AfterDawn: Tech news

Apple unveils new iPods & cuts $200 from iPhone price

Written by James Delahunty @ 05 Sep 2007 12:14 User comments (44)

Apple unveils new iPods & cuts $200 from iPhone price

Apple Inc. has unveiled brand new iPods including a new version of the iPod Nano and a touch-screen iPod based on the iPhone design. The brand new iPod touch features wireless Internet access and a web browser, but obviously no cell phone capabilities. The new iPod Nano brings video playback.
The company is also offering new versions of its normal iPod, dubbed iPod classic, with up to 160GB storage space. The ability to browse through music in "cover flow" has also been added to iPod from iPhone.

Another major announcement was also made concerning the iPhone. Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed that the company was on track to sell 1 million units by the end of September, and to make the iPhone more affordable and more competitive, the company has slashed the price of the 8GB model from $599 to $399, a very significant price drop.

View details on new iPods
iPod Touch




Taking a hint from the alluring touch-screen featured on Apple's iPhone, Apple has brought us this brand new attractive iPod that comes in two models, 8GB and 16GB. It is only 8mm thick and it can store and play back photos, music and videos. Like the iPhone is features a nice 3.5 inch touch screen. It includes the Safari Web browser, including Google and Yahoo search engines and easy access to YouTube videos.

Like the iPhone you can browse your music in "cover flow" and watch your favorite movies and TV shows in widescreen. Due to the built in Wifi, you can purchase songs directly from the iTunes download store where a wireless network is available.

Tech Specs for iPod Touch

Display
  • 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display
  • 480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 pixels per inch
Audio
  • Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  • Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
Video
  • H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Wireless data
  • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Size and weight
  • Height: 4.3 inches (110 mm)
  • Width: 2.4 inches (61.8 mm)
  • Depth: 0.31 inch (8 mm)
  • Weight: 4.2 ounces (120 grams)
The 8GB version costs $299 and the 16GB version costs $399.
iPod Nano


The new iPod Nano is available in two different models with 4GB and 8GB storage. It can playback video content for up to five hours on a single charge. The battery can also play music for 24 hours on a charge. It sports a new 320-by-240-pixel 2.5-inch screen (.5 inch bigger than the current model) to facilitate its video playback capabilities. It is just 6.5mm thick.

Tech Specs for iPod Nano

Display
  • 2-inch (diagonal) liquid crystal display with blue-white LED backlight
  • 320-by-240-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch
Audio
  • Skip-free playback
  • Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  • Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
  • User-configurable maximum volume limit
Video
  • H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Size and weight
  • Height: 2.75 inches (69.8 mm)
  • Width: 2.06 inches (52.3 mm)
  • Depth: 0.26 inch (6.5 mm)
  • Weight: 1.74 ounces (49.2 grams)
The new Nano will go on sale this weekend for $149 for 4GB and $199 for 8GB.

iPod Classic


Apple has offered up new versions of the normal iPod, now dubbed iPod classic. Of course, the selling feature of this is the huge 160GB capacity that will ensure you never have to worry about storage space for your music and videos again. It is also available in an 80GB model. The company advertises 160GB as being capable of storing up to 40,000 songs or 200 hours of video. Using the click wheel, browsing through albums can now be done in the "cover flow" style on iPhone (and now the iPod touch).



The battery is advertised as being capable of up to 40 hours of music playback on a full charge.

Tech Specs for iPod Classic

Display
  • 2.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight
  • 320-by-240-pixel resolution at 163 pixels per inch
  • Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
Audio
  • Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  • Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, and AIFF
  • User-configurable maximum volume limit
Video
  • H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Size and weight - 80GB model
  • Height: 4.1 inches (103.5 mm)
  • Width: 2.4 inches (61.8 mm)
  • Depth: 0.41 inch (10.5 mm)
  • Weight: 4.9 ounces (140 grams)
Size and weight - 160GB model
  • Height: 4.1 inches (103.5 mm)
  • Width: 2.4 inches (61.8 mm)
  • Depth: 0.53 inch (13.5 mm)
  • Weight: 5.7 ounces (162 grams)
The iPod Classic starts at $249.


