Having used the iPod Nano 4G for a few days now, I can definitely say that my foreboding over its sharp corners was quite warranted. When reaching into my jeans pocket to get a hold of the device, I find myself poking my palm and fingers more often than naught, and it’s really beginning to irritate me!

I think, essentially, there are two kinds of music listeners: those that press play and hardly touch their mp3 player while on the move, and those that are constantly adjusting the volume and skipping to different tracks. I definitely fit the latter category, so it is especially annoying having to take extra caution when reaching for the Nano 4G.

Another feature that I am dreading is the tilt sensor. When holding the Nano 4G in my fist down by my side, the unit lies naturally in a landscape position. This automatically puts the Nano 4G into Cover Flow mode, which makes the click wheel flip through albums instead of controlling the volume. I find this very annoying as I often adjust sound levels blindly when the player is clutched in my hand or even when it’s inside my pocket. Now, I have to hold the Nano upwards and take a glance at the screen to make sure it’s out of Cover Flow before making an adjustment. That’s two steps too many, if you ask me.

Some of you might suggest that the iPod Shuffle is a better unit for my needs, but I cannot live without a display. Part of what makes the Nano so great is the embedded OS X, which provides an excellent user interface for making quick selections amidst gigs of music. Also, I enjoy giving ratings to my music; the included 5-star system a great way to keep tabs on my current favorites.

I realize now that the old Nano 3G is superior to the 4G in almost every respect, but as I’m stuck with the 4G until the next upgrade cycle, I’m hoping to find some workarounds to my problems. For instance, a case would probably cover the sharp edges of the Nano 4G and would also add a bit of bulk to the device for better gripping (was this Apple’s plan all along?). Also, a firmware update to deactivate the automatic Cover Flow mode sounds like a possibility if enough people complain. I hope that I’m not the only one with this concern — add a comment if you’re with me!