Yesterday Apple had its September presentation, which, as the title “Let’s Rock” may have given away, was focused on iTunes and the various iPod models. Here are the announcements in a nutshell:

  • HD TV shows added to the iTunes store. $2.99 per episode ($1.99 for standard definition), and you can view them on Apple TV and your computer (and hopefully you iPod).
  • NBC returns to the iTunes store.
  • iTunes 8 is announced:
  • New browsing options

  • Genius mode: automatic playlist based on songs that “go great together”. It sounds like Pandora in iTunes.

  • iPod classic: the current line up of an 80GB and a 160GB model will be changed to one 120GB model, priced at $250 (what, not $249?).
  • iPod Nano 4G:
  • has the form factor of the Nano 2G
  • the video of the 3G
  • Built-in accelerometer
  • new User Interface
  • landscape mode for coverflow
  • thinnest Nano yet

  • $149 for 8GB, $199 for 16GB

  • iPod Touch:
  • Thinner
  • has integrated volume control
  • built-in speaker(!)
  • Genius playlist creation
  • Nike+ built-in (you still need the Nike+ transmitter)

  • $229 for 8GB, $299 for 16GB, and $399 for 32GB

  • AppStore: 100 million downloads in the first 60 days. Upcoming offerings: Spore Origins, Real Soccer 2009, Need for Speed: Undercover.
  • Two new headphones:
  • A regular set with in-band control (volume, next, prev, play, pause) and microphone for $29

  • An in-ear set with two drivers per bud (woofer and tweeter) for $79

  • iPod Touch 2.1 software: Free upgrade for 2.0 users, $9.95 for 1.x users
  • iPhone 2.1 software:
  • Free upgrade
  • improved battery life
  • fewer call drops
  • fewer crashes
  • increased speed for iTunes backups
It sounds that Apple is slowly retiring the iPod classic, and adding more emphasis on the AppStore. More news can be read at Gizmodo and other sites around the net.