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Apple Unveils New 1GB iPod nano at $149

Apple today unveiled a new 1GB iPod(R) nano for just $149, offering the same features as the 2GB and 4GB iPod nano models and holding up to 240 songs or 15,000 photos.

The new 1GB iPod nano’s ultra-portable design is thinner than a #2 pencil and features Apple’s patent pending Click Wheel and the same gorgeous color screen as the other iPod nano models. In addition, Apple announced that the iPod shuffle is now more affordable than ever with the 512MB and 1GB models priced at $69 and $99 respectively.

“Now everyone can afford an iPod nano, with our new 1GB model starting at just $149,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “The iPod is the world’s most popular digital music player
with over 40 million sold, and now even more music lovers can experience the unrivaled combination of iPod and iTunes.” iPod nano features an ultra-portable design and fits into even the smallest pocket, making it easy to take iPod nano anywhere you go. With its stunning, high-resolution color screen, iPod nano allows users to display album art while playing music, view photo slideshows or play games in full color. iPod nano also features the same 30-pin dock connector as the iPod and works effortlessly with a wide range of over 2,000 accessories developed for iPod.

Featuring seamless integration with the iTunes Music Store and the iTunes digital music jukebox, iPod nano includes Apple’s patent pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads a user’s digital music collection, photos or Podcasts onto iPod nano and keeps it up-to-date whenever iPod nano is plugged into a Mac(R) or Windows computer using USB 2.0.

The 1GB white and black models of iPod nano for Mac or Windows are available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $149 (US), through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. All iPod nano models include earbud headphones, a USB 2.0 cable, case and a CD with iTunes for Mac and Windows computers.

iPod nano requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port and Mac OS(R) X version 10.3.4 (or later) and iTunes 4.9 (or later); or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000 (SP4), XP Home or Professional (SP2) and iTunes 4.9 (or later).

Add comment February 7th, 2006

Apple Starts Countdown to One Billion iTunes Sales

Apple is preparing to celebrate the sale of the one billionth track through the iTunes music store by awarding a gift to the person that makes the milestone purchase.

The lucky shopper will win a 20 inch iMac, 10 60GB iPods, and a $10,000 iTunes gift card, as well as having an Apple music scolarship in their name (slightly strange that one). However, it’s not just the one billionth customer that surfs home with goodies, the 999,900,000th customer does as well… and the 999,800,000th…and you get the drift. The minor prizes are a 4GB iPod nano and a $100 iTunes gift card.

“Music lovers like you in 21 countries around the globe have purchased nearly one billion songs from the iTunes Music Store,” says the Apple website. “And as we count down to this massive milestone in digital music history, we’d like to thank you for joining us.”

We’ve got one billion reasons to celebrate, and we’re starting with you

Add comment February 7th, 2006

Google Bans German BMW Website

Google has banned the German BMW website from its search index after allegedly discovering that the site was using techniques to artificially improve its positions in the Google search results.

The search engine has always been quite tough on smaller websites using ’spamming’ technique to improve their rankings, but this is the first known time that a big corporation has fallen foul of the Google police.

The technique used by BMW was to include hidden text on a page designed to be seen by search engine spiders that contained phrases that are popular searches, but not strictly relevant to BMW website users such as ‘Used Cars’. Human visitors to the website would not see the ‘doorway’ page and would get the real BMW.de content.

For the record, BMW is denying that it has done anything wrong and predicts that it will be reinstated shortly.

Add comment February 7th, 2006