Isaiah's Tech

Apple's awaited event has come and gone but it was one to remember. Tim Cook, the new CEO, showed up to announce a bunch of new things. First off, he announced that Lion was downloaded 6 million times which is a great number for digital downloads. Afterwards, Tim boasted numbers for their iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices which are pretty astonishing. An unexpected twist happened when Apple announced the new "Cards" app which will allow you to create a card on your iPhone and Apple will do the rest: print it out and mail it for you. All for $2.99 in the US.

Moving along, they recapped the great parts about iOS 5 which you should already know about: new Notifications, iMessage, Twitter integration, Reminders, Newsstand, improved Camera, Tabbed Browsing, etc. Along with mentioning Find my iPhone, there's also a new feature called Find my Friends which does what it says. Oh yes, of course, they briefly mentioned iCloud again and 5GB of storage will be free!

Apple decided that the first thing they would announce would be a new iPod Nano. Since Apple noticed that a bunch of people last year were using the Nano as a watch, they decided to add 16 new clock faces so you'll be able to stay fresh. The 8GB model will be $129 and the 16GB model will be $149. It'll be available today.

Next up is the new iPod Touch which will, obviously, have iOS 5 at launch. It's touted as having an ultra-thin design, a gyroscope, a Retina Display, and as the number 1 portable game player. 8GB for $199, 32GB for $299, and 64GB for $399. It'll be available in black and white on October 12th. Oh, there's also a new Shuffle which is 2GB and costs $49.

Now, the good stuff! Apple has also announced the iPhone 4S - it's official! This one has a similar design to the 4 and sports an 8MP camera (with a Hybrid IR filter, face detection, better colour accuracy, etc.) with 1080p video recording, HSPA+ (14.4Mbps), Siri (voice control), and iOS 5 with the dual-core A5 CPU - same as the iPad 2. Yeah, it'll reportedly be great at playing games so they demoed Infinity Blade 2 which looked very impressive. Yes, they also boasted battery life, a new antenna system, and the fact that it's a world phone - finally! So, the 8GB iPhone 3GS is now free on a 2-year contract, while the 8GB iPhone 4 will be $99.

On October 14th, the 4S will be available in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan for $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB), and $399 (64GB). Yes, it'll hit Sprint, geez! Seriously!? That's it, a mediocre update. I was hoping for more Apple!

[This Is My Next, Engadget]

Apple.pro has picked up an interesting new image regarding what could be an upcoming Apple product. What you see above (on the left) could be the next iPod Nano that gets announced at an Apple event in September. As you can see, the picture tells us that it'll have a camera on the back (1.3MP) but it looks like it's still in prototype form right now. A decent addition but I don't really know why an iPod Nano should be taking pictures / videos.

[Apple Insider]

Two interesting pieces of news surfaced over the weekend and they're regarding Apple. The first one is just a brief statement that Sony's CEO, Howard Stringer, made. Apparently, he mentioned that Sony will be taking over OmniVision as Apple's camera supplier for the next iPhone model. Of course, this could mean that the next iPhone could sport a pretty awesome 8MP rear-facing camera.

The other piece of news is actually what you see above - coming from Apple.pro. That's not just a random green case. This is reportedly the next-gen Apple iPod Nano case and, yes, that hole could mean that a camera will be present. Yes, a camera is a great addition but it'll be pretty awkward if this is the only device you carry around with you that can take a [bad] photo.

Sony's CEO Says the Next iPhone Will Have An 8MP Camera: Apple Insider
Possible Next-Gen iPod Nano Case Leaks, Has Camera Hole: 9 to 5 Mac

Apple kicked things off by announcing iOS 4.1 and 4.2 (for the iPad) but that's not what we'll talk about here - you'll have to wait until November for iOS 4.2 on your iPad by the way. We're focusing on the iPod refresh that took place today, and Steve Jobs said that this is the biggest iPod update ever. The first thing he announced was the new iPod Shuffle. After the third-generation failed, they've brought the buttons back in its small factor. It has the clip on the back and comes with 2GB of internal storage. This will cost you $49 and will be available in 5 colours (gray, blue, pink, green, and yellow) each with 15 hours of audio playback. Keep scrolling down for the new iPod Nano.

Next up is the new iPod Nano, which is being touted as a small iPod Touch. As expected, it's a plain (and small) touchscreen with no buttons on the front. On the side there's the volume button and on the back there's a clip which is great if you like to clip it. I put mine in my pocket so that doesn't really matter to me. It has a multitouch display along with 24 hours of audio playback. This reminds me of the third-gen (fat) iPod Nano so let's see how successful this turns out to be. This will come in a bunch of (they say six, I see seven) colours and they're all above for you. The 8GB model will be available for $149 while the 16GB model will only cost $30 more, at $179. iPod Touch next.

