Hey guys, it’s Greg with Apple Explained,and today we’re going to explore the history of the iPod nano by covering each model anddiscussing key features and improvements over their predecessors.
This topic was the third place winner of lastweeks voting poll and if you didn’t get to vote, make sure you’re subscribed, thatway the voting polls will show up right in your activity feed and you can let me knowwhich video you’d like to see next.
Now before we get in to all the differentmodels of the iPod Nano, let’s first talk about the circumstances surrounding its release.
The iPod nano was a replacement for the iPodmini, and this move was very risky at the time since the newest model of iPod Mini wasreleased just eight months before and was selling very well.
Actually, I remember seeing these colorfuliPods everywhere at school and in public since the iPod mini was the best-selling model upto that point.
But Steve Jobs knew Apple had to replace theiPod mini with something even better since other manufacturers were beginning to catchup with its design and features.
So in September 2005 that’s exactly whatApple did.
Jobs took the stage and unveiled the originaliPod Nano in the most spectacular way possible [clip] The nano was almost half the thickness of the iPodmini and introduced all kinds of new features like flash storage, which meant there wereno moving parts, making the device even more durable and compact.
This alone was a huge benefit since the iPodNano was a portable device and would likely be dropped from time to time.
Now when considering the dramatic differencebetween the iPod Nano and mini, you’d think Apple must’ve spent years developing thenano.
But in reality, the nano began developmentjust nine months prior to its release date.
And although the iPod mini was offered incolor, Apple limited the first gen iPod nano to black and white.
It was available in two storage sizes, 2 GBwhich held 500 songs for $199, and 4 GB which held 1000 songs for $249.
This was a big accomplishment at the timeconsidering the original iPod released four years earlier also held 1000 songs but wasmuch larger than the nano.
Later on in the iPod Nanos lifecycle, Applelowered its entry price to $149 by releasing a 1 GB model which held 250 songs.
This generation of iPod Nano achieved 14 hoursof battery life which was pretty impressive considering it’s size, and that it featureda backlit, 1.5” color display.
Now I should mention that six years later,in 2011, Apple recalled all 1st generation iPod nanos that were made between September2005 and December 2006 because of overheating batteries that could catch fire.
Now Apple said the possibility of the incidentwas rare, but the likelihood increased as the battery aged.
So Apple started a replacement program whereyou could mail in your old first gen iPod nano, and they’d send you the current iPodNano model for free.
But there were other complaints about the1st gen nano, like the screen, since it was prone to scratching and cracking.
Apple acknowledged the faulty screens, butsaid that just one tenth of one percent of nanos were effected.
But a class action lawsuit followed, whichwas eventually settled with Apple paying $15-$25 to each person involved.
But despite these technical issues, the firstgeneration nano was a huge success.
Apple sold a million units in just 17 days,and that helped earn Apple more than a billion dollars in 2005.
A year later, in September 2006, Apple introducedthe 2nd generation iPod nano.
This time it took some design cues from theMini, since it featured an anodized aluminum case that was scratch resistant, and it wasavailable in a variety of colors, instead of just black and white.
The display was also improved, since it was40% brighter.
And storage doubled to 2, 4, and 8 GB.
Apple also limited the nanos color optionsbased on the models storage size.
The cheapest 2GB model was only availablein silver, while the most expensive 8GB model was only available in black.
But the 4GB model had the most color optionsincluding blue, green, silver, and pink.
A red nano was introduced later on, firstfor the 4GB model and later for the 8 GB model too.
It was created in partnership with the Product(RED) campaign which meant Apple would donate $10 for each unit sold to help fights HIV/AIDSin eight African countries.
The Red model cost the same as the other colorsand was a huge success.
Besides storage improvements, all 2nd geniPod Nano models had their battery life increased by 10 hours, now lasting 24 hours as comparedto 14 with the first generation.
There were also software improvements, likeadded search options and gapless playback.
