Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family
Things I want for my iPod nano
Following up on my gushing first 24 hours report from yesterday, I'd like to point out a few things that I find lacking in the iPod nano, and some bits and pieces I'd like added down the road.First and foremost, Apple needs to release black peripherals for the black iPod nano. I think it is ridiculous that my black iPod nano came with the same white earbuds that come with the white ones. I also think it is ridiculous that these same white earbuds are what have come with the U2 iPod. I kind of like the idea of the lanyard earbuds, and I'd be tempted to buy one if Apple has the common sense to make them in black too.
There are two other must-haves if I am really going to consider replacing my 60GB iPod with the nano: First, there needs to be a new camera connector for the iPod nano, either from Apple or from a third party that will allow me to transfer pics over to the nano just like I do with the 60GB iPod. This should be doable, if only Apple will allow for this possibility. They may not, because they may want to keep people spending more money for the feature-rich and larger 60GB iPod. The other thing I really need is a little more tricky, because I don't even know if it is possible with the iPod nano's current architecture: audio recording attachment. I want an iTalk type device that clicks on the bottom and makes this thing record voice memos. That would be the coolest.
And, finally, here's a short list of third party peripherals that are feasible, I hope to see, and I will buy:
- A black SendStation PocketDock for the iPod nano (preferably with a USB-mini port, so I can use the same USB cable I use to charge my RAZR, connect my PSP to my Powerbook, and connect my Nikon D70 to my Powerbook. One cable = good mobility.
- A cigarette-lighter car charger/radio transmitter/dock for the iPod nano.
- A PC-Card adapter that will slide into the 15-inch Powerbook I am getting that will serve as an iPod nano dock
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JD said 12:12PM on 9-10-2005
Thanks for the "first 24 hours" report, it was great!
Do you think 4GB is enough to be useful for camera offloading? If you have a Nikon D70 then you probably already have a 1GB (or larger) compactflash card right? -or- are you just wanting to show your photos on the nano?
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Leo said 12:16PM on 9-10-2005
And a belt-clip type case (black, of course). 'Cause when I am at the gym, I want to clip it to my shorts, rather than have an arm-band... I've never been into the whole arm-band thing - but since we are on the topic, where the hell is the black armband?
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Tom said 12:44PM on 9-10-2005
1) Black Nano accessories- my sentiments exactly. Even the dock adater that comes with it is white, what the hell?
2) As for the audio recording, I think it's feasible. They could probably come up with one that utilizes the dock connector.
3) If (and when) they do release a black pocketdock, I'm sure they'll have a USB version.
4) I could definetley see an all-in-one transmitter/charger/ dock fitted for the nano.
5) I didn't think of that, but it's a really good idea. The PC-Card slot that I'm not using would be aq great place to store my Nano.
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Melis said 1:02PM on 9-10-2005
I'd like to see black Apple earbuds too.
I don't see Apple supporting the camera adapter or a voice recorder for the nano mainly because they didn't support it on the mini. It allows them to keep the two iPod lines separate and prevents the nano from gutting the regular iPod line. Now, I know the mini didn't support photos because it wasn't a 'iPod photo' and had a monochrome screen, but its also because Apple disables those things. You weren't able to turn the mini into a bootable disk like you could with the iPod, either.
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DF said 1:27PM on 9-10-2005
C.K.:
We noted in our first few articles on the nano (which you graciously linked to, thanks!) that the nano's diagnostic mode includes a "LineIn" test. This is something previously found only on full-size iPods -- the mini didn't have it -- and suggests that the nano does support audio recording. However, it would have to be through the dock connector.
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Joe Buchheit said 1:37PM on 9-10-2005
DLO's car radio transmitter is in black and goes well with the nano, have a look.
http://www.dlo.com/
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REY2K7 said 1:38PM on 9-10-2005
C'mon C.K., the PSP has white earphones too... stop whining (LOL)
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Oliver said 1:51PM on 9-10-2005
I'd like to see Firewire syncing.
'nuff said.
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Leo said 2:13PM on 9-10-2005
#7 (Oliver):
I wouldn't hold your breath to see FW syncing. CK's article is about things that are possible to come out (accessories) that will work with the current nano. I am guessing the FW chipset is not included inside the nano (lower price, smaller size). It ain't gonna happen (at least, not with this version).
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Aaron Khoo said 2:15PM on 9-10-2005
i don't see why there should be black peripherals just because the nano comes in black--the mini came in silver and four gaudy colors, and did you see blue, green, gold or pink peripherals?
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C.K. Sample, III said 2:37PM on 9-10-2005
Hey, JD,
I'm just looking to show the pics on the nano, not use as backup storage; so ideally the peripheral for the images would be able to compress the images too!
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Dave said 3:37PM on 9-10-2005
The nano in my Powerbook's PC card slot? That's so brilliant it just might work. I love it.
I'd also want an FM transmitter.
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jimmie said 3:52PM on 9-10-2005
I want to see the ipod mini's belt clip. Since it is replacing the mini, I want the clip. I miss it, I don't want to have to hold it in my hand constantly.
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Jacob said 5:50PM on 9-10-2005
I need something to transfer photos to the iPod Nano I plan on getting as well. I contacted Belkin regarding transferring photos to an iPod photo using a memory stick reader and was redirected to the following product:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=245923
It's actually still not released (due out Oct. 10, I think I was told). The rep I talked with still wasn't sure if it would work with the Nano, but I don't see why it wouldn't, since he did state it would work fine with an iPod photo. Plus, this thing could be ultra handy all around.
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Tom Twigg said 6:38PM on 9-10-2005
The iPod nano is clearly not intended to be a replacement for large capacity iPods, so I don't know why you rant about what it needs to be a useful replacement. It looks awesome and I want one, but dealing with the fact that it would only hold a portion of my iTunes library is of more concern than the fact that I wouldn't be able to dump photos from my camera.
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Jeremy said 7:22PM on 9-10-2005
I don't think it's important to be able to load pictures to it from a camera. It doesn't have enough storage for that to matter.
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Stephen Liu said 10:20PM on 9-10-2005
Considering that there's no more belt clip, the least Apple could've done was to include the charging block. As convienient as the piece of plastic (UDA, or whatever) is, it's not as useful as a belt clip, IMO.
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Dave Schultz said 10:35PM on 9-10-2005
Firewire syncing; more memory.
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Rob said 12:41AM on 9-11-2005
What I have always wanted on any iPod and I think it would be especially great on the nano would be a device that would clip on the bottom and allow a vibrating alarm for my downloaded iCal alarms. This tied in with the ability of recording voice messages would make the nano a great replacement for my Palm. I think it is technologically feasible but I don't know if it would be easy especially without Apples blessing.
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C.K. Sample, III said 9:35AM on 9-11-2005
Rob, although there is no vibrating alarm, the iPod nano does feature an alarm that plays only once (sounds sort of like "deedle-duh-deedleduh-dee") and is audible without the headphones.
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