iLounge

Apple has released its iPhone 2.1 Software Update for the iPod touch. Pre-installed on all second-generation iPod touch units, the software offers Genius playlist creation, dramatically faster backups, improved email reliability, faster installation of 3rd party applications, faster loading and searching of contacts, and bug fixes for hangs and crashes caused by having lots of 3rd party applications installed, and other problems. The software is currently available through the Update feature in iTunes, is a free download to all iPod touch users running software 2.0 or later, and is a $10 upgrade for all users using 1.x software.

iLounge has posted new videos showing off the interfaces of the new fourth-generation iPod nano and second-generation iPod touch. Both videos are available now on YouTube (iPod nano 4G / iPod touch 2G), and are also available for viewing in our hands-on article from today’s event.

The hands-on area for the new iPods and iTunes 8 was crowded, but we had the opportunity to test the new iPod nanos and iPod touches. Pictures, videos showing the iPod nano 4G and iPod touch 2G interfaces, and impressions are below.

Alongside new iPod nanos and iTunes 8, Apple today announced the new iPod touch, the second-generation of the iPhone OS music player. As previsouly reported by iLounge, the new touch features a shape that is like the iPhone 3G but with a back made from polished steel, with volume buttons on the side and a built in speaker. New software features include Genius playlist creation, a slightly enhanced user interface, and built in support Nike + iPod — no receiver is required, only the shoe transmitter. The player will offer compatibility with Apple’s new in-line control headphones, as well as battery life of 36 hours for music and 6 hours for video. The new iPod touch will also ship with software version 2.1, which will be a free update to current iPod touch users running software 2.0 or later, and will be a $10 upgrade for users coming from software 1.x. Pricing starts at $229 for the 8GB model, $299 for the 16GB model, and $399 for the 32GB model. All three models are available starting today.

“iPod touch is the funnest iPod we’ve ever created,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Users can listen to millions of songs, watch thousands of Hollywood movies and now, thanks to the App Store, download and play hundreds of great games on their iPod touch.”

Below is a complete transcript of iLounge’s live coverage from Apple’s “Let’s Rock” special event held Tuesday, September 9th 2008. Updates appear in reverse chronological order.

10:49 AM: iPod + iTunes. Best lineup we’ve ever had, says Steve. Shuffle is shown in the lineup, unchanged. Musical guest now about to perform. That’s it for the news, apparently. We’ll update you on who the performer is. Sold over 16 million albums. Tour was one of the hottest tickets this summer. #1 selling male artist in iTunes history: Jack Johnson. Playing acoustic guitar. We think we’re going to stop coverage at this point; plan for more photos of the new iPods and additional details from iLounge shortly. Thanks for reading!

10:47 AM: They’re trying to push it that way for sure. New iPod touch has new iPod touch 2.1 software. What if you have the first-generation iPod touch - free update from 2.0. If not upgraded, $9.95 upgrade from 1.x. Updates available today. If you have an iPhone, 2.1 software update. Fixes lots of bugs. Fewer call drops, significantly better battery life, no problems with lots of apps on the phone, backing up to iTunes is faster. People applauding for bug fixes. Free for all iPhone owners, available this Friday.

10:46 AM: Here’s the ad. iPod touch shown with Moto Chaser, Monkey Ball, other games being played. Is this Apple trying to market as a games machine?

10:45 AM: “The funnest iPod ever.” Three models: 8GB - $229. 16GB model - $299. 32GB model - $399. Available starting today.

10:44 AM: Steve’s back out. Works with new headphones and microphone for the iPod touch, 36 hours of music, 6 hours of video. Environmentally like the nano.

10:42 AM: Need for Speed Undercover shown for the first time on iPhone. Transport a “package” across town avoiding authorities, pick from real cars inc. Mustang, Porsche. He’s customizing a Porsche for a mission. 3-D interface is very edgy. angled screen, racing through city with nitro and flipover effects. Ramming police cars before getting pulled over. Coming this November.

10:40 AM: Real Soccer 09 (aka Real Football 09). This is a 3-D soccer game. Pick uniforms, teams, real team data for the actual international teams. Clean 3-D visuals. You can use on-screen D-pad and buttons that are transparent, or also use gestures. Scores a goal, audience cheering.

