Steve Jobs announced new advancements in the iPod family earlier this month. To being with, download of Hollywood movie titles for the iPod via the iTunes Store. I just checked it and I was surprised to find some top titles over there. All time rocking studios including Miramax and Disney have pledged support for this service and already one can the results at the store. The a whole new range of colours for the iPod Nano and the new sleek design for the new iPod Shuffle.
Another exciting news to share is the availability of iTunes 7. First up I think it’s a great improvement over it’s predecessor on user experience especially the grouping of lists. Secondly, iPod software can now be updated from within iTunes – no sooner had I logged in, it prompted me to download 1.2 firmware for the iPod (more about it later). This has resulted in smaller downloads (6mb average) as compared to the 40-44mb iPod updater file which one needed to download and install to update the device. Quite Kewl one must say!! Apple is trying to encompass iPod functionality within iTunes so users don’t need to leave the interface. Least of all, Apple has announced iPod games which are also available for download via the iTunes Store. The games include titles like Zumas, Tetris (old favorite), Pacman (aw, c’mon), Bejewelled, amongst others.The games are priced at around $5 (around Rs. 240). Hmm..need to get hold of some titles now.
Now about the 5th Generation iPod updater 1.2 firmware which I mentioned a while back. Jobs promised a slew of features with this update including softer jog dial scrolling, 60% more brightness than previously, FREE album art download and updating (WooT), “Gapless playback” which allows for a continuity of melody between songs (hey, I thought crossfading already did that?!!) a longer battery life (upto 75% more, whoa!) and most importantly a new feature which allows a user to search through his device for music & songs, alphabetically – a boon for someone like me whose got around 4 GB stuff (show-off). To begin with, I faced some issues installing the updater on iTunes 7 coz later the damn thing wouldn’t stop updating my device. I then had to frustratingly remove the thing, uninstall-reinstall my iTunes 7 and everything went off nicely. As I read on the Apple forums later, some chaps are facing serious conflicts with iTunes 7; some even had their iPods wiped out completely of virtually everything. I for one was fortunate to see my collection intact, except for the videos which the program probably ate and destroyed.
After groping around for answers I realized that the search feature would be made available in the newer 80GB iPods and iPod Nanos ( 2nd Gen of 5th Gen iPods–what?!!!) which will be available in stores from late 2006. This in turn means that my iPod (which is around 4 months old) can’t have the features in spite of the software update. Least to say I am much disappointed by this policy of Apple and I hope they change it. Oh god..Arrghh!
Zune seems interesting enough. Let’s wait for some reviews. But I guess nothing can really match an iPod!