The new iPods announced today will have component video output via another new product, a cable . Now you can connect your new iPod to a TV and amaze your friends with how geeky you are.

When I first read that, I said, “So? There are lots of AV cables for iPods.” Then, I clicked on the link and, after choking at the price, noticed that there were FIVE RCA plugs and re-read what willrob wrote—COMPONENT video! From the Apple store page:

“Note: Component video output to television is supported by iPod nano (third generation) and iPod classic at 480p or 576p resolution, and by iPod touch at 480i or 576i resolution.”

Another reason for getting the Classic if you’re really serious about video; the progressive output should be a bit higher quality than interlaced. OTOH, either would be much better than the iPod 5.5G I have. The real shocker is that the Nano 3G supports that output.

Another neat thing is that the cable also has an USB connector, so you can power/charge the iPod while watching TV.

It shouldn’t be long before one of the third party manufacturers like DLO , Griffin and Belkin —and others—will come up with docks and cables (probably cheaper than Apple’s) for component output.

BTW, Belkin already has the new iPods on its accessories site. They’re showing arbands for the Nano 3G and the iPod Classic/6G, though no prices.[/url]

Here is big news.  The Wall Street Journal had a good article on today’s event.  They interviewed SJ and he made a big statement.

In an interview, Mr. Jobs said Apple “absolutely” could meet its iPhone shipment goal this month without cutting prices. He said the cut in part reflects Apple’s ability to reduce production costs, as well as a desire to price the product attractively during the holiday season. “It’s time to be as aggressive as we can be,” Mr. Jobs said. “If we’re not, then we have to wait another year for the next holiday season.”

He also mentioned in his address that they were on track to sell 1 million iPhones. This tells me that they could be meeting that number any day.  With 25 days left in the quarter, I think Apple decided to sell as many iPhones as possible this quarter and into 1st quarter as well.  This price reduction was planned and I think well ahead of schedule.  The new iPod Touch is what forced them to lower the price on the iPHone, not a lack of sales.  They want to continue the iPod growth while meeting their iPhone goal of 10 million by end of next year.  This price structure and new products will do just that.

[quote author=“omacvi”]Here is big news.  The Wall Street Journal had a good article on today’s event.  They interviewed SJ and he made a big statement.

In an interview, Mr. Jobs said Apple “absolutely” could meet its iPhone shipment goal this month without cutting prices. He said the cut in part reflects Apple’s ability to reduce production costs, as well as a desire to price the product attractively during the holiday season. “It’s time to be as aggressive as we can be,” Mr. Jobs said. “If we’re not, then we have to wait another year for the next holiday season.”

He also mentioned in his address that they were on track to sell 1 million iPhones. This tells me that they could be meeting that number any day.  With 25 days left in the quarter, I think Apple decided to sell as many iPhones as possible this quarter and into 1st quarter as well.  This price reduction was planned and I think well ahead of schedule.  The new iPod Touch is what forced them to lower the price on the iPHone, not a lack of sales.  They want to continue the iPod growth while meeting their iPhone goal of 10 million by end of next year.  This price structure and new products will do just that.

In WSJ interview SJ says:
So we made the decision to put the pedal to the medal and go for it this holiday season, to get as many people using iPhones as we can.

Apple goes all in this holiday season. SJ essentially says that the assault start this Fall. I will give markets and analysts a day or two, if this is not understood correctly and the stock continues to tumble, then no reason to fight the trend - let it drop to pick up sometime in the next few weeks

Not exactly breaking news, but in a totally unrelated blog, someone wrote :

I took my son to his piano practice tonight. On the way home, I passed by none other than Steve and Laurene Jobs, walking hand in hand around the neighborhood (they live just a few blocks from the place where practice is held). What a town, huh? A multi-billionaire, one of the most famous men on the planet, and someone that will be in business history books a hundred years from now - - who happened to do a major product announcement earlier today - - and he’s strolling around with his wife at 6 in the evening. Righteous.

DJ MARKET TALK: WestLB Downgrades Balda On IPhone Price Cuts

0844 GMT [Dow Jones] WestLB cuts Balda (BAD.XE) to sell from hold following AppleÒ‘s (AAPL) price cuts for its 8G iPhone and announcement it will no longer offer the 4G version. WestLB believes this will have negative margin implications for Balda and sees further downside to its estimates. Notes AppleÒ‘s sharp price cut is likely unprecedented in the history of consumer electronics. Adds as Apple usually negotiates terms with suppliers to shield its own gross margin, WestLBÒ‘s 10% and 17.5% EBIT margin estimates for Balda in 3Q and 4Q are probably optimistic. Keeps EUR7 target. Shares +1.5% at EUR8.36. (APB)

[quote author=“N.L.”]DJ MARKET TALK: WestLB Downgrades Balda On IPhone Price Cuts

0844 GMT [Dow Jones] WestLB cuts Balda (BAD.XE) to sell from hold following AppleÒ‘s (AAPL) price cuts for its 8G iPhone and announcement it will no longer offer the 4G version. WestLB believes this will have negative margin implications for Balda and sees further downside to its estimates. Notes AppleÒ‘s sharp price cut is likely unprecedented in the history of consumer electronics. Adds as Apple usually negotiates terms with suppliers to shield its own gross margin, WestLBÒ‘s 10% and 17.5% EBIT margin estimates for Balda in 3Q and 4Q are probably optimistic. Keeps EUR7 target. Shares +1.5% at EUR8.36. (APB)

So, this price cut by Apple comes out of Balda’s pocket?

