Steve Jobs just took the stage of Apple's "Let's Rock" event today, unveiling some slammin' new goodies fresh from the labs of our favorite Cupertino company.
Here's a breakdown of the main takeaways:
1. iTunes to carry HD TV Shows
($2.99 for HD and $1.99 for SD)
The Office, Monk, Battlestar Galactica, 30 Rock and Heroes will be offered.
2. iTunes 8.0 Upgrade
(available for download today:
HERE)
New Genius Feature: pairs up songs that "go together," using an algorithm to create intelligent playlists.
Genius Results will be uploaded anonymously to help refine its algorithm and improve results (you can opt-out, Genius will be updated every week based on uploaded data).
3. iPod Revamp
(currently holds 73.4% market share)
New iPod Classic - 120GB model @ $249 (80 and 160GB discontinued)
New iPod Nano - complete redesign:
8GB model available today, 16GB next week at the latest (most likely this weekend)
aluminum casing
curved glass
thinnest iPod ever
now supports video
ACCELEROMETER added (screen rotates to landscape)
"enhanced user interface"
"shake to shuffle" mode, shake the nano to engage shuffle for songplay
can attach microphone for recording options
24 hour battery life for music, 4 hours for video
environmentally friendly: highly recyclable with toxin-free internals
New iPod Touch - some new changes:
all models available today: 8GB for $229, 16GB for $299, and 32GB for $399
brand new contoured stainless steel casing
"improved UI" with better artwork
integrated with Nike+ (pedometer), no dongle needed, just transmitter for shoe
supports Genius Playlist Creation
36 hour battery life for music, 6 hours for video
environmentally friendly, just like the nano
4. App Store
Available in 62 countries, saw 100 million downloads in the first 60 days, over 700 games now available.
5. Firmware 2.1
Available today for iPod Touch, this Friday for iPhone.
Jobs calls it a huge update that fixes a lot of bugs: ""Fewer dropped calls, big battery life improvements. No crashes with Apps, backing up is faster."
