Written by Chris Albrecht
Posted Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 9:49 AM PT

 

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.)

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Topic: Hardware

Comments (30)

  • 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.

    modelmotion — 11:28 AM on September 12, 2009 Reply

  • 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 — 12:31 PM on September 12, 2009 Reply

  • 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.

    Michael Griffiths — 1:51 PM on September 12, 2009 Reply

  • 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

    Steve Garfield — 3:54 PM on September 12, 2009 Reply

  • 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.

    titanas — 5:32 PM on September 12, 2009 Reply

  • 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.

    Sudha Jamthe — 11:38 PM on September 12, 2009 Reply

  • Nice job, Chris & Liz! I want more of this. :)

    DaveZatz — 5:14 AM on September 13, 2009 Reply

  • 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.

    Deano — 8:42 AM on September 13, 2009 Reply

  • 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?

    CannonGod — 8:49 AM on September 13, 2009 Reply

  • I think Deano’s got it mostly right: you’ve got to think about both function or functions, and what devices someone already owns, or is prepared to carry. I’ll concede challenges with the camera placement, but they’re not enough to drive people to keep buying the Flip unless (a) they don’t care about music playing and (b) don’t already own a 5G nano

    http://blog.endeavourpartners.net/2009/09/13/why-flip-the-flip/

    Michael A M Davies — 10:02 AM on September 13, 2009 Reply

  • Why would one want to shoot video with it vertical and not horizontal. Seem to me if ya knew how to use a camera the camera placement would not matter.

    Ellerbestyle — 8:23 PM on September 13, 2009 Reply

  • The real points of comparison are relating to the point of capturing video, full stop.
    You wa nt to share it and watch it again and again and discuss it with friends and family. The capture bit is the piece everyone talks about but that is only 55 of the equation.
    The Flip products all have a built in USB arm so you can share with less luggage..like having to carry the connecting lead around.
    The software is on the camera and it is built to make sharing easy. This means anywhere you go you can connect and share on Macs and PC’s.
    If you are going to do TRUE comparisons go the whole 9 yards and you will see the video empowered Nano is just cramming in another feature (video) and not offering the whole service of capture and share that Flip does.

    gareth — 2:44 AM on September 14, 2009 Reply

    • I beg to differ. Yes, the Flip has a direct USB connector, but when it comes to capture and share, the evidence is overwhelming: the iPhone and its cousins win. Take a look at the numbers on Flickr; although not the most numerous device, the iPhone has the most photos uploaded because the experience – like the 5G Nano – is so easy. Yes, it’s easy on the Flip, but not easier enough to make a big difference.

      Michael A M Davies — 6:22 AM on September 14, 2009 Reply

  • Whats the point of ipod with camera? How many gadgets people wanna carry along?? hey all phones of this price have videocam and mp3 already, dont they?

    tsat tsot — 3:59 AM on September 14, 2009 Reply

  • In terms of just video quality, the iPod had better contrast, the picture didn’t wash out as easily, and it had a wider field of view. On the other hand, the color balance was off.

    I had been considering getting a Flip-alike, but got a 3GS this summer and the video it shoots is good enough for me. I also love that I can edit and share the video immediately.

    Also, Flip isn’t the only player in the mini-vid-cam market. They’re quite a few companies competing now. And Flip is the leader in the market. So it’s not like they are some struggling startup that’s the only one making this sort of product. And, as noted, they just got purchased by Cisco.

    reddot — 7:04 AM on September 14, 2009 Reply

  • You forgot one important thing:
    The MP3 Quality of Flip SD is lousy.
    They should build in a better decoder! ;-)

    Alan — 11:50 PM on September 14, 2009 Reply

  • Zi8? Are you serious? The Zi8 is a 1080p camera. If it didn’t win easily then Kodak is in really really bad shape.

    That being said, I agree that video seems like just a throw in feature that Apple put in last minute (although I find that rare from them). I’ve heard the new iTouch has room for a camera from the tear downs people have done but Apple decided not to include a camera… seems like they’re not willing to sully the high end with this camera?

    Robert — 2:12 PM on September 18, 2009 Reply

  • This was a great comparision. Loved your work. It helped me make a better decision. Hope to see more in the future.

    Mariam — 3:43 PM on September 27, 2009 Reply

  • What is the best iTunes alternative application for ipod classic 6G. I tried gtkpod. It worked but only for music and mp3 files. gtkpod doesn’t support uploading and downloading video files like mp4 to ipod classic 6G. I am enjoying here comparative review on ipod neno vs flip SD. So here sharing my experience

    dsi — 3:13 AM on October 5, 2009 Reply

  • ITHINK THAT THE IPOD NANO IS THE BOMB IREALLY LIKE IT AND IT BEATS THE FLIP SD…..WELL THATS MY OPINION!!!

    valeria t. — 5:44 PM on November 29, 2009 Reply

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