Wednesday, September 13th, 2006 8:47 am by
J David 
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Yesterday, Apple came out with some new products. First, there is a bigger iPod, then a bigger Nano available in multiple colors, and finally a new shuffle. There was also the mentioning of the iTV product, but it is not yet out.
First of all, who cares about a bigger iPod hard drive?! If anything, this should have been part of a quiet update a long time ago, but don’t try to pawn it off on me as something new. Next, Apple basically re-introduced the design of the mini… I mean, I liked its more scratch resistant design, but rehashing old ideas will not get you any points in my book; and believe you me, I keep track of points… even with you, my two readers…
Then there is this obsession for having the world’s smallest whatever; for Apple, this is the shuffle. Ok, great; now the thing is as big as my fingernail… Furthermore, as a man, I would never want to be part of the world’s smallest anything.
On top of that, they didn’t actually make any real improvement to the devices! The only actual improvement was a bump up in the resolution of videos on regular iPods and that comes from iTunes 7, not these lame-o-Pods. So here is my question: Where is the built in radio? Video on the Nano? Improved audio quality? My point is that Apple’s competitors actually have better products now; and the lead is pretty large too. At some point, the sexy factor is going to wear thin on consumers; especially if they keep copying their old designs… Next we will have an iPod retro; it looks like a first generation but acts like a fifth… but it still won’t have radio…
I think Apple dropped the ball on this one, and they probable wont have another product upgrade for a year. Sandisk and M$ will start to eat at thier market.
i don’t know if the batt time increased, but 6 1/2 hours of vid playback is awesome, can you send me back you vid ipod, i’d sure like one….and no i’m not one of the two readers…seriously.
i’m just showing kelly how to comment
I have to disagree.
The biggest thing you have failed to mention are the massive price cuts IN ADDITION to capacity increases.
Yes, they have combined the best bits of the iPod mini into the iPod nano line, but there is nothing wrong with that.
There is new software for searching on your iPod.
Much better (doubled) battery life.
New games.
New iPod to iTunes uploading / syncing.
Brighter screens.
Better resolution downloads.
New headphones.
These are solid updates to already excellent - best in class - devices.
Also, you are missing the point on the size and the radio. The who point of the shuffle is its size. I imagine a lot of people wear these during sports, and this makes it nicer and safer. If you want a “butch” iPod, but the 80GB one.
Also, Apple will never include a radio built in to an iPod. Not having a radio is the entire point of any iPod. You want to listen to your music, when you want to. It is a pointless frippery that Apple does not have to include. For those people, like you it seems, who want one, then you can always buy the Apple Radio / Remote, which adds this functionality.
It is interesting that Zune has a screen that is only 0.5″ bigger than the iPod, but it has the same resolution. It also won’t have video playback when it launches. Apple have consistently been ahead of the curve with the iPod, and I don’t see a reason why that isn’t going to continue.
I have to disagree with this post. For one, I know a lot of people who already are going crazy over this. Second, I can’t wait to purchase another one, seeing as the nano is now cheaper and so is the regular ipod. I think the designs are awesome. Their competitors, are none, seeing as Apple has made a fashion statement out of iPods rather than musical necessities. To tell you truth, once the iPod keeps looking like they are now, people are going to keep getting them, because it’s the trend of today. Of course in time it will die down, but as with everything else. So, right now. This is Apple’s time to shine, and they are doing it extremely bright.
Dont delete this comment - wpsept06