The following year, in September 2007, Applelaunched the third generation nano.
This time, its design changed even more thanbefore, since it adopted a square-shaped body as opposed to rectangular.
This allowed for a larger 2” display butcame at the cost of weight, since the third gen nano was heavier than its predecessor.
It also marked the return of the stainlesssteel back from the first generation while keeping a colorful aluminum front.
Some new software features were also addedlike Cover Flow, although it was extremely laggy at launch until Apple released a firmwareupdate to resolve the issue. The third gen nano could also play videos,games, and movie rentals from iTunes. It was available in silver, red, green, blue,pink and black.
With silver still exclusive to the 4GB model,and all other colors available with the 8GB model. Battery life remained unchanged with the same24 hours of music playback, and 5 hours of video playback.
Now the following 4th generation iPod nanowas released in 2008 and returned to its traditional rectangular design.
This model was thinner than all previous iterations,and featured more color options than ever before.
Both the 8 and 16 GB models were availablein silver, black, purple, light blue, orange, yellow, green, pink and red.
This generation of nanos were also very environmentallyfriendly, since they didn’t contain any mercury, arsenic, BFR, or PVC, and its materialswere highly recyclable.
The display was the same size as the 3rd generationnano but rotated vertically to fit inside its rectangular design.
Because of this, the display could be viewedin portrait or landscape modes, thanks to the built-in accelerometer.
When rotating the device you would enter landscapemode which activated the Cover Flow interface, and it’d play videos in this orientationtoo.
The accelerometer could also be used for shufflingsongs just by shaking the device.
And Apple introduced a new Maze game to theiPod Nano that used the accelerometer as the primary game mechanic.
There were some software changes on this iPodNano, besides the modernized interface, the 4th generation also had the Apple "Genius"feature that would automatically create playlists based on your own personal music preferences.
Also, it had support for voice memos throughan external mic or Apple in-ear headphones.
The 4th gen nano was available in 4, 8, and16GB versions, with the 4GB model only available in Europe.
Battery life was still the same 24 hours foraudio playback, but decreased to 4 hours for video playback.
And as a new year arrived, so did a new iPodnano.
The fifth-generations design remained prettymuch the same as its predecessor, but it had a shinier aluminum finish and featured a larger2.2” display.
It was again available in nine different colors,Red, green, pink, silver, black, purple, blue, yellow and orange.
But the most significant change to the fifthgen iPod nano was the addition of a video camera with 16 special effects.
It recorded 480p video but wasn’t capableof taking still photos.
And Apple marketed this video camera featureas a replacement for dedicated portable camcorders that were exploding in popularity back in2009.
In addition to the video camera, the new iPodnano had a built-in microphone, speaker, FM tuner, iTunes tagging, and a pedometer withNike+iPod support.
The fifth gen nano was still available in8 and 16GB models, but this time the larger capacity model was only $30 more at $179.
And the battery capacity for video playbackincreased to 5 hours.
Now in 2010, Apple announced the 6th generationiPod nano, which was the most radical change to the nano line yet, since it abandoned theclick wheel in favor of a touch screen.
It also had a completely square design withan integrated clip which made it the first wearable iPod Nano.
This new design made the 6th generation nano46% smaller and 42% lighter than its predecessor.
And while the display was smaller than onthe 5th generation at about 1.5”, it featured a higher pixel density for better clarity.
This model still had an accelerometer, pedometer,and FM tuner, but the video camera was removed and it didn't allow video playback like manyof its predecessors.
The following year, 2011, marked the firsttime the iPod Nano didn’t receive a hardware update.
Instead, Apple updated its software.
New features included larger icons which woulddisplay one app at a time instead of four, the nike+ app no longer required shoe sensors,the clock had 16 new watch faces and Apple added some new backgrounds.
It was also possible to change songs or pauseby double-clicking the sleep button.
And holding the same button would turn thenano off.
