So, Apple’s annual iPod event was this week, and they, as usual announced the latest round of iPods for the Holiday season, as well as a new version of iTunes. So, lets go through it, shall we?

Genius Mix on the iPod Touch

First off was the 3.1 update for the iTouch and iPhone. Nothing too major here, but the highlights are Genius suggestions for the App Store, as well as a new Genius mode for Music, called Genius Mix (more on that later with iTunes 9). Also added was the announcement that Apple would be selling pre-made ringtones for the iPhone for $1.29. You can check it all out by plugging in your iPod Touch/iPhone and doing a software update (this update is free for iPhone users and anyone who purchased iPhone OS 3.0 for the iTouch, and if you have an iTouch and want to update it, Apple has dropped the price of that to $5).

The all new iTunes 9

Next is iTunes 9. A couple new things here, including a whole new look to the iTunes store, and some other cool features: Genius Mix, which is similar to a Genius playlist, but acts more like an endless radio station from your music based off specific bands – It’s pretty slick, and is also on the iTouch and iPhone. Syncing stuff has also been completely overhauled– now you can not only sync specific playlists, but also specific artists, genres, etc. A much needed improvement, and one that is appreciated. Photos also allow syncing of Events and Faces, and movies have some extra options as well, such as syncing only 3 most recent videos. But most importantly, and at long last, Apple has improved App syncing for the iTouch and iPhone. How, you ask? By allowing you to manage Applications in iTunes – yes: you can layout the apps however you please IN iTunes, using a mouse and keyboard, and then sync your Apps in that layout to your iDevice. This is a feature that should have been there the whole time, and is incredibly appreciated. Anyone who has ever tried sorting out their Apps on an iTouch/iPhone knows exactly how good this is. Also added to iTunes is another useful feature, called Home Sharing – this allows you to transfer your iTunes music, videos and even Apps across your computers in your house, allowing you to keep all your music in sync across up to 5 of your computers. Very cool and nice.

iTunes LP in the new iTunes 9

Finally, there’s the addition of iTunes LP’s and iTunes Extra’s– basically, the extra stuff you’d get on a CD purchase with the physical disk – lyrics, interviews, etc, and on a DVD as extra features– are now included in purchases of specific albums as iTunes LPs, and in certain movies with iTunes Extras.

Now – the new iPods:

iPod Touch– not a lot to report here actually. The rumored camera remains just that–  a rumor. the 8GB was dropped to $200, the $300 16 GB is now a $300 32 GB, and the $400 32 GB, a 64 GB. The 32 and 64 also have the new higher end graphics and processors found in the iPhone 3GS.

iPod Classic– staying at $250,but a bigger hard drive – 160 GB now.

iPod Shuffle– new colors of pink, green and blue, down to $60 for 2 GB, and $80 for 4 GB.

The new iPod Nano– now shooting video

Finally, there’s the iPod Nano – which DID get the rumored camera: keeping the same size as the old one, although with a bigger screen, the new Nano has a video camera in the bad, designed to compete with the likes of the Flip Mino and other such small video cameras. Also being added is a built in FM radio, and Nike+ support, along with a built in mic and speaker. Comes in the same colors as before, only with a new glossier paint job, in 8 GB for $150 and 16 GB for $180. All the new iPods as well as iTunes 9 are available now.

And that’s that roundup. So readers, what did you think of the news – are you picking up a new iPod now, or maybe gonna go with something like a Zune HD? Sound off in the comments.