Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4GB, green)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MA487LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The second-generation Apple iPod Nano is like the successful offspring of an iPod Mini and a first-generation iPod Nano. It's small, stylish, user-friendly, and competitively priced--a great player all around and suitable for a variety of users.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | See Site | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4GB, green) price range: $289.99
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Edited by: James Kim
- Reviewed on: 09/13/2006
The good: The second-generation Apple iPod Nano takes on a new scratch-resistant aluminum body, which is available in a variety of bright and shiny colors; it's still superslender but more durable, thanks to a seamless construction. It supports photos (with thumbnail grid) and album art and has great sound quality.
The bad: The iPod Nano still doesn't play video, not that you'd want to watch it on the small screen, and there's no built-in FM tuner or recording capability; not all color options are available for all memory sizes.
The bottom line: The second-generation Apple iPod Nano is like the successful offspring of an iPod Mini and a first-generation iPod Nano. It's small, stylish, user-friendly, and competitively priced--a great player all around and suitable for a variety of users.
The second-generation (2G) Nano shuns simple white and steps out in a metallic color parade, with shiny silver available in the 2GB and 4GB flavors; bright pink, green, and blue offered in 4GB; and somber black taking the 8GB version. The body casing itself is rather like a minified Mini shell: it's seamless anodized aluminum, which means the 2G Nano is not only less scratch-prone than its predecessor, but also more durable in general. As with the old Nano, the 2G features the much praised iPod Clickwheel, which serves as the player's only controls (other than the hold switch on the top). Above the Clickwheel is the rather small (1.5-inch) color display, which is 40 percent brighter than that of its predecessor, and the bottom edge of the player houses the headphone jack and proprietary dock connector. A larger screen would have been a welcome improvement, but the benefit is the uniformity of screen size and overall dimensions (the 2G is just a hair thinner and taller than the previous Nano: 3.56 by 1.6 by 0.26 inches): all the made-for-Nano accessories should work fine with the new model.
As with other iPods, the 2G Nano is a snap to navigate, though the Clickwheel may take a little getting used to for first-time users, especially those used to other MP3 player controls. The Main Menu includes selections for Music, Photos, Extras, Settings, and Shuffle Songs--this last is particularly handy. Music is conveniently sorted by Playlists, Artists, Albums, and so on. And if you can't remember who a particular song or album falls under, you can use the new Search function (found in the Music submenu).
The 2G Nano is light on extras, though its small, excellently designed packaging includes all that you might need for basic use: a dock adapter, a USB cable for syncing/charging, a pair of white earbuds, and a quick-start guide. You'll have to download iTunes from the Web, since Apple doesn't include a disc in the box--a forgivable omission, considering that it cuts down on use of materials for packaging.
If you want to listen to FM radio on the Nano, you'll need to pick up Apple's $49 Radio Remote (or similar accessory). Similarly, recording features require a separate accessory, such as Belkin's TuneTalk. It'd be a nice surprise if Apple would include such features in an iPod, but at least it's nice that you have the option to add them. Features the Nano does have built in are photo viewing (with a neat 3x3 thumbnail preview grid) and album art support. Video playback is conspicuously absent, as many Nano competitors have it (the Creative Zen V Plus, iRiver Clix, and SanDisk Sansa e200 series, to name a few). But we're not sure we'd want to watch video on the tiny screen anyway. The 2G Nano is capable of gapless playback (finally!), but that must be designated in iTunes 7.
The latest version of iTunes is a nice improvement over version 6, and you can read more about it in the
We're pleased to note that Apple had a stab at the original Nano's rather paltry 12-hour battery life, doubling that rating to a respectable 24 hours. Turns out Apple was right on the money: CNET Labs coaxed 24.5 hours out of the player. As far as sound quality is concerned, we couldn't notice a difference between the old Nano and the 2G: it still sounds excellent across nearly all genres of music. Bass response could be tighter, and we didn't think the included earbuds sounded that great, but they're certainly passable (the design seems a bit more ergonomic than earlier ones). We had some mixed results with gapless playback--albums transferred from a Windows machine still had hiccups, while those from a Mac were seamless--but this is likely an iTunes issue, rather than a Nano one. Navigation was superspeedy, thanks to a fast processor, and photos loaded quickly.
