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Apple Quietly Releases New iPods

redletterdave writes "At the company's media event last month, Apple introduced its fifth-generation iPod Touch and seventh-generation iPod Nano, but only mentioned an October timeframe for when it would start filling pre-orders. Without an official word, it looks like the official launch day for the new iPods is today. Apple Stores around the country are currently stocked with the new iPods and customers who pre-ordered are finally receiving email notifications that their orders have shipped, or are 'preparing to ship.' Still, it is interesting to note that Apple didn't make a special announcement or even post a press release to announce the launch of its newest media players, especially as the competition heats up before the holiday season."

36 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. quietly? by noh8rz10 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Umm, they had a huge event where they unveiled new iphones and ipods. what is quiet about it? the release date I guess? regardless, they're here now. I've got a new ipod touch on order, so I should be getting it soon. the price went up - $299. I wonder how the price of the ipad mini will compare to this?

  2. "the competition heats up..." by grouchomarxist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    eh? in media players? what competition?

    1. Re:"the competition heats up..." by blackraven14250 · · Score: 2

      I don't know about where you live, but lots of newer cars in the US have iPod-only hookups. Most that aren't player-specific (either aux or USB) have lots of features that aren't available on an Aux jack only, like controlling the iPod from the steering wheel or dash.

    2. Re:"the competition heats up..." by future+assassin · · Score: 3, Interesting
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    3. Re:"the competition heats up..." by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      eh? in media players? what competition?

      The competition is not from other dedicated PMPs, but from Android phones. Why buy an ipod when you can get one of the cheap-ass androids for the same price.

      (I know, I know, joggers etc like a small light PMP, but its a vanishing market)

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    4. Re:"the competition heats up..." by grouchomarxist · · Score: 5, Informative

      There is definitely competition out there, but it is minimal. If you check out Amazon's Japan best seller page for portable media players you get:

      http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/bestsellers/electronics/140474011/ref=zg_bs_nav_e_3_3371411

      The top 3 items are Apple iPod touch. 9 out of the top 10 items are from Apple. 17 of the top 20.

      In any case, part of my point is not Apple's dominance, but the lack of anything much happening in this market.

    5. Re:"the competition heats up..." by BasilBrush · · Score: 3, Insightful

      (I know, I know, joggers etc like a small light PMP, but its a vanishing market)

      People aren't jogging any more?

      Of course the iPod Touch is part of the iPod line. And it allows people access to the iOS App Store for much less money than an iPhone.

    6. Re:"the competition heats up..." by FreakyGeeky · · Score: 4, Informative

      What are you talking about? They'll work just fine. My iPhone 5 works perfectly in my 2011 Nissan.

    7. Re:"the competition heats up..." by csumpi · · Score: 2

      That is complete BS.

      You can hook up an iPod to my Honda, but it also takes USB drives, anything over Bluetooth and for last resort there is the aux port. My previous Honda did the same. So iPod only, is far from the truth.

    8. Re:"the competition heats up..." by Cimexus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Joggers and people at the gym, my friend.

      I have an iPhone and it has my music library on it. I use it regularly - on the bus, on the train, in the car etc. However my iPod Nano still gets pulled out every time I go running because:

      a) it is much smaller and lighter than an iPhone; and
      b) if it falls out of my pocket and smashes into a million pieces on the pavement, I've lost a $99 device rather than a $899 device.

  3. User quietly buys... by dohzer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...non-iPod media player of equal storage and superior features for third of iPod price.

  4. 10,000 feet limitation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    From the specs on Apples page:

    Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

    Really? What would cause this. This means it can't be used in places like Leadville, CO for example. Is this some sleazy warranty trick? Granted, this is the same for the 4th generation but I don't understand why any media player would be limited to 10,000 feet.

    1. Re:10,000 feet limitation by ColdWetDog · · Score: 3, Funny

      From the specs on Apples page:

      Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

      Really? What would cause this. This means it can't be used in places like Leadville, CO for example. Is this some sleazy warranty trick? Granted, this is the same for the 4th generation but I don't understand why any media player would be limited to 10,000 feet.

