iPod Shuffle
The smallest of Apple’s lineup, the iPod Shuffle received a price reduction, some new colors, and an increase in capacity. Pricing starts at just $59 for the 2GB model and $79 for the 4GB model. Both those capacities will be available in silver, black, pink, blue and green. Apple also threw in an extra feature, VoiceOvers. This feature lets the iPod shuffle speak song titles, artists, and playlist names.

iPod Nano
Apple took an interesting step with their next upgrade. They decided to squeeze in a Camera and Microphone into the popular iPod Nano. The new built-in speakers will allow listening to clips that you have recorded. And with the latest version of iTunes, recordings can be easily uploaded to YouTube. Also thrown in was a built-in FM radio, which many competing products such as the Microsoft Zune have had. The radio can also identify and tag songs for future purchase in iTunes.  The Nike workout accessory is no longer needed since the device has a built-in pedometer. Data can be uploaded to Nike when synced as always. Pricing is now set at $149 for 8GB and $179 for 16GB. Both versions will be available in nine colors: silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, (PRODUCT) RED and pink.

iPod Touch
Apple’s focus at the media event would probably be the iPod Touch. It’s the most powerful of the iPod line up and only a notch below what the iPhone offers. The biggest news would be the extreme price cut. The 8GB now costs just $199. This gives a larger audience much more affordable access to the iTunes Application store. For those who were seeking more storage space, a 32GB model is available for $299 and a 64GB model for $399. Apple also increased the graphical performance making room for better games. Over 20,000 games are already available in the App Store. The one missing feature would probably be the Camera. The iPod Touch will ship with the 3.1 OS.

iTunes 9
The other update of the day was a major upgrade to iTunes. It features an upgraded and redesigned interface, a new iTunes Store, and improved syncing. Home Sharing, also included in the new version, allows easily transferring music, photos, and videos among a maximum of 5 authorized machines. iPhone and iPod Touch users can organize their downloaded Apps from the iTunes interface. There are plenty more minor enhancements, such as Jump Lists for Windows 7, but we won’t go into details. The new version of QuickTime, isn’t included for anyone other than Snow Leopard users.

Final Notes:
The new iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, and iPod Touch are all available for purchase in retail stores today. The latest version of iTunes 9 is also available for download on Macintosh and Windows now.

Links: Apple.com | Apple Store
Buy: Amazon.com – New iPods

The Logitech VX Nano is a tiny portable wireless mouse which features many of the controls a standard desktop mice usually have. The VX Nano has an impressive build quality, is durable, looks stylish, and has true functionality. This product is most notable for it’s unusually small transmitter.

The Buttons – 4/5 stars
The VX Nano houses the standard left and right click buttons which have a good tactile feedback. The scroll wheel can be “frictionless” meaning it can be flicked up or down to quickly drop through pages or can have “notches” so that you can feel each bump while it’s rotating. All you have to do is push in the button to toggle between the two modes. The entire wheel can also be leaned left or right for horizontal scrolling. The search key directly below the wheel functions as a middle-click button. The mouse also features back and forward keys, however they are awkwardly placed on top of the mouse which takes some getting used too. The mouse could have allowed more productivity if those to buttons were moved to the sides.

Transmitter – 5/5 stars
The RF transmitter which plugs into the USB port on you computer is probably one of the most impressive aspects of this product due to its size. Since the receiver is so small, it can be left in the USB port while laptops are placed into a bag without having to worry about it snapping off. In addition the receiver also pops into the battery compartment under the mouse for storage. In addition I’ve been told that if you do happen to loose the transmitter, Logitech sells replacements for an reasonable price. The mouse has a fairly good range and worked when I was over 15 feet away from my computer.

Included Items – 5/5 stars
Logitech provides a neat little pouch for storing the mouse when traveling which is a neat little addition. A little USB extender with a base is also included so you won’t have to reach behind your computer if you are using a desktop. I also found it useful since I could just use it to plug in flash drives easily. In addition to those and the mouse itself, you’ll find two AAA batteries, a CD with drivers, and a user manual.

Other Information
The VX Nano also has a very impressive battery life. According to Logitech it should last for about six months of use. The mouse also uses a 848nm laser which is fairly accurate. It is plentiful for performing most tasks, however if you plan on editing tiny details in Photoshop or playing hardcore video games, you probably should get a different mouse. The VX Nano started working immediately without drivers on both Windows Vista/XP and Apple OS X Leopard. Further button customizations are available if the software is installed. Logitech also offers a 3-year limited warranty to support the product.

