14 DAY TRIAL // During the “Let's Rock” event in San Francisco, Apple unveiled a new iPod touch model, featuring a slimmer, smooth-contoured metal design. Other enhancements include integrated volume control buttons, just like the iPhone, a built-in speaker for casual listening, Nike + iPod support, and integration with iTunes' new Genius feature.
With the new iTunes 8 Genius feature, as some of you may have already heard, iPod touch users can automatically create playlists on the go. Genius adds similar-genre songs to a user-created playlist, or suggests new songs from the iTunes Store that would go well with what the user already owns.
New functionality has also been added thanks to the build-in volume control buttons, previously available only with Apple's iPhone, but also thanks to the integrated speaker, for “casual listening.” According to Apple's Steve Jobs, it was pretty difficult to decide on adding a speaker to the iPod touch, because of its slim design. Nevertheless, they did it, because, “for the holiday season,” Apple wanted to make the touch “even better," as Jobs explained.
With the built-in Nike + iPod support, users can place the Nike + iPod sensor (sold separately for $19 US) in their Nike + shoe to seamlessly connect with the new iPod touch, and track workout sessions. Alleged spy shots of the Nike + application have recently emerged, but were declared fake after further investigation. Apple was, however, known to be collaborating with Nike for a more advanced Nike + iPod solution. You can find out more details about it here.
In what was a natural approach for the Cupertino-based electronics giant, the new iPod touch was made available in three variants. While all three models can go for up to 36 hours of music playback, or six hours of video playback (on a single charge), the 32GB model holds up to 7,000 songs, 25,000 photos or 40 hours of video; the 16GB model holds up to 3,500 songs, 20,000 photos or 20 hours of video, while the 8GB model holds up to 1,750 songs, 10,000 photos and 10 hours of video.
All this being said, which new iPod touch model sounds most suitable for you, and what do you think of the new features?