The 2G Nano doesn't really bring anything new to the table in the fast-advancing world of MP3 players, but the improvements over the original are certainly welcome. This player is sure to be a top choice among a wide range of users, and it's a stellar option for first-timers. Just make sure you're aware that the same $249 for an 8GB Nano will get you a larger but video-capable 30GB iPod.
User reviews
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Poor audio quality
by jcinzano on September 16, 2006
Pros: Design, screen, size
Cons: No bass, EQ = distortion , price
Summary: I've had a 3G iPod for two years and have been looking forward to the new Nano as a possible replacement.
Though the size, color screen, ease of use ...Summary: I've had a 3G iPod for two years and have been looking forward to the new Nano as a possible replacement.
Though the size, color screen, ease of use and metal shell are all improvements on my old 3G, the audio quality leaves a lot to be desired.
That the CNET editor would dub this -- and the first gen -- as having "excellent" sound is surprising. The previous Nano was widely reviewed as having inferior sound to the Shuffle and the 5G iPod (the Nano used a fourth gen codec) and -- as the CNET review does get right -- this version is no different.
If you're not picky about audio quality, this will be fine for you. But if you like bass -- I mean, *at all* -- or a "full" sound, then this is a poor choice.
While mids and highs are fairly detailed, the overall sound is fairly thin. Bass is nearly nonexistent. This is true both with supplied earbuds and my higher-end phones.
You can try punching it up a bit with the EQ. But if you choose "bass boost" or "hip hop," you'll have low end distortion at all but the lowest volumn levels. Even the "Rock" setting (one of the best), has a tiny bit of distortion. Vocal boosting EQ setting such as "piano" or "vocal" result in the singer sounding like he's front and center -- singing through a tin can.4 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I love it! But beware use of 1G accessories
by btmustang on September 19, 2006
Pros: Thinner, lighter, brighter, no finger prints, stronger
Cons: 1G Nano accessories may not work with 2G Nano
Summary: This is a great iPod. I just recieved it last night and it works great with the new iTunes.
However, my wife has a 1G Nano and we have many ...Summary: This is a great iPod. I just recieved it last night and it works great with the new iTunes.
However, my wife has a 1G Nano and we have many accessories for it that I assumed would work on the 2G Nano (Apple does not mention this at all when purchasing the new Nano). The 2G iPod will not fit in the following accessories we have: the iPod Nano dock (I noticed a new dock for 2G Nano's on Apple's site yesterday), the Belkin Tunebase FM, and it does not fit as well in our cases.
The dock connector port on the 2G nano has been moved about an eighth of an inch to the left thus making it difficult to insert in to some 1G accessories.
For both the dock and FM transmitter, I had to take a chisel to them in order to make more space on the right side inner wall to fit the new nano.
I have also used FM transmitters than incorporate the dock connector and the headphone jack and I can assume that these will not work either due to the new spacing of the dock connector and the headphone jack.
Other than the fit issues, it's a great upgrade. I look forward to more accessories made just for the 2G nano.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great, Apple didn't listen to gadget focused reviews
by peter.mortensen on September 12, 2006
Pros: Improved music search, no FM radio, no recording, no fuss
Cons: No voice recognition for fast music search, who wants my old Nano?
Summary: It's nice to see Apple can keep their focus right and not get mislead by reviews that are feature focused.
The improvements are exactly addressing the important issues. We ...Summary: It's nice to see Apple can keep their focus right and not get mislead by reviews that are feature focused.
The improvements are exactly addressing the important issues. We buy a music player to play music and don't want to spend time on navigation.
iTunes 7 seems to also address the important issues including better user interface and integration.
All those other "toy players" with longer feature lists simply can't impress me. I must admit I was concerned that Apple would start to flood their products with all those gimmick features but they didn't.
This is a product for anybody who wants to buy a music player to play music
6 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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EXCELLENT, But lacks a few things
by Dusty444 on July 8, 2007
Pros: Great functionality, design and sound
Cons: lacks fm tuner and video
Summary: I have had the Nano for 8 months now and its an excellent player. Its thin, sleek and colourful. The only thing i would like to see is video, fm ...
Summary: I have had the Nano for 8 months now and its an excellent player. Its thin, sleek and colourful. The only thing i would like to see is video, fm tuner and a bigger screen for the price of the nano.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I can live with the flaws - just tell me why
by tschiffer on September 28, 2006
Pros: Simplicity (with iTunes), looks, size, feeling
Cons: No FM-tuner. Why?
