iPod nano 1st Generation (2005): History and Specs
Successor to the iPod mini
The first iPod nano arrived on 7 September 2005, on sale from the day it was announced, and replaced the hard-drive-based iPod mini. Apple said it was thinner than a standard #2 pencil; the specification lists 3.5 × 1.6 × 0.27 inches and 1.5 ounces. Storage was flash memory. The launch range comprised a 2GB model holding about 500 songs at US$199 and a 4GB model holding about 1,000 songs at US$249, each in white or black. A 1GB model holding about 240 songs was added on 7 February 2006 at US$149.
Screen, controls and battery
The front combined a 1.5-inch colour LCD at 176 × 132 pixels with a Click Wheel. The screen showed album art, photo slideshows and games, and the software added a stopwatch, a world clock and a screen lock. Apple rated battery life at up to 14 hours of music or 4 hours of slideshows with music. Syncing used USB 2.0 through the dock connector, which kept the nano compatible with existing iPod accessories, while FireWire could be used for charging. It worked with Mac and Windows computers. Optional extras included Lanyard Headphones at US$39, armbands, Tubes covers sold as a set in five colours, and a dock.
Screen and battery problems
Soon after launch, owners reported cracked and easily scratched screens. On 26 September 2005 Apple told Macworld that cracked screens came from a vendor quality problem affecting less than 0.1 per cent of units shipped, and recommended a case to protect against scratches. A class action filed in San Jose, California, in October 2005 alleged that the nano scratched excessively during normal use. In November 2011 Apple began a worldwide replacement programme for units sold between September 2005 and December 2006, because in rare cases a supplier's defective battery could overheat.
Replacement
The second-generation iPod nano, with an aluminium body and a 24-hour battery rating, replaced it on 12 September 2006.
Specifications
| Announced | 7 September 2005, on sale the same day |
|---|---|
| Launch price (US) | US$199 (2 GB), US$249 (4 GB); 1 GB at US$149 from 7 February 2006 |
| Capacity | 1, 2 or 4 GB flash memory — about 240, 500 or 1,000 songs |
| Display | 1.5-inch colour LCD, 176 × 132 pixels |
| Battery | Up to 14 hours of music or 4 hours of slideshows |
| Connectors | Dock connector (USB), 3.5 mm headphone jack — both on the bottom |
| Size | 89 × 41 × 6.9 mm (3.5 × 1.6 × 0.27 in) |
| Weight | 43 g (1.5 oz) |
| Colours | White or black |
| Works with | Mac OS X 10.3.4 or later; Windows 2000 (SP4) or XP (SP2) |
| Model number | A1137 |
Figures from Apple's published technical specifications. Where Apple lists only inches and ounces, metric values are converted and rounded.
How to identify it
- Smaller than the iPod mini, with a colour screen and a Click Wheel, in white or black.
- The capacity is engraved on the back of the case.
- Model number A1137 (September 2005; the 1 GB model followed in February 2006).
Where to find the model number and serial number: how to identify a used iPod.