Apple refreshes iPod Nano

Apple didn’t just unveil the latest iPhone tonight – it also introduced the seventh-generation iPod Nano. Just 5.4mm thick and bearing more of a resemblance to the iPhone than ever before, it’s thinner and lighter than any other Nano before it.

Despite the compact dimensions, the latest Nano comes with a 2.5in multi-touch display – the largest Apple has ever added to a Nano. The company has been oddly cagey when talking about the screen technology or resolution, but it’s a safe bet that it will be inferior to the latest iPhone.

Although not running the full version of iOS, this stripped-down variant should be well suited to multimedia playback. The home button below the screen should feel instantly familiar to iPhone or iPod touch users.

Like previous Nanos, this latest model comes with a built-in FM radio tuner, but with the added benefit of live pause, letting you stop the audio and come back to it later. It naturally includes the Nike+ fitness technology, which has been a Nano staple for some time, so you can keep track of your training regimen.

Apple wasn’t letting on what size battery you’ll find inside the Nano, only that it’s the biggest ever – it will apparently last through 30 hours of music playback. Considering it’ll be powering the biggest ever Nano display, we expect it will need a pretty hefty internal battery.

Like all the new devices launched tonight, the new Nano will use the 8-pin lightning connector – it’s smaller and more durable than the 30-pin design Apple has been using for the past six years, and it’s also reversible so you can plug it in either way. It also comes with Bluetooth for the first time, which should let you play your music wirelessly with existing home audio and in-car hi-fi systems.

Appropriately for the seventh generation Nano, you’ll have the choice of seven colours when it goes on sale in October. Whether you opt for black, silver, green, blue, red, purple or yellow, you’ll be looking at spending $129 on a 16GB model.