      Magic Pixie dust doesn't work well at low atmospheric pressures. Want proof? How many iPhones / iPods are on Mars?

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    2. Re:10,000 feet limitation by viperidaenz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Both of which, the iPods have none of. Its most likely the lithium ion batteries.

    3. Re:10,000 feet limitation by sidthegeek · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually, the altitude might be affecting the Reality Distortion Field...

    4. Re:10,000 feet limitation by zippthorne · · Score: 2

      Perhaps it is a leftover spec from when they did have spinny hard drives....

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    5. Re:10,000 feet limitation by viperidaenz · · Score: 2

      Or perhaps the lithium ion batteries I already mentioned, as they must be pressure tested to meet safety standards, and 10,000 feet is a standard pressure, since passenger aircraft cabins are pressurised to 8,000 feet. Atmospheric pressure changes can deform the cells leading to shorts which turn into fires.

    6. Re:10,000 feet limitation by Random2 · · Score: 2

      Heard of Verification and Validation?

      Basically, when a company makes a claim, it has to have the claim proven by a series of tests. Some of them can be trivial (is it green? Yes, it is green), but others may not be as trivial. For example, battery life. What is the use case for the battery? Is it in sleep mode, is random noise coming out of the speakers (random noise having a different average power draw than a sine wave or 'music'). You get the picture.

      So, there's some component in the iPod that either specifies an altitude, or it could've been part of a drop test, perhaps EM ratings (seems the most reasonable to me, altitude differences can affect air resistance), or something else.

      However, it's not likely a sleazy warranty trick; rather they're being specific about what they claim so they can't be sued over something trivial later.

      --
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  5. Huh. by Type44Q · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple Quietly Releases New iPods

    Not quietly enough, obviously...

    (I kid, I kid!)

  6. Re:It was already announced. by mosb1000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess the difference is whether you want to use the device to listen to music, or if you're ok with just looking at pictures of it.

  7. Where is the new iTunes 11? by Scowler · · Score: 2

    Strange that Apple wouldn't release the iTunes overhaul in conjunction with these iPods. That overhaul is well overdue, more than any iPod refresh...

    1. Re:Where is the new iTunes 11? by peragrin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      iTunes doesn't need an overhaul it needs an axe.

      Seriously Idevice sync, media player and iTunes Store should be separate apps.

      --
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    2. Re:Where is the new iTunes 11? by Scowler · · Score: 2

      They can exist as modules under a single lightweight application UI, actively loaded and unloaded as necessary. That kind of SW design would answer most people's criticisms surrounding "bloat".

      At the very least the current hodgepodge UI needs to die and be reborn.

    3. Re:Where is the new iTunes 11? by Gothmolly · · Score: 3, Interesting

      None of what you wrote has any meaning to the vast majority of PC and Apple users.

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    4. Re:Where is the new iTunes 11? by RocketRabbit · · Score: 2

      They already exist as modules under a single lightweight UI. The core of iTunes hasn't changed in a long time, and on a Mac it's perfectly suitable. On a PC it's not as good, because it essentially runs on top of a modern version of an updated Openstep feature that let you run Openstep on top of Windows. This whole thing is a big beast and to my knowledge, is only used for Quicktime and iTunes.

    5. Re:Where is the new iTunes 11? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 2

      Strange that Apple wouldn't release the iTunes overhaul in conjunction with these iPods. That overhaul is well overdue, more than any iPod refresh...

      http://www.apple.com/itunes/new-itunes/ - Coming in October

      Close enough?

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  8. I have a smartphone, who cares by dadelbunts · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Do people still buy these things? And 300 dollars is outrageous. My phone was 80 dollars, no contract. A 32gb microsd is 20 dollars. So 100 dollars total for a device that can outperform this I-Pod touch in everything, even media playing thanks to winamp and winamp remote.

