The video is not available and the charger is optional

It takes the same... and on miniaturised! Such is the policy chosen by Apple for its new version of the iPod, called "nano", by Steve Jobs Wednesday last in San Francisco. The iPod nano (below, in actual size) clearly displays its kinship with the Walkman feature of the mark: Central wheel, same color, same luxurious dressing of brushed metal and white plastic screen (a black version is also available).

The only innovation is a change in size in the two senses of the term. If the format of its big brother was thinking of a pack of cigarettes, the iPod nano evokes rather a credit card, more thick but less wide (to be precise, 9 cm high, 4 cm wide and barely 7 mm thick, weighs 42 grams). A tower of strength due to the use of a Flash memory to store music files in place of the hard disk used by the iPod and the iPod mini (which disappears from the catalogue). Two models exist, 2 GB and 4 GB, or respectively approximately 500 and 1,000 songs in MP3 or AAC format. As it is smaller and requires less energy than a hard drive to work (no moving parts to feed), Flash memory fits a lightweight battery: according to Apple, despite the miniaturization, the autonomy of the iPod nano (fourteen hours for music playback) is barely lower than that of the current iPod.

For the rest, the iPod nano managed brilliantly to condense all the functions of its elder. The color screen to view 4.500 photos that can store the appliance. But it has the disadvantage of bring down autonomy, which descends to about three hours. The Central wheel, sign of distinction of the iPod family, is now barely bigger than a piece of two euros, but it was always also practical for all of the duties. The transfer of files from a PC or a Mac, as well as the reloading of the battery, are always by the USB port of the computer, in which the Player connects via a cable specific to Apple. As for, it is exactly the same as that of its predecessors.

In fact, this miniaturized player is so similar to his elders... He also presents the same defects. The battery, first of all: the case of the iPod making it inaccessible to its owner, need must return the device to Apple to replace the day where it will come to fail an operation that the firm Apple invoice currently 110 euros. Functions, then: no question to record sounds or listen to the radio on the iPod (which offer several MP3 players), unless you buy optional accessories provided by other companies. The video is not available, and the charger is optional.

Last criticism, classic Apple: price, significantly higher than that of competing models but this argument did not prevent the iPod to sell more than 20 million copies in four years. Even the fans might find salty note, especially for the model to 4 GB, sold only 10 euros less than the 20 GB iPod. This time, Apple managed the feat to reduce absolutely everything... except the tariff!