And APPLE did it again!!!

And once again, software and hardware manufacturer did it again.
Apple, in their September 12 Showtime event launched 3 kinds of new iPods, iTunes 7, Movies downloads from iTunes Store (no more "Music" in the middle) and a Media Center wireless hub.

Apple bumped the specs of the 5G iPod with brighter screen, a search function, longer battery life, new 80GB capacity and capable of playing games (well actually all 4G and 5G iPods can play the downloaded games from iTunes). But the design is still the same as the version 1 of the 5G iPod.

On the other hand the iPod Nano has been "remastered" and now sports an iPod Mini-like aluminum anodized case. And it comes in 5 colors too (Silver, Pink, Green, Blue and Black). It comes in 2GB (silver only), 4GB (all colors except black) and 8GB (black) versions. Brighter screen, can play games downloaded from iTunes Store, has a Search function and longer battery life, from the 14hours in the 1st Gen Nano now battery time lasts for 24hours.

The 2nd Gen Shuffle is the big surprise. Nobody predicted this coming. Apple has gone away with the USB stick design and instead shifted to a clip with an mp3 player. The new shuffle is smaller, thinner and prettier. Still doesn't have a screen, in only one model, 1GB capacity, instead of USB connectivity, it now comes with it's own teeney-weeney cradle. At $75, this portable player is going to be a hit. Even those who already own big capacity iPod had hinted that they are going to get one of these babies (including me of course).

Then Steve Jobs, announced a preview of a product that will compete with Microsoft's Windows Media Center. They've given it an iTV codename. The box looks a lot like Apple's Mac mini but a lot thinner. It has all the multimedia connections at the back and can connect to a computer (PC or Mac) that has iTunes thru wired ethernet or wireless 802.11 connectivity and access it's contents and play it on a TV that is attached to the box. It's basically Front Row on TV.