Apple has launched a new range of iPod Nano and iPod Touch portable media players and a new version of the iTunes media management software.
The new iPod nano now features a video camera, a mic and a speaker. It sports an ultra-thin and sleek design with a larger 2.2-inch colour display and a polished aluminum and glass enclosure.
The new iPod nano also features a built-in FM radio with live pause of a transmission and iTunes Tagging of a radio song for later purchase, as well as a built-in pedometer.
It comes in 8GB and 16GB capacity and nine colours.
Apple also announced a new iPod Touch range with capacities up to 64GB. Basically it's the same second-generation model with a faster processor and larger capacity to store applications, music and videos.
To complement the new iPods, Apple also announced version 9 of iTunes, the software application used to purchase, manage and play media on both Macs and PCs. The latest version comes with a host of new features including iTunes LP, Home Sharing and Genius Mixes, as well as a re-designed store and improved syncing.
iTunes LP is available for select albums on the iTunes Store and provides expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.
The new iTunes Extras provides a similar experience for movies on iTunes with features including documentaries, deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries.
iTunes 9 also introduces Home Sharing, which lets users easily transfer music, movies and TV shows among up to five authorised computers at home. Family members can now view up to five iTunes libraries on their home network, see only the portion of these libraries they don't already have, import their favourite content directly to their own libraries, and automatically add new purchases from other computers into their library.
The established Genius feature has been transformed into Genius Mixes which are created using the results of over 27 million music libraries with over 54 billion songs that have been submitted and analysed by Genius. The new Genius Mixes feature is like having a "Genius" DJ that automatically generates up to 12 endless mixes of songs from your iTunes library that go great together.
With improved syncing in iTunes 9 and iPhone OS 3.1, users can now organise their iPhone apps right in iTunes and they will automatically appear on their iPhone with the same layout. Plus, syncing music, photos, movies and TV shows is easier than ever with the added ability to sync music by artist and genre and sync photos by Events and Faces.
iTunes 9 is available as a free download.
The new iPods are available from iCentre, Apple's authorised service provider in Malta.
www.icentre.com.mt