Please help us by taking our survey
apple news/media reports

07/19/2004, 8:30am, EDT

Monday, July 19th

Apple unveils new "4G" iPod, available today

Apple today introduced its fourth-generation ("4G") iPod, boasting 12 hours of battery life, improved playlist functionality, and capacities of 20GB and 40GB. The new iPod borrows the iPod mini's click wheel design, doing away with the third-generation's four touch buttons, and is a millimeter thinner than its predecessor. Pricing starts at $300 for the bare 20GB model and $400 for the 40GB model (with a dock). Update: Neither model includes a carry case ($40 option) or wired remote ($40).

"The best digital music player just got better," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The fourth generation iPod features Apple's amazing Click Wheel for superb one handed control, 12 hour battery life and the new Shuffle Songs command in the main menu -- all in an even smaller design that puts up to 10,000 songs in your pocket."



HP says it will use the fourth-generation iPod as the basis for its upcoming HP-branded version the music player. "HP has chosen iPod and iTunes as the best products to integrate in to our digital entertainment strategy," said Carly Fiorina, chairman and chief executive officer at HP. "We decided to wait for this amazing new fourth generation iPod, as it will offer our customers an even better experience. HP's version of the new iPod will be available in September."



Both new models include earbud headphones, 1.2m 30-pin to FireWire cable, a 1.2m 30-pin to USB cable, and a CD with iTunes 4.6 for Mac and Windows computers. The 40GB model also includes an iPod dock. Optional accessories include the iPod Dock for $40 and in-ear headphones for $40. Laser engraving is available for iPod for $20 from the online Apple Store and can include two lines of text with up to 27 characters per line. It is currrently available for free for a limited time.



Regarding the new pricing, one reader writes: "Unmentioned on any Mac/Apple web site that I can find is the fact that neither of the new iPods includes the remote control or case. They are both options with both units. Furthermore, only the 40Gb includes a dock. Since all three of these options have a $39 price tag, it is not correct to state that the new units reflect a $100 price reduction from current models. For example, a "3G" 20GB unit - which included a dock, case and remote - listed for $399. The "4G" 20GB lists at $299, true, but add the optional remote, case and dock and it costs $416, a $17 price increase!!"


Filed under: Apple

, , 62comments, del.icio.us, slashdot, digg, buzz


62 comments
Reader Reactions (Please use <i></i> for italic text)

subscribe to comments
for this article




Expand All   Global Settings
All Clear
0
07/19, 8:46am, EDT
Now I can buy one!
Grizzled Veteran
Joined Dec 1999
User is offline
awesome
0
07/19, 8:47am, EDT
soooo. now I have no reason to break my ipod and take it back to compusa to upgrade it. there's no reason to upgrade except a new scroll wheel. that's a slack ass ipod update.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Oct 2000
User is offline
Re: awesome
0
07/19, 8:52am, EDT
Besides the fact that "breaking" it on purpose borders on, if not directly marches into, fraud, I would say the $100 price drop and 4 hours of extra battery life is pretty significant. This is what a lot of 1G and 2G iPod users (like me) have been waiting for.
Mac Elite
Joined Oct 1999
User is offline
No case in 40 GB
0
07/19, 8:57am, EDT
Just a correction - the first paragraph says that the 40 GB comes with the dock and a case - but the AppleStore says it onlu comes with the dock.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2004
User is offline
Even in the UK
0
07/19, 8:59am, EDT
And if you order one it say 2-4 days shipping - surely Apple can't get a new product to ship on time....

Anyway looks nice and a reduction in price as well - how tempting.
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined Jan 2001
User is offline
meh
0
07/19, 9:11am, EDT
i'm not going to trade my 30 gb 3g in. my battery has never given out on me, i prefer the touch pad to the physical wheel on the mini, and i don't care about a millimeter in thickness difference.
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined May 2003
User is offline
Re: No case
0
07/19, 9:14am, EDT
Hmm, the tech specs page says it comes with a case, remote and dock.
Mac Elite
Joined Oct 1999
User is offline
ipod software update?
0
07/19, 9:19am, EDT
Will there be an iPod software update for 3G iPods?
Junior Member
Joined Apr 2000
User is offline
Re: no case
0
07/19, 9:21am, EDT
Yeah - that's wierd - the AppleStore makes the case available as a $35 add-on and doesn't include it in the product discription. But at apple/ipod, the specs say it comes with it - anybody know for sure which it is?
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2004
User is offline
Sneaking suspicion...
0
07/19, 9:27am, EDT
Here's an interesting thought:
- We all know that 60GB iPods are coming, Toshiba ships the drive July/August.
- We are all suspecting Apple is developing some kind of color screen, iPhoto-enabled iPod. Or at least with some other, really new features.
- This iPod upgrade seems a bit lackluster (in feature additions).
- We now know that HP is waiting until September.
- iPods firmware is upgradable.
- iPod minis are reported to come in new colors soon.

Now here's the idea:

Wouldn't this all point to the fact that Apple will introduce a new top end 60GB model with a range of new features (together with new iPod mini colors) in late August/September?
HP will introduce theirs at the same time.

And along will come firmware updates to upgrade the 4G iPods.

That's a doubly clever move IMHO. Since currently specs didn't change that much compared to 3G iPods, current users aren't that miffed if they just bought an iPod. But once the new iPods are on the market for 2 months, when the 60GB iPod is introduced, current buyers aren't miffed either, because they can just upgrade their firmware. So everyone wins and a lot of people are put at ease during the transition.
Junior Member
Joined Jun 2004
User is offline
additional comments:..1..2..3..4..5..6..7..Next
Your Comments

In order to post comments: If you are a registered member, please login with your MacNN Forums username and password otherwise please uncheck the checkbox below.


Registered Member?
macnn forums login:

macnn forums password:

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

RSS Feeds

Have the latest content delivered to your desktop via RSS. Use the links below to get access to a specific blog, news, or reviews feed.



  MacNN -all

  MacNN Reviews

  MacNN Podcasts

  iPodNN

  Electronista

  Left Lane News
Turn your laptop into CASH: Sell us your used laptop. Working or not. Get money FAST. Instant online quote. Shipping is FREE.

PowerBookMedic will fix any Apple laptop or iPod: We offer Parts, Hard Drives, Superdrives, Ram Upgrades & Repairs all backed up w/ our 1YR Warranty!

Check Out the VIERA from Panasonic!: Enter a New Visual Era with Panasonic VIERA HDTVs. An Enhanced Experience.

PowerBookMedic will fix any Apple laptop or iPod: We offer Parts, Hard Drives, Superdrives, Ram Upgrades & Repairs all backed up w/ our 1YR Warranty!

Check Out the VIERA from Panasonic!: Enter a New Visual Era with Panasonic VIERA HDTVs. An Enhanced Experience.

Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.