Apple Unveils Next-Gen iPods in India

Apple today introduced the all-new next generation range of iPods – Nano, Classic and Touch – in India, bringing in video playback, an enhanced interface featuring Cover Flow, and a new design.

The new iPod Nano features a 204 pixel per inch display that's 65 per cent brighter than the previous generation, and delivers 320 x 240 resolution. The iPod Nano delivers up to 24 hours of audio playback or five hours of video playback on a single charge. The device is encased in an all-metal design made of anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel, and comes in four colors – silver, black, blue and green.

"We’ve taken the most popular music player in the world and added stunning video playback. The iPod Nano just keeps getting better and better with each new generation," said Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs. "The first iPod put 1,000 songs in your pocket; this new iPod Classic can put 40,000 songs in your pocket," he added.

Available from today, the 4 GB version of the Nano in silver costs Rs. 8,800 and the 8 GB version in silver, black, blue and green is available for Rs. 11,400. The models include earbud headphones, a USB to 30-pin cable and a Universal Dock Connector.

The 80 GB version of the iPod Classic delivers up to 30 hours of music playback and five hours of video playback on a single charge while the 160 GB version delivers up to 40 hours of music playback and seven hours of video playback. "Carrying the iPod classic is as good as carrying the hard disk of your personal computer," said Yeo Eng Yiong, senior product marketing manager (portables), Apple, Asia Pacific. Available from today, the 80 GB version costs Rs. 14,500 and the 160 GB version is available for Rs. 20,400.

Coming to the iPod Touch, the 8 GB version costs Rs. 17,700 while the 16 GB version costs Rs. 23,600. The iPod Touch is scheduled to be available in India in October. Though the iPod Touch was formally announced in India, the actual product has not yet hit the stores.

The iPods come with three preloaded games: Klondike (a Solitaire card game), Vortex (a fast-paced 360 degrees brick-bashing game) and iQuiz (entertainment trivia). Additional games can be purchased from the iTunes store.

The iPods require a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.108 or later and iTunes 7.4; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home/Professional (Service Pack 2) or later and iTunes 7.4