Apple iTV device surprises "Showtime" attendees

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Attendees of today's "Its Showtime" media event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts were once again awed with a barrage of surprises, confirmed speculations, and the first class show that Apple has turned into an artform over the years.

First lets run down the highlights:

- A new video iPod announced in 30GB and 80GB flavors
- A new aluminum iPod Nano avalable in multiple colors
- A new, smaller 1 GB iPod Shuffle - world's smallest MP3 player
- iTunes 7 including 'search by album art'
- $9.99 Movie downloads from Disney and Pixar studios
- A new 'iTV' wireless media server device

Apple CEO Steve Jobs - sporting his signature black turtleneck sweater - took to the stage at 10:05am. "We've got some great stuff to share with you this morning," Jobs said, launching into a discussion of the iPod. Jobs highlighted the fact there are now 3,000 iPod accessories and showed off an iPod toilet paper roll holder.

Jobs also also makes mention that 70 percent of new American cars now offer iPod connectivity.

New Video iPod announced in 30GB and 80GB models

Jobs wasted no time in announcing the new much-anticipated video ipod. I was greatly disappointed that although the screen is now 60% brighter, it will keep it's 2.5 inch form factor. The new iPod comes in both 30GB and 80GB capacities, and will also have the ability to play games such as "Bejeweled," "Tetris," "Zuma," "Pac-Man" and "Cubis". It will have a brand new interface with imporoved search abilities. This was not the much anticipated widescreen video ipod, so does this mean we will see another keynote speach from the Apple camp before the Christmas shopping frenzy?

It was announced that a new aluminum iPod Nano will be avalable in multiple colors - a welcome break from the signature white and black iPod Nanos, with the added durability of an aluminum chasis to protect your musical investment.

Also announced, was a new smaller 1GB iPod Shuffle -- described by Jobs as 'the world's smallest 1GB MP3 player.'

The new iTunes 7 appliance was announced. Included in the new iTunes are many minor cosmetic updates, a new Quicktime 7.1, as well as the most noteworthy change -- the ability to search by album art. It will now be possible to search for an album by telling iTunes what the artwork on the album cover looked like. How often have you forgotten an artist or album title, but you could vividly picture the album in your mind? Now it will be possible to search all album covers with trees on them, or with cars, or even dragons! Also added to the iTunes Music Store is $9.99 full movie downloads from Disney and Pixar Studios for now, with more studios being announced 'very soon'.

New 'iTV' wireless media server device

The final announcement of the keynote speech was unveiling the new Apple Media Server device code-named 'iTV'. The iTV media server will be smaller than the Mac Mini, and will sit on top of your television in the same manner as a cable set top box. With the iTV it will now be possible to share media from your iTunes Mac or PC wirelessly to your television and/or home theater using the wireless 802.11g standard. No need for draping wires along the floorboards, or even drilling holes from room to room to run cables. The iTV set top box will recieve wireless signals from any Mac or PC within approximately 150 feet. Now you can listen to all of your favorite downloaded songs, and watch downloaded TV episodes and full length movies from Disney and Pixar not only on your iPod or computer, but as well on your home theater system. The price of the iTV is expected to be $299.00 USD

Pretty damn sweet if you ask me -- I'll definately be watching for the release of the iTV device. Although wireless media servers are not a new concept, with manufacturers such as D-Link offering consumer products for some time now, we all know that when Apple decides to do something, they usually do it properly, and the iTunes integration is something that will be unique to the iTV. I'll take one!