simultaneously over both bands; such base stations have, in the simplest terms, four radios, two each devoted to each band.)
The radios and antennas work together in a system called multiple in, multiple out (MIMO) that takes advantages of wireless signal reflection. Each radio carries a unique stream of data, and different power levels sent to each antenna steer the stream's beam so that a receiver can separately distinguish and decode both streams.
Fitting two radios, two or more antennas, and the necessary chips into a handheld is pretty much impossible. That led to the development of single-stream 802.11n, which uses one radio stream and one antenna. Single-stream has the advantage of a faster encoding than its predecessor, 802.11g, giving it a baseline improvement in speed.
Chipmakers also worked to drop the power requirement. Single-stream N is likely more efficient than 802.11g in battery use, in fact. The Broadcom chip integrates an FM receiver and a Bluetooth radio, which also contributes to a reduction in battery use. (Oddly, the Wi-Fi-less iPod nano is the model that publicly gained an FM tuner, while the iPod touch hasn't enabled that function on its chip.)
The better battery usage means that a handheld can use 802.11n, and putting 802.11n into a mobile device lets a unit like the iPod touch send and receive 50 percent more data in the same period of time - maybe a net throughput of 30 Mbps or faster instead of 20 Mbps or so. (For far more techical detail, read my Wi-Fi Networking News article, "Does the iPhone Need 802.11n?", 2009-03-26. I wasn't prescient; there was a lot of chatter early this year about single-stream chips, and I thought what turned out to be the iPhone 3GS was a likely first use.)
That higher speed would make it possible to stream movies or transfer data at far higher rates, but would have nearly no practical impact on routine activities. This might be the precursor to iTunes over-the-air sync (via something like the new Home Sharing feature) for media with the iPhone and iPod touch.
But there's also a "good neighbor" part of single-stream N that improves network efficiency, and makes, say, other video streaming or transfers on the network perform better.
Single-stream 802.11n can be bad for a network, because each packet transferred takes the space of at least two multiple-radio packets. However, there's a clever way around that called space-time block coding (STBC).
Without getting into any of the gory details, STBC lets a base station transmit separate data streams to single-stream devices, one per radio in the base station. Devices with a single-stream chip are more likely to consume data than produce it (most of the time, at least), and thus this effectively restores network throughput instead of halving it when multiple one-radio 802.11n devices are using the network. (SBTC isn't yet built into Apple's base stations, but it could be as simple as a firmware update.)
The other advantage of Broadcom's chip is that it allows the use of either the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands. While 2.4 GHz has greater range, it's far more crowded, and you're less likely to get anywhere near the full possible throughput with even 802.11g.
Signals sent at 5 GHz can travel shorter distances (using the same signal power), but because of a dramatically lower level of use and more available spectrum, the odds are much better you'll get something close to the highest possible throughput.
Chipmakers have been pushing single-stream 802.11n to sell new chips at higher profit margins, of course, but also because they want to move away from the older 802.11g standard to push out the benefits of 802.11n - which then provides incentives for users to buy newer base stations!
But Apple's move may spell a greater interest in moving media on and off the iPod touch and (possibly shortly) the iPhone 3GS. Far higher throughput makes it far easier for an iPod touch to act as a media outpost on a local network.
Despite a number of rumors that Apple's "Rock & Roll" media event would feature a camera-equipped iPod touch, the highlight of Steve Jobs' keynote was actually a new iPod nano outfitted with a video camera. The fifth-generation device is in no way a complete redesign, but rather a refinement of its predecessor. Along with the new camera, the Nano also sports a larger display, FM tuner, gloss finish, and more.
Display
At a glance, the new Nano can be difficult to distinguish from the previous version. The biggest change to the front facade is a larger LCD screen, expanding from 240x320 pixels to a slightly longer 240x376 display. Although the change adds just .2 inches corner-to-corner, the screen now appears to dominate the front face.
The elongated screen brings the aspect ratio closer to 16:9 than the previous 4:3 component. Videos available in 16:9 are much more attractive, requiring less side cropping or annoying black bands when converting down to iPod size. For such a tiny player touted for its video playback capabilities, the new display is a welcome change.
Brightness and color representation of the 5G display appears to be on par with the 4G, not breathtaking but effective for most viewing conditions. With the brightness cranked up, the menus are still easy to read even in moderately bright conditions. Toward the lower end of the scale, the display is dim enough to avoid being blinded when driving at night. Getting to the brightness setting, however, requires quite a few jumps through the interface menus.
Form and finish
Unlike the 4G's anodized finish, which is slightly dull, the 5G case is much shinier. The aluminum exhibits a very fine texture similar to a bead blasted finish. Considering the texture is visible but the case is smooth to the touch, the gloss may be the result of a coating over the anodized layer, although the company has not disclosed any details. Steve Jobs presented it as "polished anodized aluminum," which implies that there isn't a coating.
