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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Monday, July 19, 2004

iPod Software Update Arrives; Old iPods Left Behind

Jim Heid's iLife 04 Site: "Apple has indeed released a new software update for the iPods, and it does not add revamped menus and enhanced on-the-go playlist support to third-generation or earlier iPods, not even the iPod mini. That's too bad. As I said yesterday, throwing a little bone to buyers of older iPods would be a nice consolation, a way of saying, 'Yeah, so your iPod isn't the very latest one anymore. Here's a little something to make you feel better.' And the fact that the new menus and on-the-go playlist features will not be available for iPod minis introduces a new quandry for iPod buyers. Until now, the only major difference between the big and little iPods was their size. (A few dock-connector accessories don't work with the iPod mini, but who cares?) Now, however, buyers must consider whether they also need or want the additional goodies that the fourth-generation iPod provides: the new menu scheme, the new playlist features, the audiobook speed-up/slow-down features, and so on. Buyers must compare the two iPod families carefully -- and the mini suddenly doesn't look as appealing as it did last week. The extra $50 that a new iPod costs over a mini now buys you a lot more than just several times the capacity."

Don't get your panties in a bunch, but sadly this is standard operating procedure for Apple. I'm a bit surprised that iPod Mini users won't get the new features, but not surprised at all that 3G iPods (and even older versions) won't. That's just the way these guys do things.

[ Posted at 1:20 PM | Permalink ]