[quote author=“N.L.”]DJ MARKET TALK: WestLB Downgrades Balda On IPhone Price Cuts

0844 GMT [Dow Jones] WestLB cuts Balda (BAD.XE) to sell from hold following AppleÒ‘s (AAPL) price cuts for its 8G iPhone and announcement it will no longer offer the 4G version. WestLB believes this will have negative margin implications for Balda and sees further downside to its estimates. Notes AppleÒ‘s sharp price cut is likely unprecedented in the history of consumer electronics. Adds as Apple usually negotiates terms with suppliers to shield its own gross margin, WestLBÒ‘s 10% and 17.5% EBIT margin estimates for Balda in 3Q and 4Q are probably optimistic. Keeps EUR7 target. Shares +1.5% at EUR8.36. (APB)

I know nothing about Balda, but I would say this analysis is stupid in the extreme. The iPhone 4GB may be cut (because everyone was buying the 8GB version), but there’s now an iPod Touch…which means massive volume for Balda.
Sounds like dumb knee-jerk analysis to me.

[quote author=“Tommo_UK”]I know nothing about Balda, but I would say this analysis is stupid in the extreme. The iPhone 4GB may be cut (because everyone was buying the 8GB version), but there’s now an iPod Touch…which means massive volume for Balda.
Sounds like dumb knee-jerk analysis to me.

If anything Balda should be upgraded on the basis of a huge increase in volume.

The new iTunes w/wifi and ringtones is out.  Download from Apple available now.

[quote author=“wheeles”][quote author=“Tommo_UK”]I know nothing about Balda, but I would say this analysis is stupid in the extreme. The iPhone 4GB may be cut (because everyone was buying the 8GB version), but there’s now an iPod Touch…which means massive volume for Balda.
Sounds like dumb knee-jerk analysis to me.

If anything Balda should be upgraded on the basis of a huge increase in volume.

Yep - that order they recently received for 9M additional screens was obviously for the iPod Touch. I don’t understand the downgrade at all, especially on the cusp of the European roll-out of the iPhone. Bizarre. I don’t trade the stock or know much about it, but the rationale behind this downgrade seems very very weak and speaks volumes about the stupidity and lack of rigourous analysis so common in the financial markets.

Jobs hopes for NBC on iTunes, sees growth

From macnn:

Apple continues to hope that NBC Universal will reconsider and sell its shows via iTunes. Following its Wednesday iPod/iTunes event, Apple’s CEO said that he hopes NBCU will return to the industry-leading digital store. “We hope they’ll reconsider their decisions over time and maybe find out that iTunes and iPods are a great way to digitally distribute their content to tens or maybe hundreds of millions of customers around the world,” Jobs said in an interview with Reuters. Earlier this week, NBC Universal turned to Amazon’s Unbox service after it decided not to renew its iTunes distribution/sales contract with Apple because of no pricing flexibility. While NBCU later insisted that its currently running series would be available on iTunes through December when the contract ends, Apple last Friday said it would not sell new network TV episodes because the contract was set to expire in the middle of the season.

http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/09/06/jobs.hopes.for.nbc/

Engadget spot that the iPod Touch appears to have Bluetooth after all. I suspect this is the case too, and when Apple launch Bluetooth stereo headphones for the iPhone, this feature will magically be enabled on the iPod Touch too.

HP introduce iPAQ line of smartphones

Lame attemt to cash in on iPhones success.

MacRumors is reporting that the new iTune 7.4 will remove Ringtones created by third party applications

iPhone users could alternatively use shareware utilities such as iToner (Mac) or iPhoneRingToneMaker (PC) or freeware tools such as iFuntastic, however at present it appears ringtones added by 3rd party tools are deleted when you sync with iTunes 7.4.

[quote author=“sleepygeek”]“The one concern he does have with the cut, however, is the reaction from many of Apple’s most loyal customers who are now feeling ripped off after having paid $599 for the handset over the course of the past nine weeks.”

OK, I’m sick of this parroted nonsense. There’s no need for analysts to pander to whingers in this way. Every digital device anyone’s ever bought was a “rip-off” that was much cheaper a few months later. And it’s $200 off a $2000 2-year cost; that’s 10%, not 33%.

I agree!  Michael Dell has a BM and the stock goes up 5%...analysts raise targets because he’s “producing”.    Apple *consistently* delivers the BEST and most INNOVATIVE line of technology and “the street” latches onto the ONLY thing they can find that can possibly be construed and perverted into something negative.  Where are the “these new iPods are going to kick ass!” statements?  People are generally idiots and get what they deserve.  I always manage to underestimate the stupidity of “the street”.  That’s the weak link in my trading…I constantly forget what a bunch of idiots are “analyzing” aapl.