Steve Jobs Unveils New iPods, Updates for iTunes, iPhone

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 9, 2009 - 7:53am.

San Francisco - Apple (NASD: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs took the stage on Wednesday for the first time since undergoing a liver transplant earlier this year, to unveil upgraded and discounted iPods, including a video-capable iPod nano, as well as updates to its iTunes and iPhone software. Jobs compared the new video-capable iPod nano to the popular Flip video camera, noting that it is a fifth as thick as the Flip, and one-tenth of its volume. The new nano -- which will sell for $149 (8GB) and $179 (16GB) -- will now also sport a larger 2.2-inch display and built-in speaker.

Price cuts for the iPod were leaked online hours before the event, but the entry-level 8GB iPod touch will now sell for $199, while a 32GB model will cost $299, and a new 64GB model will be priced at $399.

The company also upped the capacity of its $249 iPod Classic, to 160GB. The iPod shuffle was discounted to $59 (2GB) and $79 (4GB), while a new stainless steel 4GB model will be priced at $99.

Jobs reported total iPod sales to date of 220 million, which includes over 20 million iPod touches, and 110 million iPod nanos.

The iPod commands 73.8% of the MP3 player market, compared with SanDisk (7%) and Microsoft (1%).

Jobs also noted that the iTunes Store is now the world's largest music retailer, with shops open in 23 countries. Over 100 million accounts have been created, and the store has to date sold 8.5 billion songs.

The iTunes Store will now stock some 30,000 ready-made ringtones from the major labels, to be priced at $1.29 each.

An upgrade to iTunes (iTunes 9) was announced, which includes iTunes LP -- a new format that includes music videos, liner notes, and album artwork.

A new "home sharing" feature allows users to move songs, movies and TV shows across iTunes libraries on up to five computers in a house.

Jobs announced that iPhone sales have topped 30 million, and introduced an update to the device's software (iPhone OS 3.1), which includes features like improved Genius playlists.

The App Store now counts 75,000 applications, which have been downloaded 1.8 billion times (not counting updates). That includes 21,000 games, which compares to 3,600 titles available for the Nintendo DS, and 600 for Sony's PSP.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/rplcy (Ars Technica)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10323196-37.html