10:37 AM: Phil will be showing three new games. Spore Origins (EA), Real Soccer 09 (Gameloft). And Need For Speed (EA). Doing a demo of Spore, which was previously shown at Apple’s events. iLounge has already reviewed Spore Origins for the iPhone + iPod touch, posted last night.

10:34 AM: It’s only been open for 60 days. 700 games on the App Store today. Games have something for everybody. App Store now in 62 countries. Pretty amazing. Demo. New iPod touch has a more obvious polished metal front bezel. Showing movie Iron Man playing on iPod touch. Phil Schiller coming up on stage.

10:33 AM: Creating Genius playlists is obviously easy. And App Store… users have downloaded 100 million apps from Store. (does this count bugfixes?)

10:32 AM: Built in Nike + iPod. (!!) Software is built in. No need for a receiver for the iPod touch. All you need is the shoe transmitter.

10:29 AM: iPod touch. Incredible product (past one). This year, even better. Same screen. Even thinner. It has the same shape as the iPhone 3G but made from polished steel. Volume buttons on the side. Built in speaker! For casual listening, he notes. Not for audiophiles. Genius playlist creation. New UI is slightly enhanced with better detail etc. Better UI for audiobooks.

10:28 AM: New ad. Computer-rendered iPods tumbling into a line. Nothing is being shown with games. Nanos drip with colored paint.

10:25 AM: Nano-chromatic. Colors - best we’ve ever done. Silver, purple, bue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, black. There are 9 colors. $149 price for 8GB model. 16GB version for $199. Shipping out of factories today. 8 should be in stock next few days, 16 weekend or early next week at latest. Accessories: armband. New headphones sold separately have a pause and play button plus track skip plus volume. Back side has a microphone that works with the voice recording app in the nano. $29 in October. New in-ear headphones - finally got these right, Apple thinks. Dual-driver. $79 in October. Look like Shures mixed with Apple design.

10:24 AM: Battery life: 24 hours for music, 4 hours for video. Huh? We want to be really environmentally sensitive with these products. Environmental checklist: arsenic-free glass, BFR-free, Mercury-free, PVC free, and highly recyclable materials. “Really trying our best.”

10:23 AM: Shake sound has a little chime that plays. The new UI is displaying photos that rotate and fade in. Nice little effects.

10:20 AM: The bottom of the main screen scrolls with album art as you select from a plain 2G-style menu on the top of the screen. Interface seems faster than before. Just looks like a more polished version of the nano 3G interface, minus the stuff on the right of the screen. The color of the nano that’s being shown is like a dark silver - not as bright as the prior one, but lighter than the charcoal black version from last year. Shake your iPod nano to make it shuffle. People are actually cheering for that.

10:18 AM: Curved aluminum design, curved glass. Very durable. Enhanced UI with new features. Accelerometer from iPhone/touch now into the nano. Genius playlist creation right from the nano, even when not created in iTunes. See picture being sent to our flickr page. Rotate on the side and it looks like Cover Flow mode from nano 3G. Photos, etc rotate for the display. Now playing - hold down center button for a new menu to browse the album, artist, crete genius list. Voice recording program built in as before.

10:16 AM: Nano has gone through 1st, 2nd, 3rd generation. Now 4th generation. It looks like the images we’ve shown; there is a more conspicuous hold switch at the top. Thinnest iPod ever made. Top has a swirled hold switch. New interface has cover art icons at the bottom of the screen. Interface looks unlike the faked shots shown online earlier.

10:15 AM: Updates and new products. iPod classic. Two models have been offered - no more thick one. 80GB for $249—now 120GB at $249. No more 160GB model. Now is 30,000 songs in your pocket. That’s it. Silver shown.

10:14 AM: iPod. Latest data shows iPod at 73.4% marketshare in US. #2 is “other” at 15.4%. #3 is Sandisk. #4 is Microsoft with 2.6%. Over 5,000 iPod accessories. They announce products before we want them to - it’s “funny.” 90% of all cars in US offer iPod integration. Cumulative iPod sales are now over 160m.

10:13 AM: The demo is dragging a lot. Audience basically silent. iTunes 8 available today.

10:11 AM: Long demo of the Genius feature. Gives you the ability to limit how many songs get picked for the playlist, refresh the list with different picks, and then save the playlist.

10:10 AM: Plays a clip of HD episode of The Office. Jim answering Dwight’s phone, taking an order.

