iPod

• 1). Look at the front of your iPod. If there are four buttons between the screen and the touch wheel, your iPod is a third-generation iPod. If the four buttons are around the outside of the touch wheel instead, it is a second-generation iPod.
  
  
• 2). Look at the bottom of your iPod. If your iPod has a dock connector port on the bottom, it is a third-generation iPod. If it does not, your iPod is a second-generation iPod.
  
  
• 3). Look on the top of your iPod. If your iPod has a FireWire port next to the headphones port, it is a second-generation iPod. Third-generation iPods do not have a FireWire port and use the dock connector port to sync with a computer instead.
  
  
• 4). Look at the storage capacity engraved on the back of your iPod. If your iPod holds 15GB, 30GB or 40GB, your iPod is a third-generation iPod. If your iPod holds 5GB, it is a second-generation iPod. Both second-generation and third-generation iPods were produced with 10GB and 20GB capacities, so those capacities cannot be used to identify a generation.
  
  

iPod nano

• 1). Turn on your iPod nano. If your iPod nano features a "Videos" section, it is a third-generation iPod nano. Second-generation iPod nanos do not feature video playback.
  
  
• 2). Find your iPod nano's hold switch. If your hold switch is on the top of your iPod nano, your nano is a second-generation iPod nano. If the hold switch is on the bottom, your nano is a third-generation iPod nano.
  
  
• 3). Look at the serial number engraved on the back of your iPod nano. If the serial number ends in YOP, YOR, YXR, YXT, YXV, or YXX, you have a third-generation iPod nano.
  
  
• 4). Measure the face of your iPod nano. Second-generation iPod nanos are 3.5 inches tall and 1.6 inches wide, and third-generation iPod nanos are 2.75 inches tall and 2.06 inches wide.