New, Thinner iPods Available Now (w/Pic)
TMO Reports - New, Thinner iPods Available Now (w/Pic)
by , 8:35 AM EDT, July 19th, 2004
Apple Computer announced Monday that its new, fourth-generation iPod is available immediately through retailers and its online store.
As previewed in a front page feature of the July 26th issue of Newsweek magazine, the new iPod offers a thinner case, 50% better battery life and click-wheel navigation.
Key features of the new iPod are:
- 50% better battery life to 12 hours from eight through better power conservation.
- A click wheel identical in design and navigation to that of the iPod mini.
- A thinner iPod by one millimeter.
- More efficient menus, so there is less thumbing through to get to content.
- The ability to create multiple playlists and delete songs from them.
- Variable speed control to listen to content faster or slower.
The company reconfirmed that both the 20GB and 40GB models will cost US$100 less than previous models, making their MSRP $299 and $399, respectively. While not specifically mentioning the 15GB model in its press statement, the lower-capacity music player is no longer available as an option of the company's online retail store site.
Observer Comments
I'm still glad I bought my mini.
This isn't anything that people who have iPods need to worry about. Certainly no reason to sell your old one and upgrade.
But it is good for people who don't have one yet. I really like the fact that all models have the same style wheel now. That's one of the main reasons I bought my mini, and although I'd still take a mini over a large iPod, I'm glad that people who WANT a larger one can benefit from the same styled controls.
The one thing I haven't heard is if it will become possible for older iPod owners to get the software improvements downloaded onto their iPods. I would certainly hope so, but haven't read that anywhere.
Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:09 am Subject: Apple Still Has The Worst iPod Battery Replace Program
What do you mean you don't get your iPod back? That's why it's called a replacement service. Who sends the original anything back with a replacement service? And why does that matter? Someone's gonna get attached to the exact pattern of scratches on it?
And who keeps their songs on their iPod and ONLY on their iPod? You can't help people with no common sense.
And except for AA's nearly every battery I own costs $100. That's what they cost.
Ever investigate other battery replacement services besides Apple's, or would that be too much like work? There are a number of other companies offering replacement services or replacement batteries, so options do exist for those people who are not satisfied with Apple's program. Maybe if you were of an entrepreneurial mind you could start a battery service of your own and offer a superior product at a lower price.
QuoteGuest wrote:
Thurrott, shut your ...
RC is a waste of skin. I tried reasoning with him a while back and it was a lost cause. He reminds me of the Monty Python sketch about renting an argument. He's too irrelevant to even care about.
FWIW I really like the new design for article comments. RC's are clearly marked and stay closed so I just skip over them.
QuoteGuest wrote:
Thurrott, shut your hole, you (etc.)
Do you think it (that is, RC, whether or not it's Thurrotten) actually reads replies? I peg it for a post & run coward.
Awright, to the topic at hand. Smaller, lighter, better battery lifetime, what's not to like about the new iPod? If only I had $300 to drop on one....
is mostly focused back on himself.
Thurrott should go back to worshipping at the alter to his two gods:
W.H.Gates & Mike "the Dull" Dell,
and leave us with at least two brain cells to rub together be.
Put this in your blunt and smoke it, Thurrott;
$400 is now more of an enticement for me to finally get one than before!
Regardless what you think of 1) Apple as a company at anytime in its history, and 2) What *YOU* might think about *ANY* version of Apple products: past, present, or future.
Your little WinHell world is perplexed that somebody else makes better gear than either Gates and/or Dell can come up with.
Deal with *that* Reality!
-PontiMac X
Mon Jul 19, 2004 3:19 pm Subject: Bounced Check on Reality there, Thurrott
Apple is known for some expensive things. Take the RAM for example; only a novice would buy RAM from Apple as it is too expensive. It can be had at many different places for far cheaper.
Same with the iPod battery replacement. You can get it far cheaper at other places.
This does not mean Apple is going down, ripping off their customers, etc. This is Apple giving them a choice and knowing that a third-party market has/will be created for this service.
There are people out there who, like me, like going straight to the source for repair work and replacement parts. I am more than capable of fixing any problem that arises with my equipment, having owned and operated a computer store for many years and being very shortly away from AppleCare certified.
Give it a rest. Apple has, and I think knowingly, created another marketplace for resellers and enterprising people. You can't tell me that all of the whitebox suppliers don't do the same thing for Dell and other PC makers.
Thanks to Apple Canada's pricing. The low end iPod went from $399 to $429 canadian. $30 bucks is pretty high for 5GB of extra storage and minor interface changes. I'll believe the battery claims when one is tested in the real world. And it can't be the the lovely levy that accounts for the jack up in price either since the levy is $25 for both the 15Gb and 20Gb models. At least the iPod mini is sensibly priced up here at $349 canadian (including a $15 levy). The sad thing is the Mini was only released two weeks ago up here so it can't be currency fluctuations either because the canadian to US dollar rates haven't moved that much in that short timeframe. All in all pretty disappointing from my standpoint
Tue Jul 20, 2004 6:48 am Subject: It's on the Apple web site now
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