Apple unveils iPod touch and iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
Apple on Wednesday catered to the demands of iPod users worldwide, unveiling a new "iPod touch" player featuring the company's revolutionary multi-touch user interface that enables users to find and enjoy all of their music, videos and more on its widescreen display with just the touch of a finger.
iPod touch
First introduced on iPhone, the multi-touch interface uses pioneering new Mac OS X-based software to present the ideal user interface for each application. The iPod touch also includes Wi-Fi wireless networking, the first on any iPod, and three applications that use it -- Safari, the most advanced browser on any mobile device, lets users wirelessly view web pages just as they look on their computer, and features Google Search or Yahoo! oneSearch; Apple's YouTube application lets users wirelessly watch over 10 million free videos from the Internet's most popular video website; and the new iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store lets users wirelessly browse, preview and buy songs and albums from the most popular online music store in the world. The iPod touch is an unbelievable 8 mm thin, and is priced starting at just $299.
"The iPod touch is a landmark iPod, ushering in a whole new generation of features based on its revolutionary multi-touch interface and built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "People are going to be amazed at how thin it is and how much it does."
With its 3.5-inch widescreen display, iPod touch is ideal for watching movies and TV shows, as well as viewing photos and album art. The player also features a built-in accelerometer that automatically senses when you rotate it into its landscape position, just like iPhone. When you're in music, it automatically switches to Cover Flow so you can browse your music collection by album cover artwork with just a flick of a finger. When in Photos, it automatically displays the photo in its landscape aspect ratio; and when in Safari it displays the web page horizontally.
iPod touch -- which features up to 22 hours of audio playback and up to five hours of video playback -- also has a built-in ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the display's brightness.
iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
Also launched alongside the iPod touch is Apple's iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, which lets you browse the iTunes Top Ten lists of songs and albums overall or by genre, check out new releases and "What's Hot," or search for your favorite songs, albums or artists.
You can preview any song for free, then purchase and download the ones you like directly onto your iPod touch over Wi-Fi. The music you download will be automatically uploaded into your iTunes library the next time you sync your iPod touch with your computer.
With Safari, which Apple says is the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device, you can see web pages the way they were meant to be seen, with the ability to zoom into any webpage with a tap of your finger. The Safari web browser includes built-in Google Search and Yahoo! oneSearch so you can quickly and easily find information you need. iPod touch also includes Apple's proprietary YouTube application that allows you to access, browse and search for millions of free YouTube videos over Wi-Fi.
Starbucks partnership
Apple also announced an exclusive agreement with Starbucks that allows you to access the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store for free in participating US Starbucks stores starting next month. When you enter a participating Starbucks location, your iPod touch, iPhone, or PC or Mac running iTunes will automatically recognize the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. You can see what song is currently playing or has recently played in the store, and immediately preview, buy and download it over Wi-Fi.
Pricing & Availability
The new iPod touch is scheduled to be available later this month. The 8GB iPod touch model is $299 (US) and the 16GB iPod model is $399 (US). iPod touch requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later and iTunes 7.4; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) or later and iTunes 7.4. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended, fees may apply. The iTunes Store is not available in all countries.
iPod touch
First introduced on iPhone, the multi-touch interface uses pioneering new Mac OS X-based software to present the ideal user interface for each application. The iPod touch also includes Wi-Fi wireless networking, the first on any iPod, and three applications that use it -- Safari, the most advanced browser on any mobile device, lets users wirelessly view web pages just as they look on their computer, and features Google Search or Yahoo! oneSearch; Apple's YouTube application lets users wirelessly watch over 10 million free videos from the Internet's most popular video website; and the new iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store lets users wirelessly browse, preview and buy songs and albums from the most popular online music store in the world. The iPod touch is an unbelievable 8 mm thin, and is priced starting at just $299.
"The iPod touch is a landmark iPod, ushering in a whole new generation of features based on its revolutionary multi-touch interface and built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking," said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. "People are going to be amazed at how thin it is and how much it does."
With its 3.5-inch widescreen display, iPod touch is ideal for watching movies and TV shows, as well as viewing photos and album art. The player also features a built-in accelerometer that automatically senses when you rotate it into its landscape position, just like iPhone. When you're in music, it automatically switches to Cover Flow so you can browse your music collection by album cover artwork with just a flick of a finger. When in Photos, it automatically displays the photo in its landscape aspect ratio; and when in Safari it displays the web page horizontally.
iPod touch -- which features up to 22 hours of audio playback and up to five hours of video playback -- also has a built-in ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the display's brightness.
iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
Also launched alongside the iPod touch is Apple's iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, which lets you browse the iTunes Top Ten lists of songs and albums overall or by genre, check out new releases and "What's Hot," or search for your favorite songs, albums or artists.
You can preview any song for free, then purchase and download the ones you like directly onto your iPod touch over Wi-Fi. The music you download will be automatically uploaded into your iTunes library the next time you sync your iPod touch with your computer.