Altogether there was quite a few new announcements from Apple. While the iPod Touch certainly is neat looking and is a strong addition to the line-up of the world's best selling MP3 player, many will be left wondering why a version with larger storage capacity wasn't unveiled. No doubt it was a design limitation, as the iPod Touch uses Flash storage instead of a hard disk drive to store multimedia.

The iPhone announcement certainly was interesting and could bring about a significant boost in iPhone sales for the company, especially in the holiday season.

For more information on iPod / iPhone, visit Apple.com

Previous Next  

44 user comments

15.9.2007 12:18
vinny13
Inactive

160GB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just what I need!

I want the new video!!!

But I just got my 30GB video last Christmas... I guess I'll have to wait another year at least.

Friggin' sweet.

25.9.2007 12:22

This sucks I wanted the massive storage capability (80gb & 160 gb) "classic Ipod" to have the new touch screen. I would have traded up my 80gb for the 160gb and actually been able to watch a movie on it, which I don't do now because the screen is so small. What was Apple thinking? All that storage and you still have to watch movies on that little screen! Get rid of that freakin wheel!

35.9.2007 12:31

Why couldn't they make touch iPods that had the larger hard drives in them? I don't understand that at all...

Still, all the new iPods look positively amazing. I'd take any of them as an upgrade to my 60 gb iPod Photo!

45.9.2007 12:50
camaro17
Inactive

Originally posted by yellowsub:
This sucks I wanted the massive storage capability (80gb & 160 gb) "classic Ipod" to have the new touch screen. I would have traded up my 80gb for the 160gb and actually been able to watch a movie on it, which I don't do now because the screen is so small. What was Apple thinking? All that storage and you still have to watch movies on that little screen! Get rid of that freakin wheel!

lol i just stepped on my ipod like last week and i cracked the lcd's underneath the screen cover(the outside cove is fine)and i called and they said its not covered by warranty but they said send it anyways cause depending on the damage we night make an exeption....if its not i so know my next christmas present 16 GB touch!!

Peace

55.9.2007 12:55

updated to include iPhone price drop, tech specs.

65.9.2007 14:00

i didn't understand the new ipod touch compared to the iphone. The ipod touch is getting the internet on it for free? While the iphone customers have to pay for the internet data plan to get on the internet? Whats up with that?

75.9.2007 14:02

Still wont make me switch from my Creative Vision M lol but thanks Dela for the very in depth article and pictures. Good to see Apple is taking a step forward as well.

85.9.2007 14:07
camaro17
Inactive

Originally posted by Bleach67:
i didn't understand the new ipod touch compared to the iphone. The ipod touch is getting the internet on it for free? While the iphone customers have to pay for the internet data plan to get on the internet? Whats up with that?
i thought the exact same thing....free internet, probably not. now that the iphone is unlocked is it usable in Canada with a bell or telus sim card?

95.9.2007 14:08

The ipod touch looks bad ass,now how much will it cost? Might be my first ever Mac product,but the ipod nano looks horrible.All ipods should have toush screens in them by now,maybe in the next new design?

105.9.2007 14:10
camaro17
Inactive

The 8GB version costs $299 and the 16GB version costs $399.

115.9.2007 14:14

Yeah I just saw that,I might as well get an Iphone instead with that price.

125.9.2007 14:17
camaro17
Inactive

lol i just got o phone plus my ipod just broke so i need a touch

135.9.2007 14:22

damn id want that touch if it had a little more GB..like 20 or 30..
its stil awesome
and damn those nano's are kinda...ew

145.9.2007 14:25
camaro17
Inactive

Originally posted by sk8flawzz:
damn id want that touch if it had a little more GB..like 20 or 30..
its still awesome
and damn those nano's are kinda...ew
ya thos nano's aren't so nano anymore eh

155.9.2007 14:32
PetahG
Inactive

The wifi on the ipod is for free because it probably works just like on the psp..you hav to find a wifi hot spot like in a hotel or a mall where someone has a wireless router with an open port to wifi or someone near your house or even you if you have a wireless router that is unlocked..so yeah its free but that doesnt mean ull be able to get a connection anywhere

165.9.2007 14:52

(Has a heart attack) 160gb!!!!! TOUCH SCREEN!!!! I don't like the new nano, the proportions are to weird.

