So now that all the hubbub has come and gone, I’m pleased to announce that I was 100% correct in my non-predictions for the Apple event. So I thought I’d come back with a review of just what did make the cut, and tell you about the my top 5 from the “Let’s Rock” announcement.
New iPod Nanos — No surprise here, at all. Announced today, shipping sometime between now and Christmas, a return to the slimmer, sleeker design of the iPod nano. The screen is much larger than the Gen 1 and Gen 2 nanos, and the ipod is now oval shaped (read: won’t sit flat on a table). It also comes in about a dozen different colours.
“New” iPod Touches — Though not receiving anywere near the revision that the nanos did, the iPod touch now sports new side-mounted volume controls and a small external speaker. Both of these will make the App-store games much more fun to play. I’m sad that they’ve chosen not to integrate a microphone (though the exclusion was one of my predictions), the external volume controls will be a very handy new feature. I wonder how hard they had to convince Jobs to abandon his “no buttons” policy?
Apple & NBC Kiss & Make up — Again, not a big surprise, NBC is returning to the iTunes store. All your favourite syndicated NBC crap will once again be available in iTunes. Meh…
iTunes 8 — The next version of iTunes is out, and it sports a fancy new “genius” feature whereby Apple takes a look at your listening habits and makes recommendations. It’ll also build playlists for you.
iPod Touch / iPhone Software 2.1 — A revision of the software for the two fanciest iThings to hopefully fix the bugs and constant crashing that have plagued the devices (even 1st Gen iPhones / iPod Touches) since the 2.0 and 2.0.1 releases. I sure as hell hope it’s stable ’cause I’m planning to get a new iPod touch to replace the one that “disappeared” somewhere in the Minneapolis airport.
So there you have it. 5 things that actually did happen, to go along with the 5 that didn’t.