Jefferson Graham
USA Today
The new line of iPod Nanos — By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO — Shake, shake, shake that iPod.
Apple Tuesday introduced new iPod digital music players, highlighted by a redesigned Nano that plays a new song when you shake it.
At a press event here, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the new Nano — available with 8 gigabytes of storage for $149 — will be in stores this week. A $199 Nano with 16 GB of storage will be in stores by the weekend, Jobs added.
The Nano advances songs using the same motion sensor technology found in Apple’s popular iPhone.
About 160 million iPods have been sold since the music players were released in 2001. But the iPod’s mindshare has been seemingly dwarfed by the iPhone, which also plays music. The iPhone was released July 11, and seven million phones have sold since.
Along with the new iPhone, Apple introduced the App Store, to sell or give away software for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Jobs said that over 100 million applications have been downloaded since the store opened July 11. “This is mindblowing,” he said. “100 million applications in 60 days.”
New software was released today to fix many of the problems iPhone users have experienced. The “2.1 update” will fix such things as dropped calls and crashed applications. Jobs said. It also will improve iPhone battery life, he added.
Apple also updated its iPod Touch — which is identical to the iPhone, except without the phone — with a new, thinner version. The revamped iPod Touch sells for $229 (8 GB, down from $299), $299 (16 GB) and $399 (32 GB.)
The new iPod Touch, available today, is being repositioned as a gaming device, to take advantage of the many games sold at the App Store. Apple’s new ad calls the Touch “the funnest iPod ever.”
iPods had a 73% market share in July, Jobs said, citing numbers from market tracker NPD Group.
Apple also introduced a new version of its iTunes software for listening to music and watching entertainment that makes “genius” playlists. The software makes instant playlists based on the first song played, suggesting similar music. For instance, Jobs demonstrated with Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” and it was followed by songs by Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and the Doors.
iTunes also sells TV shows for viewing, and Jobs says they will now be available in high-definition. Standard definition shows sell for $1.99; hi-def for $2.99. NBC, which left iTunes in a dispute over pricing, has returned, Jobs said.
