Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

The Apple event has come and gone and for the most part, we’re looking at evolutionary changes, not revolutionary ones.  The iPod nanos got the most new features with the addition of a video camera capable of recording VGA video, a microphone, FM radio, and a pedometer.  With the radio and pedometer, the iPod nano becomes even more workout friendly. 

The other iPods like the touch and the classic can handle more music and video thanks to larger capacities, but they did not see any external redesigns.  Apple is pushing the iPod touch as a gaming machine and dropped the price on the smallest capacity one to $199.  A new 64GB model was introduced at $399.  The pricing change looks to be to compete with Microsoft’s forthcoming Zune HD. 

iTunes got some new features that helps families with iTunes 9—it’s a lot easier to share and copy music between computers.  Apple also came out with “iTunes LPs” that are kind of a throwback—you’ve got photos, notes, and music.  For videos, there is “iTunes Extras” which gives you extra features, kind of like DVD special features on your downloaded video. 

iTunes 9 also brings app management for the iPhone and iPod touch so you can organize your apps on your computer instead of your touch screen device.  The Apple touch devices got some new features in software with the iPhone OS 3.1 which includes Genius for apps so now your phone can suggest apps the way the Genius feature could recommend music.  The biggest news might be that Steve Jobs returned to give the presentation.