With Safari, which Apple says is the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device, you can see web pages the way they were meant to be seen, with the ability to zoom into any webpage with a tap of your finger. The Safari web browser includes built-in Google Search and Yahoo! oneSearch so you can quickly and easily find information you need. iPod touch also includes Apple's proprietary YouTube application that allows you to access, browse and search for millions of free YouTube videos over Wi-Fi.
Starbucks partnership
Apple also announced an exclusive agreement with Starbucks that allows you to access the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store for free in participating US Starbucks stores starting next month. When you enter a participating Starbucks location, your iPod touch, iPhone, or PC or Mac running iTunes will automatically recognize the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. You can see what song is currently playing or has recently played in the store, and immediately preview, buy and download it over Wi-Fi.
Pricing & Availability
The new iPod touch is scheduled to be available later this month. The 8GB iPod touch model is $299 (US) and the 16GB iPod model is $399 (US). iPod touch requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later and iTunes 7.4; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) or later and iTunes 7.4. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended, fees may apply. The iTunes Store is not available in all countries.
Comments
Definatly getting an iPod Touch when the storage is higher, though I'm guessing I maybe waiting for a while!
Now every iPod with a screen can play video. Presumably they all run OS X and two devices that use Safari. Which will have Apple sellig millions more devices that use Safari increasing its marketshare.
soooo pissed off that i spent an extra $200 on my phone than i needed to.
fastest selling launch in history? and fastest to piss off the early adopters.
Hmmm 8Gb and 16Gb is that it?
Definatly getting an iPod Touch when the storage is higher, though I'm guessing I maybe waiting for a while!
I tell you what. You develop NAND Memory that makes 32Gig chipsets affordable and you'll get your wish.
WTF Jobs?!?!?
soooo pissed off that i spent an extra $200 on my phone than i needed to.
fastest selling launch in history? and fastest to piss off the early adopters.
F-off. Be thankful you could afford that original price. Most people can't. Now they will have a greater chance and Apple will have a greater chance of success.
What's next? Going to bitch that HDTV/HDMI sets are dropping madly and you spent twice a year prior what they cost now?
Pretty exciting announcements, but I have to say that I am majorly pissed about the iPhone announcement. I bought a 4GB iPhone about 2 months ago, and now it's gone - really Steve ... why release a product that you're going to kill in a matter of months. Why didn't you just hold the iPhone until well - today. No significant updates for the iPhone since it's release, other the WiFi store today and the stability updates. Really, really frustrating ... other than that though I thought it was a pretty good announcement. I like the fatty nano, and keeping the iPod classic with the 80 GB minimum. Now we'll sit back and see if iPhone and iPod touch deveopment app development will go hand in hand...
Sorry about your iPhone purchase, but that's life with Apple.
I'm very excited that they are finally expanding their offerings. iPod Touch and the fatso are gonna be huuuuuuuuuge sellers this season. Did I mention huge?
A little weird they didn't bump the shuffle to 2GB, but no biggie, they are still selling like crazy.
Yes, their interfaces suck.
No, they don't sync ideally with iTunes.
But I get access to my music when and how I want it. And there are many of us 80gb iPod owners who didn't buy the iPod because it had a glamorous touch screen, but because they wanted all of their music on one device.
Cheers, Apple. You lost me on this one.
iPods sell like hot cakes, so they need a lot of flash, so the prices will drop.
Sorry about your iPhone purchase, but that's life with Apple.
I'm very excited that they are finally expanding their offerings. iPod Touch and the fatso are gonna be huuuuuuuuuge sellers this season. Did I mention huge?
A little weird they didn't bump the shuffle to 2GB, but no biggie, they are still selling like crazy.
Eh, it's cool ... I bought the iMac G5 three days before they moved it to Intel - I didn't think it'd move over so fast since they had just updated it, but oh well. I decided to keep it anyway and I've enjoyed it. The good news is maybe in like 30 years my 4 GB iPhone will be one heck of a collectors item. If I didn't already have more than enough iPods, I'd seriously consider getting the iPod classic for the storage, but oh well - my credit card is still hurting from the iPhone and new MacBook Pro - no more Apple for me for a little while!
If your only issue is capacity then why not sell your current ipod and move to the 160GB classic?
F-off. Be thankful you could afford that original price. Most people can't. Now they will have a greater chance and Apple will have a greater chance of success.
What's next? Going to bitch that HDTV/HDMI sets are dropping madly and you spent twice a year prior what they cost now?
You know, I think he's right. I'm an AAPL shareholder and I still think it's not cool to do that to early adopters--2 months after an ultra-hyped product to just discount 33%? It's disconcerting, but I think they reassessed their strategy after more data came in, and it's the right thing to do, and there's no easy solution to not piss off the early adopters (who will be rightfully pissed).
The prices are good, and the features are good though.