Only time will tell if the new coating process was a good choice. A variety of other products with similar coatings look terrible after the outer layer starts to wear off in places. The gloss layer is likely to protect the metal and color for a period of time, but the worn areas may eventually become glaringly obvious. This might not be an issue for devices that are always kept in cases, or for users that handle their devices with kid gloves.Ultra-shininess might be in line with the fashion side of Apple's design, but matte aluminum arguably gives the 4G a higher-quality appearance.
Apple may have made the right decision to retain the elliptical form-factor of the 4G Nano. Design changes are sometimes welcome, especially after the company stumbled with the stubby 3G model that looks like a shortened Classic. However there is no need to prematurely retire a device that has proven popular and capable of fitting additional features.
The first two Nano generations carried a similar appearance to the current model, although Apple was still experimenting with the concept. The company has evolved certain elements that are recognizable across a variety of products, even though each addresses a unique niche. The current elliptical form-factor can be seen with many newer products such as the MacBook Air, iPod touch and iPhone.
Camera
One of the only issues with the 5G Nano design involves the camera placement. Considering the components were already cramped in the 4G, adding a 3mm-thick camera module within a 6-mm thick case probably left few options. Thicker devices can place the camera behind the display, eliminating the need for a fancy hold.
Apple built the camera into the bottom-left corner of the rear panel. When holding the iPod vertically for navigating through menus and using most of the standard functions, the user's fingers rest directly on top of the camera. Consequently, smudges on the lens cover are practically unavoidable without removing finger prints before each use.
When capturing video with the iPod held horizontally, an instinctive grip results in a finger partially blocking the lens. The right hand must pinch the bottom of the housing below the camera, or the index finger needs to rest on the very top ridge. Although it is probably an issue easily adapted too, initial experiences can be frustrating. Tricky placement of the right hand necessitates a solid grip with the left hand, but the smudges simply migrate to the front display.
With such a tiny camera, even a small amount of residue or grime affects picture quality. The Nano lens cover is nearly flush with the case exterior, instead of utilizing a recessed design. This is a double-edged sword, as recessed lenses are less prone to fingerprints but much more difficult to clean. Leaving the glass flush leads to more fingerprints, however users can quickly clear the surface without any problem.
The new Nano, although capable of recording video, lacks the ability to simply take pictures. Reasons for the restricted ability remain unclear, although the camera's 640x480 resolution is better suited for YouTube clips. Even with the current state of technology miniaturization, inexpensive camera components capable of still-quality resolutions are probably too thick to fit in the 6.2mm case. The Nano camera has been crammed into a 4.3mm space near the thin edge. The lack of still capture is still disappointing, especially after seeing several alleged images of a camera-equipped iPod touch prototype.
With a resolution of just 640x480 pixels, the device is clearly not a contender amongst the multitude of small 720p camcorders. The new Nano isn't designed to be a replacement for dedicated video recorders, and buyers shouldn't expect it to be. The recording capability allows users to capture scenes spontaneously, just in case something interesting happens when a standalone camera isn't around.
Considering the limited resolution and small size, the camera actually exceeded initial expectations. Footage shot from inside a moving vehicle, shown in the YouTube video, did not show excessive motion blur when aimed out the side window going 55mph. The camera also performed well capturing the movement of birds and water, without much hesitation from the automatic light adjustment when moving from bright skies to dark areas. Camera shake is difficult to avoid, especially considering the device weighs in at a scant 1.28 oz.
Apple provides a wide variety of built-in special effects, although many of them are novelties unlikely to be used in any practical application. Along with the common filters such as sepia or black-and-white, users can also apply psychedelic distortions that mimic a kaleidoscope, mirror, old film or x-ray images.
All of the videos are recorded in H.264 format at 30 frames per second. Mac users can automatically upload the clips into iPhoto or iMovie for easy editing before saving projects or sending the clips off to portals such as YouTube. The demo video is a compilation of multiple clips pieced together with transitions in iMovie. The whole process is extremely quick and easy, eliminating the need for configuring devices or import settings.
Microphone and speaker
An integrated microphone marks another new feature for the Nano, with a port located directly beside the camera lens. The demo video was captured in an area with a steady breeze approximately 5-7mph, although the noise only became objectionable when the mic port was pointing directly into the wind. Voice from the short narration was recorded clearly, while people feeding fish are also audible from across a bridge.
A new speaker allows users to show videos directly from the device, although the small driver is tucked away behind the metal case. Not surprisingly, sound quality is poor but sufficient for listening to voices and most noise from the recordings. The speaker enhances calendar and alarm functionality, with audible alerts even without headphones.
Apple also uses the mic for a voice recorder function. The app allows users to insert chapter points and organize memos. Recording personal notes works great, however the mic does not perform as well when attempting to record several people in a large room.
