• Fixed audiobook playbook setting so Normal, Slower, Faster, works for audio podcasts
• Resolved issue where Genius Mixes did not work when using the Nike+ Sport Kit
• Accessibility setting for Mono Audio in now working
• Fixed bug so VoiceOver menu items are no longer skipped when using headphone + and - volume buttons to navigate

As always, you can download this update by clicking on the "Check for Update" button in iTunes when you connect your iPod nano to your computer.

It looks like another day with another update from Apple. This time, iMovie has been updated to version 8.0.5. This updates fixes some minor issues, as well as improve compatibility with the 5th generation iPod nano and some camcorders

These fixes include:

• Improved compatibility with camcorders using the iFrame video format

• Improved compatibility with importing video captured on the iPod nano

• Fixed problems with resizing the iMovie window during playback

This update available and recommended for all users of iMovie '09, it's around 36MB, and it's available through Software Update or the Apple Support Downloads page.

Thanks Mike for the tip!

Our planned look at the camera feature on the iPod nano got delayed by a household medical emergency, as described in one of our nano example videos above. It did give me a bit more time to go a little more hands on with the nano video camera, and the end result is satisfactory. You're not going to buy this nano for the camera; it's just a bonus feature. Will it be the deal breaker over buying a nano versus another iPod, an iPhone or even a Flip? It all depends what you want out of it.

The video above was shot indoors using the nano. It was actually my fourth attempt at taking an indoor video because if you want any luck with the nano's camera, you've got to have decent lighting. This shot was my first attempt with the camera, and you can see the difference the lighting made.

As mentioned during the keynote, Apple is looking to take on Flip mino with the new nano. As such, we decided to see not only how the nano compares to the Flip, but also to an iPhone 3GS. Continue on reading to see how these shots turned out.

The pioneers at iFixit are at it again, this time exploring the Loop's newest, coolest gadget -- the iPod nano. According to their measurements, this iPod is as thin as it could possibly be, and more densely packed than any previous Apple device. I work on iPods at my day job, but I'm afraid to start working on this one because there is very little wasted space and LOTS of glue.

Here are some facts worth highlighting:

• The iPod nano uses flash memory manufactured by Toshiba.
• Apple would not be able to put a larger camera into it without reducing the footprint of other components.
• It uses the same style speaker as the iPod touch. The sound exits through the dock connector.
• The display has 17.5% more real estate than the 4th Generation iPod nano.
  

Read on for the nitty gritty, "I want to tear it apart" information...

While people were still reeling from the fact that the iPod nano, and not the iPod touch, gained a video camera, my trusty 5.5G 30 GB iPod video decided to die a slow, painful death. Over the past few weeks, I'd been hearing the hard drive click of doom, having the iPod randomly reboot while listening to an audiobook, and then had the entire system lock up on me and not unfreeze until the battery had worn completely down. When the last symptom occurred a second time yesterday during the iPod event, I decided it was time for a new iPod and ordered my first nano.

For years, the nano seemed like a good idea, but it wasn't something that fit my needs. My music collection clocks in at a respectable 8GB, and it is growing. I have another 6GB of audiobooks, also growing, and at the time I purchased my iPod video I had another 8GB of TV shows and movies ripped from my DVDs. In the days before the iPhone and iPod touch, the iPod video was just a more practical device for those of us who weren't quite so new to the whole idea of a portable music player. Apple initially targeted the noobs with the iPod mini, and then followed with the iPod nano.

Now that's changed. If you really want to play video on a portable device, the iPhone or the iPod touch is the way to go. If you primarily want to listen to music, the nano is an excellent choice for an everyday iPod. 16GB is more than enough to cover many music collections, and if you need more capacity there is still the iPod classic or the larger iPod touch models. The current nano can fit my entire library of music and audiobooks, and leave some room for videos if I choose -- except I really don't want to squint at subtitles on a nano.

Meanwhile, Apple is also realizing that they need to change their marketing strategy for the nano. With more than 220 million iPods sold to date and a 73.8% marketshare, the general public is fully aware of the brand and most likely has an iPod. So, Apple is changing tactics and has decided to take on the Flip, a popular and inexpensive handheld video camera that is roughly the size, although thicker, of a nano. New ads promote the "fun" factor of the nano, but overall it's just a solid iPod.

