Apple Mac HQ

Owing an iPod just got cheaper today. Apple has reduced the price of the 1GB iPod shuffle to just $49. In addition to a price reduction, Apple will release a 2GB shuffle by the end of the month. The colors stay the same, so the only thing changing is the price and storage capacity. The new 2GB shuffle will cost the same as the 1GB before the price reduction, $69. The new $49 price will keep the iPod shuffle price competitive with other small digital music players like the Sansa Clip.

Just as the dust has settled from Macworld a few weeks ago, Apple just keeps pumping out updated products. These particular updates don’t exactly come as a surprise to anyone keeping up with Apple however. I wonder if these updates were just not ready in time or if there was another reason why they were not announced at Macworld.

When the 16GB iPod touch was introduced it was only a few seconds later that people started to predict a 16GB iPhone. Those 16GB predictions finally came true today. Apple has in fact released the 16GB iPhone and it will set you back $499. The 8GB iPhone is still priced at $399. I feel sorry for those 4GB iPhone buyers who paid $499 and got 1/4 the capacity that is available just over 6 months after the iPhone launch.

The iPod touch has also been updated today. You can now get a touch with 32GB of storage. The 32GB iPod touch will set you back a cool $499. The iPod touch is now available in 8GB ($299), 16GB ($399), and 32GB ($499) models.

If you’re in the market for an iPod touch, you can pick up the 16GB touch for the same price as an 8GB iPhone. You can also get a 32GB iPod touch for the same price as the 16GB iPhone. What amazes me is that if you really want the iPod touch, Apple will toss in a cell phone for an extra $100. I remember what my first cell phone was capable of and it cost more than $100 and didn’t do 1/4 of what the iPhone can do. If you’re thinking about buying an iPod touch and currently don’t have a cell phone carrier agreement, it would seem like a pretty tough choice not to get an iPhone.

Six years ago today, Apple released a device that changed the way we consume music. Initially only available on the Mac, the iPod really took off after the second generation iPod was released. With that release, the iPod could be used with both OS X and Windows. The iPod is one of the most iconic pieces of technology of the last half century. You can’t walk down a public street for more than five minutes and not pass someone with an iPod. Apple has sold over 120 million iPods in the six years since it was launched.

Embedded below is a great video from the Discovery Channel on Apple, the return of Steve Jobs, and the iPod. I highly suggest watching the video if you are interested in the corporate history of Apple and the iPod. Wikipedia also has some good information on the iPod here. So happy birthday to the iPod! Judging by the market share of the iPod, you’ll definitely have plenty more birthdays to celebrate.