iPod Nano's popularity soars

Online searches for Apple's new iPod Nano have surged by 200 per cent since it was launched two weeks ago.

According to web monitoring company Hitwise, searches for the ultra-small and ultra-lightweight version of the original iPod have overtaken searches for ‘ipod’ for the first time, and are set to overtake searches for ‘PSP’ – Sony’s PlayStation Portable which launched earlier this month.

Traffic to Apple’s official UK website, www.apple.com/uk, increased by 46 per cent earlier this month.

However, the new Motorola-built iPod phone – the E1 ROKR - which uses Apple’s iTunes software and plays music, has created less interest.

Searches for Xbox 360 - Microsoft’s next generation console which will be available to buy in the UK on 2 December and - have increased by 68 per cent since the beginning of July, however searches are currently considerably lower than searches for the PSP.