Summary: I just entered the iPod world after several non-apple MP3-players and I must say I am very pleased for the cross over. Everything is easier, more beatiful and it has ...
Summary: I just entered the iPod world after several non-apple MP3-players and I must say I am very pleased for the cross over. Everything is easier, more beatiful and it has a very high WAF (wife acceptency factor). What I still donīt get is why they donīt include a FM-tuner in the ipod itself, why force us to bye a seperate unit?
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfect out of the box experience, near perfect product
by robanga on September 21, 2006
Pros: Slim, Metal Case seems tough, great interface and sound
Cons: It's almost too thin and small. It easily get's lost in a briefcase. No power adaptor included as in the old mini, you must by seperately or power through the USB cable.
Summary: Great replacement for my aging Ipod mini. I'm still going to get a Zune because of the integration with the Xbox, MCE etc. but I am still a huge ...
Summary: Great replacement for my aging Ipod mini. I'm still going to get a Zune because of the integration with the Xbox, MCE etc. but I am still a huge Ipod fan. This purchase reconfirms it. Nice little player.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good, although I'm considering a Walkman next time
by JC_91 on January 25, 2009
Pros: Simple design; user-friendly; durable; screen is bright and vivid; audio quality is okay, provided you leave the EQ settings alone; syncs fast.
Cons: Click wheel can be too sensitive at times; screen is a bit too small; bass could be better; EQ settings are useless; can't create custom EQ settings; some glitches exist; color of casing fades over time; no built-in FM radio.
Summary: I own a green 4GB version of this generation of the iPod nano. On the whole, I like this generation, although it could've been better. To its credit, the ...
Summary: I own a green 4GB version of this generation of the iPod nano. On the whole, I like this generation, although it could've been better. To its credit, the design is simple yet user-friendly. The screen is bright and colorful, if somewhat small. Now, the cons: Since the screen is so small this generation of iPod nano can't play videos, which is disappointing since at the time this generation came out there were already other players that supported videos. Also disappointing is the lack of a built-in FM radio. To listen to radio you need the iPod Radio Remote, sold separately. I'm sure Apple could've squeezed it in somewhere, if they cared to. One glitch I've noticed while using it is sometimes when I'm playing a track the info displayed on the screen (album art, title, artist, album) is different from the song I'm playing; the info on the screen will be from a completely different song. While I'm no audiophile, I think the sound quality is pretty good, although I think the bass could be tighter as CNET's review said. Also, the EQ settings are fairly useless as I've heard a lot of people complain about; almost every setting causes some distortion. The few settings that don't cause distortion (Lounge and Treble Reducer, to name a couple), completely cancel out what little bass is present. The click wheel, while ingenious, is sensitive at times. Even the slightest touch causes it to "spin". It seems to me that the click wheel was designed for quickly scrolling through long lists, such as browsing through huge collections of songs or albums. It works great for that, but it isn't as good for moving only one or two positions. Lastly, I've noticed the outer casing has faded over time; it's not as bright and green as it was when I first got it. In the end, I've been satisfied with my little 2G nano, even if it has left me wanting more. However, since the battery life is going down (it only lasts about two three days on average now) and I don't feel like coughing up a load of dough on replacing the battery, I may get another MP3 player sometime soon. I'm thinking of trying another brand, preferably one that's less glitchy. I hear Sony's Walkmans are top-notch...
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Pretty Nice
by iluv2dance on December 25, 2008
Pros: -plays music
-games are alright, but get boring
-easy to useCons: -no video
-freezes easily
-oldSummary: This was my first iPod (i now have a 2G touch). It was easy to use, but I really wished that it had video. Mine froze a lot, but that ...
Summary: This was my first iPod (i now have a 2G touch). It was easy to use, but I really wished that it had video. Mine froze a lot, but that could be because it is old, like two years old.
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Beautiful. Just beautiful
by the.ravenous.llama on May 25, 2008
Pros: Small, clean, user-friendly
Cons: Small (in size and storage)
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Its just a music player people
by yottabyte21 on June 10, 2007
Pros: Small, OMG Battery life
Cons: Not better than my Zune
Summary: Speedy interface (though not as sweet or customizable as my Zune), Great battery life (Better than my Zune), No radio (Zune has radio), Not video capable(Zune does that), I ...