Overall the Logitech VX Nano is a pretty impressive mouse on many aspects. It probably shouldn’t be a replacement for a desktop mouse since it is quite small, unless you have small hands of course. Other than that it seems quite durable and will probably last quite a long time before it wears out. This is probably a prefect mouse for traveling. The mouse was originally quite expensive when it was released ($70 MSRP), however it is now available for $55 on Amazon. (I’ve seen it for even lower on sale!)

Buy: Logitech VX Nano – $55 – Amazon (ships free + no tax)
Links: Logitech.com VX Nano Cordless Mouse

It has been over a month since Apple launched the third generation iPod and it’s probably a bit late for a review, but we’re publishing ours anyways. Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, first unveiled the original iPod Nano about two years ago by sliding it out of his famous pair of blue jeans. A year later (2006) Jobs announced the 2nd generation aluminum-encased iPod Mini looking version. And last month Apple announced the 3rd generation Nano which has an entire newly designed body and for the first time, can play videos. At first I wondered why anyone would want to bother watching videos on such a small screen. After a few weeks with the iPod Nano, the reason became clear. I actually found myself watching some video podcasts and unwatched TV shows when I was on the go. It was pretty nice to be able to carry around video content in such a small device. Also if you were like me and felt the device look pretty fat and ugly, that all changes once you actually hold a 3rd generation iPod Nano. It is thinner and smaller than you would have imagined. I would have to say this iPod was a very needed and an impressive upgrade, it can not be considered Apple’s best work. (They’ve done better before.)

Apple iPod Nano (3G) Specs:

• Type: Portable Flash-Based Video Player
• Capacities: 4GB and 8GB
• Screen: 2-inches 320×240 pixel LCD
• Music Formats: AAC, MP3, & WAV
• Video Formats: H.264 and MP4
• Special Functions: Video Output
• Colors: Silver, Blue, Red, Green & Black
• Connection: USB to Dock Connector
• Price Range: $149 to $199

The Body: – 4/5
To describe the iPod Nano right off the bat, it’s pretty much a tiny version of a iPod Classic. The unit looks elegant and impressive because of its size. The Nano stands just 2.75-inches tall, 2.06-inches wide, and only .26-inches thick. It is the same thickness as the 2nd generation Nano. The front is made of a anodized aluminum and the back, unlike its predecessor, has the classic shinny steel material, which is easy to scratch. Because of the dimensions and the material, the 3G Nano unfortunately seems to be a whole lot more delicate than the 2nd generation. The standard touch sensitive click wheel can be found right below the screen, but it is abnormally skinnier and smaller. The wheel was a bit more difficult to use compared to the older Nano, however wasn’t really a problem after a few minutes of use. Apple has managed to move the hold button, the headphone jack, and the dock connector to the bottom, leaving nothing behind at the top. The rest of the controls such as volume and brightness are all managed through the interface using the click-wheel.

The Screen: – 5/5
The 2-inch (diagonal) LED backlit LCD was bright, clear, and sharp enough to watch videos on. It once again is the brightest iPod Nano screen yet. The resolution is a standard 320×240 which plays at a max of 30 frames per second. One thing that makes the screen look different is the gap found between the body and display which creates a different effect. The Nano can playback both 4:3 and 16:9 clips by formating and resizing the video to best fit the display.

Battery Life: – 4/5
As always, Apple has managed to vastly improve the iPod’s playback time. According to Apple, the battery can offer 24 hours of audio playback or 5 hours of video playback. From our test, with the brightness slightly lowered and at a normal listening volume, we surprisingly found it to last much longer than advertised. Although this is better than any previous iPod, it still remains on below what’s offered by other flash-based portable multimedia players from Creative, Sony, and Microsoft.

Media Formats: – 5/5
In general, just about any major format of audio will work with the iPod Nano. The iPod can playback AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, WAV, and music purchased from iTunes. The Nano also supports playback of DRM-Free files from Amazon’s new MP3 Store and obviously iTunes Plus. For video the 3rd generation Nano supports MOV, MP4, or M4V files encoded in MPEG-4 or H.264. Apple iTunes does a fairly good job of converting most content into a compatible format. And for photos, the feature I personally rarely use, it can read and display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG images.

