True to previous AppleInsider reports and expectations, Apple today officially introduced a new iPod, featuring a 2.5-inch color screen which can display album artwork and photos, and play video including music videos, video Podcasts, home movies and television shows.
âThe new iPod is the best music player everâit's 30 percent thinner and has 50 percent more storage than its predecessorâyet it sells for the same price and plays stunning video on its 2.5-inch color screen,â said Steve Jobs, Appleâs CEO. âBecause millions of people around the world will buy this new iPod to play music, it will quickly become the most popular portable video player in history.â
The new iPod plays music, audiobooks, audio Podcasts, video Podcasts, home movies, music videos and popular television shows like âLostâ and âDesperate Housewives.â
The combination of iPod and iTunes 6 now provides customers with a seamless experience for buying, managing and playing video as well as audio content, including over 2,000 music videos, six short films from the Academy-Award winning Pixar Animation Studios, and five television shows from ABC and Disney Channel, including the immensely popular âLostâ and âDesperate Housewives.â
The new iPod combines all of the features that have made the iPod one of the best music players in the world with new features such as the ability to view video content on a larger stunning color display.
The new iPod features Appleâs innovative Click Wheel for precise, one-handed navigation and the portable design is ideal for putting music, Podcasts, photos, audiobooks, home movies, music videos and popular television shows in a pocket for on-the-go viewing. iPod users can also watch their video content and slideshows of their photos on a television via optional Apple accessories.
Featuring integration with the iTunes Music Store and the iTunes digital music jukebox, iPod features Appleâs patent pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads digital music, Podcasts, photos, audiobooks, home movies, music videos and popular television shows onto the iPod and keeps them up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer using USB 2.0. The 30GB model features up to 14 hours of battery life for music playback and the 60GB model features up to 20 hours of battery life for music playback.*
Pricing & Availability
The new iPods will begin shipping next week for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) for the 30GB model and $399 (US) for the 60GB model through the Apple Store, Appleâs retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. All iPod models include earbud headphones, USB 2.0 cable, case, dock insert and a CD with iTunes for Mac and Windows computers.
Optional accessories designed for the new iPod include: Universal Dock for $39 (US), giving users easy access to a USB port for syncing, IR support to work with the Apple Remote and a variable line out and S-video connections for integration within the living room; Apple Remote for $29 (US), providing wireless integration to the Universal Dock and quick and easy access to controls from across the room; Apple iPod AV cable for $19 (US), enabling television viewing of video content in full-screen; the iPod Camera Connector for $29 (US); and Apple Socks for $29 (US) providing six vibrant color socks to dress up and protect your iPod.
iPod requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 6; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional (SP2) and iTunes 6.
58 Comments
amazing
Love the thin shape and bigger screen!
Stepping into video/movies gradually with videos and TV reruns makes sense. Although the most fun for me would be showing your OWN little movies, output to TV.
Too bad about no more booting from iPods. You can't do that without Firewire can you? I guess Firewire would have added cost or size. Not worth it then. A shame--I'm one of the few who actually boots off my iPod But fear not, Apple's not ditching FW. It just didn't make business sense on the iPod anymore. (No, it's not an optional cable--not that I can see.)
One cool thing: the new iPod dock has a receiver for the new Apple Remote! (Which does mean the remote is IR I fear, not BT. Too bad--I don't like line-of-sight.)
i checked out the specs and there's no firewire support! THERE'S NO FIREWIRE! AHHHH!!!
Is Firewire completely unsupported now?
Firewire seems to be completely unsupported (except maybe for charging) now on all iPods.
Too bad--but it's a business decision. Demand for it--for iPods--was very low (but vocal ) and it would have cost something. (And might be one more thing to try to fit into the thin body, too.)
BUT Firewire is here to stay on Macs, camcorders, iSight... and yes, even (some) PCs
It IS faster than USB 2 for long transfers. But most iPod syncs are short transfers, so I can see why demand was low.