10:08 AM: Genius Results are tailored to your music library. It’s all opt-in. Updated once a week automatically. The new icon looks atomic, somewhat like the logo for the Genius Bar at Apple Stores.

10:06 AM: Genius. Auto makes playlists from songs in your library that go great together, with just one click. Helps you rediscover music in your library. And it works well. Select a song, new Genius button in bottom right corner gets pressed and creates new genius list. Genius sidebar appears to recommend more stuff from the iTunes Store for things you might want to buy. Appears to the right of the main window. Apple-developed Genius Algorithms go out to the iTunes Store, taking info about your library and sending it to Apple to let them learn about your tastes. Sent completely anonymously. At no time is your ID kept around. It’s information from the millions of iTunes users combined together to make smarter choices.

10:04 AM: iTunes 8. A ton of new stuff. Few main pieces: HD TV shows. Accessibility - requests for voiceover and other tech fulfilled. New browsing and Genius. Browsing of albums has been weak. Grid-style display of album covers now appears, and a bar at the top lets you pick albums, artists, genres, composers, just like in iPhoto. You can pick scale. Works with TV shows, movies, podcasts.

10:02 AM: 65,000,000 accounts with credit cards in iTunes. Number one music distributor in any format in the US. New content getting added. HD TV shows. SD $1.99, HD $2.99. Watch on your computer. And Apple TV. NBC is coming back to iTunes. The Office, Monk, Battlestar Galactica. 30 Rock, Heroes. They’re coming back in SD and HD.

10:01 AM: Music is the topic today. Fun new offerings. iTunes image from NBC! Office + Heroes shown as banners. 8.5 million songs now in the store. 125,000 podcasts. 30,000 episodes of TV shows. 2,600 Hollywood movies. 3,000 applications for iPod touch and iPhone.

10:00 AM: The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated. Nuff said.

10:00 AM: Lights are dimming. Music ends. Steve Jobs takes stage. He’s looking thin but moving fine. Really exciting stuff to share.

9:58 AM: Two iMacs on stage along with water bottles. Very small crowd here today.

9:57 AM: So far, not a single song from the last decade or two. All of the pre-event music is classic rock, such as The Doors (playing now).

9:54 AM: A pre-event chat with XtremeMac yielded some interesting news for those interested in the clock radio Luna X2—it’s still coming, along with Luna Voyager, the prior model. Sounds like the most recently revised October date will hold.

9:51 AM: We’ve heard that the new lineup of nanos will be introduced with an image showing them literally dripping with colorful paint. There will be many color choices this time. A source told us that the new colors are brighter tones than the prior lineup of colors, plus ones taken from the iPod shuffle lineup (e.g. purple, orange).

9:50 AM: We noticed Barbarian Group representatives outside. They developed Magnetosphere, the awesome visualizer that was featured on iLounge Backstage and in our Books. It sounds like Magnetosphere was purchased by Apple for integration into iTunes 8.

9:48 AM: Classic rock is playing as we’re waiting. Old rock was playing at WWDC when the iPhone 3G was announced, as well.

9:46 AM: We’re in the event. Apple has actually, amazingly provided laptop power strips, so we won’t have a mid-event power interruption.

Confirming details first reported by iLounge in July, apparent dimensional drawings for both the fourth-generation iPod nano and second-generation iPod touch have appeared, suggesting that the devices will have familiar measurements but with interesting new shapes and features.

Images of the supposed new iPod nano show a device that measures 90.75mm tall by 38.75mm wide by 6.08mm deep, compared to the second-generation nano’s measurements of 90mm by 40mm by 6.5mm. These numbers suggest that the device will be the thinnest and narrowest iPod nano yet released, though almost inperceptibly so, while also just a hint taller than the original and second-generation models. An oval-like body shape will be similar to, but apparently more pronounced than the one on the second-generation nano. Notably, the images seem to extinguish a concern that the device’s screen would be curved to match its shape; the metal body will give way to a plastic-covered screen that is as flat as prior-generation screens.

The second-generation iPod touch is depicted as having a shape similar to the iPhone 3G, masking increases in both the height and thickness by using a more tapered enclosure. This device is shown as measuring 111mm tall by 61.8mm wide and 8.4mm deep, versus the original iPod touch’s 110mm height, 61.8mm width, and 8mm depth, and the iPhone 3G’s 115.5mm, 62.1mm, and 12.3mm measurements. What appears to be an antenna enclosure is shown on its rear top left, with the same headphone port and Dock Connector port arrangement at its bottom. Notably, the drawings show what appear to be volume controls on the left side, addressing a key concern of iPod touch users; the added thickness might be attributable to changes in the battery.

