iPod Nano, Motorola ROKR and iTunes
- September 07, 2005
- 2 comments
As just about everyone on the Internet knows, Apple held a special event today to showcase their latest additions to the iPod empire.
Jobs stated that iTunes Music Store (iTMS) was doing very well, especially in the UK where it’s claimed upwards of 80% of the online music market. There are over 15,000 available podcasts with 1000 being added weekly. There are over 2 million songs in the iTMS library now, making it the largest music service in the world. There are also over 10 million iTMS accounts, with the average user buying around 60 songs so far. I think I’ve only bought around 45. Harry Potter audiobooks have been added to the iTMS as well as all of Madonna’s albums.
There’s a new version of iTunes out that has a more “refined look” according to Jobs. Some of the new features include “smart shuffle” a better song randomizaiton, improved playlist organization and parental controls over what kinds of music their kids can buy. It’s available today to download.
The Motorola ROKR was introduced next. It will be exclusive to Cingular, at least in North America. It’s basically an iPod shuffle crammed into a phone. To be honest, I think it looks pretty lame. Check it out for yourself.
Jobs also introduced the really cool iPod Nano. I guarantee this will sell like hotcakes. I just got my color iPod, but I already want a Nano. It is replacing the iPod Mini, but I don’t think this will be such a big deal. The Nano is thinner than a #2 pencil and weighs 1.5 ounces. It comes in a $199 2GB version and a $249 4GB version. Because it uses a 30-pin connector, it can use many existing iPod accessories. It has a 14 hour battery life and comes in not just white, but also black. It also packs several new features like a graphical world clock and screenlocking capabilities.
The Nano can be bought and shipped today. I wouldn’t be surprised if this outsold the color iPod. I’m tempted, but won’t be getting one anytime soon.
That’s one of the main reasons I’m not buying a Nano. As freakin’ cool as they look, they’re just not big enough for me to make important backups to. Right now, I make backups of email, work, passwords and other stuff to my iPod. That alone takes up a few GBs, which means I’d have enough room for about 5 songs on the 4GB Nano.
I might buy my wife the 4GB iPod Nano, steal her old 30GB iPod for myself, and use it as a portable storage drive for transfering huge files with clients.