Interface: – 3/5
The new interface is one of those things you love, but hate. The Nano now has a new default split screen view which displays the standard menus on the left, while displaying moving album artwork thumbnails on the right. Although this looks beautiful, we felt is slowed down browsing through the library by a lot. The Nano now can do neat things such as displaying Artwork next to each album or adding an extra line of information below each song, which saves having to return to the previous menu to find out what it was a part of. Although I’m not a big fan of Cover Flow, Apple was impressively able to get it to run on the Nano fairly well. It remains a bit sluggish, but it’s pretty good for such a small device. (Even my laptop struggles to run it on iTunes) The reason we took away two points was because the interface was horribly buggy. We often found that the menu would display the wrong number of songs or albums. We also entered menu’s that didn’t or shouldn’t exist. For example we entered a weird menu by clicking on the play button over a podcast folder instead of hitting the center button. Overall it’s a major UI overhaul, which is great, but honestly such a major mainstream product shouldn’t have any problems. Hopefully Apple will roll out a firmware upgrade fixing these issues. Another which annoyed me was that all the settings were no longer in the same place. For example some settings for Video could only be modified from the Video menu, not form the Settings Menu. Hopefully they’ll keep everything in one place, it will be a headache to have to visit a different menus to each type of setting.

Syncing Media: 4.5/5
Our experience with syncing media was just as we expected it to be, excellent. The only thing I wish the iPod Nano could do is to allow dropping files right onto the device without the need of iTunes. If you were to do so with a current iPod, the file would just be stored on the device and would never appear anywhere in the interface. But if you are using the latest version iTunes, everything works great. Managing songs, videos, and photos is a cinch. You can manually manage content or ask iTunes to take care of it for you. The iPod Nano even doubles as a flash drive unlike the iPod Touch.

In The Box: – 4/5
When you open your neatly and fancily packaged box from Apple you’ll find a set of standard iPod earphones, a USB 2.0 cable, a Dock adapter, and a quick start guide. As always, we recommend upgrading your generic headphones to something along the lines of Shure’s SE110 which will offer a very different experience. Finally no software is included, therefore an internet connection is required to acquire the latest version if Apple iTunes.

So in conclusion, we weren’t too impressed with the iPod Nano, but it is a great upgrade on some levels compared to its predecessor. We would recommend upgrading if you want the ability to playback video, which worked very well. If you plan just to listen to music, there’s not too much else this device can offer. We in fact on some levels would recommend this over the iPod Touch for those on a strict budget. The 8GB Nano costs half that of the 8GB iPod Touch. As for the software bugs, it is only expected and natural for Apple to roll out some patches soon. The only other major problem we found was that it seems to be way more delicate than the 2G Nano. (Buy a case!) Anyways if you wish to purchase this, it’s now available in retail stores and online for $150 and $200 for 4GB and 8GB models, respectively. You should be able to find it for a bit cheaper from other retailers. We recommend this because it is one of the most affordable iPods yet and retains just about all the features that the iPod Classic has.

Buy Now: iPod Nano 4GB – $149 | iPod Nano 8GB – $199
Links: Apple iPod Nano | Apple Store

Earlier today (September 5th) at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs introduced a bunch of new products. Some of these include a new iPod Nano, iPod Classic (aka Video), and the iPod Touch. The new lineup (picture above): iPod shuffle, nano, classic, touch, & iPhone.

iPhone Updates & Price:
As we are heading backwards though the keynote, the last item Apple touched on was the iPhone. Since the 8GB iPhone was so popular, the price has now been dropped to just $399, which is a $200 price-cut (originally $599). As for the 4GB model, it will no longer be produced or found in stores. The 8GB iPhone will be available at it’s new price online and in Apple and At&t Stores. A new update will also be available soon, which will include support for the Mobile iTunes Store.

The iPod Touch:
The ‘touch’ looks quite similar to the iPhone, has just about all the features, and even features an almost duplicate multi-touch interface, but doesn’t have a the “phone” part. The unit uses a 802.11b/g WiFi signal instead of the 2G At&t network for all its communication needs. Just like the iPhone, the iPod Touch has a Safari browser with built in Google/Yahoo search. Plus while connected to a hotspot or home network, the ‘touch’ allows browsing and playing YouTube content and even purchasing and downloading new songs on the go with the new fully fledged iTunes WiFi music store. The iPod Touch sports a 3.5-inch widescreen display for music, photos, videos, album art, coverflow, web browsing, and features an accelerometer to detect the unit’s upright or landscape orientation. With an ambient light sensor, battery life is conserved by adjusting the brightness to the unit’s surroundings, in result offering 22 hours of music and 5 hours of video playback. The iPod Touch will be available later this month (no exact date set just yet) in capacities of 8GB and 16GB priced at $299 and $399 respectively.