175.9.2007 15:14

I feel sorry for all the early adopters of the iPhone. $600 to $400? What has it been, like two months?

185.9.2007 16:36

I think the best news is the price drop on the iphone and nano. However the style for the nano does look unproportionate but it'll probably look cool when you get to feel it. Also 160gig! that's crazy and that should only be if you want to put a lot of movies, videos etc. but with that small of a screen, if you have a perfectly fine 5g then theres no reason for an upgrade. However the price is great and the coverflow and battery life is a good improvement but i don't think i'll get one till after. And last but not least the touch. I think this is great looking and it will be awesome however 400 dollars is way too expensive for a 16 gig figuring for 50 dollars less you can get a 160 gig. Anyways there should be a price drop on this in the future and i might get it instead of the classic. I'm also dissapointed that they didn't add more storage to the nanos and better updates for the shuffles, besides color change. And in a few monthes some other developer will make something like the touch with the same features for like 100 to 50 dollars less which will make apple drop the price. Overall i guess they came up with some good updates on the best mp3 player!

195.9.2007 18:46

All ima say is im getting one of these period!!!!

205.9.2007 21:42

Ok, they may i finally done me in. I'm lookin to by a new mp3 player and I've been adiment about not getting an iPod for a while, but 160GB for $250; kinda hard to say no to that. I'm bout it.

216.9.2007 04:27

<--- iPod fanboy :-)

will be purchasing that 160GB iPod classic. we can never have too much space, can we..?

226.9.2007 08:43

The iPod touch sounds just like the iPhone except you cant make calls on it. Also that price cut on the phone sucks royally for everyone who shelled out that $200 buying it initially. I mean a $200 price drop and its only been out now for like 2 months. ouch

236.9.2007 10:30

Originally posted by Bleach67:
i didn't understand the new ipod touch compared to the iphone. The ipod touch is getting the internet on it for free? While the iphone customers have to pay for the internet data plan to get on the internet? Whats up with that?
Well with the touch you have to be by a wifi hotspot if you want to use the internet.

So honestly to me, the touch seems more like an apple PDA than an ipod. Can't you play mp3's and watch movies on the PDA's that are out today? Don't they let you browse the internet on PDA's that are out today?

246.9.2007 10:39

Originally posted by Cinnjerm:
Ok, they may i finally done me in. I'm lookin to by a new mp3 player and I've been adiment about not getting an iPod for a while, but 160GB for $250; kinda hard to say no to that. I'm bout it.
The 160 gig is 350 and the 80gig is 250, still it's hard to resist. Also i don't know if apple had a good strategy in these new ipods. They introduced a video playing nano that is very ugly and they introduced a massive ipod classic, but if you pay 50 bucks more you get a tenth of the memory. So they should've combined both great elements of each ipod instead of giving consumers so much options. Either way i still like them but i think i'm fine with my 5g for another year or year and a half.

256.9.2007 10:51

A 32GB Ipod Touch is inevitable, the cuestion is how long before they can make it affordable. Also, I rather get a 16GB Touch than an 8GB IPhone for $399. Twice the storage space and not having to worry about getting a new plan or hacking the thing voiding warranty. Also, having to carry a phone that expensive all times makes no sense to me, it would probably end up breaking or getting stolen.

266.9.2007 10:58

a 32gig ipod touch would be ideal but yah it would be as much as a ps3 probably.

276.9.2007 13:41
vinny13
Inactive

Am I the only one that think the new Nano looks cool, and actually kinda wants one?

They to look funny, but to me they look nicer then the last. I could also see myself atching a movie on one, but I just gotta have that 160GB... Then I'll never have to buy another iPod again with that kind of space.

286.9.2007 14:27

I agree with the 160gig you won't need an mp3 player for a while but the nano has too small of a screen to be a good video player, and i think the last nano was one of the best ipod designs.

296.9.2007 17:15

They had to place the video on the nano because if your a ebay shopper like me and if you ever check out what they sell. People offer 1 - 4 gb video mp3 players for a fraction of the cost of a ipod nano that can take a memory stick upgrade. So Apple had to adjust on that note. I am not claim those other mp3 players were better but they offered more including a FM tuner for those that like that and it looks damn near like a real ipod. So i think it was a good move. Heres a link to prove my point.


http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2G-2GB-MP3-MP4-V...1QQcmdZViewItem

306.9.2007 22:21
Ludikhris
Inactive

Nice development, though I wish the iTouch had more space

Ludikhrs

317.9.2007 23:02
webe123
Inactive

Originally posted by Unfocused:
I feel sorry for all the early adopters of the iPhone. $600 to $400? What has it been, like two months?