Summary: Speedy interface (though not as sweet or customizable as my Zune), Great battery life (Better than my Zune), No radio (Zune has radio), Not video capable(Zune does that), I like that I can sync it in Windows Vista hassle free by using MediaMonkey Pro. iTunes is teh GAY!! Also, the scroll wheel is far to sensitive, horrible for use while driving (my deck has auxillary input, where i plug my Zune into). Another plus is the plethora of accessories for the iPod(lacking for the Zune).
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MA487LL/A
- Description: Only 0.26 of an inch thin and 1.41 ounces light, iPod nano packs a lot into its diminutive design. A brighter color display. A dock connector that fits an entire ecosystem of iPod accessories. With features like these, iPod nano changes the way you experience your music and more. Finding and playing music on iPod nano is simple. Menu options let you browse by artist, composer, album, song, genre, or playlist. Want to mix things up? Click Shuffle Songs. iPod nano makes your music look as good as it sounds, thanks to a 1.5-inch color display. Album art appears alongside your song titles, so you see your music as you play it. And when you dare to wear iPod nano, that display guarantees you'll say a lot without saying a word. The iTunes Store features thousands of free podcasts - radio-type shows you subscribe to - including indie favorites and offerings from such big names as ABC News, Comedy Central, ESPN, PBS, NPR, and many more. Browse and subscribe to podcasts, then sync them to your iPod nano and listen anytime, anywhere. Podcasts appear in their own menu on your iPod nano, so you can navigate them easily. The digital shelves of the iTunes Store are stocked with thousands of audiobooks - including such exclusives as the entire Harry Potter series - so you can catch up on your reading wherever iPod nano takes you. Browse audiobooks in their own menu on your iPod nano. iPod nano automatically recognizes where you left off reading and bookmarks your place. You can even change the reading speed to suit you. iPod nano holds up to 25, 000 photos you can sync from your Mac or Windows PC via iTunes. Use the Click Wheel to scroll through photo thumbnails the same way you scroll through song titles. To see a photo full-screen, click the center button. You can even view photo slideshows, complete with music. Just select Slideshow Settings and choose the time between slides, the transition effect, and the music. Calendars, contacts, and the World Clock appear in the Extras menu, along with a few more handy items. Take the Screen Lock, for example. Spin the Click Wheel to choose a four-digit combination and protect your iPod nano from prying eyes. If you forget your combination, you can reset it at your next sync. Or use the built-in Stopwatch to log your best times. When it's finally time to play, iPod nano features four fun games: Music Quiz, Solitaire, Brick, and Parachute.
General
- Product type Digital player
- PC interface(s) supported USB
- Flash memory installed 4 GB Integrated
- Digital storage None
- Weight 1.4 oz
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 1.6 in x 0.3 in x 3.5 in
- Body material Anodized aluminum
- Color Green
- Included accessories Docking station adapter
- iPod Generation 2G
Carrying Case
- Case type None
Digital Player / Recorder
- Supported digital audio standards AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless
- Playback modes Repeat all, One track repeat, Random play / shuffle
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Supported bit rate 16 - 320
- ID3 tags support Yes
- External hard drive function Yes
- Additional features Variable bit-rate compatible
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display LCD
- Diagonal size 1.5 in
- Resolution 176 x 132
- Backlight display Yes
- Display illumination color Blue-white
- Display menu language Czech, Dutch, Greek, Danish, French, German, Korean, Polish, English, Finnish, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Japanese, Hungarian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional)
Audio Features
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Timer Wake, Sleep, Stopwatch
- Built-in clock Alarm, Timer, Digital clock
- Additional features Calendar, Date display, Built-in games, Volume limiter, Upgradeable firmware, USB 2.0 compatibility
Equalizer
- Equalizer factory preset qty 20
Remote Control
- Remote control None
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Impedance 32 Ohm
- Connectivity technology Wired
Connectivity
- Cable(s) included USB cable - External
- Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Docking station
Battery / Power
- Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
- Mfr estimated battery life 24 hour(s)
- Recharge time 3 hour(s)
- Power device type None
System Requirements
- Operating system Apple MacOS X 10.3.9 or later, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 or later
Product series
-
Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4GB, green)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4GB, silver)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4GB, blue)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4GB, pink)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 2GB, silver)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 2 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 8GB, black)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Apple iPod Nano (Product) Red (4GB)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 4 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Digital player, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Apple
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.apple.com
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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