NEW iPod Nano & Shuffle

Today Apple released updates to its iPod product line, and completely redesigned the iPod Shuffle and as well As the iPod Nano. New features on the Nano include: double the battery life from 12 hours, to 24 hours, a new 8GB model(only availble in black), which sells for $249, 4 new colors (pink, green, silver, and blue) all available in 4GB capacity selling for $199, and a 2GB model(silver only) which sells for $149. Apple also made the new Nano screens 40% brighter, and the new aluminium frame even slimmer (.26 inches).

The iPod Nano was not the only iPod to see a redesign today, the iPod Shuffle has an entirely redesigned formfactor and subsequently holds the ephemeral title of smallest mp3 player in the world, which will most likely be taken by one of the hundreds of Chinese knockoffs in a matter of days. In addition to a new redesign, the iPod Shuffle now has an iPod dock connector port which allows it to sync through a miniture dock(included), the iPod shuffle will be sold at a competitive $79 and has a capacity of 1GB.

The regular iPod was also given modest updates today that include mostly software related features such as the song search function, as well as minimal gaming capabilities. The two new models come in the regular black and white variations and, like the nano now sport 60% brighter screens. So, if you buy a new iPod Nano, and a new iPod 30GB, you are increasing your total iPod brightness by 100%, now THAT is bright idea. The iPods come in 30GB and 80GB options. Oh yeah, they also play movies downloaded through the iTunes Music (media store?), more on that later.