Review: Apple iPod Nano MP3 player

Apple's new Nano looks distinctly stubby compared its predecessor thanks to it being 20mm shorter.

It's fattened out a bit horizontally to accommodate the bigger 2in screen, but remains shockingly thin in depth.

It's an all-metal design that is, quite frankly, an astounding piece of engineering. The new screen has a 320x240 resolution, the same as the regular iPod, and can now play video too. Getting video onto an iPod remains a hassle because iTunes can't convert video into the correct type of MPEG4 or H.264 format which it requires.

Instead you have to shell out for Apple's Quicktime Pro software (£20) or hunt around for freeware on the net. Once you've transferred videos onto the Nano though, the visual quality is very good.

The headphones Apple provides remain a major grumble. Whereas other manufacturers (such as Sony with its NW-A805 Mp3 player) have moved on by providing high quality buds with separate rubber inserts, the iPod still uses big white plastic 'phones that feel uncomfortable in the ear.

Various changes have been made on the software front, with the interface getting one of the biggest revamps since the iPod's inception six years ago.

As well as split-screen menus, where graphics such as album art and disk usage are displayed alongside the navigation pane, there's a new way to browse your albums called Cover Flow. Select this option and album art sits horizontally side-by-side, allowing you scroll through it by stroking the iPod touch wheel.

It's a bit gimmicky though and is a particular disappointment when you don't have the album covers to your CDs. Apple's iTunes will locate album art for you, but you need to sign in to the store. If you don't already have an iTunes account, you'll need to create one, which also means handing over payment details, such as your credit card even if you've no intention of purchasing anything.

Compared to Sandisk's excellent MP3 players (Sandisk sells an 8GB version for £99), Apple's price tags (£99 for 4GB, £129 for 8GB) look rather expensive.

But Apple can take solace in that its standard interface (which can be used instead of Cover Flow) and touch wheel remains the best way to whiz through your music.