iPod nano (6th generation)

The 6th generation iPod nano was available in several colors.

The 6th-generation iPod nano was a square-shaped iPod music player that was released by Apple in September 2010. It was the new way to nano and was sold for 2 years. On September 12, 2012, it was superseded by the 7th-generation iPod nano.

Release

At a media event on September 1, 2010, Apple announced the 6th-generation iPod nano, which, among many new features, is designed around a high-resolution square touch-screen.

Features

The device featured a smaller 1.55-inch multi-touch screen with a lower resolution of 240×240 pixels but a higher pixel density of 220 pixels per inch, as opposed to the larger 2.2-inch screen on the 5th-generation iPod nano. The device had a 0.38 watt-hour battery rated at 3.7 volts, giving a capacity of 105 mAh, and specified to give 24 hours of music playback on a single full charge. The device took about 3 hours for one full charge.

The 6th-generation iPod nano was shaped like a 4th-generation shuffle.

The device's shape resembled the 4th-generation iPod shuffle and retained the same 30-pin dock connector as previous generations. The iPod nano had lost the previous generation's video camera, built-in voice recorder (although plugging in headphones with a built-in microphone revealed a Voice Memos app) and built-in speaker, and games. It had also lost support for video playback, but music videos and video podcasts (vodcasts) was synced onto the device, and the audio from them played on the device, with a single key-frame shown on the screen. It still included the Nike+iPod fitness option as well as an FM radio tuner. It had a black on white screen contrast option and other accessibility options.

The 6th generation iPod nano had the same price point as the 5th generation device. A watch band for the iPod nano was available at the Apple Store to make it a wearable device before the release of the Apple Watch.

Apps

The 6th-generation iPod nano came with 17 apps in total (14 by default). These included:

• Playlists
• Now Playing
• Artists
• Genius Mixes
• Radio
• Podcasts
• Photos
• Settings
• Songs
• Albums
• Composers
• Genres
• Clock
• Fitness (Nike + iPod)
• Voice Memos (appears when microphone or supported headphones are plugged in)
• Audiobooks (appears when at least 1 audiobook is synced)
• iTunes U (appears when iTunes U content is synced)

Many of these apps were removed in the 7th-generation iPod nano in favor of the single Music app.

Updates

A firmware update (version 1.1) for the Nano was released on February 28, 2011. The update added the ability to change songs or pause with a double click of the sleep/wake button. It also added the ability to turn the device off by holding the sleep/wake button. The user interface was also enhanced. On October 4, 2011, the iPod nano 1.2 update was unveiled at the Apple "Let's Talk iPhone" event at the Town Hall, 4 Infinite Loop. This update added the option to increase or decrease the size of the home buttons for easier use. The update also added an updated fitness app, with a better pedometer split into walking and running style. The update also included sixteen new clock faces, which include designs like a Nixie tube clock face or an old-style clock face, and Disney licensed designs, such as Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, bringing to a total of 18 clock faces. Three more background images were also added.

Discontinuation

On September 12, 2012, Apple discontinued the 6th-generation iPod nano and announced the new 7th-generation iPod nano.

External links

• iPod nano (6th generation) at Apple (archived 2010-09-07, 2011-10-06)
  • Identify your iPod model: iPod nano
• iPod Nano: 6th generation at Wikipedia