Apple Keynote: New iPods, AppleTV, iTunes Social Network

UPDATED: Did you check out the live stream of Apple’s music and media event on apple.com? Right now, we’re all rocking (quietly) to a low-key solo performance by Chris Martin of Coldplay. (Pretty appropriate considering Apple used one of their songs in a recent ad campaign.)

While Chris Martin’s solo piano perfomance that closed the  event was less than thrilling (in my opinion) there was plenty more to be excited about as Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced several cool new products and services! Here’s a quick overview:

iOS 4 Updates

iOS 4.1 available next week on the iPhone and iPod Touch. iOS 4.2  for iPhone, iPad and some models of iPod Touch will be out in November. Both will be free downloads on iTunes.

iPods get a makeover!

Shuffle: Think a tiny Nano without the screen. Buttons are back (“People missed buttons,” Jobs says) and Genius playlists will also be added. It also boasts an impressive 15-hour battery life! $49 each, the new Shuffle will be available in 5 colors.

Nano: Think mini Touch. This model ditches the clickwheel for a multitouch screen and will have app support. Almost half the size and weight of the current model, the newly announced Nano is so tiny, it can be worn Shuffle-style. 24-hour battery life! It will cost you $149 for 8GB and $179 for 16GB.

Touch: According to Jobs, this model is now the most popular of all the iPods.  Features include a gyroscope (allows you to change the view by turning the screen), high-res retina display and as predicted, dual cameras and support for Facetime video chat that’s compatible with iPhones, too. The camera will record in HD and includes built-in editing capabilities. There are three iPod touch models: 8GB for $229, 32GB for $299 and a 64GB model for $399.

All new iPods are set to ship in one week.

Ping: “Twitter meets iTunes”

Described by Jobs as a “social media discovery” and “Twitter meets iTunes,” Ping is Apple’s answer to a social network. Centered on music and people who love music, Ping will be integrated into the newly launched iTunes 10 (available for free download at apple.com starting today!) According to Jobs, Ping will be immediately available to more than 160 million iTunes users in 23 countries, givng them a huge advantage right off the bat.

With Ping, you can “follow” friends or favorite artists. Privacy settings allow you to share your profile/updates with anyone, approved friends only, or what Jobs described as “Circle of Friends” – he gave the example of 10 friends who only follow/share updates with each other.

Some cool stuff: Check out concerts nearby, see what your friends are downloading and listening to, see Top 10 playlists, watch exclusive videos from iTunes artists, view and comment on photos. Ping will be available for iPhone and iPod Touch, too.

Also: Jobs joked that since mp3s on iTunes outsold CDs, Apple’s current CD logo is a bit outdated… so it’s gotten a revamp!

AppleTV

The new reincarnation of Apple TV proves that big things do come in small packages. A quarter the size of the original version, the new Apple TV is also $200 cheaper – only $99!

Jobs explained that customer feedback has told them that people: want watch TV shows and movies in HD, but do not want to worry about syncing anything, use a computer to watch videos or manage file storage.

The new Apple TV has an easy plug-and-play design as well as a remote control and Wi-Fi capabilities. Also, thanks to AirPlay, Apple TV will let you stream videos, music, podcasts and photos from a mobile device to TV – in his demo, the movie “Up!” went from iPad to the TV in a split second, without lag! iPads, iPhones and iPod Touch will support AirPlay. Imagine watching a video on your iPhone as you walk through your front door… then with a push of the button, it’s on the TV! Interestingly enough, AirPlay (formerly AirTunes) will also bring users wireless printing capabilites.

All content will be for rental only. HD movies will be $4.99 while (commercial-free!) HD TV shows will be 99 cents each. Jobs confirmed that ABC and FOX are onboard (sorry, “Two and a Half Men” fans) but he hopes that others will join later. He also confirmed that Netflix streaming service will be available, as rumors correctly predicted.

Apple TV will include fun features like a “tomatometer” to check out a movie’s Rotten Tomatoes ratings and support for YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe. Pre-orders start today on apple.com.

So, what do you think about Apple’s latest announcements? Are you excited or less than impressed? And let us know if you download Ping!