Originally published on: 4/19/2007 8:51:17 PM
However, I do still listen on the go. Then, as I was writing up the ad to sell my Geo Tracker, I added a line about how it has a connector for an "iPod" (just a 1/8" headphone jack, but marketing is marketing). As I was doing that, I decided to check out the Apple refurb store and see if there might be a good deal on a Shuffle. The idea was/is to throw in a "free iPod" with the sale of the vehicle. The extra boost the car would get from that is pretty likely to cover the added cost of the Shuffle.
Sure enough, Apple was selling the 1GB Shuffles for $50. Since I'm dead certain that that $50 and a free ad on Craigslist will sell the car faster than spending $50 on extra classified listings, I bought it. However, I also noticed a really good deal on the 4GB nanos as well.
Given my aforementioned mp3 player situation, I caved in and added one of those to the order as well. Since I've been playing with iTunes smart playlists, I've been interested in how they integrate with the iPod and figured I'd give it a whirl.
I've had it for a week or 2 now and it's definitely one of those 51% technology solutions. It's better than the alternatives (it's got a simple majority of the vote), but certainly doesn't beat out my ideal player. There are plenty of things about iTunes and the iPod that bug me. Should a replacement come along that actually does what I want (say even a 60% solution), I'd drop this thing in a heartbeat.
However, in the mean time, it *is* working out OK.
Anyway, some of the things that I'd love to see improved in future MP3 players over the iPod nano that I have are listed below. Some of them may have been addressed in later versions. Some of them may just be me not finding or using the feature properly as well. However, given that this particular product and the company that markets it pound the "it just works" message into the ground, if the functionality isn't self-evident, it failed.
* The location of the headphone jack on the bottom and the screen at the top means that you have to put it into a pocket upside down. No pulling it out just an inch or so to see what's going on. I get *why* they did it this way (headphone jacks take up too much room to put them near the screen in a nano), but it doesn't make it an ideal solution.
* It ships with a plastic protector for the end of the data *cord*, but leaves the data connector on the device (the thing that sits in my pocket) open to lint, dirt, keys and other crap in my pocket.
* Skipping, volume changing and menuing all depend on how long I hold and what kind of pressure I apply to the single navigation wheel. When I'm on the move, that level of fine motor control is unreasonable. Again, I realize that this is sold as one of the great *features* of the iPod, but it results in the wrong function being invoked more times than I like.
So, here the problem is that the wheel is supposed to make my actions contextual: that the wheel does the "right" thing for what I'm trying to do. Unfortunately, it's not. For me. It appears to be doing so for the majority of users, but not me.
* When the cable is plugged in for charging, the interface is locked into the "Do Not Disconnect" message and I can't use it to play. I want to be able to charge it at work, but sync it at home. Their setup assumes that I'll just listen to the iTunes installation on the computer its connected to. Unfortunately, since that computer might be a Linux box or just not have a copy of the music, it's all or nothing. I just want the 5V worth of power coming across the cable, but it locks down as soon as that cable connects.
* Syncing between more than one computer is pretty much out as far as they're concerned. This ties into the last one because I actually do have a 2nd iTunes install where I listen to music and the play/skip count, ratings, etc. can't be easily synced up.
* Smart playlists that are based on other smart playlists are problematic when syncing. Just try this one: create a smart playlist of songs not ever skipped. Then create a playlist of songs *from* that list with ratings higher than 3 stars and try to put it on the iPod.
* The glossy surface was clearly designed to look nice coming out of the package, not actually hold up over time. I dramatically prefer that my stuff have a matte finish that glosses up with wear instead of a glossy finish that scratches. I've only had it a couple of weeks and I expect I'd have a hard time selling it to anyone else. This one's probably just a nitpick, though.
* No easy way to dim the display. I understand that this was to make sure it was "bright and easy to read", but when I listen in bed, this thing is like a blazing torch in the darkness and not particularly appreciated by the person accompanying me in bed.
* While I can speed up audiobooks (thus indicating that the feature is there in the software), I can't speed up podcasts. I prefer to listen to podcasts at about 2.0x or so.
There's probably more if I think about it, but those are what quickly came to mind.
I would be interested to read about some of the things that you would want in an MP3 player that the nano is missing.
I am not an apple fan boy but I purchased a 2nd generation nano in October and I am extremely happy with it. Previously I had a 4g 40GB ipod and there were many things about it that i did not like.
I would love to read about your ipod opinions.