You may have heard about something called the iPod Nano; or you may have just bought one (or received one as a gifthow nice!). Because at the time of this writing the iPod Nano is so new, we want to take a closer look at it here.

Chances are, most readers will want to know more about this latest creation from the thinkers at Apple.

The iPod Nano is very tiny. In fact, it’s about the size of a portable flash drive (those little memory sticks that people walk around with and plug into their laptops).

The iPod Nano has all of the features of the iPod mini, with the real differences being size, storage capacity, and technical scalability (we’ll look at this in a second).

Similar to the mini, the nano also has a color screen, and the beloved grey wheel that must be depressed in order to work (which, as noted, is a feature that Apple added based on feedback from early iPod consumers).

The iPod Nano weighs - get this - an ounce, which MacWorld equates to the heaviness of 6 credit cards.

Since most of us carry about a dozen cards in our wallet or purse - everything from library cards to gas cards to a driver’s license and more - it’s really quite amazing that something so technologically advanced could be so light!

Other remarkable features of the iPod nano include the fact that it has a stop watch, which can record lap times (which is great for those who listen to their iPod nano as they jog!).

The iPod nano also has a world clock, which is perfect for travelers, and has 22 preset listening modes.

We noted the iPod nano’s technical scalability, and this is something that many people are quite pleased with.

To enhance the functionality of this tiny little creation - and, of course, to boost sales! - Apple has enabled the iPod nano to play songs wirelessly through any home theater, via Bluetooth technology.

This is a very significant feature that many iPod nano users are extremely happy about. In seconds (even less!), they can listen to their tunes through a state-of-the-art home entertainment system: no wires, no fuss, just sitting back and hearing their favorite songs sound as good as a live concert; in some cases, even better.

While most of the publicity about the iPod Nano has been overwhelmingly positive, there is some negative feedback also. The color screen is prone to scratching, which can make reading the menus difficult.

Mia LaCron is the founder of IpodFunctions.com -
http://www.ipodfunctions.com/ - devoted to helping individuals get the most
out of their Ipod.

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Let’s talk music! Let’s talk podcasts!

1,000 songs, non-skip, digital quality, portability - the pencil thin iPod Nano is just the ticket. Jogging, walking or toughing it out on a treadmill life just got a whole lot easier with the addition of the rugged, little iPod that holds either 500 (2GB) or 1000 (4GB) songs. That’s 14 hours of sounds that will go with you everywhere.

So what do you do with all those sounds?

I work two hours from home via the public bus and regional rail lines. I get up at 5:00AM, catch a 6:35AM train, after a jostling pushing bus-ride, coffee on the regional rails, then another jostling, jolting bus ride to get to work by 8AM. I couldn’t do it without music - and I couldn’t make it without my rugged little iPod. It holds my sounds, a few photos of my feline, furry buddies sound asleep at home, a couple audiobooks and my podcasts of various things that interest me.

Portability in the extreme

What makes this tiny 3.5 x 1.6 x 0.27 inch stand out? It’s thin, weighs only 3.5 ounces, yet it backs quite a punch. Using the Click Wheel, you have access to your music, photos, podcasts, extras like a calendar and contacts, a World Clock and many extras On-the-go Options where you can create custom playlists personalized to exactly the songs you want to listen to at that moment.

Photos of the cool cats

I only have a few photos of family, friends and my many felines, but the Nano can actually hold up to 25,000 photos. Now that’s a lot of picnics, baby showwers and weddings to pass around the office! You can also set it up show a slideshow of your favorite shots on the full-color screen.

Easy Sync with iTunes

Through iTunes, the premiere iPod syncing software that works on Mac or PC, you can import a CD easily, buy songs or podcasts from the iTunes store sync or upload it to your iPod. iTunes starts syncing automatically after hooking up your iPod. Instant music to go, as well as news and commentary on any subject you like. I like the Audiobooks section for those long rides. It has over 11,000 titles. Prices start at just $2.95 per title, Songs are only 99 cents. Syncing is blindingly easy and you can start building your own library of audiobooks a number of them available exclusively at the iTunes Music Store including all six Harry Potter audiobooks.

Let’s Accessorize!

With all new things comes the upgrades and gizmos to customize the new toy to perfectly fit your tastes and preferences. iPod Nano is no different offering a wide-variety of earphone choices, many colored skins to make you Nano uniquely yours. I prefer the powder-blue skin myself, and the In-Ear Headphones for maximum sound quality and bass resonance.

You car is a stereo on the roll!

Many of the newer cars come iPod capable with the hookups necessary, but since I have an older model vehicle I’ve done the conventional iTrip and plug-in car Monster option. Either way, it allows you to take you music with you on the road with “seamless integration between you car and your iPod.” In other words, fabulous sounds while you drive.