We're splitting our look at the new nano into two parts. Today, we're taking a look at the device itself and a vast chunk of the new features. Tomorrow, we take an in-depth look at the iPod nano's flagship feature -- the video camera -- and see how well it holds up to both a Flip and an iPhone 3GS.

Apple appears to be aiming right at the Flip market with its release of the updated iPod nano today. A quick rundown includes:

• Storage capacity: 8GB for $149USD, 16GB for $179USD.
• 2.2-inch color display. 240-by-376-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch.
• Battery: 24 hour playback for audio, 5 hours for video
• Video camera. H.264 VGA video, 640 by 480 pixels, up to 30 frames per second with AAC audio. Real-time special effects include: Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido, Motion Blur, Mirror, Light Tunnel, Dent, Stretch, and Twirl
• FM radio featuring iTunes tagging and live pausing (for those who still like to listen to Delilah.)
• Pedometer and accelormeter
• Built-in mic and speaker with voice memos
• Genius features
• Voice Over kit featuring a multiple number of languages
• Variety of colors, but two of those colors -- yellow and red -- are in-store only.
• Environmental features: Arsenic-free glass, BFR-free, Mercury-free, PVC-free

We will have an in-depth look at the nano later today, as I'm actually headed out to the Apple Store to get one to replace my aging, dying iPod 5.5G.

[For those who are asking -- as far as we can tell from the spec, the iPod nano will not shoot still pictures, only video. We'll be able to confirm this later today.]

It's 09/09/09 -- finally!

Apple events are always a lot of fun, and the speculation leading up to today's press event has been incredible. Will Steve Jobs appear at the event? Are we going to see a new version of iTunes and some new iPods? We're always wondering if there will be "one more thing."

Join us today at 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT for the TUAW liveblog of this event. As usual, you can add your questions to the mix, and a full complement of TUAW bloggers will be on hand. We will have our buddies Daniel Brusilovsky (of Teens In Tech) and Sam Levin onsite to give us the minute-by-minute update of what's transpiring. We'll also keep one eye on the other liveblog coverage from Engadget, Ars Technica, gdgt, Gizmodo, Macworld & elsewhere.

You can keep an eye on our main Twitter feed for the headline announcements, and our Ask TUAW account is always there for your questions and inquiries. You can also join the fun over on our Facebook page during and after the event.

Here's a link to the liveblog page, for you early birds.

We've just started receiving tips that Apple is quietly cutting the price of existing iPods ahead of its planned event later today. Thus far, we've seen the following price cuts. All prices given are in USD:

• iPod nano is now $129 for 8GB and $149 for 16GB.
• iPod classic is now $229.
• iPod touch is now $189 for 8GB, $249 for 16GB and $279 for 32GB.

There is no change to the price of the iPod shuffle.

These changes haven't completely gone through the site yet. As seen in the screen capture, some parts of the site still list the iPods at their old price.

Thanks to Scott and Max for the tip!

(As a follow up to Tim Wasson's 'An Apple a Day' fitness plan, I thought I'd share my experience on how the Nike+ iPod kit helped me lose weight.)

It's high noon in Los Angeles on a late May Sunday. But this isn't your typical Sunday. You see, I'm about to finish my first ever marathon. As I make my way toward the finish line, I hear the roar of thousands of spectators cheering me on. For those who have yet to experience this, I tell them that there's no other feeling like it -- one where thousands of people, who know nothing about you, are willing you to finish the final meters of a 26.2 mile race. As I make my way toward finish line, I think of everything that led up to this moment, and how much running has changed my life.

But I don't think I'd have made it this far had it not been for the Nike+ iPod kit; for by changing the running experience, it's also changed my feelings about running.

If you're looking to own a current-generation iPod, you best buy one before they're gone. Ars Technica notes that vendors inside Apple's Authorized Reseller network are reporting that dwindling stocks aren't being met with new shipments, lending further credence to the presumption that September's press event will be about new iPods.

Apple typically introduces new iPods in September, just in time for back-to-school shopping. We've heard rumors that the whole line will get cameras, including the Classic. With 120GB of storage, that thing could hold a lot of photos. It's also quite likely that there will be a storage boost, but if the shuffle gets any smaller it'll simply cease to exist.

Personally, this just means I'll have another opportunity to call my fat nano an ancient artifact.

Kafkaesque is defined as "characteristic or reminiscent of the oppressive or nightmarish qualities of Franz Kafka's fictional world." That's the way Wall Street Journal All Things Digital blogger Peter Kafka (no relation as far as I know) must be feeling.

