The portable media player iPod nano introduced by Apple in the year 2005 has undergone variations by generations and the latest model in the series – iPod nano 5th generation – was launched in September, 2009. The new series in general uses “flash memory” and “click wheel.”

The fifth generation iPod nano has come with a package of new features such as –

  • A larger screen. 55.8 mm diagonal and also wider
  • Integrated video camera with special effects
  • FM radio with iTunes and Fine Pause
  • Microphone
  • Built in pedometer
  • Nike + iPod support and speaker.

The 5th generation nano is given a polished aluminum finish in nine distinct colours – Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, silver and black. Out of the nine finishes available, red and yellow are confined to Apple online store and Apple retail store. With a 56 mm. screen, the 5th generation iPod nano has QVGA display.

What is QVGA display?

Quarter Video Graphic Array is the computer display with 320 x 240 display resolution. As the display will be rather taller and not wider, they are considered as ‘portrait oriented’. As 640×480 is the original IBB VGA technology, 320×240 is considered as Quarter VGA or QVGA.

The music player in the new iPod nano comes with the novel Genius Mixer. When the iPod is synced to iTunes, the Genius will search the library and make up to 12 mixes of selected songs. This will enable the user to listen to a song which he has not listened so far or bring back a song which he really forgot.

Songs can be selected at random by turning on the shake to shuffle feature and the cover flow button enables you to see the entire songs and when your choice comes, that can be added to the playlist by pressing the center button.

5th generation iPod nano is the first iPod having the provision of FM Radio. The reception is excellent and using the RDS data a particular song can be tagged, which can be bought later at iTunes Store. Moreover, the FM Radio has the “live pause” feature. A particular program of the radio can be paused for 15 minutes and later you can listen to that from memory. Also the cached content can be fast forwarded.

When you are listening to a song just by using either the click wheel or the control on the ear phone, you can hear the title of the song as well as name of the artist without interrupting the music. This is enabled by the “VoiceOver” feature. This feature is an outcome of iTunes’  integration with iPod nano. iTunes provide the details and “VoiceOver” will effect the announcement. This is made possible when iPod nano is synced to the computer. Here iTunes apply intelligent algorithms to choose the language for announcement. The announcement will be in the same language in which the particular song is sung. However in case the user wants the announcement in a different language, the “VoiceOver” language can be changed accordingly.

A very interesting feature of iPod nano 5th generation is the Nike+iPod sports kit and the pedometer.

As you will be carrying the iPod nano with you, when you go out the iPod in coordination with the accelerometer will keep track of your speed at which you are walking. The device will count your steps and will record the time also. This enables you to keep a track of your physical exercise. If you carry the Nike+iPod kit to the gym, that will monitor all your activities and provide you with the accurate data regarding your pace, timing, distance covered, number of steps etc.

The Voice Memos in iPod nano 5th generation can record a lecture, an audio recording or any such program of your choice.

iTunes & iPod nano 5th generation

iPod nano 5th generation is capable of extensive applications with iTunes.

  • Check the items and when you come across with a song that you like, click once to get it downloaded. This way you can easily build up your collections.
  • Any number of movies can be downloaded on iTunes stores and you can watch them on iPod.
  • Even if you are not at home, you can watch your favourite TV shows from the iTunes stores, which is having more than 3500 TV channels and 50000 episodes.
  • Your favourite games can be chosen from Apstores on iTunes, download the same to your iPod and watch them over Wi-Fi network.
  • You can subscribe to free audio and video podcasts using iTunes stores and sync them to your iPod.
  • You can download audio books, novels, articles, language lessons etc. from the iTunes stores and sync to your iPod.
  • Lectures, discussions, podcasts etc. from famous Universities, museums and other reputed institutions can be downloaded from iTunes U.

Everything that you bought from iTune stores will be in your library as iTunes player. After organizing the contents in the manner you wanted, you can add them into the playlist.

Needless to say, iTunes can be downloaded free of cost.

The 5th generation iPod nano is available in two different capacities – 8 GB and 16 GB. The new iPod nano is provided with a Video Camera feature which can record with VGA quality (640×480). It can record in portrait as well as landscape mode.

Thus iPod nano 5th generation has come with a package of so many exciting new features, thus making the model a “lovely wonder” in the market of MP3 players.

iPod Nano Fifth Generation Specs

Available Capacity 8GB, 16GB
Audio Files Support MP3, AAC, Apple LossLess, AIFF and WAV
Battery Lithium Ion (Rechargable)
Battery Life 24 hours for music
4 hours for video
Screen Size 2.2 inches
Screen Type LCD Colour Display with back lighting
Width 3.9 cm
Height 9.8 cm

The front of the new iPod nano is dominated by the 2.2 inches display. While the hold switch is on top, the headset jack and iPod port are at the bottom.

The light weight, tiny and portable MP3 player with a heavy package of technology is indeed a product of brilliant innovations.

Apple iPod Nano 5th Gen Features

Video Camera

The 640×480 pixel camera can show video at the rate of 3 frames per second. The shooting can be done with the help of a menu of visual effects which is displayed by pressing and holding the centre button.

There are 16 options for visual effects – normal, sepia, black & white, x-ray, fits grain, thermal, cyborg, bulge, stretch, dent, light tunnel, kaleidio, motion blur, mirror, security cam and twirl. Thermal will give a predator like view of people and surroundings.

iTunes-9

New features like tweaked lay out are added. It has made navigation at iTunes Stores quite easy.

VoiceOver

Enables navigation without viewing the display. iPod nano 5th generation is the one and only one MP3 Player, which is a tiny device to look but contains a large gallery of features. The most amazing aspect is that a huge package of highly innovative features is kept in the small device. This tiny nano comes to you not just as a music player, but also as a video camera, voice recorder, pedometer, FM Radio etc. etc. The multirole 5th generation nano has attained a logical position in the iPod family. The bigger screen, the excellent sound quality, the sleek design and competitive price together make it a pleasure to buy the iPod nano 5th generation. This product is unique because when you purchase this as an MP3 Player, along with it you are getting many more facilities from latest technology.

iPod nano 5th generation – so small, so sweet, so impressive, and so simple to operate.