Introducing: the iPod touch

At Apple's September 5 Special Event, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPod classic (aka video iPod) which sported a new look and bigger capacities at 80GB ($249) and 160GB ($349). The iPod nano was redesigned. Supposed leaked pictures of the iPod nano showed it with a bigger screen but more squat than tall. People started calling it the iPod phatty, iPod bilbo, or iPod stubby. The third-generation iPod nano does sport a bigger screen and is more squarish but looks way better than from the supposed leaked pictures. Some reviewers mentioned that photos of it do not give justice to the 3G iPod nano. The nano needs to be held and used to really appreciate it. The iPod shuffle just got new colors.

What probably was the centerpiece of the whole event was the introduction of the phone-less iPhone also known as the iPod touch. The iPod touch is the iPhone without the phone, camera, and bluetooth. The Mail app is also gone. Both devices at first glance look the same. However, the iPod touch lacks the silver trimming around it and is thinner at 8 mm. It also lacks the slit for the speaker. The placement of the earphone jack has been moved from the top to the bottom of the unit and to the relief of some, standard headphones can be used without any adapters.

The iPod touch has the same gorgeous 3.5-inch screen, plays music and videos and does Wi-Fi, too. Safari confirms that the iPod touch run a version of the Mac OS like the iPhone does. Other applications are: Youtube, Calendar, Calculator, and Contacts. On the bottom of the screen there are the icons for music, videos, photos and the iTunes Store. The iTunes button allows users to download music from the iTS without having to use their desktop PC or portable.

The iPod touch comes in 8GB and 16GB models. The 8GB model will sell for $299 and the 16GB will sell for $399. It will start shipping by the end of September. The iPod shuffle, iPod nano and iPod classic are already available. To know more about the new iPod line up, iLounge has their "Ten Things You Want to Know About the 2007 iPods." They've also put up videos of the interface for the iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod touch.