iFixit Takes the New iPod Nano Apart

So - is there any physical difference between the current and previous generation nanos? Is there any software difference?

Weren't these supposed to have a useless camera or something?

So - is there any physical difference between the current and previous generation nanos? Is there any software difference?

If the answer to both of your questions was 'no', why would there even be a new generation?

All the new stuff Apple came out with 2 days ago consists of the following:

1.) new software for Nano
2.) iPhone 4S
3.) white iPod Touch
4.) lower prices for Nano and Touch.
5.) new website graphics.

That's it. The only real update was the 4S, which I'm fine with. I've never liked the Nano, and the Touch still looks great, so I don't see a need for anything to be added, except maybe an A5 chip should have been added, but that's about it. If they added anything though, the price would have to be higher than $199.

The iFixit folks are awesome!

So - is there any physical difference between the current and previous generation nanos? Is there any software difference?

If the answer to both of your questions was 'no', why would there even be a new generation?

For the new clocks!

According to iFixit the model number is the same even though the part number is different, this is a minor tweak at most.

Sadly, these iFixit people didn't realize that the "part number" (MCxxxLL/A) includes the color. So all they've done is to tear apart a blue 6th generation iPod nano, instead of a red (or whatever) one they did before. The announced refresh is pure software.

...I think they've simply updated the Nano's software to use its built in accelerometer (which both generations have) as the pedometer and are calling that feature Nike+. According to the new Nano product page "There’s no need to connect a receiver or use a shoe sensor to track your steps" and iFixit didn't find a Bluetooth chip in the new Nano.

Exactly, except that they are the same HW generation.

I don't understand the market for the Nano. For $50 more you can get a Touch which does so much more, plus it's an iPod. Are there people who really need a tiny music player like the Nano? Is it particularly for athletes who want something unobtrusive?

You would think iFixit might have done a comparison, but here are the two boards:

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPod-Nano-6th-Generation-Teardown/3563/2#s17113
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPod-Nano-7th-Generation-Teardown/6554/2#s28229

Besides slightly different numbers stamped on the chips (could just be serials or date codes, who knows), they look pretty identical. The new one has Sandisk memory instead of Toshiba (or at least, this one did, they could be dual-sourcing). The batteries are the same.

I think the part number bump is just to specify that it comes with the new firmware (and/or I guess the memory supplier change, if that is a change). And as others have mentioned, there has been no "iPod nano 7th generation" added to Apple's compatibility charts.

688LL/A is Graphite.
689LL/A is Blue.

The part numbers have not changed.