Update: The iPod Nano does not have video playback, I repeat does not. You won't be able to watch of your movies or podcasts on this device. Yup, no video playback.

Of course, this event wouldn't be complete without the most important iPod of all, the Touch. This model is even thinner and comes with a flat back. This iPod Touch sports the same retina display you'll find on the iPhone 4 and it also sports the Apple A4 CPU along with iOS 4.1 (with Game Center), 40 hours of audio playback, a front-facing camera, and a rear-facing camera with 720p HD video recording for FaceTime. You can pre-order them right now and they'll be going for $229 for 8GB, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB. Yes, there's no more 16GB model. They'll be available starting next week in the US (I don't know about the Canadian release dates).

[Engadget]

Apple is holding an event on Wednesday and it looks like that 3cm x 3cm touchscreen Apple display that leaked way back when will become the next iPod Nano. The photo above is supposedly a case for the iPod Nano and the photos below show another two iPod Nano cases and two shots of a new iPod Touch case which has slots for a camera. Both the iPod Nano and the iPod Touch will have the famous 30-pin connector so that won't change. The iPod Nano should be sporting a 1.7-inch display if the rumours are correct.

[Engadget, Apple Insider]

The latest word on the street is that Apple will be holding their annual September event on the 7th and it'll, of course, be focused on media. This includes the predictable iPod refresh (new Touch, Nano) and could actually be the announcement / release of the next Apple TV, which may or may not include 99 cent rentals. This would be really interesting and would be the start of the next Google and Apple war since they're already competitors on so many different levels. You never know, maybe it'll also be the event where Apple will pull the big unveil on their MacBook Air update as well.

Update: iPodNN has just pointed out that Apple has officially announced that they'll be holding their event on September 1st which is on a Wednesday - different from their usual Tuesday-held events.

[Tech Radar]

We already know that Apple is looking to update their MacBook Air notebook soon and it looks like it could be coming sometime in September. Apparently, the notebook will be cheaper than the $1,499 price that it starts out with now which would be a big step for Apple. Earlier rumours pointed that the MacBook Air update would feature an 11.6-inch display along with Intel Core ix ULV 2010 CPU options. That's not all though. We're also hearing that Apple may be trying to get rid of their iPod Shuffle line-up by introducing their first iPod Nano without the famous click-wheel. It's starting to look like that small Apple-branded touchscreen display will be the next iPod Nano somehow.

[Slash Gear]

What you see above was leaked this morning and it's said to be Apple-branded. It's a mini-touchscreen display measure 3 x 3cm in size and could be for a bunch of different products. It could be a new iPod Touch Nano, an iPod Shuffle, an iPhone Nano (which doesn't really make sense), an iWatch, or even for a touchscreen-touchpad. The touchscreen touchpad is what I'm betting this will be for. I think that this mini-touchscreen could actually be running iOS and could be implemented somehow. We'll really just have to see what happens because it does seem a bit small to be a touchpad. Maybe it'll be something on the side.

[9 to 5 Mac, iPodnn]

Apple has just launched two new iPod ads. Clearly, the one about is for the new iPod Touch and the one below is for the new iPod Nano.



[Crunch Gear]

Yes, I'm going to make this one long post of all of the iPods that Apple announced at their event today. First up, we have the new iPod Shuffle. The 2GB model will now go for $59 and the 4GB model will be available for just $79. They also added in a new Special Edition stainless steel model which is $99 for 4GB of storage. The iPod Shuffles are now available in pink, green, and blue models as well.

There were big rumours about the iPod Touch gaining a camera, but that turned out to be false. There is no camera on the new iPod Touches and that's definitely a sad thing for those who were looking forward to it. Nothing entirely too big here, basically. They announced a $199 8GB model, a $299 32GB model, and a $399 64GB model, which is seen above. The look is still the same, and I now hate it because it's been around for too long. Although there is no camera, the CPU did get an upgrade, the 64GB model is said to be "50% faster" and it supports OpenGL, which should make gaming even better.

Apple went on to announce a new iPod Classic that has 160GB of internal storage. Even though the storage was bumped up 40GB, it has the exact same dimensions as the old 120GB model. It's now available for $249.

