Apple has just announced and released the new and improved versions of the 20GB and 40GB iPods.  It looks like the 15GB version is no longer offered.

From what I’ve read, batterly life has improved several hours from the previous iterations and Apple has slashed prices by $100 on both the 20GB and 40GB, most likely in anticipation of having Sony release its mediocre iPod-killer next month.

http://www.apple.com/ipod

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=738&e=1&u=/nm/20040719/tc_nm/tech_apple_dc

http://www.cnn.com/money/2004/07/19/technology/apple_ipod.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

:drool:

[quote author=“nhc538”]Apple has just announced and released the new and improved versions of the 20GB and 40GB iPods.  It looks like the 15GB version is no longer offered.

From what I’ve read, batterly life has improved several hours from the previous iterations and Apple has slashed prices by $100 on both the 20GB and 40GB, most likely in anticipation of having Sony release its mediocre iPod-killer next month.

http://www.apple.com/ipod

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=738&e=1&u=/nm/20040719/tc_nm/tech_apple_dc

http://www.cnn.com/money/2004/07/19/technology/apple_ipod.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

:drool:

I don’t think this has anything to do with Sony specifically, just the way the market is. In order to lower the price on the 20 they took out the dock, case, and remote, all of which is almost $100 to put back…cute marketing tactic…unless you don’t need or want those items. The battery life is finally up into the double digits, which, IMO, was the most important thing they needed to work on.

Now, if they could only get it up to 22 hours that I get with my Dell DJ, I might be willing to buy one.

Erik

I agree that the extension of battery life was the most important improvement to the iPod.

However, I believe that Apple IS responding strategically to Sony.

1) The price cuts and new iPods are coming a month away from Sony’s release of the NW-HD1.

2) They currently have 50% market share of hardware. The rest of the 50% is fairly fragmented. Sony may be the only “real threat” in this market.

3) Sony’s threat is twofold: Not only with hardware (the NW-HD1), but also with SonyConnect.

4) In order for Apple to keep its market share, it needs to convince current iPod owners and potential mp3-player owners that it has the best product line (the need for continuous innovation) and best software. I would not be surprised to see an 8GB or 10GB mini-iPod around Thanksgiving. BTW, if anyone knows if a new mini is coming out soon, please share details.

5) This industry is about standards. If Apple can keep iPod and iTunes as THE standard (i.e. fend off Napster, SonyConnect, etc. - there will be severe competition), it will be able to reap huge profits in the future, especially with fewer people purchasing CDs (especially for just 1 or 2 songs). If Apple can successfully ward off SonyConnect from gaining a critical mass, it will continue to dominate the music downoad industry.

6) Sony has a huge stake in this as well. With owning Columbia Records, it simply isn’t going to give up and walk away any time soon. Prepare for a series of improvements in all products throughout the industry in the next several years (heck, just look at the past couple years). The devices will be smaller, have color displays, store more songs, have better sound quality (and hopefully come with better earphones as well), etc.

Hopefully, Sony will give up its ATRAC3 stubbornness. As it stands, ATRAC3-only is Sony’s fatal flaw, which has been pointed out in the media.

In any case, it is a great time to be a consumer in this market, with all the competition that’s out there.

[quote author=“nhc538”]Hopefully, Sony will give up its ATRAC3 stubbornness. As it stands, ATRAC3-only is Sony’s fatal flaw, which has been pointed out in the media.

But it won’t, which is why I doubt Apple is at all worried. Rio owns a huge % of the remaining 50, as does Creative.

Erik

I agree.  Sony has drawn a line in the sand with ATRAC3…It looks like yet BetaMax vs. VHS all over again. Sony will lose this battle as well.

What about the battery time of the iPod mini? How long is it to begin with and will they be increasing that one too? Or is it already this new standard?

From what i can gather from Ipodlounge:   it seems that the 4G iod battery is even better than the mini at 12 hours, but there is also a rumor its the same battery as in the 3g, it’s just that the firmware uses it more effienceitly.  But you know these forums, it’s hard to cull the truth, and right now there is a feeding frenzy going on. 

For new purchase people, the 4G might be nice, but the 3gs are being slashed in price and might be a really good deal right now if u can put up with a 4-5 hour battery life.  When i get to the states I am going to get a 4g and give my year old 3g to my GF (she already hates me, so what the fu**).  Im going for the 40gigs as my 30gigs is almost full. I also HATE the interface of the 3g and hoping the click wheel on the newer ipods is better…i ALWAYS hit the wrong button when trying to navigate on the 3g and I’ve had it for over a year!

It’s important to note here that the battery life on older ipods is actually better than most think as the firmware has a defect and does not report battery life as it should - shows dead when it’s not.

good luck!
jigs

Cool post. Another thing which has gotten me thinking is whether an iPod Mini with more capacity will soon be released. Or are they limited by the availability of a larger drive? Is there a larger drive available in that format?

my guess is not anytime soon, as the mini is still new.  the 4gs are just like the mini, but bigger is size and drive. see ipodlounge for more babble in that regard.  are you in the market?  this is the best time to buy a new 3g with the mini little battery life.  good luck.

You’re right. I just ordered an iPod Mini and am looking to sell my 3g 40 GB model. But I’m going to stick with the Mini, as I really need the smaller size… even though the new 40 GB model has become even smaller…

According to Greg Joswiak (whos name is suspiciously similar to a combination of Jobs and Wozniak) officially denied the existance of 60GB iPods. My guess is that they’ll be out by mid-Sept.

Did they ever manage to fix that supposed design fault on the Minis to do with the headphone connection?

No, they just replaced those who complained. Its a non-issue to them.

Erik

on the ipod issue, I was thinking of picking up a 40gb i-pod.  Does anyone know if you can only use i-tunes with the i-pod.  I use Bang and Olufsen’s beoplayer software which I’d hate to give up using…..

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Gary

[quote author=“gk31ax”]on the ipod issue, I was thinking of picking up a 40gb i-pod.  Does anyone know if you can only use i-tunes with the i-pod.  I use Bang and Olufsen’s beoplayer software which I’d hate to give up using…..

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Gary

You can use Anapod as well, but it costs money…

Erik

[quote author=“Anonymous”]sony probably will win, i remember reading it somewhere that when someone transfer mp3 or any other format to the sony player, the software will convert that to ATRAC3 format.  in my opinion, customers just want results.  they don’t care how it works or why, as long as their collection is in the player and can play, that’s all that matters to customers.

but regardless of that, i think sony can dominate better if the player will play mp3 IN ADDITION to the ATRAC

Yeah it always converted Mp3s to ATRAC, people just complain about the wait to convert the files and the fact its not drag and drop.

Erik