Apple Announcements: iPods, Ping & Apple TV

Wed, 09/01/2010 - 09:09 by Greg Sterling

Steve Jobs is on stage discussing the architectural elements of some of Apple's new stores in China, London and Paris. These stores really reinforce the "premium" nature of Apple's brand. Now there are 300 Apple retail stores in 10 countries, soon to be 11 with impending opening of a store in Spain.

First announcement: iOS 4.1 app with several bug fixes in this release. Jobs details some of the new features: new photography features, game center (with social integration done by Apple APIs). . . Now he's providing a "sneak peek" at iOS 4.2 for all iOS devices but really upgrades iPad (all iPhone functionality, including multi-tasking coming and it adds wireless printing). It comes out in November.

Jobs says there are now 120 million iOS devices that have shipped since the iPhone launched. The company is seeing 230K iOS "new activations" per day. He takes a swipe at Google indirectly without naming the company. Two-hundred apps are being downloaded every second from the app store. 

More data:

First announcement: iOS 4.1 app with several bug fixes in this release. Jobs details some of the new features: new photography features, game center (with social integration done by Apple APIs). . . Now he's providing a "sneak peek" at iOS 4.2 for all iOS devices but really upgrades iPad (all iPhone functionality, including multi-tasking coming and it adds wireless printing). It comes out in November.

Jobs demonstrates multi-tasking and folders on the iPad. Now he's going to talk about new iPods (275 million sold). The iPod line has been totally redesigned: shuffle, nano (with touch screen). And now for the iPod Touch ("an iPhone without a contract").

iPod Touch:

All the new iPods will be available next week.

Jobs is now announcing iTunes 10, with a bunch of new features.

Screen shot 2010-09-01 at 12.38.42 PM

Apple announces "Ping" -- a social network all about music, built into iTunes. Follow artists and friends (very interesting). This is a very significant announcement (maybe a MySpace killer). It appears to be very thoughtfully designed (lots of privacy controls, groups). It also has concert listings as well. This is going to be quite successful I suspect.

A social network all about music: Wow. Facebook, Twitter, Ping. Ping is also available on iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as PC. 

Apple TV: it's never been a huge hit, says Jobs. The new model is 25% percent of the size of the current Apple TV. No purchases; all rental model. 

Screen shot 2010-09-01 at 12.54.11 PM

You can also stream content from computer (photos, video, music). iTunes rental prices: $4.99 for movies, $.99 for TV shows (ABC, Fox). Has Netflix streaming as well and YouTube content.

Apple is very effectively connecting all its devices and now has the most complete digital product suite. 

Apple TV price: $99 (going to drive a lot of sales I suspect). It's available in about a month.