New software features
The Nano now supports VoiceOver, the text-to-speech feature introduced with the Shuffle. Users can easily look at the screen to find track info in most situations, but VoiceOver offers an attractive option for runners or skiers using earphones with remote control instead of diving into pockets. The function works as expected, although, like automated voices on GPS systems, mispronunciations are common.
The accelerometer is now used as a pedometer to track the number of steps throughout a walk or run. The feature is not exactly the same as the Nike+iPod system, as it takes data from the iPod accelerometer instead of a remote sensor in a shoe. The pedometer counted steps properly when in a pocket or held upright, although some slipped through while it was held horizontally. Users can then view daily stats or set fitness goals, although the pedometer is geared mostly for walkers instead of runners.
Runners, however, can take advantage of the new Nike+iPod support, without an iPod attachment, after purchasing special shoes or a standalone sensor. The shoe-based sensor is used to calculate additional metrics such as distance, pace and calories burned. The system works okay for users with relatively consistent pace or stride. Accuracy of distance measurements deteriorates for runners that adjust their stride length while keeping the same pace.
Apple finally folded to demands for an FM tuner, which integrates with the company's other services. The radio requires headphones, used as an antenna, while the interface displays RDS data for track names and station info. If a great song starts to play, users can tag it and download the content via iTunes.
The RDS features and song tagging sound great and probably work in most areas, but the data is not available everywhere. Even where it is available, the data sometimes lists incorrect track info. Users can rewind as far back as 15 minutes into the feed, however, and potentially listen for the song name from a radio DJ. Live Pause also works well for talk radio, enabling users to take a short phone call and rewind back to where they left off. As the next commercial break arrives, the feed can be sent back forward to catch up with the live broadcast.
Apple has taken the updated Genius feature from iTunes and integrated it directly with the device software. The function works well, especially for users with eclectic music collections that like to listen by genre or artist. The system is not revolutionary, but it is a step forward from random shuffling. The only problem involves tracks with incomplete or inaccurate tag information, although the vast majority of iTunes-purchased content is organized correctly.
Sound quality and battery life
With all of the new features, basic music playback is easily pushed to the back burner. It comes as no surprise that the included headphones are terrible, at least for the discerning listener. The headphone amplifier, however, is capable of driving most headphones and earphones built for portable devices. Sound quality is wonderful with a high-end pair of headphones, such as Etymotic's ER4P.
Despite its smaller size, the 5G Nano drives headphones with the same force as the iPod touch. The circuitry doesn't muddy the sound with excessive bass, nor does it struggle to deliver the low-end when the volume approaches the upper range of comfortable sound-pressure levels.
Users can expect similar battery endurance to the 4G Nano, with a claimed life of 24 hours for audio and an increase to 5 hours for video. Both Apple estimates are optimistic, especially if the brightness is set high when watching videos. Is the new Nano worth buying? Naturally, it depends on what the buyer intends to do with the device. Steve Jobs contends that Apple is essentially adding an entire camera for free.
Value
With all of the new features, Apple has kept a competitive pricing structure that fetches $149 for the 8GB model or $179 for the 16GB variant. Compared to the Flip Ultra, also retailing for $149, the iPod captures the same video resolution but adds a slew of extra features in a compact size.
If buyers have no interest in uploading videos to YouTube or stashing 640x480 clips for other reasons, the 5G Nano might not be a first choice, although the iPod still represents Apple's smallest device with a display for navigating through content. Even aside from the rumors and leaked pics, it is still likely that Apple is preparing to add a camera to the Touch. If such a device is in the pipeline, it might be capable of higher quality video or still captures.
Overall, the latest Nano shows Apple's commitment to refining its product line with new features and functionality. While not all users have a need for a video camera or FM radio, the fifth-generation device builds upon the features of its predecessor without taking steps backward in quality or value. Integration of the camera can still be improved, however, with better placement and support for still pictures.
Griffin Technology and USBfever have both announced new cases for Apple’s latest iPod nano 5G. Griffin’s newest designs are the Outfit hard-shell polycarbonate case and the FlexGrip silicone case. Both cases are made to help protect the iPod nano from bumps and scratches during everyday use, and allow for full access of the devices scroll wheel, controls, connectors and screen. Outfit also keeps the iPod nano’s new camera lens free for use and features an EasyDock design, which enables users to simply slide off the bottom half of the case when docking.
USBfever has launched several cases for the iPod nano 5G, starting with the Silicone, Rubberized, and Crystal case. All three cases provide access to ports and sockets, while sporting a light-weight, anti-dust design. In addition, USBfever has released two Theme hard-cases, the Blue Wave and Flowers. Both cases come with printed-on graphics and deliver the same features found in the previously listed cases. Each new case also offers full protection from scrapes and bumps.
Griffin’s new cases are planned for release in Fall of 2009 and are priced at $25 for the Outfit, or $20 for the FlexGrip. The USBfever cases are available for purchase now from the company’s website, and range in price from $8 to $12.
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