The iPod Classic:
The iPod ‘Classic’ is the successor to the iPod Video. This 6th generation iPod is available in capacities of 80GB and 160GB!, but both models remain slimmer than the previous lineup. The iPod Classic is enclosed in a all new metal-case and has a new interface featuring CoverFlow. Users may now browse content on one half of the screen, while the other half continues to display media. The battery life is also a huge improvement, offering 40 hours of listing to music and 7 hours of watching videos on the 160GB model and 30 hours of music and 5 hours of video on the 80GB. According to Steve Jobs, new games are heading to iPod Classic soon (everyone gets 1 FREE game). Both the 80GB and 160GB models, which come in silver and black, are available as of now for $250 and $350, respectively.

The iPod Nano:
Apple also displayed the completely revamped the Nano during the keynote. The unit, which now looks more like an iPod video, can in fact now play videos, movies, TV shows, and music videos! Nano users can also utilize Coverflow to browse through their library or even play purchased games from iTunes on their bright 2-inch display. The battery life remains at about the same level as the previous Nano, offering 24 hours of music playback or 5 hours of video in this case. Just like the iPod Classic, the Nano too is enclosed in an all-metal stainless steel case. As seen in the image above, the Nano is available in 5 colors. The unit is available TODAY in capacities of 4GB and 8GB costing $149 and $199, respectively.

Same Old iPod Shuffles:
Apple’s smallest family member, the shuffle, remains the same. Instead of introducing a 2GB model as some had anticipated, Apple simply spray painted the same 1GB models with some new colors, one of which is Product (RED). Some rumors indicate a black shuffle with 2GB could still be around the corner.

iTunes WiFi Store and Ringtones:
During the keynote, Apple introduced the new iTunes WiFi store which allows iPhone and iPod Touch owners to download songs directly onto their device when connected to the internet. Songs which are purchased on the go can be synced back to a computer or be re-downloaded. The best part, the pricing on the mobile store is exactly the same as what is available on regular iTunes. This will give Apple a big advantage over other cell providers such as Verizon and Sprint who charge extra fees for mobile purchases. For an additional $.99 a custom 30 second clip from a song can be converted into a ringtone for the iPhone. As for iTunes, version 7.4 will be available soon with plenty of new features.

Links: Apple iPhone | iPod Touch | iPod Classic | iPod Nano | iPod Shuffle
Pre-Order: Amazon (no tax + free shipping)

Last year we tested out the Agent 18 Shield for the original iPod Nano, which was prone to scratches, and were quite pleased with the results. Agent 18 was kind enough to provide us with their brand new “NanoShock Kit” (hardcase) designed specifically for the second generation (aluminum) iPod Nanos. Although the new iPod Nanos are more resistant to scratches, they are still pretty flimsy and purchasing a case is good investment.

Protection – 4/5 stars

The two-piece shield snaps onto the back and front of any 2nd generation iPod Nano. The case protects all parts of the iPod, including the entire screen. The case does a good job of protecting the nano; however we wish Agent 18 included some extra material to protect the exposed click-wheel. The top and bottom aren’t protected with what is provided in the NanoShield Kit, however rubber ends are provided in the slightly more expensive NanoShock Kit.

Usage – 5/5 stars
The case was designed well and leaves openings for the hold button, touch-wheel, connector port, and headphone jack for easy use. Agent 18 also provides a special Universal Dock Adapter, shaped to fit the Nano while in its case, for use with standard iPod accessories. The touch-wheel is also is easier to use now that the case surrounds it with a thick border.

Style – 4/5 stars
The polycarbonate case looks pretty good on any 2nd generation Nano and allows to color to bleed through with ruining the look. Except for the clear plastic on the screen (and logo), the rest of the case has a “blurred-look” making scratches less visible. Overall this is one of the best looking hard cases we’ve seen, however it doesn’t look as hot if you plan to use the rubber ends provided for shock absorption in the NanoShock Kit.

