ooooooo – Colorful.

Alrighty everyone, the biggest news of the week just landed. As Apple tends to do around the pre-holiday season (like now), they announced today the new updates to their iPod lines.

Nano:

Among the several updates to the product line is the heavily rumored 4th generation Nano, which I think is awesome (Orange iPods = Awesome). With a screen long enough for wide screen video and photo playback yet a continuing the slender design of the 1^st and 2^nd Gen Nanos, it looks really good– and ridiculously thin, as in paper thin.

It turns on it’s side to watch movies, using an  accelerometer (like the Touch/iPhone) that senses when you turn the Nano on it’s side for features like Cover Flow. The accelerometer also brings a “shake to shuffle” feature that shuffles your music when the iPod is shaken (very fun and cool). The software remains mostly unchanged from last year’s iPod Classic/Nano software, with the exception of a new “Genius” playback software, which automatically generates iPod On-the-Go playlists based on similar types of songs found on your iPod. And not to fear: all the old games from the last Nano still work on this model.

Prices were changed as well.  For $150, instead of a 4 GB of the 3rd gen, your money now buys an 8 GB version, and a new 16 GB version goes for the extra $50 ($200 total), that previously would’ve gotten you an 8 GB. Both are available in an astounding 9 colors. (Once again, Orange iPods = Awesome!).

Touch:

Also coming out today is the new iPod Touch. Since Apple’s spent the past year or so developing the software ecosystem for the Touch and iPhone, obviously it stays the same. However, new features were added with built in Nike+ iPod Touch support– no little plug on the bottom of the iPod needed though you still must purchase the shoe receiver separately. The Touch also received physical volume control buttons similar to the iPhone, receiving speakers (FINALLY!) and an even thinner design then ever (yes, appearently thats possible).

Price here was cut to $230 for 8 GB, $300 for 16 GB, and $400 for 32 GB. The iPod Touch and iPhone also get the 2.1 software update, available free for iPhone owners and purchasers of the 2.0 update (C’mon Apple, stop charging for software updates already–its just plain ridiculous.), which adds the new Genius feature (see above) to the Touch and iPhone, as well as fixing numerous bugs, especially those regarding applications and dropped calls on the iPhone (we know you iPhone users must have had some of them).

New iPod Touch, with Nike+ Application on left, but notice the thinness!!!!

iPod Classic:

The iPod Classic was also updated today with a bump in storage for the old 80 GB, now boasting 120 GB for the same price as its predecessor– $250. Attention all Storage Lovers: the 160 GB model has been discontinued– buy them while they’re still in stock (at a lower clearance price too ).

Itunes:

You wouldn’t think good ‘ol iTunes would be left out in the ‘Let’s Rock” event would ya? iTunes also received an update with iTunes 8, which includes the “Genius” playlist generator (see above) that in addition to making entire playlists in iTunes based on a specific song, it will recommend similar songs from the iTunes Store (nice way to make a sale Apple ). iTunes also gets a new visualizer and a different album view called Grid (similar to Cover Flow except better formatted for non-touchscreen devices. Instead of scrolling horizontally, you just go through a list by the Album art). Also, NBC returned to iTunes (Heroes and the Office are back. Woohoo!) and HD TV shows were added as well.

For some hands-on reviews of all these Apple announcements, see here.

WOW!! Lot of stuff here. Anyways, stay tuned for our own review of iTunes 8 (which is available now- click here), and feel free to sound off in the comments on what you think of these new Apple announcements, as well as if you’ll be springing for one of these new iPods.

Pix and Info from Apple.com