Apple have updated iTunes, the entire iPod range and revealed the 'iTV' set top box.
From now on there'll be more films available via iTunes, though not as many as had been hoped for, which are 'near DVD quality' and will be presented in Dolby Surround Sound. As well as a couple of other minor updates iTunes will now retrive any missing album art free of charge. Nice.
The 5G iPod hasn't been replaced by the 6G widescreen iPod with touch screen as many had thought/hoped but, rather, has received a nip and tuck here and there. The screen is now 60% brighter, the battery life improved to 6 ½ hours for video and the 60GB model bumped to 80GB whilst retaining the same physical size. The 30GB is priced at £189 and the 80GB at £259.
There's also a new search feature with the latest iPod software and, wait for it, GAPLESS PLAYBACK!!!! Woo hoo! At last is all I can say. As well as this there have been a number of games added to iTunes which will work exclusively with the 5G iPod, including the usual suspects of Tetris, Bejeweled and Pac-Man. Games cost £3.99 and are available now.
iPod nano has received the updates many had predicted, namely the addition of an 8GB model, anodized aluminium housing and the addition of some new colours. Looking at the Apple website it would appear that the 2GB (£99) version comes in silver only, the 4GB (£129) comes in silver, green, blue and pink and the 8GB (£169) comes in black only. Not only does the new nano have the old iPod mini colours but Apple have also improved the brightness of the screen by 40% and the battery life is now a healthy 24 hours.
The poor man's iPod, or the iPod shuffle as it's sometimes known, also received a facelift yesterday. Completely changing its form factor to look like a book of matches, the 1GB shuffle is retailing now for a reasonable £55 and, I must say, it looks rather nice.
One more thing…
Rumours of an Apple set top box proved to be right as Steve Jobs confirmed the release of the 'iTV' (not necessarily actual name). The device will plug into your screen, or AV processor, and wirelessly stream your iTunes media, be it music, pictures or movies. The iTV is about half the size of the Mac Mini and has a built in power supply, USB, Ethernet, wi-fi, optical audio, HDMI and RCA ports. Due Early next year the 'iTV' will cost $299 (about £160) and if I were Blu-ray or HD-DVD, I'd be worried...
You can watch the whole media event here if you so desire.
