Wow, it certainly was a busy time last week. Take a look at this latest news edition. Lots of news from Apple, plus new products on our Geekanoids Shop. Don't forget to drop by tomorrow for our Tuesday video review.
New iPod Nano 4G cases from Proporta
I am really digging the new iPod Nano design and cannot wait to see one in the flesh. Proporta have released details of their new case line-up which will be available really soon. They certainly have been quick off the starting block to provide the latest in stylish (and practical) accessories for your newly designed iPod, whether it be the new iPod nano, the new iPod touch or the new iPod classic.
The Mini Maya Pouch (Apple 4G iPod nano) is perfect for housing your 4th generation iPod nano - keeping it safe from knocks, bumps and any nasties lurking in your bag or pockets. It’s also available in enough colours to make a rainbow jealous – just like the new iPod nano.
The Profile Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is made from a thin yet incredibly tough polycarbonate, and covered in stylish embossed leather. The ideal accessory to protect your nano from everyday scratches and impact damage. Available in a variety of styles.
The Compact Mirror iPod Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is stylish, sleek and available in Mulberry, Port or Black. The Compact Mirror iPod Case features an internal mirror. So you can look almost as good as your 4G iPod nano surely will.
Made from an alternative to leather, the Proporta Leather Style Protective Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is custom designed to fit the exact specifications of your new iPod nano. Beautifully designed with a contrast interior. You’ll struggle to find a case this stylish that is so easy on the wallet (not to mention the cows).
The Echo Mirror Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is durable enough to protect your 4G iPod nano and clever enough to double up as a mirror when your LCD is switched off. Making it the envy of anyone lucky enough to be in its presence.
Handmade from high quality leather, Proporta’s Aluminium Lined Leather Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) boasts a perfect, custom fit with maximum protection. Lined with aircraft grade aluminium, the cover offers the ultimate in tough screen protection to save your device from crushing and impact shocks.
The Soft Feel Silicone Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) is cleverly precision moulded from impact absorbent Silicone to provide two thin (yet really tough), protective skins to keep your iPod 4G nano safe and sound.
Protect your Apple 4G iPod nano without impairing its sharp, sleek image. The Impact Protective Crystal Case (Apple 4G iPod nano) has a soft-feel back and scratch-resistant top shell making it soft to the touch, but super tough.
And don’t forget the precious screen of your new iPod 4G nano. Protect it with one of Proporta’s Advanced Screen Protectors. It will ensure you never suffer from a scratched screen again.
For the new 2nd generation iPod touch and iPod classic Proporta has released a similar range of accessories to the above. All of which are available to order from Proporta.
Belkin line up new cases for new Nano, touch & classic
Belkin are readying a whole host of new cases for the just announced refreshed iPod range. Most of the new cases are expected to be available mid-September, they have cases for the iPod Nano 4G, touch 2G and classic 2G. Too many to mention here, but here are my favourite picks, which I hope to bring you video reviews of when they are available.
Sport Armband Plus with Fast Fit for iPod nano 4G (F8Z376eaNBY); iPod touch 2G (F8Z363eaNBY); iPod classic 2G (F8Z388eaNBY) – £24.99
- Removable sleeve with low-profile belt clip and key pouch
- Lightweight water-wicking materials
- Includes Cable Capsule for added headphone-cord management
- Fast Fit system for easy one-handed fastening
- Compatible with Nike+
- Clear screen protector allows for easy navigation
- Hand-washable
Clear Acrylic Case for iPod nano 4G (F8Z381eaCLR) – £19.99; iPod touch 2G (F8Z368eaCLR); iPod classic 2G (F8Z393eaCLR) – £24.99
- Available from November
- iPod style and form shows through
- Click wheel protection
- Sleek, form-fitting design minimises bulk
Remix Metal for iPod nano 4G (F8Z381ea) – £19.99; iPod classic 2G (F8Z393ea) – £24.99
- Metal faceplate
- Slim design minimises bulk
- Click wheel protection
- Available in red, silver, pink, and black
Sonic Wave Two-Tone Silicone Sleeve for iPod nano 4G (F8Z379eaBKI); iPod touch 2G (F8Z364eaBKI); iPod classic 2G (F8Z391eaBKI) – £14.99
- Two-tone laser-etched design
- Form-fitting construction allows charging while in sleeve
- Available in the following two-tone colors: black/infrared, cool grey/grapefruit, pink/translucent white, black/blue, black/green, black/white, blue/orange
Sonic Wave Silicone Sleeve, 2-pack for iPod nano 4G (F8Z380eaBKW-2); iPod touch 2G (F8Z367eaBKW-2); iPod classic 2G (F8Z392eaBKW-2) – £12.99
- Textured exterior provides better grip
- Packs available in black/white, pink/purple, blue/orange
Loving the new iPod Nano Advert
The more I look at the new 4th generation iPod Nano, the more I love it. Those guys and gals at Apple are pure genius (more so than the new iTunes feature). The colours are funky and I cannot decide my favourite, so may have to just buy more than one. Loving the new advert too.
Apple ditches two iPod classics, sticks with one
The biggest surprise for me that came out of tonights "Let's Rock" event from Apple was the iPod classic announcements. It seems that they have not listened to users. My take on the iPod classic is that people loved the mammoth 160GB model. It was for media junkies that just have to carry everything around with them.
Well, gone is the 160GB model. Apple also discontinued the 80GB model. They replaced both with one thin 120GB model. Okay, so you get a thin iPod, but what about the capacity?
