He began with a run down of company statistics, including iPods sold and tunes downloaded from the online store (160,000,000), then examined iTunes, now version 8, focussing on the Genius playlist feature, plus the new grid view and the updated visualiser, which he demonstrated using a Thongchai McIntyre song.

The Genius playlist feature needs an account to be created with the iTunes store: information from a user's music library is used, with other users' data, by Apple's algorithm to create suggestions. Tony was at pains to point out that personal data is not used, trying to allay some privacy fears.

Tony then looked at the fourth generation iPod nano, which is Apple's most popular iPod. The squat shape of the previous version has gone and it is now closer to the profile of the earlier nano: long and thin. It has had a total redesign, however, internally and externally. While there is a return to the rectangular shape, the body cross section is a slim oval, which fits neatly into the hand. The 2" screen is now in a portrait format, but using the same accelerometers as in iPhones, the image will rotate to give a widescreen view for viewing movies. When a tune is playing, the album cover changes to Apple's scrolling Cover View, enabling a user to flick through the collection.

The menu system has been updated and now includes the Genius facility which works once activated on iTunes and when the iPod has been synchronised. All iPods can now display Thai text. The split screen of before has been changed with menus at the top and related images to the bottom of the screen. Included in the software is a voice recording feature.

What Tony did not bring out was a new feature (off by default), similar to one in OS X Universal Preferences to assist those with seeing difficulties: menus are read out by a voice. The default voice is English, but third party developers may come up with other langauges.

Battery life has again been improved and now lasts for 24 hours when playing music (4 hours for video). In addition to the two games on the previous nano, Maze, a game which uses the accelerometer is also now installed.

The nano comes in a wider range of colours that Apple calls, "nano-chromatic" although the red one (Product Red) is only available via online purchasing. The nano is available in two sizes here: 8GB (2,000 songs) and 16GB (4,000 songs) at 6,290 and 8,290 baht. There is a 4GB version in some markets. There are no plans as yet for this to be sold in Thailand.

The iPod Classic was the original iPod which, when first released, held 1,000 songs. The previous two versions were 80GB and 160GB, although the thinner 80GB Classic was more popular. These have now been consolidated into a single 120GB version (in silver or black) for the same price as the 80GB iPod, which is on sale in Thailand at a price of 9,990 baht.

Tony also brought the new iPod touch which, while it retains the basic shape, has also been redesigned. The steel back has a curved finish which, like the nano, fits into the hand nicely. Two important changes, as a result of customer feedback have been the inclusion of a volume control on the side and a small speaker, "for casual listening". This will avoid the need for headphones when using some of the (3,000) apps on the touch, for example.

Tony mentioned several accessories available for iPods. He told us about two new sets of headphones which will be available in October. A basic set with ear buds and controls with a microphone and a set with "woofer and tweeter" plus the controls and the microphone. These are priced at 1,498 and 2,900 baht.

I have compared the prices in the US with the prices for Thailand. When import duties and VAT (7%) are factored in, the difference is fairly small. I look forward to having a longer look at these new models: perhaps in a week or so.