"Official" New iPod discussion thread

[UNCjigga]

UPDATE: THE GEAR

- iPhone PRICE DROP! - $399 for 8GB (4GB discontinued? Is there a 16GB model coming soon?)
* iTunes WiFi Store coming soon (with next update)

- New iPod shuffle (new colors) - $79 for 1GB

- New iPod nano - $149 for 4GB (silver only) / $199 for 8GB (multiple colors)
* New UI with CoverFlow
* Video support (320x240 at 204ppi)
* Game support
* Improved battery life: 24 hours audio / 5 hours video

- New iPod classic - $249 for 80GB / $349 for 160GB
* New UI with CoverFlow
* Metal case
* Thinner than 5.5g iPod
* Improved battery life: 40 hours audio / 7 hours video

- NEW iPod touch - $299 for 8GB / $399 for 16GB
* WiFi
* Safari
* YouTube
* iTunes WiFi Store - allows music purchases over wifi! ZOMG Starbucks integration! Take THAT Zune!
* NO digital radio...yet? (for those of you keeping score on rumors)
* thinner than iPhone
* battery life: 22 hours audio / 5 hours video

UPDATES: 9/5/07

Alright folks, we have 1 hour to go before His Steveness graces the stage! Until then, let's look over the latest rumors:

- The New York Times also expects wifi to be part of the equation
- eWeek expects a new iPods, iPhones and Beatles music to be the order of the day

LIVE Engadget blog link
LIVE Gizmodo blog link

OP

Okay, looks like predictions are coming to a head about new iPods being unveiled tomorrow. Right now it looks like the new iPods are all but confirmed to drop this week.

First, a recap of the latest rumors for the September 5 Apple Event:

- Multiple sources claim Apple will announce availability of The Beatles' entire album catalog
- DigiTimes report claims Apple will unveil widescreen iPod with high capacity storage and wifi.
- AppleInsider claims that Target is prepping for a major product launch that will coincide with Apple's September 5th event. Possibly a Target-exclusive Project (RED) iPod in the works?
- VNUNet [who?] claims new iPods will feature streaming Internet radio and possibly wireless iTunes purchasing but I (and others) seriously doubt it.
- The juiciest news as of late, ThinkSecret confirms new widescreen iPod with touchscreen, 120GB and new iPod nano with video, possibly with CoverFlow.

That all said, I'm now fully buying into all the rumors and I expect new iPods will be announced tomorrow and might even be available in stores this week! Of course, I wasn't expecting Apple to unveil their new iPods this early, and I'm still taking things with a grain of salt. Perhaps Apple will only announce the new products, and won't actually ship them until Christmas shopping is in full swing (or worse, we'll have to wait until January.)

Worse yet, and what I fear may be closer to the truth, is that pricing on the new 6th gen iPods will much higher than the 5g iPods they replace. If Apple were to stick to the current $249 and $349 price points on 5g iPods, the new devices would really cannibalize sales of the iPhone. Therefore, I'm expecting the new iPod will be priced between $399-$499, with a new 16gb iPod nano video taking the $299 price point. I was really hoping to grab a widescreen, touch iPod with 80gb+ for $299 to replace my aging "4g" iPod, but I don't think that'll be possible.

 

[TheStu]

The current (5.5Gen) ipods are priced at $249 for the 30GB (not $299) and $349 for the 80GB (not $399).

Also, if they do update the nano, this will be the 3rd gen, not the 2nd


Past all that nitpicking however, I am interested in seeing what the keynote turns out. If the new ipods have wifi, I think I will almost immediately grab one, expecially if that wifi can be used for over-the-air purchases, or email.

I'm not real sure how likely that is however given that in the past Apple seems to have tried to keep the feature set of the ipods small. Better to have a device that does 6 things brilliantly, than 60 things decently you know? So, if they think that they can implement Wifi beautifully, then they probably will. Especially if they can integrate with iTunes in new and exciting ways, admit it, the ipod is there to help drive sales via the iTunes Store, so any new features in the ipod will have that in mind.

 

[DnetMHZ]

I'd love to see wifi and perhaps bluetooth on the iPod.

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: TheStu
The current (5.5Gen) ipods are priced at $249 for the 30GB (not $299) and $349 for the 80GB (not $399).

Also, if they do update the nano, this will be the 3rd gen, not the 2nd


Past all that nitpicking however, I am interested in seeing what the keynote turns out. If the new ipods have wifi, I think I will almost immediately grab one, expecially if that wifi can be used for over-the-air purchases, or email.

