The Apple iPod nano 4th Generation, a portable MP3 player, was a prominent offering in Apple’s iPod series, available from 2008 to 2009. Launched on September 9, 2008, the device debuted at an initial price point of $149.
Apple’s unveiling of the fourth-generation iPod nano introduced consumers to a remarkably thin and stylish MP3 player. Featuring an elegant curved aluminum and glass enclosure, it was offered in nine vibrant color options. The device incorporated Apple’s innovative Genius technology, facilitating the automatic creation of playlists tailored to users’ music libraries with a single click.
Additionally, the iPod nano boasted a refined user interface, a high-resolution portrait display, and an integrated accelerometer. This accelerometer triggered the transition to Cover Flow display mode upon rotation and activated Shuffle mode when gently shaken.
With a promise of up to 24 hours of music playback or four hours of video playback, the iPod nano catered to the entertainment needs of users on the go. Available immediately worldwide, the device came in 8 GB and 16 GB models, priced at $149 and $199 respectively, in an array of colors including silver, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, pink, (PRODUCT) RED, and black.
Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO at the time, remarked, “The iPod nano is the world’s most popular music player, and we’ve made it even better for this holiday season.” Jobs highlighted the device’s new design, the convenience of Genius playlist creation, and the seamless transition to Cover Flow display with a simple wrist turn.
The iPod nano 4th Generation featured an elegant design blending a brilliant two-inch display with a curved aluminum and glass enclosure, ensuring a comfortable grip.
The device seamlessly integrated with iTunes, enabling users to import, manage, and auto-sync their favorite content effortlessly. The iTunes Store offered a vast library of music, videos, and games for iPod nano users, with more than 8.5 million songs available for preview and purchase.
With its impressive battery life, the iPod nano emerged as the ultimate portable entertainment companion, capable of delivering music, TV shows, movies, and games on the go. The 16 GB model accommodated up to 4,000 songs, 14,000 photos, and 16 hours of video, while the 8 GB model stored up to 2,000 songs, 7,000 photos, and eight hours of video.
The device’s compatibility with iTunes 8 Genius feature enabled users to create playlists on the fly, preview generated playlists, refresh selections, and save them for later enjoyment.
Key features of the iPod nano 4th Generation included a lightweight aluminum case available in nine colors, a 2-inch color LED-backlit LCD screen, extended battery life of up to 24 hours, flash memory options of 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB, a Dock Connector for charging and syncing, and a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack.
The discontinuation of this iPod model occurred on September 9, 2009. As of today, the iPod nano 4th Generation celebrates its 15-year anniversary, reminiscing on its significant impact on portable music technology.
iPod nano 4th Generation Details
| Introduced | September 9, 2008 – 15 years ago |
| Discontinued | September 9, 2009 – 14 years ago |
| Time on the Market | 12 months (1 year) |
| Model Number | A1285 |
| EMC | 2287 |
| Order Number | MB480LL/A (4 GB Silver) MB657LL/A (4 GB Purple) MB651LL/A (4 GB Blue) MB663LL/A (4 GB Green) MB666LL/A (4 GB Yellow) MB660LL/A (4 GB Orange) MB654LL/A (4 GB Pink) MB669LL/A (4 GB (PRODUCT) RED) MB598LL/A (8 GB Silver) MB754LL/A (8 GB Black) MB739LL/A (8 GB Purple) MB732LL/A (8 GB Blue) MB745LL/A (8 GB Green) MB748LL/A (8 GB Yellow) MB742LL/A (8 GB Orange) MB735LL/A (8 GB Pink) MB751LL/A (8 GB (PRODUCT) RED) MB903LL/A (16 GB Silver) MB918LL/A (16 GB Black) MB909LL/A (16 GB Purple) MB905LL/A (16 GB Blue) MB913LL/A (16 GB Green) MB915LL/A (16 GB Yellow) MB911LL/A (16 GB Orange) MB907LL/A (16 GB Pink) MB917LL/A (16 GB (PRODUCT) RED) |
| Original Price | $149 (8 GB) $199 (16 GB) |
| Colors | Silver Black Purple Blue Green Yellow Orange Pink (PRODUCT) RED |
| Weight | 1.3 oz. – 36 Grams |
| Dimensions | 3.6” H x 1.5” W x 0.24″ D 9.14 cm H x 3.81 cm W x 0.6 cm D |
iPod nano 4th Gen Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | Samsung ARM-based chip |
| Processor Speed | Unknown |
| Architecture | Unknown |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
| Cache | Unknown |
Storage
| Storage | 4 GB 8 GB 16 GB |
Display
| Built-in Display | 2″ color LED-backlit LCD Display |
| Resolutions | 320 x 240 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 204 ppi |
Media
| Audio Formats | AAC (16 to 320 Kbps) Protected AAC MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps) MP3 VBR Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4) Apple Lossless AIFF WAV |
| Photo Formats | JPEG BMP GIF TIFF PNG PSD (Mac only) |
| Video Formats | H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats |
Connections
| Ports | 1 – 30-pin Dock Connector 1 – 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack |
| Camera | None |
Controls
| Controls | Play/Pause Next title Previous title Menu Hold Click wheel |
Software
| Maximum OS | 1.0.4 |
| iTunes | iTunes 8 or later |
| System Requirements | Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later Windows Vista or later |
Accessories
| Accessories | Earbud headphones USB cable Dock Adapter |
Power
| Battery | Built-in rechargeable Lithium-Ion |
| Battery Capacity | Unknown |
| Battery Life | Up to 24 hours of music Up to 4 hours of video |
| Charge Time | Up to 3 hours 1.5 hour to 80% capacity |
| Power | Charging via USB 2.0 or Power adapter |
iPod nano 4th Generation Introduction Video
Further Reading and References
- iPod nano (4th generation): Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- Apple Introduces New iPod nano – Apple Newsroom
- iPod Nano – Wikipedia
- iPod nano (4th Generation) – Apple History
- Apple iPod Nano fourth generation review – CNET
- Apple iPod nano 8GB 4th Gen Review – Trusted Reviews
- A review of the 4G iPod nano – Ars Technica
Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.
