Apple's overhaul of its iPod roster brings about several appealing developments: video on the Nano; a wireless version of the iTunes Music Store; and an iPhone without the, um, phone.
I got my hands on the new iPods when they were unveiled Wednesday. I'll reserve final judgment until I've put them through the ringer. But here are my initial impressions:
• iPod Touch. It has the same lovely 3.5-inch multitouch wide-screen display as the iPhone's, plus Wi-Fi and access to YouTube. And as with iPhone, you can pinch pictures to make them smaller or larger, or rotate the device to its side to automatically change the screen orientation to landscape mode or bring up "Cover Flow," a view of album cover art.
Fortunately, unlike the iPhone, you won't need a special adapter to plug in third-party headphones.
Other differences from its cell phone sibling? There's no built-in speaker, weather or stock widgets, Bluetooth, e-mail, or AT&T phone service contract. An 8-gigabyte model costs $299, and a 16GB version, $399.
• Nano. In replacing Nanos with redesigned versions, Apple has shoved aside its best-selling iPod models. Apple previously took the same bold step in replacing iPod Minis. The latest Nanos are yummy to look at and hold. There's a fresh batch of colors and a new svelte, rectangular design. Still, some folks will prefer the current look. A silver 4GB version costs $149; 8GB models come in silver, black, blue, green and red, at $199.
But video is the headline addition. You can now watch movies, TV shows and podcasts on a two-inch screen (320-by-240 resolution) that's brighter and larger than its predecessor. Apple says the latest Nanos deliver battery life of up to 24 hours of audio playback, and five hours of video. Also new to the Nano line: Cover Flow and a spiffier interface.
• iPod Classic. Traditional iPods have morphed into the newly named iPod Classic, in silver and black - but not white - in either 80GB or 160GB capacities. The latter holds up to 40,000 songs or 200 hours of video. That appeals to folks like me, who like hauling a far larger collection of music than Nanos permit.
Classic models also are thinner and encased in aluminum and stainless steel. Apple says the largest unit can deliver up to 40 hours of music playback or seven hours of video off a single charge.
• iPhone. If you spent $599 for an 8GB iPhone recently you're not cheering Wednesday's $200 drop in price. Everyone else ought to. Of course, you still must sign with AT&T for two years.
I'm thrilled you can now use iTunes to create 30-second custom ringtones from your library. Cost: 99 cents (plus the price of a song you don't already own).
• Wi-Fi Music Store. Both the iPhone and iPod Touch will take advantage of a new iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, letting you browse, preview and buy songs on the fly. Songs arrived in seconds during Apple CEO Steve Jobs' demonstrations; I'm eager to try it myself. Moreover, through an Apple/Starbucks partnership the companies will roll out through 2009, your iPhone or Touch can recognize songs playing in a Starbucks. You can buy the tune for your device while sipping java.
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