Value – 5/5 stars
Agent 18 currently offers to models, NanoShield ($20) and NanoShock ($30). The NanoShield comes with the actual 2-piece Polycarbonate Case and Dock Adapter. However for an extra $10 Agent 18 throws in a belt clip, armband, and rubber ends for shock protection. Both packs are very reasonable compared to cases made by other vendors. Agent18 has started to ship these cases and it is available for order from their website.

As we mentioned previously, we have been satisfied with all their products including iPod VideoShield and the original Shield for Nano. If you are extremely worried about damaging your iPod you may want to purchase the $30 model which includes the rubber ends. However the case itself does provide a pretty good amount of protection. We recommend this case since we haven’t had any issues with it other than the fact that the touch-wheel has been left exposed. If anyone knows of a case better than this one, please let us know by replying in the comments.

Links: Agent18 Nano Cases | Agent18.com
Related: Agent 18 Shield For Nano Review (1st Generation)

Other Places To Purchase:
Amazon: CoverShield & ShockShield | Apple Store

When Apple released the 2nd generation iPod Nano’s about two months ago, September ‘06, we got a hold of all three models: 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB. Although this is the same issue with any storage device, one of the first things we noticed, which enraged us, was the true storage capacity. The black 8GB Nano, in reality, only ended up having 7.44GB of usable space. We felt this was quite ridiculous since users are now loosing over a 1/2GB (approx. 560MB) of space, which could have been well used. (~100 songs)

We do know that every other company does the same thing, for example a 200GB external HDD usually only has about 190GB, however our point is that companies such as Apple should be obligated to inform the consumer the true storage capacity. In the case of the 8GB Nano it only ended up having 7.44GB which in fact ends up rounding down to 7GB not up to 8GB.

Anyone else thing companies should be obligated to state the true formated capacity?

Also in case you already don’t know, due to the high demand and unexpected popularity of the 4GB (Product) Red iPod Nano, Apple decided to release a 8GB version. The red 8GB nano will cost $249, which is the same price as the original black model, plus Apple will donate $10 to the Global Fund to fight AIDS. The new 8GB model is available in stores now.

Links: Apple iPod Nanos
Related: Join (Product) Red

Apple, in partnership with “(Product) Red”, released a special edition 4GB RED iPod Nano last Friday. (Product) Red is a new brand which makes partnerships with corporations such as Apple, Motorola, American Express, and Gap in which a percent of the “red” products sold will be contributed towards the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. In this case, $10 will be added to fund for every red iPod Nano sold.

The red iPod Nano will cost $199, which is the same price as all the other 4GB iPod Nano models. Apple also plans to sell (red) iTunes gift cards next month, which will also help contribute to the Global Fund. Overall the (Product) Red is a good deal since it costs the consumer the same price, gives us another color to pick, and helps fight AIDS.

“Now customers can buy the best music player in the world and do something to help the world at the same time,” Steve Jobs, CEO

Since we never got a chance to cover the release of the second generation iPod Nanos due to downtime, here is our quick briefing. The Nanos were announced in mid-September, and are slimmer and skinnier than the original Nano. The new Nano wears an aluminum case and looks very similar to the discontinued iPod Mini’s style. The iPod Nanos are also available in 5 colors and is available in capacities from 2GB-8GB. The unit also has an improved now 24hr battery life, a 40% brighter screen, and new software. All new shipped iPods will also include a set of newly designed headphones which are more comfortable to wear and are suppose to sound better.

Links: (Product) Red – iPod Nano
Related: Join Red | Apple iPod Nano

Apple has released a minor firmware update for iPod Nanos and Videos (v1.1.1), which includes a volume limiter and fixes some “minor bugs”. Many people have apparently damaged their hearing because of loud iPods. To avoid possible lawsuits, Apple has released this update which allows limiting the maximum volume level. Parental controls have also been added so parents can set a “combo lock” to prevent their children from turning the volume above the set limit. (More at apple.com/sound)

To install this update download the iPod Updater for either you Win or Mac computer and go install it. If restart is requested, restart the machine. Once the machine is ready, launch the iPod Updater and connect the iPod (video or nano) to your machine and press Update. (P.S. Restore will DELETE all content on your iPod) Once your iPod starts up go to “Settings -> Volume Limit” to limit the volume to the level you prefer. Now while playing a song a “lock” sign should appear if you try to turn the volume above the set limit. I suggest updating for your own safety.

