Apple’s iPod may live in the shadow of its splashier sibling devices — the iPhone and iPad — but the digital music player, expected to get upgrades today, is a key reason the Cupertino company got back its chic aura.
Steve Jobs, expected to be on stage for the 10 a.m. event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, may announce a front-facing camera on the iPod touch, some analysts say, allowing use of Apple’s new FaceTime video chat technology that comes with the iPhone 4.
Jobs also may unveil a Wi-Fi-equipped iPod nano, which would enable users to stream music. Apple is completing a $1 billion data center in North Carolina, and last year acquired streaming music site Lala.com, fueling speculation it is preparing to launch a cloud-based service that would store music on remote servers that could be accessed on multiple devices.
While many observers say Apple is likely to focus just on its iPod line, some speculate it will reveal new features for Apple TV, the company’s contribution to the revolution in living-room entertainment. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Apple will announce a new $99 set-top box that includes a Netflix subscription movie service.
There also are rumors Jobs will announce a 7-inch iPad tablet, though many analysts say any additions to the iPad line, which was introduced earlier this year, will likely come in the spring, following the company’s recent pattern of refreshing products annually.
I am looking into obtaining one of the ipad models but I don’t know which one to go with. What do you think? Would it be worth my time and money to get the low end ipad or shell out that extra money and get the top of the line one? I would use it each day for about FIVE hours, I do have internet at home but I’m away a lot too, sometimes on business or travel. I have additionally considered the ipod touch as a possible but it would be just too tiny. Any suggestions would certainly be greatly valued! Many thanks