As always, advance reports on Apple products may or may not prove entirely accurate, and should be treated as speculation until confirmed by the company. In any case, we’ll have more on the new iPod nano and iPod touch in the days to come.

Based on a 2002 arcade machine, Namco’s Star Trigon has been released for Click Wheel iPods as the latest $5 iPod game. You control a character who hops from dot-shaped planet to planet with button presses, forming lines and eventually triangular Trigon shapes with each movement. When the lines encapsulate one of the character’s Uchujin friends, who are free-floating in space between the planets, you rescue them. Power ups extend the life of the lines you form, increase your speed, and enable you to keep playing longer; there are 79 different stages spread across four difficulty levels. Star Trigon was originally developed by the same team responsible for the popular Mr. Driller puzzle titles.

Apple has pulled Electronic Arts’ new Spore Origins game for Click Wheel iPods from the iTunes Store. Released yesterday evening, the game was exhibiting lock-up problems with both iPod classic and some fifth-generation iPod units, causing the game to stick on the loading screen, and forcing the user to perform a hard reset to remedy the issue. It remains unclear when users can expect the game to return to the store.

Update: The game is one again available from the iTunes Store.

Readers and iLounge Editors have discovered that a lockup bug affects Electronic Arts’ new iPod game Spore Origins, released last night for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and third-generation iPod nano. The lockup, which causes the iPod to freeze while the hard drive is still spinning and requires a hard reset to remedy, takes place on the game’s initial loading screen on iPod classics running both 1.0.x and 1.1.x software; we have tested using the most recent software version 1.1.2. It does not appear to affect the third-generation iPod nano or fifth-generation iPod running the latest software. Are you having trouble with Spore Origins? Let us know in the comments below.

Electronic Arts has released its Spore Origins game for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (video). Previously shown during Apple events as an iPhone and iPod touch game, Spore Origins lets users create and control their own virtual life form, growing from a single-cell organism into a more complex being as the game progresses. Features include four games modes, 18 levels, and six unique worlds, and the ability to import spores from the iPod for use on the Sporepedia website. Electronic Arts’ Spore Origins is available now on the iTunes Store and sells for $5.

D2C Games has released its new Chalkboard Sports Baseball game for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (video). Built from the ground up for the Click Wheel interface, the game features 5-on-5 arcade-style baseball action in one of two different modes: Quick Play or Playoff Mode. It also offers the ability to personalize teams with images, the ability to unlock new pitches, and features six different ballparks, both day and night games, and unique sound effects including umpire calls and crowd chants. D2C Games’ Chalkboard Sports Baseball is available now through the iTunes Store and sells for $5.

Gameloft S.A. has released its Mystery Mansion Pinball game for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (with video). The game is a pinball simulator featuring various “scary” characters such as Frankenstein’s monster, werewolves, vampires, and more, special sound effects, animations, lighting, and 3D graphics, a variety of bonuses and unlockable play modes, including five mini-games that can be played on the machine’s LED scoreboard, and more. Gameloft’s Mystery Mansion Pinball is available now from the iTunes Store and sells for $4.99.

Apple has issued an advisement bulletin to select resellers suggesting that the company is beginning to ramp down production of current-generation iPod models, according to AppleInsider. In the advisement, Apple “strongly suggested” that resellers either bring in or place immediate orders for approximately four weeks worth of their top selling iPod models, noting that supplies of the devices would start to become extremely limited within the next week. Apple traditionally holds an iPod-focused special event in the September-October timeframe to announce new iPod models; this report is consistent with the belief that the company is planning to hold a similar event again this year.

Continuing the release of games specifically designed for the iPod classic, third-generation iPod nano, and fifth-generation iPod, Gameloft today released Uno ($5), a translation of the classic card game. Designed to be played either alone against the CPU or in a multi-player mode with up to four people, Uno also has a rewards system that tracks your performance and adds special icons to your saved game profile.