I'm not real sure how likely that is however given that in the past Apple seems to have tried to keep the feature set of the ipods small. Better to have a device that does 6 things brilliantly, than 60 things decently you know? So, if they think that they can implement Wifi beautifully, then they probably will. Especially if they can integrate with iTunes in new and exciting ways, admit it, the ipod is there to help drive sales via the iTunes Store, so any new features in the ipod will have that in mind.

Touche on the iPod nano--I forgot they already did a refresh with the aluminum case colors and brighter screen. But I believe the iPod video was originally priced at $299/$399, and the price cuts are relatively recent.

 

[TheStu]

You are right on the price cuts thing. When they updated to the 5.5Gen, they also dropped the prices.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I want a wireless connection that car stereo manufacturers can support that will allow me to control the ipod and stream music off of it from my indash touch screen.

Similar to my current wired setup (ipod -> ipod cable -> Pioneer AVIC D3 TouchScreen Ipod Controls), but wireless so I can leave it on my belt clip at all times.

 

[RichieZ]

whatever comes out its all good, my apple stock has more than paid for all their gadgets they make that i've bought:
ipod 3G (sold)
ipod photo (sold)
ipod shuffle (1G) (sold)
ipod shuffle (2g) (sold)
12" ibook (sold)
12" powerbook rev c (sold)
iphone (returned)
ipod nano (1g)
macbook

their resale value is also pretty amazing, i usually sell slightly before the new model comes out and it costs me very little to ugpade

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Woot woot. Once the new ipods come out, hopefully, I'll be getting my new MBP and my new Touchscreen 3.5" iPod.

 

[Dubb]

so, if I'm at work at 1pm est tomorrow, where do I watch for live updates and details?

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: Dubb
so, if I'm at work at 1pm est tomorrow, where do I watch for live updates and details?

Well if you are on the computer Engadget does a live blog from the event.



I am pretty sure they will start shipping this week. Over on Engadget, a lot of people are posting that work at electronics stores saying they wouldn't be getting any more iPods in and they were required to ship back the current stock of iPods by this week.

 

[UNCjigga]

Less than an hour to go!

 

[toekramp]

hooray, i can now pay for a song twice to use it is a ringtone. super lame.

 

[w3stfa11]

It has begun.

Use http://www.refreshthing.com/index.php to autorefresh any website.
I'm checking
http://www.applegazette.com/live/

*As expected: Ringtone maker in iTunes. Rringtones including songs you already purchased, over 500,000 participating songs. Cost of ringtones: .99 cents.

 

[TheStu]

Fatty Nano officially launched... Not sure how I feel about it

 

[goog40]

I don't like the look of the new Nano.

 

[herkulease]

touchscreen ipod so far looks decent.

just what is the price.

 

[UNCjigga]

Wow, Apple just cannibalized the iPhone!

 

[herkulease]

299 for 8gb ipod touch, 399 for 16gb ipod touch.

 

[UNCjigga]

ARRGH I spoke too soon--no spinning drive on the iPod touch! I guess with wifi and that big screen, battery life would be compromised unless they used flash. Maxes out at 16GB for $399.

 

[toekramp]

16 gig will be mine

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: toekramp
hooray, i can now pay for a song twice to use it is a ringtone. super lame.

you could use your Verizon phone to pay 3 bucks for a song then another 2-3 for the ringtone, 99x2 is a STEAL compared to what I have to pay to legally get a song and a ringtone for the song on my phone

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: toekramp
hooray, i can now pay for a song twice to use it is a ringtone. super lame.

you could use your Verizon phone to pay 3 bucks for a song then another 2-3 for the ringtone, 99x2 is a STEAL compared to what I have to pay to legally get a song and a ringtone for the song on my phone

Agreed. I expect the major carriers will renegotiate/reduce their ringtone pricing before the Holidays.

 

[TheStu]

I'm lovin the 80 and 160Gb sizes for the Classic, and the Touch is nice looking too... wireless song purchases, Safari, videos... sweet action

How long until it is hacked to be used as a wireless remote for OS X?

 

[RichieZ]

and why should i pay to use a song as my ringtone? so i have to pay extra to get a snippet from a song i already own?

 

[UNCjigga]

WTF is up with the Starbucks integration? That better mean free wifi for iPods at every Starbucks!