Digital Media and Apple – together at last

Apple continued it’s onslaught into digital media today by announcing a slew of new products including the new Apple iTunes 7 and a set of new iPods. It also provided a sneak peak into iTV – which is basicallyÂ a video version of it’s AirPort Express product.

First up, Apple introduced iTunes 7 and with that, introduces the ability to purchase movies via the iTunes store front. Movies will initially come from four studios owned by Walt Disney (which is no surprise considering Jobs is now on Disney’s board). Preorders and movies purchased in the first week will run you $12.99. Afterwards, the price goes up to $14.99 for new release movies.

To view these movies on the go, Apple has introduced a new video iPod with a brighter screen and new search capabilities. The specs on the new iPod are as follows:

2.5 inch color display
5.5 ounces
measures 2.4 x 4.1 x .55 inches
60 percent brighter display
20 hour battery life
New search capabilities

The 30GB iPod will cost you $249 while the 80GB iPod will run you $349.

But wait, there’s more… There’s now a new iPod nano in town and it looks strangely similar to the old iPod mini. The new iPod nano is thinner and comes in five different colors. Other new features of the iPod nano include a whopping 24 hour battery life, a new 8GB model, and a 40 percent brighter display

The prices for the new iPod nanos are as follows:

2GB will cost $149
4GB will cost $199
8GB will cost $249

Finally, the iPod shuffle has been totally reimagined. Gone is the stick look and in is a new belt clip design that makes the shuffle the world’s smallest digital music player. The new shuffle comes in a 1GB capacity and will cost a mere $79 dollars. Of course there’s no display on this iPod but it’s all about the shuffle right?

And finally, Apple introduced a new product which will be coming out in Q1 of 2007. The product is code named iTV and will let consumers stream their movies or music to television sets. It’ll connect to your Mac or PC via a wireless connection (built right into the iTV) and the platform will cost $299. Does this remind you of a Media Center Extender device? Reminds me of that!