iPod Lineup Makeover

[Jeff Campbell]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>There were some hits and misses with the rumor mill, so lets get into it and see just what was revealed by the man behind the curtain.</p><h2>iPod Touch Revamped</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1252563497.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>Since this was a music event, the upgrades to the iPod lineup were expected, and for the most part didn't disappoint. Let's start with the iPod Touch. The price was dropped on the 8GB model to $199.00 USD, $30 cheaper than before, and the 16GB and 32GB models doubled their memory without an increase in price. The 32GB version is $299.00 USD and the 64GB model is $399.00. According to Apple, the 32GB and 64GB versions are 50% faster and have OpenGL ES 2.0 support.</p><p><MORE /></p><p>I'm wondering how not having the camera added now will affect the sales of the new iPod Touch. From all I've read it is an eventuality, they just couldn't get it done for this event. So will "knowing" that the camera is coming affect sales, will people wait even though they really upped the storage capacity? But if you want a camera, you will have to get an iPhone. Unless you get the Nano with video of course.</p><h2>iPod Nano Gets Video</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1252567675.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p><em>Image Credit: Apple</em></p><p>Colors, colors and more colors. 9 colors to choose from with the new iPod Nano, and each one has a nifty video camera in the back. From my understanding, it is video only with a built in mic and not photo capable, and with a larger 2.2 inch screen. The video is supposed to be the same as the iPhone 3GS video. They also added the Nike + capability without requiring the external receiver. This is nice for those that use this feature, less to get in the way, why make working out even more of a workout right? Also new is the built in FM radio, that has a tagging feature so that when you hear a song you like you can tag it and check it out in the iTunes store later. While I like the tagging feature, not sure I'd get much use out of it or the FM radio. I have to admit the pausing feature they have included is a nice add on if you do use the FM radio.</p><p>The system software now allows the Nano added functionality with the revamp of iTunes 9, such as the Genius Mixes. VoiceOver control as well as the Voice Recorder application are part of the mix as well.&nbsp;The Nano was the big change in the iPod lineup, pretty much a complete overhaul. The 8GB sells for $149.00 USD and the 16GB goes for $179.00 USD (20 dollars less than it used to be), both available now. Check out the <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/#ad" target="_blank">new ad</a>, see how you like it, the tune is quite catchy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>iPod Shuffle and Classic Versions Weren't Forgotten</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1252565142.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p><em>Image Credit: Apple</em></p><p>Ah color. Nice to see they added some options to the iPod Shuffle lineup. At the low end, the 2GB version sells for $59.00 USD, then at 4GB it bumps up a bit to $79.00 USD. It is available in silver, black, pink, blue and green. If you don't like those you can always go for the special edition stainless steel version, 4GB of capacity and available only online with Apple or at one of the Apple retail stores, but it will set you back $99.00 USD.&nbsp;The big news here though, is that headphones are not proprietary any longer, with several companies announcing headphones for the Shuffle at the event, including Sony, Klipsch and Scosche among others.</p><p>They also upped the storage in the Classic iPod to 160GB, brought back since just year ago they dropped it down to 120GB. It is also the same price point, $249.00 USD. That seems to be a common thread, more memory, same price, but in this case no color. And no, despite rumors of a camera, there is none here, although it is still the same thinness as the 120GB version it replaces. So all in all, some nice changes and upgrades to the lineup.</p><p>What are your thoughts?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[doogald]

Let's start with the iPod Touch. The price was dropped on the 8GB model to $199.00 USD, $30 cheaper than before, and the 16GB and 32GB models doubled their memory without an increase in price. The 32GB version is $299.00 USD and the 64GB model is $399.00. According to Apple, the 32GB and 64GB versions are 50% faster and have OpenGL ES 2.0 support.</p><p><MORE /></p><p>I'm wondering how not having the camera added now will affect the sales of the new iPod Touch. From all I've read it is an eventuality, they just couldn't get it done for this event. So will "knowing" that the camera is coming affect sales, will people wait even though they really upped the storage capacity? But if you want a camera, you will have to get an iPhone. Unless you get the Nano with video of course.

I think that the surprising lack of a 16GB model at, say, $229-$239 is more of a hole than the lack of a camera. I've posted elsewhere that Steve Jobs answered a question from David Pogue about the camera that Apple was focusing on their market research that showed that their consumers have been more focused on gaming with the Touch, and focusing on getting the storage amounts at that price, that they could not also add a camera. That comes next year, I guess.

iPod Nano ... added the Nike + capability without requiring the external receiver.

I made that same mistake. Actually, they added a software pedometer that (obviously) uses the accelerometer in the Nano. The Nike+ feature still requires the external receiver.

Also new is the built in FM radio, that has a tagging feature so that when you hear a song you like you can tag it and check it out in the iTunes store later. While I like the tagging feature, not sure I'd get much use out of it or the FM radio. I have to admit the pausing feature they have included is a nice add on if you do use the FM radio.

It also adds the ability to rewind FM by as much as 15 minutes - obviously, it buffers the station as you listen.


They also upped the storage in the Classic iPod to 160GB, brought back since just year ago they dropped it down to 120GB. It is also the same price point, $249.00 USD. That seems to be a common thread, more memory, same price, but in this case no color. And no, despite rumors of a camera, there is none here, although it is still the same thinness as the 120GB version it replaces. So all in all, some nice changes and upgrades to the lineup.</p><p>What are your thoughts?

I've never owned a Classic before - my wife and I each have Nanos, the kids both have Touches - but I have been thinking of adding a dock to the car sound system, and I am considering a Classic to carry the entire collection in the car, rather than the subsets that we each have on our devices. 160 GB is more than enough for that.

I've also updated to iTunes 9 (kicking myself as I do, as I was planning to wait at least a week for the inevitable bug reports to start coming). It's fine; I'm not pleased that they removed the shopping cart, though they did add a wish list. However, I've also noticed that I cannot get Genius t o turn on - I keep getting an error message that says that there is a network error connecting to the iTunes Store (though the store itself is working fine.) I did have Genius turned on with 8, and it held with 9, but the Genius Mixes part was nowhere to be found. So I turned off Genius, then turned it back on, and still cannot connect. They must be getting hammered or something.

[Jeff Campbell]

Thanks for correction on the Nike +, I saw another story about it and came back here to correct but you beat me to it ! :p

I am having the same problem with the Genius feature, and from a couple other articles I have read, we aren't the only ones. I will have to mess around with that some more this weekend and also the Home sharing feature to see if it does what I hope it does.

Overall I thought it was good event for what came out of it, but I usually get at least one or two things good from these events. :)

[doogald]

They must have turned on Mensa mode at iTunes central, as the Genius just worked for me. The mixes look pretty good to me. I haven't checked to see if they sync to your iPod - that would be really cool. Better than plain old shuffle mode, that's for sure.