Apple Releases New iPods

[0098386]

wow, i might get a 4gb iPod mini as a second MP3 player... possibly. at that price its possible. my girlfriend will probably get one too. nice one apple

fairplay to them, colour screen, bluetooth as standard would be nice. but hell, they have that new iPod to match the powerbook coming out soon right? save the super-features for that

18 hours battery... thats 10 hours more than my 3G iPod! goddamn

 

[lasuther]

I don't have a problem with Docks and Firewire cables being extra. I never had a dock with my Mini, and I got along just fine. I don't need a cable as long as my current cable works with the new iPods. If leaving these extra accessaries off keeps the price low, I'm all for it. A lot of current iPod users just don't need extra cables and docks if they have them now. At these prices, its a smart move. If you need it, buy it. Right now I think I'm going to get an iPod Photo.

lasuther

 

[Lacero]

I hardly ever use a dock and have found no instance where one was needed, since the original mini never came with one. But the price did drop $50 and the battery life extended above 200% so anyone with the original mini will be glad to know anyone buying a mini now is buying a better mini with a better value.

 

[Zaty]

Precisely. Previously £179, now £169.

Unless you're only talking about the 4GB Minis? In which case they've gone from £179 to £139, which I guess is good.

How long do people think the 4GB Minis will last? Reckon they've just stuck the new batteries in the remaining stocks?

Sorry, I was talking about the 4 GB minis. (The 6 GB is CHF 349, so it will cost you more as well if you buy the optional charger, but you get a 50% more capacity + better battery life.)

 

[hughdogg]

Here's all the info

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


iPod Software 2.3 for iPod with dock connector
-Shuffle Songs selection in Main Menu
-Music menu item in Main Menu
-Support for iTunes 4.7 and later

Did I read this right..Is this the long awaited Shuffle on the Main Screen for 3G users?

I was tempted by the new 30Gig iPod Photo, but this might keep me from upgrading for another few months. I'll wait and get a refurb 30 Gig iPod Photo for approx. $300 once a few start being returned. Sweet.

 

[zelmo]

Next upgrade....

Next time:

iPod Shuffle 512MB $79
iPod Shuffle 1GB $119

iPod Mini 4GB $199
iPod Mini 6GB $249

iPod (color, BT) 30GB $299
iPod (color, BT) 60GB $399

Price drop on the Shuffle required to create separation with the great 4GB Mini price.
The iPod and iPod Photo lines will merge as the iPod gets a color display, and just be the iPod.

 

[Lacero]

Time to retire the U2 iPod. Make it a collector's item. It already spent 2 FULL months on Apple's homepage so it got plenty of prime advertising.

 

[Jalexster]

I just took a closer look at the Silver mini. It's not silver. It's graphite.

 

[schatten]

Yeah, but to be fair...

how come they are gettng rid of all the firewire cables that come with them and just giving usb 2.0, i know it costs more to give both and in getting rid of one had enabled them to drop the prices further but surely they would have dropped the usb one and firwire is apples invention and far better for transferring several gigs of data. i think apple is starting to go for the windows market share too much and kind of over looking what is better in things like this.

Well, all new Macs come standard with USB 2.0 as well as FireWire. USB 2.0 is also actually faster than FireWire. Apple is finally 'fessing up to that fact. Unless, that is, they make a FireWire 800 iPod (ooh that would be sweet!).
Apple isn't so much "going for the Windows Market Share" as much as trying to push us folks with aged Macs to break down & upgrade!

 

[fossyy]

will be searching the net for a closeout 40gb photo hopefully for the same price as the 30gb

 

[Zaty]

Will the missing AC adapter make buyers of minis angry?

What do you think, I fear they could make people buying a mini angry when they realise the AC adapter is sold separately. I only hope I'm wrong because there's a lot to lose for Apple.

 

[jsw]

Good news on the photo ipods, actually ok priced, they were so overpriced before.
ipod Mini's...um i am sorry but this is just absolute cr*p. Apple you are the best at disguising price drops. ok so now you can get 6gb for a bit less than 4gb but no powerpoint adapter (extra £20)! And Firewire cable extra (another 15!) So people have to charge it from the computer, how inconvenient!! So ok 6gb for 190 and 4gb for 160 quid with a powerpoint adapter.
Seriously Apple get real, i hope they lose their market share because they are well behind in the mp3 market, for example look at the brand new iriver (same price with adapter) with a 260k colour screen and ability to see jpegs, fm radio and voice recorder. They do not deserve to be the market leaders, ok a colour screen and extras are not necessary but it offers more for your money and more choice that we want for .
Apple wake up

They can't hear you over the sound of massive numbers of minis being shipped out the door.

People said no one would buy a mini for $249. They did. Now they're saying they've cut too many accessories. They didn't. 1% of iPod owners actually use the power adapter. 75% probably have USB 2.0 (lots of PC owners, BTW), and the rest will buy the FW cable. They might complain, but they'll buy it.

Apple will have no problem selling these.

 

[mcmav37]

Overall, I think this will be pretty positive for Apple. Now, as someone who has an iPod photo, I'm interested to see these changes. I guess since the AV cable and dock aren't included anymore, I only lost out about $90 so I don't feel so bad... assuming my photo will be eligible for the software update in March. It will, right?!? Also, please let the new camera cable work faster than USB1. Even if it isn't quite USB2 it should be better than the Belkin adapters.

 

[boom.boom.ba]

ok so now you can get 6gb for a bit less than 4gb but no powerpoint adapter (extra £20)! So ok 6gb for 190 and 4gb for 160 quid with a powerpoint adapter.