Download: iPod Updater 03/27/06 (more info)
Links: inDepth Volume Limit Tutorial | iTunes
Related: iPod Nano AV MockUp

A site called MacShrine has been posting image of full screen iPods for the last few weeks. Almost every image they have posted has been proven to be a FAKE. Most of these were photoshoped images of the current iPod (video). MacShrine had also claimed that Apple was supposed to release this unit on the Special Apple Event on February 28th. However, the only things that came out were the Intel-based Mac Mini & the iPod Hi-Fi.

The reason we are posting this, even though there is a pretty good chance this is fake, is because the images look more realistic than any of their previous ones. They have currently posted three pictures: iPod Nano besides the “new” iPod AV, iPod AV in someone’s hand, and the iPod AV in the iPod Hi-Fi dock. MacShrine currently claims that Apple plans to release this product on April 1st, 2006, which is Apple’s 30th “birthday”. (founded on April 1st, 1976) Anyways take a look the “possibly fake” images and decide whether they are real for yourself. Also click here for the 3rd image (next 2 ipod nano).

Update 1: As expected the first image has been proven to be completely fake. (Actually is a G5 iPod) MacShrine is offically “full of crap!”

Update 2: It turns out that the image we just linked to above which proved the iPod AV to be a fake is also fake! So pretty much everything here is photoshoped. More like these are sure to turn up soon :(

Update 3: We got bored so we made an iPod Nano AV!

Links: MacShrine | Apple iPod
Related: Agent 18 iPod Video Case

Today (February 28, 2006), Apple announced two new products at a special Apple event. The first product was an Intel based Mac mini (Intel Core processors) and the second was a stereo system called the iPod Hi-Fi (compatible with all iPods). Another minor release was $99 leather cases for the iPod nano & video.

“Fifty percent of our entire product line is now available with Intel processors, in less than sixty days,” – Steve Jobs, Apple CEO

Two versions of the Intel Core Mac Mini were announced. The first one has a 1.5GHz Intel Single Core processor, 60GB hd, DVD/CDRW, and costs $599. The second edition has a 1.67GHz Intel Dual Core processor, 80GB hd, dual-layer DVD±RW/CDRW, and costs $799. Both have 512MB of ram and an Intel 64MB graphics card. They also have WiFi, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 400, and more. The Mac Mini now has an infrared port for the remote which controls the Front Row program that it now includes. Front Row allows easy access to photos, music, and movies; a new feature now allows sharing content across networks.

The second product was the iPod Hi-Fi. The Hi-Fi is a stereo set, which as a dock atop to connect either the iPod nano or video. (iPod shuffle can be plugged in using a port on the back) When the iPod is plugged in, the backlight will be turned on and album art will be displayed. (will also charge your iPod) The Hi-Fi can also run on 6 D-cell batteries, but is unlikely most will carry such large speakers around. (17″x 6.6″x 6.9″) This is pretty much an expensive Apple branded pointless speaker set to compete with 3-party devices.

Overall the entire “special” event was a disappointment. The Mac Mini with an Intel processor was expected to be released eventually just as an Intel based Mac G5 is expected. Next, the iPod Hi-Fi was a completely pointless invention and is way too expensive for anyone. Finally, the new leather iPod case is unusable while in the case, making it useless! Therefore, nothing really impressive was announced at the keynote.

Links: Mac Mini | iPod Hi-Fi | Leather Case
Related: Apple.com | Apple Store
Recent: A Faster MacBook Pro | 1GB iPod Nano

Skatter Tech had done a review of the Agent 18 Shield for the Apple iPod Nano back in November 2005. The case was one of the first hard cases for the iPod Nano at the time. The case actually did have a few defects, so Agent18 created a new version of the case. The original version was composed of three pieces: back, top, and bottom. The new case only has 2 pieces: a top and a back piece which snap together. The shield no longer has two lines across the screen, making it look a lot better. The iPod Nano no longer moves around in the case as it did before. Agent18 also includes a adaptor so that the iPod Nano can fit into the Apple Universal Dock while it is still in the case. (will not work with the Nano dock when in the case)

Overall this is a great case and will only cost $20, which is a good investment to protect your $200-250 iPod Nano. There are many new cases that resemble this one. Some include the iSee from CountoureCase and the iClear from Griffin. Both have recieved great ratings, but we never could get a handson review. The only problem with the Agent 18 shield is the fact that it doesn’t cover the click wheel. Anyways the most important part of the the Apple Nano is covered, the screen.

