As expected , Apple refreshed its iPod batting order Wednesday , unveiling redesigned version of its iPod touch , iPod nano , and iPod shamble medicine players . But the company did n’t stop there , using its annual drop medicine event to also announce an update to its iTunes software system and an overhaul of its Apple tv set set - top boxwood .
The drop euphony event is an Apple tradition dating back at least six years , in which the caller typically turn over out new iPods in advance of the vacation shopping season . This year ’s edition take place in San Francisco Wednesday , with Apple CEO Steve Jobs leading a 90 - minute rill - through of his caller ’s music architectural plan for the come month .
Apple ’s new iPod lineup
Apple’s new iPod lineup
Those plans include a revamped iPod touch that adopt many of the features of its iPhone 4 vis-a-vis — including front - and - back - facing photographic camera and support for Apple ’s FaceTime television chat technology . The quaternary - generation cutaneous senses also sport the Retina display engineering introduce to the iPhone line this summer .
Available next hebdomad , the touch get in 8 GB , 32 GB , and 64 GB capacity , priced at $ 229 , $ 299 , and $ 399 , respectively .
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As for Apple ’s other iPod oblation , both the nano and shuffle have undergo ultra redesigns . The modish iPod nano now feature a touch - port on a chip - sized machine — it ’s 46 percentage smaller and 42 percent lighter than the previous nano .
The port of the new nano will remind users of the iPhone and iPod touch — it boast multiple Home screens adequate to of holding up to four icons each that substance abuser can scroll between .
The nano may come with a new design , but it ’s lost some capableness from previous generations . The picture camera Apple introduce to last year ’s nano offering is gone as is the power to play back videos .
The nano comes in seven color and in two capacities — a $ 149 8 GB exemplar and a $ 179 16 GB model . It ships next week .
The shambling also get a radical fresh aspect . A circular playback control regaining to the medicine actor , which also retain the premature reading support for multiple playlists and VoiceOver capableness for declare artists , album , and songs . Apple added backup for Genius play list to the shuffle , which now offer 15 hour of battery life .
useable next week , the shuffle comes in five unlike colours . The 2 GB music player cost $ 49 .
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iPod were n’t the only hardware to get a make - over Wednesday . Apple also inaugurate a minor variant of its Apple TV set - top box . The palm - sized black box will put the emphasis on streaming content , either from Apple ’s on-line iTunes Store or from a local gadget . accord to Jobs , that coming eliminates some of the issues users had with storing and syncing content with earlier versions of the Apple TV .
The revamped Apple boob tube cost $ 99 and is set to ship in four weeks .
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The other big announcement to come out of Wednesday ’s jam event was an update to iTunes , Apple ’s music nickelodeon and spiritualist management software . iTunes 10 features Ping , described by Jobs as “ Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes . ” The societal networking component let iTunes user follow their favorite creative person , who can interact with users via page on the iTunes Store . Users can also see what friends are buying , listen to , or check via Ping .
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While iPods film much of the focus on Wednesday , Apple had some word for iPhone and iPad substance abuser . The company previewed iOS 4.1 , an update aimed at iPhone and iPod touch users that introduce several fresh features while also unsex several bugs that have tag the roving operating system since its June release .
In addition , Apple previewed iOS 4.2 , an update for all its iOS twist include the iPad . It will send in November and give the iPad wireless impression capabilities , among other features .
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iOS 4.1 introduces Game Center , a feature of speech first preview when Apple direct the wraps off its iOS 4 update in the saltation . Game Center is both a set of genus Apis for developers and an app on the iPhone . It allows developers to easily implement multiplayer into their games while iPhone- and iPod touch - sum up gamers will be able to more easy dispute friend to game .
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