Apple has released firmware version 1.1.5 for the iPod touch. The new software is meant as an update for iPod touch users who choose not to purchase the $9.99 iPhone 2.0 Software Update for the iPod touch. According to Mac Rumors, early reports indicate that the firmware provides no new features, but may improve the speed and stability of existing applications. iPod touch firmware 1.1.5 is available now as a free update through iTunes.

Square Enix, publisher of the popular Final Fantasy series of video games, has released Song Summoner: the Unsung Heroes for the fifth-generation iPod, iPod classic, and iPod nano (video). Song Summoner is a role-playing game (RPG) that lets users play as Ziggy, a “conductor” who creates warriors out of music, as he embarks on a journey to rescue his brother from the Mechanical Militia. Features of the game include the ability to transform songs stored on the iPod into “Tune Troopers” to combat the enemy, a turn-based tactics battle system, and more. Square Enix’ Song Summoner: the Unsung Heroes is available from the iTunes Store and sells for $4.99.

Spain is set to impose a “digital canon” anti-piracy tax on all electronic devices capable of recording, copying, or storing sound and images, beginning July 1. The tax would add €3.15 (around $4.90) to the price of an MP3 player such as an iPod, and also provides for a €1.10 (around $1.70) tax on all mobile phones with integrated MP3 music capabilities, such as the iPhone. Pedro Farré, authors’ rights director for author and publisher group SGAE, said, “we are satisfied that this ministerial order has been approved after so much delay, and we now hope the manufacturers will pay the canon. Technically, the manufacturers pay the canon - whether they pass the cost on to the public is their decision.”

In an interview with Rolling Stone to be published later this week, presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama has revealed some of the contents of his personal iPod. “I have pretty eclectic tastes,” said Obama, who said he had music from a wide range of artists on his iPod, from Miles Davis and John Coltrane to Jay-Z and Ludacris. Obama, who grew up in the 1970’s, said he listened to the Rolling Stones (his favorite Stones track is the seminal “Gimme Shelter”), Elton John, and Earth Wind and Fire, adding that Stevie Wonder was his “musical hero” of the period.

Interestingly, Obama also had a wide selection of tracks from Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ favorite Bob Dylan, including the entire Blood on the Tracks album. “Actually, one of my favorites during the political season is ‘Maggie’s Farm,’ ” Obama said. “It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric.” In the song, Dylan sings about trying be himself, “but everybody wants you to be just like them.” Many musicians appearing on Obama’s iPod have lent him their support during his campaign, including Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. “I’ve got to say, having both Dylan and Bruce Springsteen say kind words about you is pretty remarkable,” Obama said. “Those guys are icons.”

Obama also admits to having concerns over the the content of some rap music to which his daughters might be exposed. “I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics,” he said, “but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music.” He went on to call hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris “great talents and great businessmen,” adding that “it would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying that they were getting bad images of themselves.”

According to the latest data from market research firm NPD, iPod sales grew 11.6 percent year-over-year in May, following growth of 14.6 percent year-over-year in April. In a note, Lehman analyst Tim Luke pointed out that this was well ahead of the 2 percent decline the firm had been expecting, and said that average iPod pricing in the quarter was down 4 percent. “While not exactly strong, iPod demand seems to be holding up and benefiting from the lack of iPhone availability (lack of cannibalization near-term),” Luke said. “We expect iPod demand to weaken as iPhone demand picks up, but view the current trends as positive for AAPL’s fiscal 3Q08.”

United Airlines has announced the launch of iPod and iPhone connectivity for its in-flight entertainment system, becoming the first U.S. carrier to offer such features. United’s system, developed by Panasonic Avionics Corporation, allows users to attach an iPod or iPhone via a 30-pin connector and view content on a 15.4-inch personal monitor, while charging the device at the same time. The system will debut later today on United flight #936 from Washington, D.C. to Zurich, and will be added to United’s entire fleet of international, widebody aircraft over the next two years. Connectivity is offered in both first and business class areas.

“Our guests may now watch or listen to what they want, when they want with programming they choose,” says Graham Atkinson, United Airlines - executive vice president and Chief Customer Officer. “United will continue to provide services and technology that makes our customers’ travel experiences more relaxed and enjoyable.”

“The iPod and iPhone have become essential for millions of travelers around the world,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod & iPhone Product Marketing. “We think United customers are going to love being able to listen or watch personal music and video content on their iPod or iPhone via the in-flight entertainment system, and we can’t wait for United to roll this out to their fleet.”