  9. Re:Maybe because iPods are irrelevant? by codegen · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have a friend who has an iPod instead of an iPhone. She is almost always in range of free wifi, and uses two apps that provide free phone (including dial in) and free texting. Cheaper than an iPhone and lighter too.

    --
    Atlas stands on the earth and carries the celestial sphere on his shoulders.
  10. "Disable Advertising" option not working by Kittenman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Strange - I thought I had that ticked, but I can still see this story.

    --
    "The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" - Winston Churchill
  11. Re:Yet another re-invention of the iPod Nano by jfengel · · Score: 2

    Personally, I was very disappointed at the removal of video from the Nano. I used it on rare occasions, like airplane flights, on my 3rd gen Nano. When it died I got a 6, and was shocked at how crippled the 6 was. I returned it and found myself a 5th gen Nano (which actually cost more) and am very happy with it.

  12. Re:The didn't make an announcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot will pick up anything from Apple, including "quiet release"

    Quiet release sounds like what an Apple fanboy does after he finds out his iPod preorder shipped.

  13. Still able to control by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Informative

    If they are using the new port then they will be just like the new Iphones, the built in controls in the car will not be able to control the device...

    A number of things with a USB port (like cars) can still control iOS devices with a lightning port, simply using he included cable.

    Other devices that had dedicated dock connectors can still work just fine with the new connector if you get the adaptor. The only thing that will not work is playing video or "iPod Out", which was displaying a virtual iPod screen on some other device (since it needs video). That's not much of a loss though as the iPod Out interface was laggy and really low res.

    --
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  14. Re:The didn't make an announcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Only because Mom can hear everything through the heating ducts. The loud stuff is reserved for the Apple Store.

  15. Don't know why, but it is lying... by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    Really? What would cause this. This means it can't be used in places like Leadville, CO for example.

    I was driving and hiking around the mountains at higher elevations than that all weekend. An iPhone 5 (with the same specs) worked just fine. I have no idea why the continue to include specs like this in totally solid-state devices, but it probably has to do with ranges all the components were tested in and they just don't want to legally claim it will work under conditions they have not tested.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  16. iPhone minus the phone by unixisc · · Score: 2

    It's an iPhone - without the phone capabilities. I find it really handy to not just check mails, but also the weather, stocks, a calculator, time in different cities and YouTube. Only complaint - lack of an SD card slot, and the inability to store music videos the way one can store music audios. Otherwise, it's a great thing to have while waiting in a restaurant, at the doctors or for the car to get done.

  17. Re:They didn't... because Telecomm Cos are Nervous by retroworks · · Score: 3, Interesting

    No, there is actually a story here. IPhones and Galaxies and HTCs are being launched by companies like ATT, Veriozon, Orange, Sprint, etc. But growth of handheld devices is skyrocketing in urban environments around the world. 80% of the Earth population now has electricity, and 47% of households have access to wifi (or soon will). Just as (and this is lost on wealthy audiences) MOST display devices sold in 2006 (by number, not by dollar) had both an SVGA jack and a TV tuner, because most buyers (India, China, Indonesia, Egypt, etc.) could not afford, or have room in the house, for both a TV and a computer, there is a very large market which IPods are aimed at. WIFI. Using Google Voice or Skype to speak on an IPod over Wi-Fi is a frightening trend to the telecommunications firms which promote the IPhone. I would expect this kind of relative silence over a device which does not require $90 per month individual subscription and data fees. Why do almost all the comments on this article treat the Phone-company-Less device as a toy? Because Slashdot readers live in a world where buying a laptop AND a desktop AND a television AND a cell phone AND a pad AND a pod seems just slightly consumptive. See pictures of slums with electricity and wifi, a third to half of the world telecom market, here. http://retroworks.blogspot.com/2012/04/useless-lists-of-jobs-beneath-wealthy.html

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