iPod nano is a digital media player designed
and marketed by Apple Inc. The first
generation of iPod nano was introduced on September 7, 2005 as a replacement
for iPod Mini. It uses flash
memory for storage. iPod
nano has gone through six models, or generations, since its introduction. The
current "sixth generation" iPod nano supports FM radio, a pedometer, and a 39.1-millimetre (1.54 in) square
240×240 display with a multitouch interface.
Supported audio
formats
Development
Development work on
the design of the iPod nano started only nine months before its launch date. The Nano
was launched in two colors (black and white) with two available sizes:
2 GB (roughly 500 songs) and 4 GB (1000 songs).[1] On
February 7, 2006, Apple updated the lineup with the 1 GB model (240
songs). Apple also released some accessories, including armbands and silicone "tubes" designed to bring color to the
Nano and protect it from scratches, as well as a combination lanyard-earphone accessory that hangs around the neck and avoids
the problem of tangled earphone cords.
Electronics
The iPod nano uses
general-purpose integrated circuits (IC) instead of smaller, low-cost
custom-developed chips, possibly to reduce time-to-market. This design,
however, increases the number of electronic components and increases the cost.
Japanese engineers estimated the component cost of the 2 GB Nano as
between JP¥ 22,000 and JP¥ 27,000 (US$ 185-US$ 227), which was high compared to the retail price of JP¥21,800 (US$183) at
the time. The cost of 2 GB Nano flash memory was about
JP¥14,000 (US$118). Apple also opted for the 0603 (1.6x0.8 mm) surface mount technology
which was just beginning widespread use in mobile phones in 2005. The iPod
nano uses a PortalPlayer PP5021C
"system on a chip" with dual embedded 80 MHz ARM 7TDMI
processors.
Reception
The initial consumer
response to the iPod nano was overwhelmingly positive and sales were heavy. The Nano
sold its first million units in only 17 days, helping Apple Inc. to a record billion-dollar profit in 2005.
Apple's release of
the iPod Nano as a replacement for the iPod Mini was viewed by many as a risky move. Steve Jobs argued that the iPod nano was a necessary risk
since competitors were beginning to catch up to the iPod Mini in terms of
design and features, and believed the iPod nano would prove to be even more
popular and successful than the iPod Mini.
Within days of the
Nano's release, some users reported damage to the Nano, suggesting that the LCD
screen had become so scratched that it was unreadable, even when the backlight
was on. Many have reported fine scratches on their Nano caused by microfiber
cloths. Other owners reported that their Nano's screen cracked with no provocation. On September 27, 2005, Apple confirmed a small percentage ("less than 1/10
of 1 percent") of iPod nanos shipped with a faulty screen and agreed to
replace any Nanos with cracked screens, but denied the iPod nano was more
susceptible to scratching than prior iPods. Apple started shipping iPod nanos with a
protective sleeve to protect them from scratches. In October 2005 a class
action lawsuit was filed against
Apple, with the plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for the device, legal fees,
and "unlawful or illegal profits" from sales of the iPod nano.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs claim that the devices "scratch excessively
during normal usage, rendering the screen on the Nanos unreadable, and violating
state consumer protection statutes". Similar lawsuits were later filed in Mexico and the United Kingdom. As of early 2009, Apple is in the process of settling a court case over the
scratched iPod nano screens, it has been suggested for Apple to set aside
$22 million to refund users. A Judge will need to sign off the terms by
April 28, 2009. Some commentators such as BusinessWeek's Arik
Hesseldahl have criticized the
lawsuits. Hesseldahl dismissed them as "stupid" and suggested that
they benefitted "no one but the trial lawyers," but also suggested
that Apple could have avoided litigation by offering "full refunds on
unwanted Nanos" instead of charging a re-stocking fee and lengthening the
return period from 14 days (when purchased through Apple retail or online) to
30 or 60 days.
Incidents
In Australia, an
iPod nano caught fire while being charged on a PC. Since the limited warranty was expired, the
consumer was not able to get a replacement right away.
Another iPod
incident happened in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport while a man was working in the airport. His iPod nano set his pants on fire. Apple Inc., refused to release a statement
regarding this issue.
In addition, an iPod
nano sparked in Japan in January while it was recharging. Although no one was injured during the incident, Apple Inc. investigated the
incident. It was reported on August 19, 2008 that 17 incidents of abnormal overheating
with first-generation iPod nano units while recharging had been reported in
Japan, including cases in which tatami mats had been charred. On August 10, 2010, Apple Japan released a statement saying that it would
replace any iPod nanos that overheated.
On November 11,
2011, Apple announced the iPod nano (1st generation) Replacement Program,
intended to address concerns over overheating batteries. Customers with affected devices can fill out a claim form to confirm
eligibility for replacement. Defective devices will be replaced within six
weeks and will carry 90-day warranties. Customers who have personalized iPod
nano devices will not be able to receive personalization on their replacement devices. During the replacement process, there have been several reports of users
receiving an iPod nano 6th generation as replacement instead of the expected
1st generation device that users sent in during the recall. Because using the iPod nano 6th generation with a Mac computer requires iTunes 10 or higher, which in turn requires Mac OS X
Leopard system software,
Apple will upgrade the system software of participants running earlier versions
of OS X, on request.
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