Music industry sources are telling him that Apple is planning one of their classic September keynotes, but they're not giving him a date other than "the week of September 7th", and have no idea what exactly Apple is planning on revealing. That sounds nightmarish to me...

So, he fired up the Apple rumor machine this morning and wrote a post about the upcoming event. Kafka feels that the event will probably be used to announce something about music (duh!), most likely "Cocktail", which is Apple's rumored album format that adds cover art, liner notes, and other interactive goodies.

Kafka also notes that unless Apple announces the legendary iTablet at the event, Apple faithful are likely to be very disappointed (My personal feeling? Turn on the tears, folks).

The September event is often used to announce new iPods, and there have been rumors of a camera-enabled iPod nano, so we might hear more about that.

Whatever happens, it would be nice to see Steve Jobs on the stage again, especially if the mythical iPad is finally announced. Any reader comments on this announcement of an Apple event with no set date or concrete topic will be greatly appreciated.

Update: While Gizmodo's Brian Lam is adding fuel to the iTablet fire with a recounting of a phone call with a reputable source, The Loop's Jim Dalrymple is categorically contradicting any suggestions that the September event will include the tablet device -- it's going to be a pure music announcement, he says.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple Korea has issued a recall of 1st generation iPod nanos in South Korea. Some units have had a problem with overheating batteries, causing damage to the units and on some occasions the users themselves.

On June 25th, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards prompted Apple Korea to issue the recall. Apple later released a statement reassuring owners of current-model nanos:

"Although the overheating problem doesn't affect the batteries that are being used now in iPod nanos, concerned customers can get a replacement battery."

If you're a nano owner in South Korea, you may be eligible for this recall. Check with your local retailer and good luck.

UPDATE: As Loopinsight points out, this has always been Apple's policy. Nothing has changed and this isn't really a recall at all. We regret the error.

Ah, the loose lips on those 3rd party case manufacturers. This time we're seeing what looks like an iPod case with a hole cut out for... yes, a camera. Macrumors has a few juicy shots of both nano and touch-sized iPod cases with said holes. These match up with sketches reported by iLounge back in May and rumored by HardMac before then.

Personally I think it's brilliant and logical to add a camera to the nano and I doubt a touch with video would scuttle many iPhone sales. More importantly, the touch is likely to get the same "upgrade" treatment the 3GS did: oleophobic screen and speed boost. Adding a camera just turns the touch into what people wanted anyway: pretty much an all-in-one device.

Since its introduction in May 2006, the look, feel and features of the Nike+ website have undergone relatively minor changes. Which makes the redesign (still in beta) of the site all the more noteworthy. By putting familiar faces in different places, as well as adding some new faces, Nike has added some polish on an already great and revolutionary fitness motivational tool.

To start with: I am a Disney fan -- to be precise, it's a lot like the way Jack Nicholson is a Laker fan -- so on my very nearly annual expeditions to a Disney park, I don't really need the map. I have memorized shortcuts and low-traffic restrooms, how to get all the good stuff done in one day, and loads more random bits (look closely in the Hall Of Presidents; molds for their faces are used on other animatronics around the park), mostly because carrying them around in my head was the easiest way to carry them.

Then I got my iPhone (my first smartphone) and was able to put data on my phone (which I always carry with me). Enter the Walt Disney World Notescast. This $0.99 app is a handy planning/informational tool that can guide your entire Walt Disney World trip, from vacation packages to tips on annual events and park history. I tested the iPhone version of this app, but TimeStream Software also sells a $1.99 version for notes-capable classic iPods and nanos. It doesn't rely on a data connection and you can carry all this info with you easily.

When you first launch the application, you get a list of options to choose from. I liked the variety of options, but I wish I could customize or at least re-order it so I could get at a few of the options more quickly. There is a bookmark system available, but I ended up bookmarking a lot of things so that list went non-functional pretty quickly. And while I understand not having a ton of information on one page, I had a hard time figuring out why there were breaks between, for example, "Tours of EPCOT I" and "Tours of EPCOT II". I love the list of phone numbers, especially since I can tap the number to make the call. In the now cutthroat world of Disney Dining, having that number handy -- as well as the ticket line and even the camping and Magical Express numbers, not usually easy to find on the WDW site -- is a huge convenience.