New iPods Released Today [UPDATED]

[UPDATE: changed the pictures and cleaned up the post's earlier messy formatting]
Apple's "Beat Goes On" event has ended just a few minutes ago and the shocker giler part of it - they refreshed the entire line and added one new iPod model. It's Sofa King Amazing!!

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iPod Shuffle
Colors have changed to more lighter tones, less garish in my opinion. Finally... a nice green color model. Apple also has added a Product(RED) version of the Shuffle. Yay!

• still 1GB
• still $79 (RM349)

What it means to us Malaysians: Nothing much. Just that we have new colors to choose from and that cheap parents will still have an excuse to buy these lower end iPods for their kids. But I'm not a cheapo parent I hear you say? What models would be great? Read on.

iPod Nano
Changed the colors to match the new Shuffles. I guess the sad part is that all the mockups weren't 'fake'. Now it stands shorter and wider, like a Creative Zen. But honestly, it still looks infinitely better.

• comes in 4GB or 8GB, $149 and $199 respectively
• same materials as the current gen, aluminum
• super thin... it's thinner than the previous model
• finally, plays video as well, big 2" screen
• brand new UI
• silver only for the 4GB model, 8GB has all the colors

What it means to us Malaysians: I can hear Creative's CEO go *shit* It plays videos now, much larger screen, new UI and price went down somemore... This is going to be selling hotter than hot cakes, and I know InTech is just going to find some fault with this, because they simply have now taste. We're looking at RM560 for the 4Gb and RM699 for the 8GB. Just for comparison sake, the old 8GB black model was RM1,399.

iPod Classic
iPod classic is basically the video iPod but with the old white and black 'plastic' material swapped for aluminum.

• comes in 80GB ($249) or 160GB ($349), uses harddisk
• better battery life: 40 hours music, 7 hours video
• 80GB is thinner than the previous 30GB, 160GB is thinner than the 80GB
• brand new UI

What it means to us Malaysians: It is cheaper than the previous video iPods but with so much more space, is thinner and lighter, and its made of aluminum (not so many scratches). Should be around RM899 for the 80GB and RM1,299 for the 160GB here.

iPod Touch
What is it? It's the iPhone without the phone!

• 8GB($299) or 16GB ($399), uses built-in flash memory
• completely multi touch interface
• same gorgeous screen as the iPhone
• thinner and lighter
• view photos, listen to music, lookup contacts and calender just like the iPhone, all touch
• comes with the same Safari browser thats found on the iPhone. It means we can surf the 'real' net on this thing! Totally unexpected...

What it means to us Malaysians: Do you know what this means to us?? It means that we can finally have the freakin multi touch interface, just like the iPhone, here in Malaysia. No need to unlock. No more waiting for the iPhone to have the *touch touch* fun... It'll be out in the US in a month or so, so we should be getting it around then. Singapore is also a viable option for us. The best part? RM1,199 for the 8Gb and RM1,399 for the 16GB. Its the same price as the previous video iPods without multi touch. Superb...

p.s. all Malaysian prices quoted are just educated guesses. The final price might vary a little.

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So there ya go, the new iPods, all coming to Malaysia very very soon. Want more?

• Engadget's live coverage of the event
• Apple's entire iPod range product page
• Apple's iPod Touch page with demo videos, hi-res pics and more info
• Appleinsider's hands on (MUST SEE! live pictures of the iPods)