Apple's iPod refresh: What you need to know
Apple on Wednesday unveiled a refreshed lineup of iPods, as well as new iTunes, and iPhone/iPod Touch system software at an invite-only event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco.
While there were no tablet computers, or an updated version of the Apple TV (as rumors had suggested), Apple's CEO Steve Jobs surprised everyone by anchoring the keynote, making it his first public appearance since October 2008.
Read on to get a quick overview of what was announced, and why it matters.
Price cuts and new hardware
Apple introduced an updated version of the iPod Nano that sports a built-in video camera and microphone located on the lower left-hand side. It also features a slightly larger 2.2-inch display, up from 2 inches. There is still no Wi-Fi or built-in Web browser, so users will first have to sync the videos to their computers to access and edit the files. The upgraded device also has an FM tuner, a feature iPod users have been pining for, for a very long time.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs takes to the stage once again to demo the new camera and FM tuner-equipped iPod Nanos.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)The new iPod Nano will come in two versions, one 8GB ($149), and one 16GB ($179). That represents a $20 price cut on the high end. The system software also makes use of some of the added features in iTunes 9, like Genius Mixes. And it's inherited the VoiceOver control from its siblings, the iPod Shuffle and Touch.
The buttonless iPod Shuffle remains, though there are new colors, capacities and a lower entry price. The new 2GB flavor, which is available in five colors, runs $59, along with the same colors in a 4GB version that costs $79. There's also a $99, 4GB "special edition" that's made of polished stainless steel and currently available only at Apple's online and retail stores.
The low end of the iPod Touch line got price cuts, and the device got capacity bumps on the higher end. The 8GB model is now $199, down from $229. Meanwhile, the 16GB model has been shelved in favor of a 32GB version, which costs $299. At the high end, users can now get a 64GB model, which runs $399. Both the 32GB and 64GB models are packing faster internals, similar if not the same to the recently released iPhone 3GS, and are now capable of OpenGL ES 2.0 which boosts 3D performance.
The iPod Classic remains untouched in features and price, although the capacity has been bumped from 120GB to 160GB.
New software
iPhone/iPod OS 3.1
Apple announced the release Wednesday of OS 3.1, which will be a free update to both iPhone and iPod Touch owners.
With 3.1, users on both platforms can now get Genius recommendations for applications they've purchased. These show up in the App Store app, as well as in iTunes, and function in a similar fashion to Genius for music. It takes your purchase information and sends it to Apple, which will analyze it for similar purchases, and offer up recommendations. This may end up being a more precise system since there are fewer apps than music tracks.
3.1 also adds a new security feature for iPhone owners--the capability to lock down the device over the air using MobileMe. Previously, if your phone was lost or stolen, this feature would only be enabled if the user had set it that way.
iTunes 9
Apple introduced a new version of iTunes, which offers iPhone and iPod Touch users a way to better organize applications they have added to the device. Users can now drag and drop apps to multiple home screens at once, instead of doing so on the device itself.
iPhone and iPod Touch users can now rearrange apps on their home screen right in iTunes, instead of on the device itself.
(Credit: Apple)Another new feature in iTunes 9 that users in households are sure to enjoy is something called Home Sharing. This lets you automatically sync purchases across multiple computers within a household. This means they don't have to be redownloaded, or transferred from portable devices, which can save time if you're in a hurry.
The Genius feature and DJ feature have been mashed together to create something called Genius Mixes. The software can create multiple stations of music without the user having to pick a song for it to start from.
The software also has a new purchase-centric feature called iTunes LP, that adds a handful of digital pack-ins to purchased albums such as liner notes, photos, videos, lyrics, and links to online resources. This confirmed rumors Apple had been cooking up such a feature going back earlier this year.
In the same vein of iTunes LP, there's iTunes Extras--basically repackaged bonus features from movies and TV shows. This aims to add a little more value to rented and purchased video content, and steer customers toward Apple's store instead of some of the competition.
Other tidbits
• Apple is now offering 30,000 ready-made ringtones for $1.29 a pop. These come from all four major labels, and differ from the current system, which allows you to make your own ringtone from any song you've purchased from the store for a fee of 99 cents. The new system cuts out the need to even buy the song.
• Apple has sold 30 million iPhones since the launch of the device.
• More than 20 million iPod Touches have been sold.
• More than 100 million iPod Nanos have been sold.
• Users have downloaded 1.8 billion apps from a catalog of more than 75,000.
• Apple has 100 million registered iTunes users.
• Users have submitted more than 27 million music libraries to contribute to the Genius feature, totaling 54 billion songs.
• iPhone developer Tapulous demonstrated an upcoming title called Riddim Ribbon that lets players race on their own music tracks. Looks quite similar to PC title Audiosurf.
