2007-09-06 21:23:04

  • There it is, in the same style box as the last Nano, but quite a bit shorter and wider.

2007-09-06 21:31:16

  • Here's what you'll find in the box:
  • A manual (even smaller than the iPod).
  • The usual, much-maligned headphones.
  • A USB to iPod cable.
  • A dock insert.
  • A brand new iPod.

2007-09-06 21:36:40

  • The growing iPod Nano family.
  • Although the new Nano is shorter and wider than its older siblings, it has approximately the same area (36 square centimeters).

2007-09-06 21:39:41

  • Apple appears to be going in circles. Anodized aluminum, shiny, anodized, shiny...
  • But of course, it's what's inside that counts.

2007-09-06 21:57:02

  • And here's our first look inside this newest Nano.
  • The case has eight locking tabs:
  • Three on the left, evenly spaced.
  • Three on top.
  • Two on the right, near the bottom, to make room for the display circuitry at the upper right.

2007-09-06 22:10:01

  • We've removed six Phillips screws fixing the logic board to the casing.
  • We can now lift the logic board up, but it's still tethered by the visible click wheel cable and the hidden display cable.

2007-09-06 22:12:51

  • We've disconnected the click wheel cable and flipped the board over to disconnect the display cable.

2007-09-06 22:25:58

  • Now we use a spudger to pry up the display, which is held along the case's edge by an adhesive strip.
  • The first generation Nano's display was attached in exactly the same way. If you're not careful when prying it up, you may crack it.

2007-09-06 22:31:09

  • We're noticing a strong trend as we take apart this iPod: adhesive.
  • The click wheel is held in place by nothing but a very strong adhesive, which is going to make replacing it difficult. You'll have to get it to stay in place as well as Apple has (i.e. very well).

2007-09-06 22:44:17

  • Here the battery is out of its metal housing, which is attached to the logic board by, that's right, adhesive.
  • The battery is attached to the logic board by three through-hole solder points, as in the second generation Nano (sorry, no easy replacements).

2007-09-06 22:47:30

  • And here's everything together again, but apart.

2007-09-06 22:55:58

  • A close-up of the logic board's top, which sports an eight gigabyte Samsung flash memory chip and headphone jack.
  • The headphone jack is soldered to the logic board, as in the first generation Nano, but not in the second.

2007-09-06 22:59:09

  • A close-up of the logic board's bottom.

2007-09-06 23:19:54

  • And it still works! Now, having satisfied our curiosity, we can put some music on it.

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