I should also mention that the 6th generationiPod nano ran a modified version of iOS, but it didn’t have an app store, so you couldn’tadd 3rd party apps like on the iPod Touch or iPhone.
Now this model was available in 8 and 16GBversions and seven colors.
And just like its predecessor, its batterylasted 24 hours for music playback.
Now something special happened with this iPodNano that I don’t think even Apple anticipated.
Users started clipping their nanos to watchbands and used the device as a smartwatch, keep in mind the Apple Watch hadn’t beenmade yet.
And although Apple never really intended theiPod Nano to be used this way, third party watch bands for the 6th generation iPod Nanostarted appearing everywhere, which led to even more users wearing their nanos as smartwatches.
And even when the first Samsung Galaxy Gearwas released in 2013, the 6th gen iPod nano was considered to be a better performing,more affordable alternative to the Gear smartwatch.
Now the final, 7th generation iPod nano wasreleased in September 2012, and was only available in 16 GB.
It was also the thinnest iPod nano Apple hadever made.
It supported Bluetooth 4.0 headsets, speakers,car stereos and heart-rate monitors.
The FM radio was still included but only workedwith Apples wired headphones since they served as an antenna.
And speaking of headphones, this model ofnano was the first to include Apple's new EarPods which were selling like crazy at thetime.
And once again the iPod Nano supported videoplayback, although the video camera did not return.
It still had a multi touch screen but thistime it measured 2.5 inches, which was the largest display of any iPod Nano model.
Beneath the screen was a home button, justlike the iPod touch, which was also a first for the nano.
And the software interface changed with thisgeneration, featuring round icons instead of the usual rectangular shape found on otheriOS devices.
This iPod nano was available in seven colors,which were refreshed in 2015.
And on July 27, 2017, the iPod nano was officiallydiscontinued.
Now if you want a brand new iPod Nano today,you can probably find one on eBay, but you’ll have to shell out extra cash since most ofthem are selling well above the previous $149 retail price.
So that is the history of the iPod Nano, andif you want to vote for the next video topic, don’t forget to subscribe.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you nexttime.
This topic was the third place winner of lastweeks voting poll and if you didn’t get to vote, make sure you’re subscribed, thatway the voting polls will show up right in your activity feed and you can let me knowwhich video you’d like to see next.
Now before we get in to all the differentmodels of the iPod Nano, let’s first talk about the circumstances surrounding its release.
The iPod nano was a replacement for the iPodmini, and this move was very risky at the time since the newest model of iPod Mini wasreleased just eight months before and was selling very well.
Actually, I remember seeing these colorfuliPods everywhere at school and in public since the iPod mini was the best-selling model upto that point.
But Steve Jobs knew Apple had to replace theiPod mini with something even better since other manufacturers were beginning to catchup with its design and features.
So in September 2005 that’s exactly whatApple did.
Jobs took the stage and unveiled the originaliPod Nano in the most spectacular way possible [clip] The nano was almost half the thickness of the iPodmini and introduced all kinds of new features like flash storage, which meant there wereno moving parts, making the device even more durable and compact.
This alone was a huge benefit since the iPodNano was a portable device and would likely be dropped from time to time.
Now when considering the dramatic differencebetween the iPod Nano and mini, you’d think Apple must’ve spent years developing thenano.
But in reality, the nano began developmentjust nine months prior to its release date.
And although the iPod mini was offered incolor, Apple limited the first gen iPod nano to black and white.
It was available in two storage sizes, 2 GBwhich held 500 songs for $199, and 4 GB which held 1000 songs for $249.
This was a big accomplishment at the timeconsidering the original iPod released four years earlier also held 1000 songs but wasmuch larger than the nano.
Later on in the iPod Nanos lifecycle, Applelowered its entry price to $149 by releasing a 1 GB model which held 250 songs.
This generation of iPod Nano achieved 14 hoursof battery life which was pretty impressive considering it’s size, and that it featureda backlit, 1.5” color display.