• EA demonstrated Madden 10 which uses virtual, onscreen controls.
• Gameloft has had 20 million game downloads. The company demonstrated a new first-person shooter game called Nova that's reminiscent of Halo.
Correction: This post initially included some incorrect pricing information. The OS 3.1 update only costs money for those who had not yet upgraded to 3.0 or higher. Also, the iPod Shuffle price cut refers to the 2GB model.
Related stories
Video: Jobs, new iPods take the Apple stage
Photos: Apple event high notes
Josh Lowensohn writes for Webware.com, CNET's blog about Web applications and services. E-mail Josh, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Josh. 
Remember, it's an accounting practice that they have to follow. Yes.... other companies do the same and charge zero or a penny per instance and take a loss to offer the upgrades to avoid angering customers, but Apple doesn't follow this model, instead charging customers for what other companies choose to give away free. That's Apple's choice and your choice if you buy the product. Deal with it.
Remember, Apple isn't in this for the good will or charity. They are a for profit business and you have to give them credit to be able to get people to pay for things like this. And they will. I know I will fork over yet another upgrade fee for my Touch. I'm used to bending over when it comes to Apple. It's just the way they operate.
Interesting. Inconsistent actions generate very interesting questions as to the reasons behind these moves.
Sorry, can't think of any reason. You'll do it anyways though. You know you will.
When your OS doesn't handle the app, the app won't install, and you get no message telling you why. Of course you can check the compatibility notes, but, a message box would be easy enough to pop up, no?
and will there not be a new touch with a camera?
Microsoft might double its market with the ZuneHD and reach 2.2%.
The iPod and iTunes saved Apple... it's their cash cow and they will use it to rape your wallet. Microsoft doesn't need to pillage your bank account to make money, so they don't need to charge for a firmware update.
I love my iPhone and Touch... it just makes no sense why I have to pay to upgrade one and not the other.
Microsoft (and other companies) often compete by figuring out how to make money on large installed bases and are more likely to compete on price where they have low market share. Charging for Zune updates wouldn't even be noticeable in MSFT revenues; conversely, they aren't giving away Windows 7. The same applies to Apple: They have an installed base and are trying to figure out how to profit from it. Both Microsoft and Apple have successfully charged their customers to update their operating systems.
Personally, I don't think $10 or $29 is exorbitant, but conversely, I'm not planning to upgrade for my Touch. I wouldn't even bother if it were free. I'm also not upgrading to Windows 7 -- Vista now works for me. I'll just get Windows 7 when I upgrade my laptop next year.
Also the Home Sharing sounds great. It will save me a lot of time syncing the libraries on my two Macs and iPods.
Not a good position to be in, so $4.95 is much more likely.
So maybe the live blog is wrong.
I know that a company can't keep inovating all the time, but this time arround, they could really use some new features. The zune HD is looking good, hope Microsoft doesn't screw it up, have and iPhone so don't really care but competition is always good $-)
Actually, they have as per music - they got rid of it. Also, iTunes lets you strip the DRM off of anything in it.
Can the Zune do that?
Was going to retire my old 3G 30GB for a new 64GB touch, but at $400, that's an iPhone AND a classic.
No Beatles . . . some things never change.
Very weird how all *6* people who own a zune in the US are trolling on this thread :/
Honestly, I don't think that there would be enough demand to justify a 250GB iPod in addition to a 160GB even if Apple weren't opposed to making a thicker ipod because a 250GB iPod would be more expensive and even Apple who historically has been stingy about price cuts has gotten into price cutting mode this year (eg. look at the MBP price cuts this year.). The ipod classic by many estimates is the least popular model and only hasn't been discontinued because it fills a small niche market that a flash player couldn't affordable fill as of yet.
Don't flame me, I have an iPod, I don't know which one or what generation, haven't used it in over a year.
- by FranckMartin September 9, 2009 1:43 PM PDT
- I always wondered if you can get the mobileme features after you lost your phone? $99 to locate your lost phone, I'll pay for it anytime, but otherwise, the current mobileme features are not useful to me.
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- by SiliconValleyJoe September 9, 2009 7:08 PM PDT
- "Hating" iTune may not do any good. I believe music and movie companies have distribution channels they protect overseas.
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (94 Comments)One thing I hate about iTunes, is to regionally code everything. There is no world store. And thing found on one store are not available in another... Got some rebate coupon from movies I purchased in the US, but cannot use them on the French store and I live in Fiji... Grrr....
http://www.avonsys.com/
twitter: FranckMartin
This is NO different than getting a Region-1 DVD that will not play in Asia or an Asian DVD that will not play here.