Links: Agent18 Nano Shield v1 Review | Agent18.com
Related: Apple Store | Free iPod Nanos

Apple introduced the iPod Nano in early September this year (“05). Since then there have been many complain and reports of the iPod’s screen scratching easily and even snapping in some incidents. To prevent this from occurring it is best to protect you Nano by purchasing some type of a case. I recently found the Agent 18 iPod Nano Shield and it proved to be a great case. The case is a semi-transparent hard case that will surround pretty much the entire iPod. The case has openings on the bottom to allow using both connectors and on the top to allow using the hold switch. The case is sleek enough so that it can be placed into the iPod Dock while it is still in the case. The case does not look that great while it is on the Black Nano because it is not completely transparent (creates a grayish color), but should look better on the white Nano. The only other problem I noticed with this was the fact that there are two small vertical lines on the case that go over both sides of the screen. This doesn’t affect me too much, but may irritate others. But overall this is a pretty good case and is worth buying. The case will cost $20, but unfortunately is only available on the online Apple Store as well as Agent18’s website.

Important: For people who have purchased this case or are planning on purchasing it please read the correct directions of how to place the iPod Nano into the case. If you try to slide it in through the bottom it could easily get scratched. – Offical Instructions Here

Link: Apple Store | Agent18.com (more images on both sites)
Related: Apple iPod Nano | More Nano Cases
Recent Posts: Free iPod Nanos | PSP Media Manager

Update 1: Agent 18 Nano Shield Rev.B Released
Update (11/12/06): Agent 18 Nano Shock Shield For 2nd Gen iPod Nano

Griffin Technologies is getting ready to release a “iTrip” FM transmitter for the new iPod Nano. This iTrip, unlike any previous ones, is a little backpack for the iPod Nano, instead of just attaching onto the bottom or top. The new iTrip also utilizes the iPod Nanos LCD display and change frequencies, so no extra buttons are on the actual unit. The iPod Nano can be charged/synced while the iTrip 4 Nano is attached onto the unit. The iPod will also save three preset stations to make it easier to use. No batteries are required for the unit, however this means it will rapidly drain the battery life of your iPod Nano. (which is already too short) The iTrip 4 iPod Nano will go on sale sometime next month (November 05), but is currently available for pre-order at a price of $49.99.

Link: Grifin Technology – iTrip Nano
Related: Apple iPod Nano Laynyard Headphones Review
Recent Posts: OpenOffice 2.0 | Free iPod Nano

The creators of freeipods.com, freeipodshuffle.com, freepsps.com, and free360xbox.com have done it again! The company FreePay, formerly known as Gratis Network, has just launched a Free iPod Nano site. (ipodnanos.freepay.com) After completing your own offer and refering a few others you will recieve a “Free” 4GB iPod Nano in a color of your choice. Available in either Black or White. (P.S. This site is for real and is not some sort of scam, I got a free PSP from them a few months ago. – link)

Specs:

• Holds about 1,000 Songs
• Only 3.5″ x 1.6″ x 0.27″ & 1.5 ounces
• 1.5-inch color LCD
• 14 hours of battery life
• Charge and Sync via USB
• MacOS X & WinXP Compatible
• Click Here for more info…

Please signup to the Free iPod Nano site through the link provided below. Then post a comment with your email, your refferal link, and your name. Please make sure you include all of these. Once each person gets a few refferals then the next link will replace the link at the top. Hope this works! Note: Spamming the comments with multiple links to random “free sites” will not be allows & abusing IPs will be banned. Also trying to use this site without signing up from links provided will not be allowed.

Link: iPod Nano (NEW) | Free iPod Nano Refferal Link
Related: iPod Nano & iTunes Moto ROKR & More…
How It Works: FreePay (aka Gratis Network)

Update: (09.13.05) Skatter Tech is now Google’s #1 result for Free iPod Nano Conga!
Note: If you do not provide your email and refferal link in the comments I will not be able to bring you to the top of the list because I won’t be able to identify you! Also please don’t wait for someone to complete an offer for you first, if you do wait then it will take you a LONG time to make it to the top of the list!
Note: Doing an offer will move you above all others even if they commented before you! Also please post links to this page everywhere you can to help yourself and others get Free iPod Nanos faster.

vishwakasi@gmail.com: http://ipodnanos.freepay.com/?r=27354335
^^^ Please sign up using the highlighted link above. ^^^