I don't know why you're making a big deal about the powerpoint adapter. The Keynote adapter is way better.

 

[nbs2]

I agree, not including an AC adapter is a bad idea. If go on vacation, you don't want to bring your notebook just for charging your iPod. However, with the price drop, a mini + AC adapter is still cheaper than the original mini. What's is great is the much improved battery life!

But what about mini + AC adapter + firewire cable ("with FireWire cable, sold separately")...The funny thing about this is that my fiance cannot get her USB port on her PC to work with her 4G, and she has to use the 4-6 adapter that came with my 3G. It seems like as you get more drive space in the box, you get less stuff with it.

 

[kirk26]

6 hours is definitely not enouh, but I agree that 18 hours is definitely awsome. Anyone who complains about an 18 hour charge needs to have their head examined.

Some of us work, so 6 hours is enough for me.

 

[aptenergy]

Just be careful.... I applied the new update, and my 20 GB iPod refuses to start up now. Nice.

edit: nvm, resetting did the trick.

 

[iGary]

The issue with firewire is not speed.

I have an MDD 1.25 tower that is only a little more than a year old and it does not have USB 2.0 - yeah, I know I can add a card, and then it won't sleep properly.

The fact is..die-hard Mac users who have Macs without USB 2.0 just got effed without the benefit of lube.

NO FIREWIRE APPLE? - STOOOOOPIT!!

 

[russed]

Well, all new Macs come standard with USB 2.0 as well as FireWire. USB 2.0 is also actually faster than FireWire. Apple is finally 'fessing up to that fact. Unless, that is, they make a FireWire 800 iPod (ooh that would be sweet!).
Apple isn't so much "going for the Windows Market Share" as much as trying to push us folks with aged Macs to break down & upgrade!

sorry to say this but you are wrong there. USB 2.0 is theoretically faster as in 440 kbps but that is only in very short bursts whereas firewire can sustain 400kbps for longer stretches hence firewire external hard drives are far better than usb 2.0 ones. fact.

the fact is, going to usb 2.0 as the primary connection is a step backwards and is just going after all those windows users.

 

[Lacero]

How much was the 60GB iPod previously? It stands at $449 now.

 

[lasuther]

What do you think, I fear they could make people buying a mini angry when they realise the AC adapter is sold separately. I only hope I'm wrong because there's a lot to lose for Apple.

Since I have never once used my AC adapter, I doubt people would miss it. In fact, I forgot I even had one until you posted this.

lasuther

 

[desdomg]

USB 2 is NOT faster than Firewire 400.

I have a tibook, just over 1.5 years old - doesnt work with the new iPods. I have to pay $19 extra to Apple for the priveledge. Crazy. No floppies I understood. But no Firewire?

 

[tomjleeds]

I thought USB 2.0 was only faster than Firewire in burst transmissions? Although, I guess when you're transferring music files...

They can't hear you over the sound of massive numbers of minis being shipped out the door.

People said no one would buy a mini for $249. They did. Now they're saying they've cut too many accessories. They didn't. 1% of iPod owners actually use the power adapter. 75% probably have USB 2.0 (lots of PC owners, BTW), and the rest will buy the FW cable. They might complain, but they'll buy it.

Apple will have no problem selling these.

1%? Unlikely. Maybe it's only 50%, but I'd put the number fairly high.

All I know is I'm sure as hell not paying £19 for one. The iPod accessories really are overpriced - £25 for the remote. Hmm.

I'm angry because they (as usual) didn't make it obvious that they're not including certain things (although I guess that's just good business sense). I'd ordered it before I realised - it seems like a completely standard thing to me.

Oh well, I'll live. I did when Apple refused to send me the remote, dock and carry case for my 20GB 4G iPod despite the fact that it was listed as having them when I ordered.

 

[DTphonehome]

Good news on the photo ipods, actually ok priced, they were so overpriced before.
ipod Mini's...um i am sorry but this is just absolute cr*p. Apple you are the best at disguising price drops. ok so now you can get 6gb for a bit less than 4gb but no powerpoint adapter (extra £20)! And Firewire cable extra (another 15!) So people have to charge it from the computer, how inconvenient!! So ok 6gb for 190 and 4gb for 160 quid with a powerpoint adapter.
Seriously Apple get real, i hope they lose their market share because they are well behind in the mp3 market, for example look at the brand new iriver (same price with adapter) with a 260k colour screen and ability to see jpegs, fm radio and voice recorder. They do not deserve to be the market leaders, ok a colour screen and extras are not necessary but it offers more for your money and more choice that we want for .
Apple wake up

I assume by "powerpoint" you mean an electrical outlet, and not presentation software. I haven't used mine ONCE in over 2 years of having an iPod, and neither does my wife, and she's had hers for a year. Apple is doing the right thing by lowering prices and appealing to a wider audience and charging a bit more for the people who specifically need that feature. I've got two cases and two power adaptors sitting in a drawer. Why should I pay for those?

--DT

 

[Evangelion]

Well...it officially makes NO SENSE to buy a 1GB iPod shuffle. For $50 dollars more (not even one hundred) you get four times as much memory, and a screen. What DOES makes sense is $49 for 10GB + colour screen. Why you can't play video on an iPod photo is absolutely ridiculous.

Think of it like this: you are in the market for a mp3-player. Your budget is around $100. Now, you might be able to squeeze the 1GB Shuffle in to your budget, but the Mini is a no-no. And if you are in the market for even cheaper mp3-player, 1GB Shuffle is too expensive, but 512MB Shuffle might do it.

Of course, some people want as small as possible mp3-player, and Shuffle has the clear advantage there. And some people prefer flash over HD's.