bandes-storch blog

As you may have known, Apple today announced the refreshing of its full iPod product line. This included new colors for the iPod shuffle, a redesigned Nano, the renaming of the old iPod, and the introduction of a new touchscreen Wi-Fi–enabled iPod. Also announced were iPhone price cuts, an iTunes wireless store, and a partnership with Starbucks.

Update: Apple has now posted the keynote for your viewing pleasure.

Both iPod shuffle and iPod nano are available in (PRODUCT)RED versions.

iPod shuffle

The main update to the Shuffle was a new color scheme.
All colors are available in a $79 1GB model.

iPod nano

The iPod nano was completely redesigned. It now sports a much shorter figure, and a very slightly rounded aluminum bezel. It can also now play video on a very high-resolution screen.

This thing is thin. And when I say thin, I mean REALLY thin. Like six-and-a-half-millimeters thin. Beautiful, though not everyone might think so.

The iPod nano is available in silver (4GB, $149), and all colors (8GB, $199).

iPod classic

Formerly called just the iPod, the iPod classic is also entirely redesigned, with a similar form to the iPod Nano. It is available in both black and silver, in 80GB ($249) and 160GB ($349) models.

iPod touch

The iPod touch is what I like to refer to as an iPhone minus phone minus EDGE minus stocks minus maps minus weather minus camera minus SMS minus notes, plus 8GB. It is an iPod that resembles the iPhone, with a matte bezel, a thinner figure, more storage, and fewer features. Its features are Safari, YouTube, a calendar, contacts, clock, calculator, settings, music (duh.), videos (duh.), photos (duh.), and the iTunes wireless store. 8GB ($299) and 16GB ($399) models are available.

iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store

A new introduction today was a wireless version of the iTunes store. It allows people to listen to song previews and purchase full songs, which are downloaded directly onto their device. These songs are transferred to the user’s computer when the device is synced.

The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store is available on the iPod touch, and in a free software update for the iPhone.

Starbucks Partnership

Apple also today announced a partnership with Starbucks, in which people with devices that have the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store will be able to go to a Starbucks store, and see the song that is currently playing at that location. The user will be able to purchase that song. They will also be able to do the same with the last 10 songs that were played at that store.

iPhone

The iPhone received a $200 price drop, and the 4GB models were discontinued. This places the 8GB model at $399. All remaining 4GB models are being sold at $299. Curse you, Steve.

A new ringtone creator will be introduced with the next iTunes update. This will allow users to take eligible songs they have already purchased and select a clip up to 30 seconds for a ringtone. This service costs $.99 for songs you’ve already purchased, or $1.89 for buying a song and making it a ringtone.