Odds and Ends: New Shuffles, In-Ear Headphones, First Impressions, and More

[MacRumors]

Image from gallery at WorldofApple

As with all Apple events, there's a lot of information to process on the new releases. We ask readers try to consolidate general discussion about the announcements in the appropriate news stories: New iPod Nanos and Classic, New iPod Touch, iPhone 2.1 Firmware Coming Friday, iTunes 8.

We've also consolidated a few additional notes of interest from today's announcements:

Software Updates

- iTunes 8 is available for download, including the new Visualizer which is an improved version of Magnetosphere. Atlchris has posted a video of the new visualizer. [Discuss here]
- Quicktime, Front Row updates available in Mac OS X Software Update to support iTunes 8.

iPod Touch

- iPod Touch impression: Engadget: "the speaker doesn't sound like complete trash despite not even having any speaker holes, and the thing is crazy thin."
- iPod Touch impression: Gizmodo: "most noticeable thing about the second-gen iPod touch is just how thin it feels in your hand."
- The pay version of the iPod 2.1 firmware is available for those who still have iPods with version 1.x firmware. If you’ve already upgraded to the iPhone 2.0 Software Update for iPod touch, the 2.1 update is free.
- The Free 2.0->2.1 upgrade for iPod Touch owners is starting to appear, but users have been unsuccessful in downloading the new update.
- Apple has posted a new guided tour video for the new iPod Touch and shows off the Genius Playlist feature. (via TUAW)

iPod Nano

- iPod Nano impression: Gizmodo: fast and responsive, click-wheel less "grippy", responsive accelerometer, feels small, click-wheel orientation remains same when nano is turned.
- iPod Nano comparison photos showing its size next to the old iPods.
- YouTube video and screenshots from iLounge showing off the new Nano interface.

Other

- The new iPods are not eligible for the Back to School promotion which ends on September 15th.
- iPod Shuffles have been refreshed with new colors, but the same storage capacities.
- Apple also introduced new $79 in-ear headphones

General questions and other discussion can be directed to our dedicated forums: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPod and iTunes, and App Store.

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[rydenfan]

With dark colored ipods and nanos I wish they would offer the new earbuds in black as well.

[J*man]

^That would be cool.

[aygie]

HD Trailers now available in iTunes 8?

Just downloaded Tropic Thunder trailer 1080p! Is it me or is this new???

[HiRez]

I hope it's not true that Apple was begging journalists to the event and telling them it's going to be "a big deal", because to me the announcements are fine, but nothing at all groundbreaking. If they cry wolf too many times, people might stop covering them when it really is a big deal.

[Desamell]

the touch is still more expensive than iphone. I'm going iPhone now bye ipods.

[carve]

This was a good refresh. I love the new nanos, the curved glass looks very interesting. I might be picking up a 8 gig one.

[Xian Zhu Xuande]

Originally Posted by Desamell

the touch is still more expensive than iphone. I'm going iPhone now bye ipods.

Only because carriers pay a subsidy when you buy an iPhone. The actual device costs much more than $199/$299. There is no carrier to pay a subsidy on the iPod Touch, even though it costs less to make than an iPhone, so it costs more. Apple isn't going to sell them at a huge loss...

[bobbleheadbob]

Will the new headphones work with the iPhone? It's not clear from the product description. Since it doesn't say that it does, I'm guessing no, but it would seem like it should.

[Desamell]

which one would you buy??? 16GB Nano or 8gig iPod Touch

[wordlesschorus]

I just bought a new Nano 4 weeks ago.

[clayj]

I love the new headphones. Hopefully they can be used in place of the ones that come with the iPhone, so that you can talk to someone else using the headphones. The rest of the hardware does nothing for me... all I was really looking forward to was a higher-capacity iPod Touch.

The software should be pretty cool. Can't wait to update my iPhone.

[MacTheSpoon]

Ah, I like that yellow one. I believe this is the first iPod ever offered in yellow.

[mrgreen4242]

Originally Posted by Desamell

the touch is still more expensive than iphone. I'm going iPhone now bye ipods.

HAHAHA. Ya, $229 iPod vs. $1879 over 2 years is a whole lot cheaper.

Originally Posted by clayj

I love the new headphones. Hopefully they can be used in place of the ones that come with the iPhone, so that you can talk to someone else using the headphones. The rest of the hardware does nothing for me... all I was really looking forward to was a higher-capacity iPod Touch.

The software should be pretty cool. Can't wait to update my iPhone.

The Apple website lists the new headphones as being only compatible with the devices announced today. No iPhones, 1st gen touches, etc. Lame because there's STILL no remote for these devices (from Apple, and that integrate the headphone jack into them).

