Apple's iPod nano was the perfect mid-range MP3 player. It sat right in the middle of the iPod line, offering a combination of great performance and features for a low price.

The iPod nano doesn't have a big screen or large storage capacity like the iPod touch, but it does have more features than the Shuffle (and unlike the Shuffle, it has a screen!). The nano started out as a lightweight, portable MP3 player, and over the years it has added features like video playback, video recording, and an FM radio. As a result, the iPod nano is much more like its competitors, but it's still one of the best portable music players of its kind.

Read on to learn all about the iPod nano, its history, features, and how to buy and use one.

The original iPod nano debuted in the fall of 2005 and has been updated roughly every year (but no longer; see the end of the article for information on the demise of the nano). The models are: