Jason Murphy

Website Producer

Almost every Apple event that has occurred since the launch of iPod Photo has had me sitting at the nearest computer either watching the live streamcast or hitting refresh constantly on a LiveBlog feed, or both. I have a gadget fetish and always want to know what the latest products are BEFORE anyone else. I think this is a residual habit of my days past when I published a popular gadget blog. I knew when the major papers like USA Today updated each night (who *always* landed exclusive press releases a day before anyone else) and I’d stay up each night to refresh the new news as it happened on the minute. So when Apple has a worldwide press event or media event or whatever you wanna call it, my born instinct is to catch the news as it happens.

But not today. Today must have been a first. I knew the event was happening, but I <yawn> really didn’t have much interest. It’s not that I lack excitement about the new iPod products they announced today. In fact, I think the new iPods are looking pretty damn good:

I think my lack of desire to catch the event today comes from the just being tired of Steve Jobs keynotes. He approaches the same way, builds up the same way, reveals the same way, and concludes the same way every time. Obviously he’s mastered a formula and for the most part it works. But really, an event every 2-3 months for the latest Apple products gets kinda old. I’d love if they’d just tie all their events together once, maybe twice, per year and call it iXpo or something creative. I know they have the WWDC going on already, but extending that to the Apple fanboys and consumers who aren’t developers would truly be remarkable. It would be a bi-annual mecca for Apple loyalists everywhere. And the keynotes would include all the latest iMac, iPod, iPhone, iLife, OS X, MacBook, etc releases. Jobs could invite popular bands to play on two other stages for those too stoned to handle a full day’s worth of keynotes and the whole thing could be a giant Applepalooza.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple do some type of universal tradeshow in the near future. They have a lot to offer.

So, my take on the new iPods? Well, for the most part I agree with the fellas over at Gizmodo. It’s a love/hate relationship. Too many too choose from.

• iPod Nano: Love it! Small, concealed, convenient. Perfect for everyday usage.
• iPod Classic: Hate it. Stuck between the Nano and the Touch. Really doesn’t offer much except the 160 gig hard drive. That’s gigantous!
• iPod Touch: Love it! Has all the iPhone stuff minus the phone. WiFi too. Safari yay! And coverflow! Should have been called the iGod. It deserves the kingship title.

In the near future I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up with a Nano AND a Touch. I’ve been thinking about trying out the Nike + iPod combo for running, and the Nano seems to be perfect for it (since the faceless Shuffle frightens me). And the Touch is more suited for usage in urban dwelling environments. Starbucks, libraries, the lame broadway show your wife dragged you to, etc. Anytime you can play with wifi, it’s worth fingering. (Ha, bet you haven’t heard that one).

Now that the Nano has video and the iPod is touchable, I think Apple can finally move on to other projects.

I predict digital cameras are next.