September 5, 2007 Apple’s major announcement of the iPod touch was accompanied by a raft of other significant announcements including the introduction the new iPod classic, featuring 80GB or 160GB of storage, an iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, a new version of iTunes (7.4 - download here) with a custom Ringtone Maker and an all new iPod nano, with video playback on a two-inch display with 204 dpi (effectively the same resolution as the video iPod) and the news it is lowering the price of the 8GB iPhone from US$599 to US$399.
The new iPod classic
Now in its sixth generation, the new iPod classic delivers all the features customers love about their iPods, plus an enhanced user interface featuring Cover Flow and a new all-metal enclosure. iPod classic is priced at just US$249 for the 80GB model and US$349 for the 160GB model.
"With a thinner, all-metal enclosure and an enhanced user interface, the iPod classic is ideal for people who want to hold everything on their iPod," said Steve Jobs.
The new iPod classic holds up to 160GB of storage in an all-metal anodised aluminium and polished stainless steel enclosure. iPod classic works seamlessly with iTunes so you can import, manage and then easily sync your favourite content. You can buy music, video and games for your iPod classic from the iTunes Store with more than six million songs available for preview and one-click purchase.
The new iPod classic features up to 40 hours of music playback and seven hours of video playback in the 160GB model, and up to 30 hours of music playback and five hours of video playback in the 80GB model on a single charge, letting users enjoy their entire collections of music, audiobooks, audio and video podcasts, music videos, television shows and movies wherever they go.
The new iPod classic is perfect for playing iPod games and comes pre-loaded with iQuiz, the entertainment trivia game; Vortex, a fast-paced 360 degree brick-bashing game; and Klondike, the popular solitaire card game. Additional games will be available for purchase for the new iPod classic later this month from the iTunes Store, including Sudoku and Tetris from Electronic Arts and Ms. PAC-MAN from NAMCO.
Both iPod classic models are available immediately worldwide in silver and black. The 80GB iPod classic model is US$249 and the 160GB iPod classic is US$349.
The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
The new iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, offering music fans the ability to browse, search, preview, purchase and download songs and albums from the iTunes Music Store over a Wi-Fi network directly onto their iPod touch or iPhone. With the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, music fans can start enjoying their music purchases immediately on their iPod touch or iPhone with no computer required.
Once they connect their iPod touch or iPhone back to their PC or Mac, downloaded music will automatically sync back into their iTunes library. If users have only partially downloaded a song or album onto their iPod touch or iPhone, their computer will complete the download automatically. Prices and selection on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store are the same as on the regular iTunes Store.
In addition, iTunes customers will now be able to create custom ringtones by selecting up to a 30-second segment from over a million participating songs on iTunes and easily sync them onto their iPhone. Once a customer has purchased a participating song from iTunes, including previously purchased participating songs, it will only cost 99 cents to make up to a 30-second segment of that song into a ringtone and easily sync it onto their iPhone.
Customers can personalize their ringtones by choosing which portion of the song they want to use, and setting custom fade in and fade out points. iPhone users can assign a custom ringtone to be their default ringtone and they can also assign them to individual callers in their address book. Customers still have full use of the originally purchased song.
iTunes 7.4
Announced today, iTunes 7.4 is available as a free download here and includes a larger viewing area for movies and TV, filling the entire iTunes window. You can now rate entire albums as well as individual songs.
The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store and has become the number three music retailer in the US, surpassing both Amazon and Target. The iTunes Store features the world's largest catalogue with over six million songs, 550 television shows and over 500 movies and has sold over three billion songs, 100 million TV shows and over two million movies.
The new iPod nano
The new iPod nano offers video playback, an enhanced user interface featuring Cover Flow, and a new design. The new nano features a larger two-inch display with 204 pixels per inch, which lets users watch their favourite movies, TV shows and music videos in the same resolution they currently enjoy on the video iPod. iPod nano also includes three games, and additional games can be purchased from the online iTunes Store.
The new nano delivers up to 24 hours of audio playback or five hours of video playback on a single charge, and is encased in a new all-metal design made with anodised aluminum and polished stainless steel and comes in five new colors -- silver, black, blue, green and a special red edition.
The new 204 dpi display is 65 percent brighter than the previous generation and delivers 320x240 resolution. It also features an enhanced user interface and includes Cover Flow.
The all new iPod nano is perfect for playing iPod games and comes pre-loaded with iQuiz, an entertainment trivia game; Vortex, a fast-paced 360 degree brick-bashing game; and Klondike, the popular solitaire card game. Additional games will be available for iPod nano later this month from the iTunes Store, including Sudoku and Tetris from Electronic Arts and Ms. PAC-MAN from NAMCO.
Available today, the 4GB iPod nano comes in silver for just US$149 and the 8GB model is available in silver, black, blue, green and a special red edition for just US$199.