Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9436LL/A (Blue) OLD MODEL
Apple iPod 4 GB mini M9436LL/A (Blue) OLD MODEL
- 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
- Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
- 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
- More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
- Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable
 | US $2.09 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 12:38:34 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $0.01 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 12:39:34 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
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As much art as it is science!,
I have been an iPod evangalist since I first turned on the 5GB. As you may know from my reviews of the 5, 15, 20, and 40GB models, I’ve owned (or given as gifts) just about every incarnation of this glorious device. So, when Apple announced that it was releasing a dramatically redesigned version of the iPod, I knew right away it would at least be a hit, perhaps even enjoy the almost “cult-like” status of its larger parent.
So I pre-ordered 3 of them; one for each of my sisters and myself. They arrived about a week ago and I’m happy to report that Apple has done it again with the release of the iPod Mini. It totally ROCKS!
There are allot of things I like about this model, but before I get into them A VERY IMPORTANT WARNING TO THOSE THAT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT:
YOU MUST CHARGE AT LEAST 4 HOURS BEFORE USE!
I, like so many I’m sure, was very eager to “plug and play”. I did, without fully charging them, and they experienced all kinds of impossible to resolve errors.
Now, in the event you’ve already bought one, or simply can’t help yourself, there is a little known “reset feature” on the mini that will come in handy whenever you have an issue.
TO RESET THE MINI, PRESS AND HOLD THE MENU AND SELECT BUTTON (the middle round button) FOR SIX SECONDS.
That’ll bring your baby back to life.
The colors are awesome (I have the blue, silver, and pink), look very stylish, and will likely show less wear. If you have the patience, consider having Apple engrave them for you (looks very cool).
The sound is excellent. I don’t have a testing lab, but I could swear that the sound quality is better; and I’m almost certain that they can play at a higher volume.
Another important improvement is the fact that when skipping forward more than a handful of songs the mini doesn’t stall (for a second or two) like it’s predecessors.
So, in conclusion, this is a wonderful new player that’ll be sure to WOW everyone that owns it, and create envious spectators out of those that don’t.
Hope this was helpful.
Christian Hunter
Santa Barbara, CA.
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|Size does matter!,
Sure, when you read the specs a 1/2 inch may not seem like it’s that much smaller than the original white iPods, but when you hold it in your hand it really does feel Mini.
Obviously the only drawback is the lack of storage (in comparison to the other iPods anyway. 4 gigs is still a lot of space for a device that small). I have about 8 gigs of music, so I need to stick with my 10 gig model for a while, but if they release new Minis with say a 8 or 10 gig hard drive soon, I will definitely sell mine and go for the smaller size.
Not only is the iPod Mini fiendishly small and cool looking, it’s also a lot more functional than the “big” iPods in my opinion.
Controls
As you may know, the “big” iPods feature four buttons across the top of the device that control the menu, play/pause, and next/previous tracks. They are also extremely sensitive, and can be pressed on accident just by trying to pick up the unit. It’s also easy to press the wrong button when trying to find it by touch with your thumb. There is no click when you press the buttons, they are instead activated as soon as you lightly touch them.
The iPod Mini has the buttons built into the scroll wheel itself due to size constraints (it’s really small!), but they also make an audible and “feelable” click when pressed. The scroll wheel is still touch sensitive, but all of the buttons click when you press them. This makes it a ton easier to navigate and use the iPod Mini without looking at it.
The hold switch (on the top of the unit, to keep the buttons from being pressed) is also much easier to use than on the “big” iPod in my opinion. On the big one you have to slide the switch with your fingernail or press down really hard to get it to move because it is almost flush with the surface of the iPod. But the hold switch on the iPod Mini sticks up a little more and has sharper edges, allowing you to easily “catch” the edge of it with your thumb and operate it.
Casing
The case of the iPod Mini is much nicer than it appears in pictures. I was a little unsure about all of the wacky colors when the Mini’s were first announced, but when you see it in person it is actually quite nice. (I still don’t like the looks of the gold one though!) The back of the case is the same material as the front, so it doesn’t scratch and show fingerprints like the shiny chrome backing of the original iPods. Since we ordered directly from Apple, we got free laser engraving on the back as well, which looks like it was done with the same machine that does the etching of the Apple logo and other wording, so it matches perfectly and blends right in with the rest of the design.
Software
As far as I can tell the software for the iPod Mini is exactly the same as the originals. One difference I noticed is that when the iPod is ready to be disconnected from the computer, it shows a big check mark on it saying that it’s ok to disconnect it. I don’t think the originals had that.
One irritating thing is the reset controls of the Mini though. According to Apple, you have to plug in the iPod to a wall socket in order to reboot it, which seems a little silly. My wife’s has gotten stuck once since we’ve had it, and we couldn’t figure out how to reset it. I’m not sure if she ever figured it out or not yet (she’s out of town so I could only walk her through it over the phone while she was at the airport). Hopefully the lock-ups will be very infrequent, or we may be calling up Apple to see what the problem is.
Extras
The Mini comes with a nice belt clip, which is easy to slide on and holds the device pretty tightly. You of course still have to be careful not to brush up against something when it’s on your belt and scratch the screen or metal casing. It also comes with a Firewire cable, as well as a USB 2.0 cable which most Windows users will use. The original iPods only came with the firewire cables, forcing you to either by a firewire card for your PC, or buy a USB 2.0 cable at an extra cost if you had a Windows machine.
There is also a wall-plug included in the box. You just plug the firewire cord into the little power adapter, and plug it straight into the wall to charge it. You can’t plug the USB 2.0 cord into the power adapter to charge it, so if you use that cord to sync to your PC, you’ll have to carry the firewire cable as well if you want to charge the iPod without plugging it into a computer.
Value
A lot of people complain that the iPod Mini is too expensive in comparison to the 15 gig model that is only $50 more. This is a valid concern if you have 10 or 15 gigs of music in your collection, but if you are just a casual music listener, or don’t mind manually managing the songs on your iPod rather than storing your entire collection on it, the iPod Mini is definitely an option to consider.
The size difference is significant, despite what you may first think after reading the specs on the Apple web site. If possible, look at an iPod Mini in person before saying…
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