Gadget Crunch » Computers

New iPod Lineup; 4G Nano and improved Touch

Staff — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:57:18 +0000

iTunes 8, plus new iPod Nano and updates to the Touch and Classic with more storage starting at $149!

At today’s special Let’s Rock event, Apple Inc. refreshed it’s iPod lineup with a new longer shaped 4th generation iPod Nano and updates to the Touch and Classic iPod. The new iPod Nano has a curved aluminum design. Apple says it is the thinnest Nano yet. The Nano gets a new user interface (UI) and the Accelerometer from iPhone. Shake the iPod Nano and it shuffles your songs! The Nano now comes in eight new colors: silver, purple, bue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink. Apple also lowered the price on the Nano; 8 GB model is $149 with a 16 GB for $199.

The iPod Touch is now even thinner than before. The Touch now borrows its shape from the IPhone 3G but with a polished steel back. Improved UI, Genius creation on the fly like the Nano, a speaker and Nike + iPod software built in. The Touch comes in three models; 8GB for $229, 16GB $299 and 32GB model for $399. The Touch comes with the new 2.1 software update. iPhone users will get the update beginning Friday. The iPod Classic now becomes one 120 GB model for $249, while the Shuffle appears to be unchanged.

iTunes 8 adds some new features such as HD TV shows and a new “grid” mode that lets you pick albums, artists, genres, similar to Apple’s iPhoto application. iTunes 8 also introduces a new type of smart playlist called “Genius.” Genius auto creates playlists from songs in your library that go good together, with just one click. After selecting a song you press the Genius button in bottom right corner to create a new genius list. A Genius sidebar can also recommend items to purchase from the iTunes Store. iTunes sends the information anonymously, so there is no big brother at work here.

Apple also announce today that NBC will be binging back TV shows like The Office, Heroes, Monk, Battlestar Galactica and 30 Rock to iTunes.

This is How They Make CDs - Really

doug — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:51:57 +0000

Have you ever wondered exactly how they make stuff. Like cars, or stereos, or CDs? Watch this informative, up-to-date video to learn exactly how they manufacture all of those CD and DVD disc we use every single day.

Apple Announces the Long Awaited iPhone 3G

Staff — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:44:40 +0000

Available July 11th with prices starting at $199

Stop the speculation, the wait is over. Just about a year to the date of the original iPhone launch, Apple, Inc. has taken the wraps off the iPhone 3G. The new iPhone 3G is even thinner than the previous model. As expected, the iPhone 3G includes support for the faster 3G network, GPS, with an all new black plastic back. The biggest surprise might be the battery life. The iPhone 3G has 300 hours of standby, 5 hours of 3G talk (8-10 hours of 2G talk), 7 hours of video and 24 hours of audio. Very impressive from a 3G phone.

The original iPhone changed the conception of what a mobile phone can do for you. In much the same way that Blackberry changed how business people used their phones, the iPhone has altered the definition of a phone. Sure, people could surf the internet and check email before the iPhone, but Apple made it easy and fun. Now, Apple has the complete mobile package; a phone, GPS, email, internet, 3G and the interface that ties it all together. Add in the App Store and you have a phone that is very hard to compete against.

After selling over 6 million first generation iPhones, Apple hopes the new iPhone 3G will sell that many by years end. And at $199 for the 8 GB version and $299 for a 16 GB (with a White back as an option) these will fly off the shelves.

Is Steve Jobs Sick?

doug — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:27:23 +0000

~~Watching~~, or should I say reading, the WWDC live blog on Gizmodo and Engadget and I can’t help but notice Steve Jobs has lost weight - a lot of weight. Like the kind of weight loss that stops me in my tracks and gets me wondering if he’s sick? I know back in 2004 he underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer, and then there was a rumor storm a couple year after whether he still had cancer. Seeing Steve this skinny definitely leaves you wondering. Hope he’s ok.

Will We See the 3G iPhone ‘2.0′ at the WWDC?

doug — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:52:46 +0000

Don’t miss Steve Jobs’ WWDC keynote from WWDC this morning at 10 PT (1 ET). We expect Jobs to unwrap the new 3G iPhone for sure, but what else does Apple have in store for the summer shopping season? Check back right here for a full wrap of the new (presumably 3G) iPhone 2.0 specs later today, and here for a anything else noteworthy and Apple.