Today was the big Apple disappointment event and like many people predicted, a refresh to the iPod lineup was announced (among other things). As for the details, I think Geek.com, summarized it all pretty well over here:

• iTunes gets HD content for $2.99 a show (SD for $1.99)
• NBC is back on iTunes
• iTunes 8 is here, today. It has a “Genius” feature that makes smart playlists with songs that go well together. You have to send information to the iTunes cloud for this, but it’s anonymous.
• The 160GB iPod Classic is discontinued (the thick one), the 120GB is now $249
• The 4th generation iPod nano is official. It’s oval-shaped, just like the leaked pictures, and it is the thinnest iPod ever. It’s taller than the third gen nano and has an accelerometer like the Classic and Touch, so it is aware of whether you are holding it vertically or horizontally. There is an updated UI and you get landscape video by holding the device sideways. Also, it has shake-to-shuffle which will change the songs quickly and easily. $149 for 8GB (entry model), $199 for 16GB. Multiple colors will be available, and the players should be for sale soon, possibly this weekend.
• There are new accessories as well, including earbuds. They have in-line controls for play/pause as well as next/previous song and a microphone for voice recording ($29). There are also new in-ear headphones for $79 with dual drivers.
• There is an improved iPod touch. The 2G model gets the same display, but thinner profile, improved UI, and integrated Nike+. It now has built-in volume controls. The 8GB is $229, 16GB is $299, and the 32GB comes it at $399… it’s the “funnest iPod ever”!
• iPhone 2.1 software means less dropped calls, improved battery life, faster backups to iTunes, and so on. iPod Touch 2.1 is a free upgrade from 2.0, but still is $9.95 from 1.x. These arrive on Friday.

Just one day earlier, Microsoft was busy making some rumblings of its own with an announcement about the newly revamped Zune lineup (including the snazzy new blue 16GB flash model pictured below). Here’s a quick rundown of what you can do with the new Zunes:

• Buy from FM feature - allows users to tag and buy music directly from their device from virtually anywhere. If using the radio waves, you can tag the track to buy later when connected online. If you’re in a wi-fi hot spot, buy the track directly to the device.
• Zune Marketplace on the Zune device: browse, discover and buy through the store in the palm of your hand
• Channels and Picks - New Music Discovery tools through the Zune Marketplace
• New colors and sizes - 16gb and 120gb
• Video games - Two games (”Hexic” and “Texas Hold ‘Em”) come free with the latest software update

Device Pricing Information Effective Sept. 16
120 GB: $249.99
80 GB: $229.99
16 GB: $199.00
8 GB: $149.99
4 GB: $129.99

For more info on the Zune, check out the full press release over here.

Photo: Ars Technica

Like they do pretty much every year, Apple is making a big product announcement in San Francisco on September 9th, 2008. Rumors abound about what will be announced, (like they do every year), but the smart money is betting on a revamp of the iPod lineup. Personally, I like this idea:

iPod Touch
16GB-$299
32GB-$399
64GB-$499

From one blog to another.

Sony BMG boss, Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, was just quoted in an interview saying that Sony BMG is “working on an online music subscription service.” The service would cost between €6 to €8 per month (about $9 to $12) when launching later in the year and provide full access to its entire music catalog. He goes on to say that customers could own “some songs” even after the subscription was canceled. Interesting on its own, right? Now the kicker: it will work “for all digital players, including Apple’s iPod.” That means DRM-free unless Apple agrees to license its FairPlay DRM… which it won’t. Hell, Sony BMG is already offering DRM-free MP3s to Amazon. If true, then the move could almost turn public sentiment positive in the wake of Sony BMG’s “rootkit” fiasco and its handling of the Jammie Thomas affair. Almost. [Engadget]

Photo: Vermin Inc.

A report by the Financial Times (registration required) cites unnamed executives who say that Apple is in talks with record labels to offer access to the entire iTunes music library for a lump sum price. The fee would be added as a premium option on an iPod or iPhone, or it could come as a monthly charge. It would allow downloading of any song at any time so long as the purchaser still owns the device, and the songs would be yours to keep.
…
Apple’s plan is different in several respects. Since the average iPod owner buys about 20 tracks from the iTunes, Apple wants to make the premium about $20, arguing that it should cover the average consumer’s downloads. Then the owner can make unlimited music downloads from the iTunes Store for the life of the device. Once downloaded, the tracks are yours to keep, even if you get rid of the original iPod or iPhone. And since iPod and phone owners tend to replace devices fairly regularly, the record labels would be getting the fee whether or not the consumer makes any further downloads. Silicon Alley Insider did the math and thinks it’s a good deal all around. But according to the Financial Times’ sources, the labels are looking for numbers closer to the $80 Nokia is reported to be paying. [ars technica]

Unlimited iTunes downloads for $20, where do I sign up? I think anyone reading this article will notice the flawed logic they are using in reference to the $20 estimate of the average consumer’s downloads. Sure, maybe this makes sense when your paying 99 cents a shot, but when you’ve got unlimited free downloads surely you’d spend more, in fact, you’d be silly not to.