Apple Introduces the New iPod
Hollywood Movies, Games & New Lower Price
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/—Apple(R) today introduced the new
iPod(R), the best digital music player and most popular portable video player
in the world. The new iPod features a 60 percent brighter and more vibrant
2.5-inch color display perfect for watching TV shows and now Hollywood movies
right in the palm of your hand. The new iPod features seamless integration
with iTunes(R) 7 and the iTunes Store (http://www.itunes.com) which now includes over
75 Hollywood movies, 220 television shows and popular video games designed
specifically for the fifth generation iPod. The new iPod is available in a
30GB model at the new low price of $249 and an 80GB model, which holds up to
20,000 songs or 100 hours of video, for $349.
“The world’s best digital music player has evolved into the world’s most
popular portable video player too,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The new
iPod’s brighter and more vibrant display and longer battery life make it
perfect for watching Hollywood movies and TV shows right in the palm of your
hand.”
The new iPod features Apple’s patented Click Wheel for precise, one-handed
navigation, and is seamlessly integrated with iTunes 7, which now features
gapless playback for enjoying albums the way they were intended to be listened
to. iPod’s new Search and Quick Scroll feature makes it even easier for music
fans to find exactly what they are looking for and Apple’s patent pending
Auto-Sync technology automatically downloads digital music, podcasts, photos,
audiobooks, movies, music videos and popular TV shows onto the iPod and keeps
them up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into a Mac(R) or Windows
computer.
With its stunning high-resolution color display, iPod allows users to view
album art and photo slideshows while playing music, or watch video and play
games in full color. Popular video games designed specifically for the fifth
generation iPod include: “Bejeweled,” “Cubis 2,” “Mahjong,” “Mini Golf,”
“Pac-Man,” “Tetris,” “Texas Hold’em,” “Vortex” and “Zuma,” and are available
for purchase on the iTunes Store.
The 30GB model features up to 14 hours of battery life for music playback
and up to three and a half hours of video playback, and the 80GB model
features up to 20 hours of battery life for music playback and six and a half
hours of video playback.* The new iPod features brightness control allowing
users to easily change the brightness.
Pricing & Availability
The new iPod models are available worldwide through the Apple Store(R)
(http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The new
30GB iPod model in white or black is available for $249 (US), and the new 80GB
model in white or black is available for $349 (US). All iPod models include
redesigned earbud headphones providing superior comfort, fit and sound
quality, and a USB 2.0 cable.
Optional accessories for the new iPod include: Universal Dock for $39
(US), Apple Remote for $29 (US), Apple iPod AV cable for $19 (US), the iPod
Camera Connector for $29 (US) and a new incredibly compact iPod USB power
adapter for $29 (US) which at almost half the size of the previous USB power
adapter, is perfect for charging your iPod while traveling.
iPod requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS(R) X version 10.3.9 or
later and iTunes 7.0 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows
2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) and
iTunes 7.0 or later. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is
recommended.
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Slashdot
StumbleUpon
Comments
Other than the capacity improvement (and significant price cut!), the new 5G is pretty much like the old one. In fact, the new software update to 1.2 adds many of the same features to the previous 5G iPod. You get the new search functionality, game compatibility, and most importantly to me, you get 640x480 h.264 support (not personally verified).
And I personally prefer the 1G Nano design. The new one just looks like a shrunken iPod Mini.
But I definitely like the huge price cut, which I didn’t expect.
Okay, had a chance to update my iPod 60GB to 1.2, and so far there doesn’t seem to by any actual difference in actual features to the new 80GB beyond capacity and price.
I get 640x480 h264 support, iPod transfer of iTunes purchases, new search system, brightness control, and gapless playback.
Good news for me and other 60GB owners.
There is something missing from this report that I think is important, that is the new shuffle. I didn’t like the shuffle before but now I really like it. The cheap white plastic gone and in with new anodized aluminium (very nice), the shape has changed and it is now an integrated clip, it now sports a 1gig capacity and weighs only half an ounce. This is now the best thing for in the gym. Its small easy to put out the way no matter what you are doing (Ipod on the ergo (rowing machine) has always been a problem). The new shuffle shouldn’t be over looked just because the old one was not very good.