Ars Technica's iPod nano Dissection 532
starwindsurfer wrote to mention an Ars Technica review of the iPod nano in which they autopsy the cute little guy to find out what makes him tick. A more thorough review than the one we ran last week. From the article: "At this point we were astounded that the iPod nano was still working properly, albeit with a broken display. Because we had honestly expected the iPod nano to break by this time, we were forced to depart from our planned schedule of destruction and try and run over it with the car. Surely, we thought, it could never withstand the crushing power of German automotive engineering." Update: 09/12 14:58 GMT by Z : Changed linking words to previous article for clarity. Monday fuzziness.
Good Review (Score:3, Interesting)
Like another poster mentioned, it would be nice if they (any iPod, really) was more scratch-proof, but I suppose it helps drive the acessories market.
iPod durability (Score:1, Interesting)
Apple Product Lifecycle (Score:5, Interesting)
Apple g33k pr0n? Check [slashdot.org].
Wow, this guy [misterbg.org] really DOES have Apple pegged... I mean, at first it was funny, but now it's just creepy...
Re:What apple should do now (Score:5, Interesting)
They're scratched, btw. In case you were wondering.
Re:Where's the FM tuner??? (Score:5, Interesting)
I think Apple intentionally doesn't include an FM tuner on purpose, as they are theying to replace radio, not just replace CD players, with the iPod. They're doing a good job of it, too.
Re:What apple should do now (Score:3, Interesting)
What I would like is for them to add Firewire support to the Nano, instead of only allowing USB 2.0.
Re:What apple should do now (Score:4, Interesting)
Could someone out there with a intel dev box tell us whether there is a fw port on the dev box??
Does OSX/Intel support fw???
Firewire compatibility... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Firewire compatibility... (Score:2, Interesting)
Why bother with music? (Score:5, Interesting)
One for my Windows machines at work, one for my Macs.
You'd use up about 1GB for the OS, then have 3+GB free for data extraction. Throw a bunch of diagnostic utilities on there (usually a hundred megs or so at most) and you've got a kick ass clean system to test hardware with when you're troubleshooting. And since its got a batter of its own, it's not reliant on having a powered USB port.
Re:What apple should do now (Score:5, Interesting)
iPod Nano (Score:3, Interesting)
I liked the review (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Firewire compatibility... (Score:3, Interesting)
USB2 speed is only that high in burst mode. Here's a test, get an exteral HD and move 100G to it over both USB2 and 1394. You may be surprised at the difference. The moral? Don't rely on published numbers unless you know exactly what they mean and under what conditions. You'll see why in this simple HD test.
Other tests I'd like to see. (Score:3, Interesting)
But one test I'd like to see involves trying to damage it by flexing it. Sitting on a nano laid on a wooden chair or even running over it is different from putting it in a tight pants pocket and sitting on a hard surface.
Re:What apple should do now (Score:2, Interesting)
Yet it doesn't scratch. So if you were careful not to drop your iPod, you'd be okay. Actually, I'm not sure what it would take to shatter the kind of diamond coating that would go around an iPod. It might be something Apple should look into, for those people who MUST HAVE A SCRATCH-FREE IPOD!
Re:iPod durability (Score:1, Interesting)
First, being half asleep on a monday screwed with my formatting. I apologize it's so difficult to read.
The other thing I'd like to comment on is the fact that I didn't really finish my story on how my ipod's each broke in one way or another.
I've had 4 ipods total so far, two of which I bought, the other two were replacements for the two I bought, which broke.
As I said before, the first iPod had problems with the scroll wheel, but I didn't go into details about the 2nd Generation iPod.
I had tons of problems with the second generation, I believe it to be the worst of the iPod's out on the market. First it had atrocious battery life compared to all other iPods, including the first.
Second, it was very very flimsy. My 2gen ipod broke not because of hard drive damage, or what one would usually suspect. Somehow a connection inside the ipod powering the screen disconnected or something. This happened within about 2 months.
I'd just like to say I'm pleased to know that these Nano's are far more durable, mostly because they're flash based, as the reply said. I said the same thing about the shuffles when they came out. What does worry me though is how flimsy the unit itself looks, it's very thin, and I get the feeling with such a thin unit the screen inside the unit is very vulnerable.
Bravo Apple, your products are as good as ever, but your Customer Service is still utter shit. (Sorry, had to put that in there.)
Re:Where's the FM tuner??? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Where's the FM tuner??? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Firewire compatibility... (Score:5, Interesting)
How to buff out the scratches? (Score:3, Interesting)
Does anyone know of any mild abrasives or similiar that can be used to polish an iPod such as a Nano back to scratch and scuff free brilliance? I'd really like to restore mine to normal and then maybe invest in a protective cover.
Incidentally, what's Apple's problem with making it scratch proof? My mobile phone stays in my pocket constantly with my keys and has done so for a year now. It's scratched to hell all over EXCEPT for the glass over the screen. Go figure.
Re:I liked the review (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What apple should do now (Score:3, Interesting)
I got scratch-proof coating on a new pair a year ago and not a single scratch. Dropped them, have had they fallen on concrete -- nothing. The only thing that's affected them is my puppy grabbing and chewing on a corner.
Non replacable battery??? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:What apple should do now (Score:4, Interesting)
Shuffle = hit play.
Scratches (Score:1, Interesting)
It's called the "travelled" look. Learn to love it. My iPod sits in my pocket with keys and change and whatever else, and it's scratched to hell. And it looks good.