Imagine this scenario.

You stumble out of your bed in the dark, take care of personal business. Now you’re dressed and ready to go. It’s still dark. Out you go, heading towards the local bus stop, still near-comatose. You take out your earbuds, turn on the Nano and wham, music fills your world or the latest Battlestar Galactica podcast about the last gripping episode fills your consciousness. You begin to wake up, ready to face the day on your terms with kick-ass background music or scintillating commentary to make your trip to consciousness and work just a little bit easier.

You don’t like my scenario? Dream up your own. Just make sure you have include music, because everything moves, slides, walks, and treads better to a beat - whatever your beat - whether it’s classical, new age or rock and roll. It’s gone digital, all wrapped up in a cute, little box that takes your songs to the next level and beyond. When you think music, think iPod Nano.

Allyson Brandy is a writer, breast cancer survivor and science fiction fan with a slightly skewed, amused perspective of the world. Read some of her other articles at: http://www.writingbuzz.com.

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The iPod has spawned an entire market and entranced a generation. The elegance and power of this mighty music player is a thing of beauty. Because of the iPod’s popularity, third parties have turned to making iPod accessories in a bewildering array. I thought it would be fun to give you some of the best, most innovative iPod accessories out there.

Pocket Bar & Grill - This is a great little program that, of course, offers up a great array of recipes. Enrique Quintero, the maker, says “Pocket Bar & Grill combines Podtender and PodGourmet into Pocket Bar & Grill. Pocket Bar & Grill has two sections. One is the ‘Bar’ section with 750 mixed drink recipes from A through Z, each drink individually listed. The other section ‘Grill’ contains 225 select gourmet recipe with an index in each category with links to the recipes within that category.” Enrique also offers a vegan version of the Grill. It Requires Macintosh or PC formatted iPod iPod Firmware 2.0 or later and 3rd, 4th or 5th generation iPod or iPod Mini, Nano. The cost of the program is $10. You can find it at: http://www.enriquequinterodesign.com/pocketbargrill.html

wiPod - If you’re a road warrior, you’ll appreciate this little proggie. According to wiPod: “Now when you are on the road you can look up a free hotspot quickly and easily right from your iPod. No, the iPod isn’t wi-fi enabled (yet). wiPod uses the Notes functionality of the iPod OS to store the database in an easy to use format.” And best of all, it’s free - you just have to register at: http://anchorfree.com/wipod/

iSubwayMaps - Everyone is calling for more public transit use. iSubwayMaps helps you by offering, drum roll please, subway maps. There are many maps available, such as: Berlin, Germany; Bilbao, Spain; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Hong Kong; London, UK; Los Angeles, CA; Lyon, France; Melbourne, Australia; Milan, Italy; Montreal, QC; Moscow, Russia; New York, NY; Paris, France; Philadelphia, PA; Salt Lake City; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seoul, Korea; Singapore; Tokyo, Japan; Toronto, ON; Vancouver, BC; Washington DC. Go get yours - it’s free! You can find it at: http://www.isubwaymaps.com/download.php

ClickWheel - If you love comics, then you are going to love clickwheel. Clickwheel “is a whole new way of using your iPod, and a whole new way of reading comics. Looking for a simple innocent laugh? A dry, sophisticated chuckle? A true story of crime, disaster or ordinary life? A brain-bending exercise in comic art? Turn to us and it’s all in your hands.” That’s straight from the funny folks at Clickwheel. If you’re a comic creator, you can get your comics listed on here for free - with possible commissions if you’re good! Clickwheel is free, get yours at: http://www.clickwheel.net/gallery/list

piPod - New Yorkers love their pizza, there’s no doubt about that. piPod gives them pizza options at their fingertips. “Download piPod, and save it to the Notes directory (in the Extras directory) of your iPod. You’ll get a series of nested menus directing you to the best pizza in the five boroughs of NYC. Browse by borough or pizzeria name.” You have to have an iPod with the notes function. It’s free, you can download it at: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/26330

iShield - One of the worst things about owning an iPod is the fear of having it scratched or broken. iShield gives you peace of mind about your iPod (for a full review, see my website below). It is a thin, transparent, durable covering for your iPod. “The invisibleSHIELD is the toughest, most durable screen protector on planet earth. It is made from a film originally created by the military to protect the leading edges of helicopter blades from wear and tear while traveling hundreds of miles per hour!” It costs from $10 to $25, depending on the device you purchase it for. You can find it here: http://www.shieldzone.com/

Copyright 2006 Jack Knows Inc.

Visit PaulTech for more wonderful iPod and technology tips. Visit at:
http://www.gopaultech.com

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