Under pressure due to falling sales of their once popular iPod, Apple has attempted to get a Xmas lift by launching several new models including a new iPod Touch which has a new display screen and front and rear facing cameras.
The biggest update to the iPod Touch was the inclusion of Apple’s A4 chip, the same chip found in the iPad and iPhone 4.Also included is a new ‘retina display’.
Also launched was a new iPod Shuffle, which got its buttons back after Apple admitted that users missed them in the previous generation.
It comes with 2GB in five different colours and delivers 15 hours of playback.
The new iPod shuffle has an (RRP) AUD$69 Inc GST. The iPod nano with Multi-Touch starts at AUD$199 Inc GST. The iPod Touch with Retina display, Apple’s A4 chip, FaceTime, HD video recording and Game Centre is AUD$289 Inc GST; and the iPod classic in a 160GB model for RRP AUD$329 Inc GST.
One of the biggest makeovers was reserved for the iPod Nano. This minute sized music player has now shrunk down to little more than a touch screen capable of displaying little more than four iPhone OS (IOS) icons.
Supporting multitouch, users can rotate the display, though it isn’t automatic as the device lacks an accelerometer.
Jobs claimed that the new iPod Nano could achieve 24 hours of playback. The unit comes in 8GB and 16GB capacities.
At a launch event in San Francisco Jobs went to great lengths to show just how popular gaming has become, particularly on the iPod Touch. With Game Centre coupled to the very capable Apple A4 chip within the new iPod Touch, Nintendo most definitely needs to view Apple as the primary threat in the handheld gaming market claims the UK Inquirer.