Now I should mention that six years later,in 2011, Apple recalled all 1st generation iPod nanos that were made between September2005 and December 2006 because of overheating batteries that could catch fire.
Now Apple said the possibility of the incidentwas rare, but the likelihood increased as the battery aged.
So Apple started a replacement program whereyou could mail in your old first gen iPod nano, and they’d send you the current iPodNano model for free.
But there were other complaints about the1st gen nano, like the screen, since it was prone to scratching and cracking.
Apple acknowledged the faulty screens, butsaid that just one tenth of one percent of nanos were effected.
But a class action lawsuit followed, whichwas eventually settled with Apple paying $15-$25 to each person involved.
But despite these technical issues, the firstgeneration nano was a huge success.
Apple sold a million units in just 17 days,and that helped earn Apple more than a billion dollars in 2005.
A year later, in September 2006, Apple introducedthe 2nd generation iPod nano.
This time it took some design cues from theMini, since it featured an anodized aluminum case that was scratch resistant, and it wasavailable in a variety of colors, instead of just black and white.
The display was also improved, since it was40% brighter.
And storage doubled to 2, 4, and 8 GB.
Apple also limited the nanos color optionsbased on the models storage size.
The cheapest 2GB model was only availablein silver, while the most expensive 8GB model was only available in black.
But the 4GB model had the most color optionsincluding blue, green, silver, and pink.
A red nano was introduced later on, firstfor the 4GB model and later for the 8 GB model too.
It was created in partnership with the Product(RED) campaign which meant Apple would donate $10 for each unit sold to help fights HIV/AIDSin eight African countries.
The Red model cost the same as the other colorsand was a huge success.
Besides storage improvements, all 2nd geniPod Nano models had their battery life increased by 10 hours, now lasting 24 hours as comparedto 14 with the first generation.
There were also software improvements, likeadded search options and gapless playback.
The following year, in September 2007, Applelaunched the third generation nano.
This time, its design changed even more thanbefore, since it adopted a square-shaped body as opposed to rectangular.
This allowed for a larger 2” display butcame at the cost of weight, since the third gen nano was heavier than its predecessor.
It also marked the return of the stainlesssteel back from the first generation while keeping a colorful aluminum front.
Some new software features were also addedlike Cover Flow, although it was extremely laggy at launch until Apple released a firmwareupdate to resolve the issue. The third gen nano could also play videos,games, and movie rentals from iTunes. It was available in silver, red, green, blue,pink and black.
With silver still exclusive to the 4GB model,and all other colors available with the 8GB model. Battery life remained unchanged with the same24 hours of music playback, and 5 hours of video playback.
Now the following 4th generation iPod nanowas released in 2008 and returned to its traditional rectangular design.
This model was thinner than all previous iterations,and featured more color options than ever before.
Both the 8 and 16 GB models were availablein silver, black, purple, light blue, orange, yellow, green, pink and red.
This generation of nanos were also very environmentallyfriendly, since they didn’t contain any mercury, arsenic, BFR, or PVC, and its materialswere highly recyclable.
The display was the same size as the 3rd generationnano but rotated vertically to fit inside its rectangular design.
Because of this, the display could be viewedin portrait or landscape modes, thanks to the built-in accelerometer.
When rotating the device you would enter landscapemode which activated the Cover Flow interface, and it’d play videos in this orientationtoo.
The accelerometer could also be used for shufflingsongs just by shaking the device.
And Apple introduced a new Maze game to theiPod Nano that used the accelerometer as the primary game mechanic.
There were some software changes on this iPodNano, besides the modernized interface, the 4th generation also had the Apple "Genius"feature that would automatically create playlists based on your own personal music preferences.
Also, it had support for voice memos throughan external mic or Apple in-ear headphones.
The 4th gen nano was available in 4, 8, and16GB versions, with the 4GB model only available in Europe.
Battery life was still the same 24 hours foraudio playback, but decreased to 4 hours for video playback.
