Hands on with the new 8GB iPod Nano

Official release of the new line of iPods in the Philippines is reported to be this October but several units have already been spotted in stores. Here’s the new iPod Nano 8GB I just got from my favorite store. And they tell me they sells like hotcakes.

Originally, I thought these 3rd generation of the iPod Nano were a little anatomically disproportionate (fat and stubby). Only after actually getting my hands on one did I realize that the form factor makes good sense. And it’s much thinner too.

For an 8GB music and video player, it justifies the wider girth for a proportional video display screen size. See size comparison with the 5.5 gen iPod video 30GB in the picture above. The Nano can also play vidcasts a lot faster and smoother than the 5.5 gen. It plays videos instantaneously and does not pause every few minutes, unlike the old one (HDD access rate maybe).

This model retails for Php11,800USD 201INR 17,046EUR 192CNY 1,464+ but I got it for Php10k flat. Likewise, I checked the prices of the other models in the Apple store and got these — iPod Classic 160GB at Php20,800USD 354INR 30,048EUR 338CNY 2,581+, iPod Classic 80GB at Php14,990USD 255INR 21,655EUR 243CNY 1,860+. The old 30GB iPod Video is now on sale for Php11,800USD 201INR 17,046EUR 192CNY 1,464.

Some retailers told me that although the local distributor will stock them with the new iPods next month, some store owners are more aggressive and personally shipped them straight from the US. I’m sure the iPod Touch will be out as early as next week.