[iSlave]

None of these announcements have got me as excited as watching Hannah on the iPod Touch guided tour. 'Let's Rock' indeed....

[metrocon]

Originally Posted by clayj

I love the new headphones. Hopefully they can be used in place of the ones that come with the iPhone, so that you can talk to someone else using the headphones. The rest of the hardware does nothing for me... all I was really looking forward to was a higher-capacity iPod Touch.

The software should be pretty cool. Can't wait to update my iPhone.

According to the spec page, no mention of iPhone compatibility, unfortunately:

"The remote and mic are supported only by iPod nano (4th generation), iPod classic (120GB), and iPod touch (2nd generation). Audio is supported by all iPod models."

http://www.apple.com/ipod/inearheadphones/

[mekopolis]

are they really going to tease us every time we sync or plug in our ipods to tell us 2.1 is available, yet when you click download and install is says, oh sorry

it will be a long time till friday if that happens
esp. since spore and real soccer 2009 are draining my battery constantly

[zengod]

Looks like two steps back for apple - Dropping iPod classic to 120Gb from 160Gb and making the Nano bigger.

I thought that version 3 was perfect so can't really see why they have done this.

Metal back on the Touch is a better deal than we got with the iPhone 3G (Yes I know why but I just think it looks cheap.

Glad I have my iPod 160Gb now otherwise I would be rushing out to buy one now - Is this the death knell of the standard iPod in favour of Touch I wonder ?

[duncyboy]

Originally Posted by Desamell

which one would you buy??? 16GB Nano or 8gig iPod Touch

I was convinced I was in the market for a Touch but having seen the update and thought about it I think it'll be the 16GB Nano.

It'll depend on reading peoples thoughts and pro reviews over the next few weeks (before payday ).

My only questions about the Nano are-

My music is around 7GB, how much video can I fit onto the remaining space?
What's the glass screen like? And is it resilient?
Any glitches/bugs.

Otherwise, I just have to pick a colour. Purple looks neat. But the dark grey matches my car. No, red! For Liverpool! But orange looks nice and bright... but so does the green. Nuts.

[gugy]

I like the Nano, but if the price so close to the iPod Touch 8gig, it seems a better deal jump into the Touch.

I wish Apple dropped the 8gig Nano for $100 and the 16gig for $150. The current prices does not make too much sense for me.

[Desamell]

Originally Posted by duncyboy

I was convinced I was in the market for a Touch but having seen the update and thought about it I think it'll be the 16GB Nano.

It'll depend on reading peoples thoughts and pro reviews over the next few weeks (before payday ).

My only questions about the Nano are-

My music is around 7GB, how much video can I fit onto the remaining space?
What's the glass screen like? And is it resilient?
Any glitches/bugs.

Otherwise, I just have to pick a colour. Purple looks neat. But the dark grey matches my car. No, red! For Liverpool! But orange looks nice and bright... but so does the green. Nuts.

go for nano, the 8GB touch is really only 7.08 on my 1st gen one

[Desamell]

if i were too choose a color for the nano i'd be stuck between red and orange

[mrgreen4242]

Originally Posted by duncyboy

I was convinced I was in the market for a Touch but having seen the update and thought about it I think it'll be the 16GB Nano.

It'll depend on reading peoples thoughts and pro reviews over the next few weeks (before payday ).

My only questions about the Nano are-

My music is around 7GB, how much video can I fit onto the remaining space?
What's the glass screen like? And is it resilient?
Any glitches/bugs.

Otherwise, I just have to pick a colour. Purple looks neat. But the dark grey matches my car. No, red! For Liverpool! But orange looks nice and bright... but so does the green. Nuts.

Get a touch, if you need to stretch the budget get a refurb 1st gen or something. The touch is much more than an iPod, the screen is gorgeous to watch movies on, and the touch interface is the best I've ever used. The glass is very strong, feels smooth under your fingers and is just a joy to use.

I can't ever imagine going back to a non-touch iPod.

[YoGramMamma]

While it mentions that 2.1 is available for the iPod touch today (despite users being unable to actually download it) it makes no mention of iPhone support.

This would have me believe that there's more to it (the 2.1 for iPhone update) than what was mentioned today... or else they would have just released it today alongside the iPod update, no?

[Hattig]

iTunes 8 crashed for me on my iBook

Of course, I was trying to drag an image from Firefox onto the Grid View of iTunes in order to try and set the album art for an album with it (AC/DC, get on iTunes dammit!), but I wasn't expecting it to crash and burn.