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Apple iPod Nano (6th Gen.): The Unboxing

 & Wendy Sheehan Donnell Editor-in-Chief, PCMag / VP of Content, Ziff Davis

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Something none of us bet on, the nano emerged as the least recognizable of the bunch in this year's Apple iPod line revamp.

The nano went from a long lean, rectangular iPod with a wide 2.2-inch screen and a click wheel, to a tiny, square, shuffle-like iPod whose 1.54-inch display is as big as the player itself. That screen, albeit considerably smaller, is finally touch-enabled, but it doesn't support multi-touch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, like the displays on both the iPod touch and the iPhone.

Gone is the nifty video recorder the nano gained last year, and the player no longer supports video playback either. Ouch. If you want to watch or record video on your iPod, you'll need to step up to the $229 8GB iPod touch. Despite the drastic design and feature changes, the price remains the same: An 8GB nano still goes for $149, while the 16GB model will cost you $179.

Still, if you're looking for a cute, ultra-compact, dead-simple-to-use iPod with a screen, but you don't want to tote the touch, the nano fills the bill. (Hey, it even has a clip, so you can wear it.) But it represents an interesting move for Apple, especially since the company didn't kill the tiny, feature-barren shuffle as many people guessed it might.

For more, check out our full review of the Apple iPod nano (6th Gen.).

Photos by PJ Jacobowitz

About Our Expert

Wendy Sheehan Donnell

Wendy Sheehan Donnell

Editor-in-Chief, PCMag / VP of Content, Ziff Davis

My Experience

I'm the Editor-in-Chief of PCMag.com and the Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis. I oversee the editorial operations of PCMag and ExtremeTech.com, leading more than 65 writers, editors, and contributors, steering PC Labs, reviews, and product coverage, as well as news, expert commentary, and service journalism across the sites.

Back when the first iPhone was released, I started at PCMag as a senior editor covering consumer electronics and mobile reviews. After that, I went on to head up the reviews team as executive editor. And most recently I served as deputy editor, managing PCMag's editorial team and day-to-day operations. I've covered more product releases and have edited more reviews, roundups, and buying guides than any human reasonably should, each and every one contributing to the noble pursuit of helping you find the right technology to fit your life.

Before joining PCMag, I was the managing editor of Computer Shopper. I earned my master's degree in magazine journalism from New York University. (Nope, the irony of witnessing the deaths of both of the print magazines I've managed is not lost on me.)

Though I rarely have the opportunity to write these days, I still crave the rush that comes from crafting the perfect headline and enjoy nothing more than a spirited AP Style debate.

My Areas of Expertise

In my quarter-century-long journalism career, my main areas of focus have been mobile technology and electronics, but I've managed to cover most aspects of consumer and business technology. These days, I spend most of my time strategizing in endless video calls. I'm an ace at sharing my screen and telling people who are already speaking that they're muted.

The Technology I Use

I'm a Mac. Always have been, since my family got our first computer, the Apple IIe, in the early '80s. More irony: I was the first staff editor to use an Apple computer instead of a PC to edit reviews for PCMag. Today, my main computers are a Mac Studio with Pro Display and a 13-inch MacBook Pro. I've carried an iPhone since 2008, and proudly display the click-wheel iPod in my office. My 12-year old stole my iPad a long time ago and now he's eyeing my AirPods. I have more smart devices installed in my home than most people on the planet, and I drive an electric Mini Cooper SE and have become mildly obsessed with EV charging. There's a video game museum in my basement.

The Technology I Use

I'm a Mac. Always have been, since my family got our first computer, the Apple IIe, in the early '80s. More irony: I was the first staff editor to use an Apple computer instead of a PC to edit reviews for PCMag. Today, my main computers are a Mac Studio with Pro Display and a 13-inch MacBook Pro. I've carried an iPhone since 2008, and proudly display the click-wheel iPod in my office. My 12-year old stole my iPad a long time ago and now he's eyeing my AirPods. I have more smart devices installed in my home than most people on the planet, and I drive an electric Mini Cooper SE and have become mildly obsessed with EV charging. There's a video game museum in my basement.

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