Well, at least I can still watch videos on the nano, can’t I?
No, that feature’s gone, too. Again, Apple’s not really talking up the features it removed from the nano, but it’s likely a combination of both design changes and product strategy. On the design front, the new nano’s screen is noticeably smaller than what the fifth-generation nano had to offer—the 2.2-inch widescreen display has been shrunk down to a 1.54-inch square. That size and aspect ration aren’t really well-suited to watching the copy of Avatar you rented from the iTunes Store. (Note that the latest iPod nano will display photos and album art, and can even output them, with the right cable, to a TV.) In terms of product strategy, Apple has very clearly drawn a line dividing its mobile devices: If you’re looking for something that will play music, then you can choose either a nano or an iPod shuffle. Anything more—watching videos, using apps, surfing the Web—and you’ll need to upgrade to an iPod touch.
