Hands-On: iPod Nano vs. Flip SD
We were intrigued and excited about the addition of a video camera to the iPod nano this week. Apple threw the gauntlet down against the Flip in the battle to get stupidly simple video cameras into the hands of consumers. But how do the two compare when used literally side-by-side? We got our hands on the nano to find out.
First, Liz walks you through the basics of the new nano. In a nutshell: odd camera placements ruin the otherwise svelte package that’s perfect for any pocket.
We got the new nano while at our sold-out GigaOM Mobilize conference earlier this week. I always have my Flip on me, so we pressed the two next to each other and shot some outdoor, indoor, quiet, noisy footage. (Note: the audio from this comparison is only from the nano, not from the Flip, mixing the two was getting too complicated in the editing). Overall — the Flip offered a MUCH better picture both indoor and out, providing way more detail in the image. The Flip microphone was also a little more discerning in our test, able to distinguish our subject’s voice in a crowded room much better than the Nano. (Update: I was remiss in pointing out earlier that I was using a Flip Ultra SD.)
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.
Apple should just buy Pure Digital Technologies, LLC.
Their product line looks like Apple products and Apple could eventually extend their product line and provide more video options for their user base by integrating it into everything from the Iphone to the nano. Just think about an IPhone with the video quality of the Flip Mino HD.
Well, that might be a bit more difficult since Cisco bought Pure earlier this year.
http://newteevee.com/2009/03/19/cisco-to-acquire-flip-maker-pure-digital-for-590m/
good gracious that was a great side-by-side comparison. I was thinking of getting rid of my ipod 2g nano for this new one because of both the radio and the camera but geesh that camera really is not as good as the flip
just to confirm – that flip is an older model flip non-hd model?
@Allen – yes, it is a standard-def one Chris bought on Craigslist a couple years back. A few models out of date but it still does the job just fine.
So the comparison is 2007 tech vs 2009 tech & the 2007 flip still beats the 2009 nano at video?
Doesn’t say much for the Nano.
This is useful – very well done comparison video – but really, did anyone expect anything different? The larger size of the Flip obviously means it’s better at taking in light & distinguishing in variations than the Nano.
Excellent post. I used the video on my iPod nano review.
iPod nano: Poor Design and Missing Features http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/2009/09/mobile-post-sent-by-stevegarfield-using.html
Thanks, Steve! So… is there a problem with the camera being on the bottom? :)
Apple doesn’t care about comparing with Flip. The know the nano sucks but that’s not important. Apple is throwing video along the low end YouTube specs with the ease of iTunes sync.
http://pestaola.gr/apple-vs-flip/ since this is going to be all Greek to you, the main point is this: YouTube Help > Getting Started: Optimizing your video uploads
Resolution: Recommended: 1280 x 720 (16×9 HD) and 640 x 480 (4:3 SD)
Video Codec: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 preferred
Aurio Codec: MP3 or AAC preferred
This is what the iPod nano serves.
If they don’t care about comparing it to the Flip then they shouldn’t have in their keynote. Doing so was a mistake IMO since most hand-held video cameras purchased in the $150 area are HD now.
IMHO they mentioned it for creating buzz
I have a Flip Mino but still my old Flip from Feb 07 when it was still not called Flip still works like a charm.
I am happy to see this comparison, no words can say the story among all the Apple-love-hype.
Now if you can compare the flip with a Zi8, I can sleep easy.
Nice job, Chris & Liz! I want more of this. :)
I think the point that is being missed is almost too obvious – it’s a reduction in cargo. If I don’t have the iPhone, I probably have an iPod. If I have an iPod, why not add FM and camera (and pedometer, for that matter)? That way, if I’m listening to tunes on the go, and some dudes get in a fight up the street, I have my video camera at the ready, to give to the police/evening news/etc.
I’m not saying the flip is bad, but you need to leave the house with “videographical intent” to pack the thing, and most people tend to leave the house needing some portable music than they do needing a video camera.
Disclaimer – iPhone 3G and Flip Mino here. In a perfect world, I’d have timed things to get the 3Gs, again to save on what I lug everywhere. And while I’ve mentioned phones, I’d prefer a comparison of the iPod video to other cellphones with video capabilities, maybe weighted for ‘contract price’.
The real signal here is simply that single function devices are “dead at the consumer level”… Turning this argument on its head a bit – does anyone really think the iPod would’ve had a chance going forward as ONLY a digital music player?
In the future, I see a lot of people having a single device that is “good enough” at doing just about everything, that they buy/receive free with a service plan… Which still leaves plenty of room for dedicated hobbyist/pro-am and up level devices for people who get the photography/videography bug (one example).
Finally, as someone who studied film in college, and bought a REALLY nice 2CCD Hi-8 (yeah, I’m old) camera to learn on, I can say unequivocally that I would’ve been better served with the crappiest equipment possible to start with, until I was able to get my shooting-brain levelled up enough to get the most out of a good camera. Maybe I give Apple too much credit here, but it may be a stroke of unintended genius to get video hardware “dumbed down” and so totally accessible/available… And yet so familiar when I think of what they did with iPhoto/iMovie on the software side.
At any rate, it’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds, both in terms of new iPod sales, as well as in pricing pressures on the Flips of the world.
You do realize most geeks ignore any analysis that smacks of actually knowing something about business or marketing.
But, thanks, anyway.
The camera placement is only a bother if you’re shooting in portrait. In landscape it all works very together for a device so tiny. If you wanted better control over your video, you would have bough a proper video camera, right?