The new iPod classic 2nd generation is available in just that one 120GB capacity. Either in silver or black (as before) and for the price of £169. So the price is really good. I know this thing will still sell, but I was hoping for a little more. Maybe some of the things like Wi-Fi and a slightly larger screen would have taken this too far away from its 'classic' moniker. That said, adding some new frills would have been easy and getting rid of the 160GB model is just daft.
Size, weight & battery
Height:4.1 inches (103.5 mm)
Width:2.4 inches (61.8 mm)
Depth:0.41 inch (10.5 mm)
Weight:4.9 ounces (140 grams)
Display 2.5-inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight
320 by 240 pixels at 163 ppi
Up to 36 hours of battery for music
Up to 6 hours of battery for video
New iPod touch launched today by Apple
Well, Apple have done what seems like a nice revision to the iPod touch.
Main changes include the addition of side mounted volume buttons (like the iPhone), polished curved aluminum back, and the inclusion of the Nike+iPod receiver built into the unit. No news yet of if the transmitter is included in the box (as this is still a requirement), although from reading the specification it says 'Nike+ iPod Support', so this suggests that an additional purchase is still required.
Creating Genius playlists actually on the device is a nice touch. I am not too keen on the highly polished back. The brushed finish of the original iPhone was much nicer, at least the fingerprints that so many complain about on Apple kit were not a problem.
At £169, £219 and £279 for the 8GB, 16GB and 32GB respectively, this is a nice, but not essential upgrade. However, if you are in the market for an iPod, then the 'touch' really is a nice proposition.
Size and Weight
Height:4.1 inches (110 mm)
Width:2.4 inches (61.8 mm)
Depth:0.33 inch (8.5 mm)
Weight:4.05 ounces (115 grams)
Display 3.5-inch (diagonal)
Multi-Touch color LCD
320 by 480 pixels at 163 ppi
Up to 6 hours video playback
Up to 36 hours music playback
New iPod Nano 4G from Apple - launched today
Just gathering my thoughts and the details of the new iPod Nano, just launched today, Tuesday 9th September 2008. Available today in an 8GB capacity or 16GB by the end of the week.
Size and Weight
Height: 3.6 inches (90.7 mm)
Width: 1.5 inches (38.7 mm)
Depth: 0.24 inch (6.2 mm)
Weight: 1.3 ounces (36.8 grams)
Display 2-inch (diagonal) color LCD with LED backlight
320 by 240 pixels at 204 ppi
Up to 24 hours music playback
Up to 4 hours video playback
This looks like a worthwhile upgrade, with the 8GB costing £109 and the 16GB costing just £149.
The accelerometer is pretty neat too, so when you flip the Nano onto its side, the screen display rotates too. Shame that they didn't push the technology one step further by doing something with the click wheel. As you can see, the controls are not orientated correctly when you are viewing something in widescreen.
The colour line-up is very nice. Silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink. This is a nice selection and nice to see no special edition with a premium price. What really amazes me is the size of this thing. When you take into account that it is just over 6mm thin, with those sexy tapered edges. The device practically disappears when viewed from the side. Also, pictured here, I really like the silver colour, with contrasting click wheel... this one might just get my money. The difficult decision is on the pricing, £149 for a 16GB Nano or add £20 for the entry level 8GB iPod touch? What would you do?
Apple Let's Rock Event - San Francisco 9th Sept 2008
Wickedly exciting event tonight, Apple are hosting this launch event entitled "Let's Rock" in San Francisco. Carry on reading for the rundown of the exciting announcements as they happen. All timings are GMT (UK time).
18:00 Steve Jobs has taken to the stage.
- Screen shows text "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated", hilarious joke, well done Steve.
18:05 Covering off the content on iTunes. 8.5 million songs, 30,000 TV shows, 125,000 podcasts and 3,000 applications.
18:08 New content being added to iTunes. High Definition TV Shows for $2.99 whilst Standard Definition will be $1.99.
Read MoreNew iPod Nano 4G - LED lit Click Wheel
I was just looking at these mockups by Miguel Suárez and came to the conclusion/prediction that this could well be a possibility. However, take a look at the click wheel. What happens when the user turns this new Nano on its side to watch a video. My prediction is that the click wheel will be a smoked black (in this case) or a semi-translcent finish. The menu, play/pause, and skip symbols will be tiny OLED screens being the fascia and light up according to which way you are holding the device.
If this is how Apple design the new Nano, they certainly win my vote.
Geekanoids News Video #003 - 8th Sept 2008
It gives me great pleasure to bring you the third installment of Geekanoids News. This weekly roundup shares the news that has really excited me over the past week. Kevin does it again, "Let's Rock" with Apple tomorrow my prediction, nice picture from San Francisco, Zune (what!), and some exciting Adobe news. Remember to join me again tomorrow (Tuesday) evening for some extra special news coverage.
Geekanoids News Video #002
The second installment of Geekanoids News. This weekly roundup brings you details of what has caught my attention over the last week. New software for iPhone, something special at the Regent Street Apple Store, an iPhone contender and a brilliant product for MacBook Pro owners... enjoy.
Proporta acknowledge new iPod Nano Rumour with discounts
We all now know that a new iPod Nano could well be just around the corner. Well, case manufacturer Proporta have sent me details of discounts on their existing range of Nano cases, acknowledging the rumours too. Head on over to their website where you can pick up 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Nano cases at a massive 50% discount.