Apple UK cuts shuffle cost

In brief: Apple UK cuts the price of the iPod shuffle, a new iPod ad has surfaced, OWC is offering upgrade memory for Apple's new MacBooks, and a beta testing period has begun for audio Bible software. Apple's branch for the United Kingdom has cut the price of the iPod shuffle from £55 ($110) to £50 ($100). The price drop mirrors reductions made to the company's fifth-generation video iPod last month, when the 30GB model dropped to £180 ($360) from £190, while the 80GB model sunk from £260 to £240 ($475). It is unknown whether the smaller iPod nano will soon follow with its own price reductions.

New iPod ad

Continuing its marketing assault, Apple has premiered another iPod television ad that promotes the pairing of iPod and iTunes, and makes use of a song called "Mi Swing Es Tropical" by Nickodemus and Quantic featuring Tempo. Suitably, the ad has more of a Latin aesthetic to it, while maintaining the trend of "enhanced" silhouette-style ads.

OWC jumps on newest MacBooks

With Apple releasing its newst MacBooks on Tuesday, Other World Computing (OWC) has already begun selling upgrade kits available in 1GB, 2GB and 3GB capacities. The company also claims its upgrades are a less expensive alternative to ordering from Apple, which charges $75 more ($175) for a 1GB to 2GB upgrade. Adding 3GB of extra memory costs $180, and OWC further reduces its prices by $20 for customers willing to trade in two 512MB Apple modules.

Closed Bible beta

LutherSoft is taking entries for a beta test of theWord, its new Bible program with an iTunes-style interface. Rather than simply displaying text, the software reads passages aloud with a synthesized voice and can bookmark sections for later listening. Users can also burn passages to CD and sync them with an iPod. The beta is not open, with only 500 applicants gaining admittance and preference offered to those users with beta testing experience.

by MacNN Staff