Apple unveils some new iPods and other gadgets

During Apple's yearly convention whether it be on the iPhone or iPod there is always something good to come from them.  Whether it be Steve Jobs sporting a new sleeker turtleneck sweater or whatever those Apple Developers come up with software or stylistically it is always a great pleasure to see what they come up with.  This years iPod exhibition was no exception here is what was dropped on the world.

New iPod Touch design and software

Every year Apple redesigns their lineup from top to bottom and this year they did it again.  Unlike previous years where the iPod looks similar to the iPhone this years iPod Touch had some resemblance to the iPhone but mostly in the software department.  You now get Face Time just like the iPhone.  The Retina Display came along for the ride and some other iPhone software like HD video recording gets packed into a slimmer case then the iPhone but that is mostly due to the iPod is the iPhone without the contract.  Of course the new iPod will be available for order in the next week or so and the prices are just as they have been before.  More GB you need the more money you will spend.  Even though they didn't show or announce it the iPod Classic is still alive and well in the iPod lineup.  $229 for 8GB $299 for 32G and $399 for 64 GB...funny for 16GB or 128GB offering.

Lil iPod's start to get fancy!

The younger smaller brothers to the iPod got some updating as well. The iPod Nano is now boxier with touchscreen and apps!  The downside is that there is no longer the camera that the old Nano had nor does their appear to be any video playback.  But if you are type of guy who enjoys to touch and not use a scroll wheel than this Nano is for you.  $149 for 8GB $179 for 16GB

The shuffle is new yet old again

For the iPod shuffle Apple realized they made a boo boo and brought back the click wheel.  The old Shuffle had done away with buttons in favor of no buttons and once Apple saw that the Shuffle was the bastard child of the group they decided to "Bring Back The Wheel!".  You still get VoiceOver playlists that lets you know which playlist you are in and other than that...it's still just a iPod Shuffle.

Apple TV comes out with a puck?

Apple TV got revamped and now it looks like a really big hockey puck.  It streams from your computer to the TV screen, connects to the internet to stream HD content (when available)  movies and television shows.  Has an Ethernet port and a HDMI port so you can plug it right into your high speed cable and big screen TV with no worries.  One downside is that you have no storage capabilities so you are only renting items and not purchasing them.  Lucky for you all rental prices are quite reasonable.  $4.99 movie rentals and $.99 COMMERCIAL FREE TV shows.  You can also get your usual internet goodies from Netflix, Youtube, flickr and MobileMe.  Apple TV will be available in 4 weeks and will set ya back $99 when it is available.

One more thing

Apple also showed what AirPlay is capable of with a quick demo.  You can watch something on your iPad and you can now push it to your Apple TV and finish watching it there.  Or push it to your laptop or iPod. That is pretty amazing and quite handy for the Apple lovers out there.  It also works with Photos as well. Apple also demo'd the next Apple Operating System iOS 4.2.  From the looks of things they are really boosting the iPad's capabilities including wireless printing to any printer that is within range of wireless signals.     Apple is also pushing the iPhone, iPads, iPod Touch to the next gaming level with co-operative games and challenging people over the air and using the UnReal Engine and I must say the game looked fantastic and quite smooth.  

Overall

I am not much an Apple guy but they surely did take every product up a few notches with software and hardware and capabilities.  Should be quite the exciting year for good ol Apple.  
 

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