Today, at a very exclusive press event, Apple announced a sprinkle of new items.
As speculated, there is a new iPod out. Called The iPod, it has a 2.5" color screen, with QVGA resolution (320 x 240). Jobs claims the device will be 30% thinner than the current 20GB iPod, which would make it about .44" thick - slim. The iPod will be available in black, and will be offered at 30Gb and 60Gb sizes ($299 and $399 respectively). Apple say the device will do real-time decoding of MPEG4 and H.264. The devices will begin shipping next week, and, will come with a case. Apple is still getting flack over the scratch happy iPod nano; presumably made out of a similar design, the company doesn't appear interested in a repeat.
Apple have also announced updates to the iMac line. The new iMac is thinner, and has an in-built iSight video camera built in. Included is a new application called PhotoBooth. It lets you take pictures with the iSight and email them to friends, adding special effects, if you'd like. It even uses the iMac screen as a "flash" of sorts. The new models are $1299 for the 17 inch and $1699 for the 20 inch. Both include Bluetooth, Superdrives (DVD-RW/CD-RW) and a Mighty Mouse (Apple's new two-button mouse) and are available starting today. Full specs after the break.
Apple have also announced a new version of iTunes, coming out today. Version six, hot on the heels of a version five release literally weeks ago, will feature the ability to purchase music videos for $1.99. The store launches with 2,000 music videos. Said videos come with a similar DRM setup, allowing the playback of the videos on up to 5 computers. Next step, movies/TV? Bingo! Apple have signed up with ABC (think Lost, Desperate Housewives, etc) and users will be able to purchase shows for $1.99.
Other changes to the music store include 'gifting'; you purchase music for someone else, who receives and email and gets the music for free. Second, peer-reviewed customer reviews of content. Finally, an Amazon style recommendations service titled 'Just-for-you'.
Elsewhere in the software department, Jobs debuted FrontRow, shipping with all new iMacs. The program is essentially a media player allowing you to watch your videos / pictures etc on the iMac screen. The clever bit is the iPod style, six-button remote that it ships with.
This is the news so far; the news is without doubt exciting! We think there is more to come and will update this article in the coming minutes; check back soon!
View: Apple.com
Screenshot: iTunes + Lost | New iPod? | New iPod?
View: New iPod | iPod Remote | iMac (All at Apple store)
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