Last, but definitely not least, it's the new iPod Nanos. These were definitely my favourite iPod announcement. Unlike the iPod Touches, the iPod Nanos do have a camera. The new iPod Nano has: a 2.2-inch display with a 240 x 376 resolution, an FM tuner, a microphone, a speaker, and VGA @ 30fps recording abilities. The dimensions are the exact same as the last Nano but it weighs 1.28 ounces, which is 0.02 ounces lighter than the last model. "Apple claims that the new nano can last up to 24 hours when playing back audio, while video playback should zap the rechargeable battery in just five hours." These Nanos are now available for $149 for the 8GB model and $179 for the 16GB model.

iPod Shuffle: Engadget
iPod Touch: Crunch Gear
iPod Classic: iPod NN, Slash Gear
iPod Nano: Engadget, G4 TV

Obviously Apple is planning to release new iPods soon. And if you didn't realize that yet, they've just dropped the price of their current PMPs. The prices are above, so just take a look at the picture. The 8GB iPod Nano now costs $129 and the 16GB model is going for $149. The iPod Classic's price also dropped to $249 USD. You only have to wait about a half hour until Apple's event kicks in.

[9 to 5 Mac]

There's been an interesting leak today, thanks to Best Buy. On Best Buy's official website, they are now selling 3rd-Generation Apple iPod Touch and 5th-Generation Apple iPod Nano cases. However, there are no pictures on the listings, so we'll just have to see what Apple decides to announce tomorrow.

[Engadget]

According to the latest unconfirmed rumour, the prices for the iPod refresh has just been leaked out. They are as follows.




If these price rumours are true, it will definitely stomp the sales of the Zune HD.

There is also another rumour floating around. The other rumour is that the camera-equipped iPods could be delayed. For more information on both topics, just check out the links below. In related news, Apple's event is set to take place in two days, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Cheap iPod Touch: 9 to 5 Mac
iPod Touch With Camera Delayed?: 9 to 5 Mac

I don't know how much more proof we need, but at IFA this year there were new iPod Touch / iPod Nano cases. And yes, these new cases do have camera holes in them. We're expecting Apple to announce these on their event in three days. Check out the Engadget link below for more photos and the 9 to 5 Mac for more information.

[Pocket-Lint, Engadget, 9 to 5 Mac]

Apple has just confirmed that the event they are holding on September 9th has to do with an iPod refresh. They are now sending out invitations for the said event and it will take place "at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco." Look our for the new [possibly] 3.2MP cameras and let's see what else Apple has in store for us.

[Beta News, TUAW]

In case you still don't believe that the iPod Touch, Nano, and Classic will not feature a camera - or cameras - according to a couple of sources Apple is currently running out of stock of their current iPods. What does this mean? Well, a refresh of iPods, of course. Look out for it on September 9th.

[Gizmodo]

According to DigiTimes, the iPod Touch and iPod Nano will be getting 3.2MP cameras, but we already know that rumour. The unexpected news is that the iPod Classic will be getting a 3.2MP camera as well. The rumour also states that OmniVision will produce Apple with the CMOS sensors. All of these announcements are expected on Apple's September 9th event.

[TUAW, Apple Insider]

Looks like that Apple event everyone has been talking about lately will not be starring the rumoured Apple iTablet. The event is going to take place on September 9th and will actually be centred around iTunes and their new refreshed iPod line-up. So, we'll probably hear about iTunes 9 and what will be in store for us. This could include Blu-ray support - because they need to make Macs more expensive. And, of course, we'll see refreshed iPods. This probably means iPod Nanos and iPod Touches with cameras. This is just speculation by the way.

[Crunch Gear]

The above picture is what the iPod Touch could look like when Apple decides to launch its refreshed iPod Touches - possibly and probably this year. Apple is going to hold an event on September 7th / 8th and it could deal with their iPod line and not their iTablet. This is because Apple has had the tendency in the past to launch new iPods in the Fall.

Surprisingly enough, the cases of the iPod Touch below match the prototype that is seen above - evident in where the camera is placed. Could the iPod Touches camera be in the middle-top of the PMP or will it be on the side, similar to where the iPhone's camera is placed? We don't know yet, but sources online are saying that we'll know on September 7th / 8th. If the iPod Touch is announced at their Apple event, you'll also see their refreshed iPod Nano line-up, which won't be too surprising. The iPod Touches price points will supposedly be $199 for the 16GB, $299 for the 32GB, and $399 for the 64GB.

[9 to 5 Mac, Stuff.tv]
New iPod Cases: 9 to 5 Mac

The rumour mill is somehow currently still functioning. All the talks about refreshed iPods set for a September launch and I'm sure no one has forgotten about Apple's godly tablet, right? Well, apparently, Toshiba is currently producing a bunch of flash memory chips; these chips are supposedly headed to Apple. I wonder what these could be for? New iPods? Their new tablet? Possibly and probably both. We'll just have to wait for their overpriced products in the future. However, I am thinking about getting an iPod Touch with a camera, it'll be my personal spy cam. More profits for Apple. Joy!

[Crunch Gear]