I don't feel sorry for them at all! They wanted "bragging rights" and they got it.

Now they have egg on their face because it was only ten weeks ago this came out and the price is now dropped by $200.00.

So.... no, I don't feel sorry for the early adpoters at all! The smart people waited until the price was reasonable.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 07 Sep 2007 @ 11:02

328.9.2007 07:11

I'll tell you what that's perfect. I already have a cell phone and don't want to switch carriers because it is for work too. So having an ipod with internet access will be awesome...Late...rammstein

3310.9.2007 12:18

IPOD stands for, I pocket only dollars

3410.9.2007 16:21

Thats nut i love all products shown hoever i am happy with my 30gig video ipod. however these are great inovation of making a excellent product even better.

3510.9.2007 16:31

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
i filled my 80 gig ipod now they have a 160 yay more movies OMG OMG OMG OMG
the nw nano looks sooo bad isn't the idea of nano to be small it looks soo bulky eww

3615.9.2007 10:20

I just bought an 80G Video Ipod, and just about filled it up, and now I want to get the 160G Video Ipod Classic come X-Mas or early next year!!

Yes!!!!

3716.9.2007 22:43
slowie
Inactive

I want iPod Touch too. :)

3819.9.2007 13:44

Never say never...I have all of my 80 gb filled and I would probably fill the 160 gb too...I'll wait until they come out with a 500 gb before I upgrade.

3919.9.2007 15:03

Originally posted by rammstein:
Never say never...I have all of my 80 gb filled and I would probably fill the 160 gb too...I'll wait until they come out with a 500 gb before I upgrade.

A 500gig? Anyways is your 80gig filled with all music, because chance's are you have a lot of videos that you'd probably only watch every once in a while.

4019.9.2007 16:57

Actualy it is mostly movies...not videos, feature length movies. Each one takes up about 500 mg, so 2 of them is like 1 gb. I rarely ever get to sit down and watch an entire movie so I put them on there and watch them 10-15 minutes at a time...then when I have watched the whole movie I delete it and put another one on there. It's good for when travelling...you don't have to pay for in room movies just plug the ipod into the t.v. and watch.

4119.9.2007 18:27

Originally posted by rammstein:
Actualy it is mostly movies...not videos, feature length movies. Each one takes up about 500 mg, so 2 of them is like 1 gb. I rarely ever get to sit down and watch an entire movie so I put them on there and watch them 10-15 minutes at a time...then when I have watched the whole movie I delete it and put another one on there. It's good for when travelling...you don't have to pay for in room movies just plug the ipod into the t.v. and watch.

Yah that seems like a good method except my battery life is so bad that i can't play a whole movie.

4220.9.2007 21:49
slowie
Inactive

Originally posted by rammstein:
Actualy it is mostly movies...not videos, feature length movies. Each one takes up about 500 mg, so 2 of them is like 1 gb. I rarely ever get to sit down and watch an entire movie so I put them on there and watch them 10-15 minutes at a time...then when I have watched the whole movie I delete it and put another one on there. It's good for when travelling...you don't have to pay for in room movies just plug the ipod into the t.v. and watch.
oh,sounds nice, but you have to cut your movies into several segments. I used to do that with xilisoft dvd to ipod converter. but later I reinstalled the computer and I lost my registration code :(

4330.10.2007 22:07

Originally posted by albino92:
I agree with the 160gig you won't need an mp3 player for a while but the nano has too small of a screen to be a good video player, and i think the last nano was one of the best ipod designs.
actually the nano screen is just as big as the ipod classics screen.

4430.10.2007 22:23

Quote:
Originally posted by albino92:
I agree with the 160gig you won't need an mp3 player for a while but the nano has too small of a screen to be a good video player, and i think the last nano was one of the best ipod designs.
actually the nano screen is just as big as the ipod classics screen.

no it's .5in bigger

Comments have been disabled for this article.

News archive