On September 7th, 2005, Apple announced the iPod Nano with Steve Jobs pointing to the small watch pocket in his jeans and asking, "Ever wonder what this pocket is for? The display resolution was 176×132 pixels, having the ability to display 65,536 colors (16-bit). The iPod Nano was available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB.
The iPod Nano was the successor to the iPod Mini. This was a very risky move for Apple as the iPod Mini was selling extremely well. This risky move turned out to be the correct decision and Apple went on to sell millions of the iPod Nano-lineup.
The development for the iPod Nano started just 9 months earlier.
Information
- Release Date: September 7, 2005
- Processor: Dual PP5021C @ 80MHz
- RAM: None
- Storage: Flash Storage
- Battery: 14 hours (Apple), 340mAh rechargable LiPo
- Interface: 30 pin dock connector
| Models | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1GB | 2GB | 4GB |
| RRP | $149 | $199 | $249 |
Recall
On the 11th November 2011, Apple issued recall program for all first generation Nanos, since there were incidents involving iPod Nano 1st gens that caught on fire. Apple stated that defective batteries would cause overheating issues that could, in rare instances, make your iPod Nano 1st generation catch on fire. Owners could get the latest iPod Nano for free when they exchanged their 1st Gen.
This issue appears to be caused by the placement of the battery inside of the iPod nano. Other iPod nano's suffer from a similar issue nicknamed "The Black Spot". This issue occurs in most nanos because the battery is placed behind the screen, and when the battery expands (due to the release of gases trapped inside the battery as it ages) it presses against the screen, pushing it out, and marking the screen with a black spot. In the 1st Generation iPod Nano, the battery is not behind the screen, but instead the ClickWheel. When the battery expands, because of the tight casing the battery has nowhere to expand too, and this can cause it to explode. This is likely why the iPod nano was recalled 6 years after release, as by this time the battery were starting to age to the point where the batteries were getting more likely to expand.
While Apple stated that this issue was from a "single battery supplier" it is unknown how many battery suppliers there were for the iPod Nano 1st gen, and whether these batteries simply had accelerated aging, causing them to expand faster than other batteries.
Because of this, it is recommended that you handle certain iPod Nanos with caution if they show symptoms of having an expanding battery.
Sources
Link to Archived Page of Apple's Recall Program for the 1st Generation iPod Nano: https://web.archive.org/web/20121001173203/http://www.apple.com/support/ipodnano_replacement/
Link to Wired Article on the iPod Nano 1st Generation recall: https://www.wired.com/2011/11/apple-first-gen-nano-recall/
Steve Jobs unveiling the new iPod Nano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GRv-kv5XEg