Battle scars, if you like. My phone is the same.
As long as it doesn't impair function, it's all good. Hence my owning a Clie TH55 - no chance of damaging the screen.
Re:Where's the FM tuner??? (Score:3, Interesting)
I went on vacation recently and started packing my electronic gizmos for the trip.
-PSP
-cell phone
-bluetooth headset
-digital camera
Now these seemed like a reasonable group of electronics for entertainment and utility on the trip, but then I started adding in all the power bricks and I realized the whole shebange weighed more than my laptop. I even packed a power strip after I started contemplating pluggin these things in all around the hotel room.
Now, lets add an iPod Nano to that. Small and light, but you still have to plug it in, either to the wall or a USB port.
Now on top of that, how about an FM radio?
Ok, ok, I hear what you're saying, I don't go on vacation all the time and surely I could go without the FM radio for a week, right? But I gotta plug all this crap in at home too. Or I gotta buy batteries. Or I gotta plug in the battery charger.
I know this is a long-winded way of saying it, but getting rid of the need for one more device can be a real boon. Though I'm not in the market for either an iPod or a portable FM radio at the moment, I can certainly sympathize with those who'd want those functions combined.
TW
P.S. Anyone know of a good way to haul a bunch of 'portable' electronic stuff around? One at a time they're light and functional, but when you start adding everything up (I can't use the same headset with my phone and my music player?!?!?!?) it gets kind of old. Most backpacks have compartments that are too big and even if I wanted to look like Batman, it can actually be a hassle to have everything strapped to your waist. A bandelero mabye? Anyone got a name of a link for a good solution?
Re:Firewire compatibility... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I liked the review (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Geeks are like apes (Score:2, Interesting)
One thing I would like to know is how well it stands up to bending. Can you grab a nano by the ends and snap it in two? Is it safe to just throw a nano in my back pocket and carry on about my life (sitting on it at weird angles occasionally)?
Their tests indicated that it handles certain types of impacts and a very particular type of pressure (straight down while it's lying flat) fairly well, but I'm getting more of a "Hulk smash" vibe than any useful information.
Re:What apple should do now (Score:2, Interesting)
I just picked up a Nano after owning a loving a shuffle since, well pretty much since the day they came out. Actually until yestarday I had really thought all other iPods were overkill... The shuffle was tough, long lasting, and really held as much music as one person could really listen to before they returned to any computer (yes, expect you freaks wanting EVERYTHING). Anyway, like I said, I was satisfied, that is until the clean integration of podcasts into the iPod world.
No matter how well I worked my smart playlists (or used automater) I couldn't find a good way of managing to get one or two podcasts onto the shuffle each day, at the head of the list (making them easy to access). With the full functionality of the iPod/Podcast built into the Nano, my problems were solved. Now, I've got the portability of the shuffle (I'm serious, I'm thinking the Nano is MORE portable than the shuffle), plus the easy of music management of a full sized iPod, all in a beautiful, un-skippable device...
As far as I'm concerned, the shuffle can live on fine as a low-end apple music player (or something perfect for my 74 year old father, which is who now uses my former shuffle). Other than that, just spend the extra cash and step up to the latest work from apple.
And to the parent post... What happens when it picks stuff you don't like and you spend your entire time hitting NEXT? Is that just hitting play? Not picking, I just know that I got annoyed.
Re:Geeks are like apes (Score:2, Interesting)
same here, only it was my dad who finally got fed up. the last straw might've been when i disassembled their wristwatches one day when they left me home alone (i'd heard they used jewels to keep time and i wanted a look-see: 7 rubies).
mom said dad went into the garage and compiled a box of random stuff that he thought would be ok for me to destroy, brought it to me and said, "here. from now on, you can take apart this." i loved that box. good times.
my first instinct is still to take everything apart as soon as i get my hands on it. it's an absolute compulsion (that and pressing any buttons i see). people who've watched me do this think i'm a very weird girl.
Re:iPod durability (Customer Service & Warrant (Score:2, Interesting)
$30 includes shipping and handling all 3 directions (they ship me the box and foam, I pack it and ship it back, they look at it and ship something back to me). I handed the box to DHL at 6pm on Tuesday. Saturday afternoon I had a brand new iPod delivered to me (could be reconditioned, but there isn't a scratch on the back - it was still wrapped in plastic).
Not sure what the problem with the iPod was caused by, but it's back in its leather case and hopefully it will last a little longer. $30 is not bad at all for shipping and service I say.
Re:Geeks are like apes (Score:2, Interesting)
Hell, there are so many "normal use" scenarios that COULD have been done to add some value. I actually find that form of "hey, lets break this brand new gadget that many people would love to have but couldn't afford and in a blatantly useless manner 'cuz we got them free" mentality to be disgusting.
Do some normal stress testing for the review and give away the still-working but a little worse for wear unit to a lucky reader.
Re:Geeks are like apes (Score:1, Interesting)
When I was seven or eight, I completely disassembled the engine on the lawnmower. My dad just sort of grimaced when he got home from work, and we spent the evening looking at all the parts and he gave me a pretty good education about how the whole thing worked. The evening ended with the engine reassembled and running. In my later years I would go on to spend long evenings at the airport helping my father complete 100 hr inspections on the corporate plane (he had his AP as well as his pilot's license). A great life experience all around, I never lost my interest in taking things apart and putting them back together.
Re:necropsy (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Probably not bootable (Score:3, Interesting)
Booting Linux, etc. with it on an x86 machine will probably give a much different result.