And as a new year arrived, so did a new iPodnano.
The fifth-generations design remained prettymuch the same as its predecessor, but it had a shinier aluminum finish and featured a larger2.2” display.
It was again available in nine different colors,Red, green, pink, silver, black, purple, blue, yellow and orange.
But the most significant change to the fifthgen iPod nano was the addition of a video camera with 16 special effects.
It recorded 480p video but wasn’t capableof taking still photos.
And Apple marketed this video camera featureas a replacement for dedicated portable camcorders that were exploding in popularity back in2009.
In addition to the video camera, the new iPodnano had a built-in microphone, speaker, FM tuner, iTunes tagging, and a pedometer withNike+iPod support.
The fifth gen nano was still available in8 and 16GB models, but this time the larger capacity model was only $30 more at $179.
And the battery capacity for video playbackincreased to 5 hours.
Now in 2010, Apple announced the 6th generationiPod nano, which was the most radical change to the nano line yet, since it abandoned theclick wheel in favor of a touch screen.
It also had a completely square design withan integrated clip which made it the first wearable iPod Nano.
This new design made the 6th generation nano46% smaller and 42% lighter than its predecessor.
And while the display was smaller than onthe 5th generation at about 1.5”, it featured a higher pixel density for better clarity.
This model still had an accelerometer, pedometer,and FM tuner, but the video camera was removed and it didn't allow video playback like manyof its predecessors.
The following year, 2011, marked the firsttime the iPod Nano didn’t receive a hardware update.
Instead, Apple updated its software.
New features included larger icons which woulddisplay one app at a time instead of four, the nike+ app no longer required shoe sensors,the clock had 16 new watch faces and Apple added some new backgrounds.
It was also possible to change songs or pauseby double-clicking the sleep button.
And holding the same button would turn thenano off.
I should also mention that the 6th generationiPod nano ran a modified version of iOS, but it didn’t have an app store, so you couldn’tadd 3rd party apps like on the iPod Touch or iPhone.
Now this model was available in 8 and 16GBversions and seven colors.
And just like its predecessor, its batterylasted 24 hours for music playback.
Now something special happened with this iPodNano that I don’t think even Apple anticipated.
Users started clipping their nanos to watchbands and used the device as a smartwatch, keep in mind the Apple Watch hadn’t beenmade yet.
And although Apple never really intended theiPod Nano to be used this way, third party watch bands for the 6th generation iPod Nanostarted appearing everywhere, which led to even more users wearing their nanos as smartwatches.
And even when the first Samsung Galaxy Gearwas released in 2013, the 6th gen iPod nano was considered to be a better performing,more affordable alternative to the Gear smartwatch.
Now the final, 7th generation iPod nano wasreleased in September 2012, and was only available in 16 GB.
It was also the thinnest iPod nano Apple hadever made.
It supported Bluetooth 4.0 headsets, speakers,car stereos and heart-rate monitors.
The FM radio was still included but only workedwith Apples wired headphones since they served as an antenna.
And speaking of headphones, this model ofnano was the first to include Apple's new EarPods which were selling like crazy at thetime.
And once again the iPod Nano supported videoplayback, although the video camera did not return.
It still had a multi touch screen but thistime it measured 2.5 inches, which was the largest display of any iPod Nano model.
Beneath the screen was a home button, justlike the iPod touch, which was also a first for the nano.
And the software interface changed with thisgeneration, featuring round icons instead of the usual rectangular shape found on otheriOS devices.
This iPod nano was available in seven colors,which were refreshed in 2015.
And on July 27, 2017, the iPod nano was officiallydiscontinued.
Now if you want a brand new iPod Nano today,you can probably find one on eBay, but you’ll have to shell out extra cash since most ofthem are selling well above the previous $149 retail price.
So that is the history of the iPod Nano, andif you want to vote for the next video topic, don’t forget to subscribe.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you nexttime.
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