Apple launches social network, new iPod and TV gadgets
On Wednesday, Apple unveiled a music-centered social network at iTunes and also a slick new iPod and Apple TV gadgets that vowed to win more customers.
Ping was built into iTunes 10 software made available as a free download at itunes.com.
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said,"It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," implying to the world’s top online social networking and microblogging services.
"It is not Facebook. It is not Twitter. It is something else we’ve come up with. It’s all about music," he said.
Ping will automatically be available to the more than 160 million iTunes members worldwide when they update to the new version.
"Apple is now in the social networking game, but it is music centric which is really cool," said analyst and Altimeter Group partner Michael Gartenberg.
"It is not about competing with Facebook or Twitter. This is about something they use in addition. When I want to hang with my music friends this is where I go."
Jobs launched Ping together with a dramatically revamped iPod line and a second-generation of Apple TV box that streams television shows and movies over the Web to high-definition television sets.
Jobs, donned in his trademark long-sleeved black shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes, said the Apple TV device would cost 99 dollars, down from $229.
"Apple TV hasn’t been a big hit," Jobs acknowledged as he revealed the palm-sized low-priced model he hoped will change that situation.
"But, we’ve learned a lot," he added. "People want Hollywood movies and TV shows whenever they want them; they don’t want amateur hour, they want professional content."
The device is plugged into television sets but also links wirelessly to Apple’s hot-selling iPad tablet computers so people could start watching shows on one of the devices and then switch to the other when convenient.
"This is to the TV what iPhone was to the phone," Gartenberg said as he left the event.
"The way they taught consumers to use the phone they are now teaching them about the Apple way to use the TV set" he continued.
Jobs added that Apple TV owners can now rent HD movies for 4.99 dollars and television shows from the Fox and ABC networks for 99 cents. In addition to that US users can also stream content from movie rental service Netflix, he said.
"We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board with this pretty fast," Jobs said.
The new model Apple TV will be available in about four weeks.
Jobs also said he was rolling out "the biggest change in the iPod lineup ever."
The latest iPod Touch permits video calling. It has front- and rear-facing cameras, which let a user hold video chats with iPhone or other iPod Touch owners using Wi-Fi and an Apple program called "FaceTime."
The new iPod Touch costs 229 dollars for the eight-gigabyte model, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB version.
He said the new iPods would be available next week.
Article Source: Inquirer.net
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