iPod nano

red dot: best of the best
red dot award: product design 2009

Soft interaction – the evolution of form
It created an entirely new way of listening to music. Since the launch of the first iPod on 23 October 2001, this small and easy-to-use gadget has worldwide turned into an everyday companion that no one wants to be without, and has become an icon of style. People can use it to listen to their favourite songs and watch their favourite videos – these are ready for playback any time and are easy to update and manage. Presented by Steve Jobs at a special music event held on 7 September 2005, the iPod nano was to replace the iPod mini. The fourth-generation iPod nano has a storage capacity of either 8 GB or 16 GB; it boasts an even more compact design and looks thin and elegant. Its clear language of form combines a high-resolution 2” display with an aluminium and glass enclosure that feels soft and pleasing to the touch. What is highly exciting about the current model is the user interface advancements, which offer entirely new forms of interaction. An innovative accelerometer “recognises” movements and automatically switches the iPod nano into Shuffle mode – by lightly shaking the iPod nano, users can easily skip forward to the next track. And the display of the iPod nano changes when the device is placed in a different position: when it is rotated to landscape, the iPod nano automatically activates its CoverFlow mode. With its new form of multimedia functionality and interactive-reactive experience, the iPod nano is a trendsetter – its design merges the understatement of advanced technology with very user-friendly operability.