Apple Refreshes iPods & Updates iPhone Software

This week Steve Jobs announced a refreshed iPod line and the release of version 2.1 of the iPhone software:

iPod Nano

• Square design abandoned in favor of the elongated design of its second generation
• Curved design made of aluminum and glass.
• An accelerometer has been added to flip the screen when tilted
• Accelerometer places the device in shuffle mode when shaken
• A genius list feature similar to Pandora has been added
• It comes in nine "nano-chromatic" colors... according to Apple
• Prices are 8GB for $149 and 16GB for $199

iPod Touch

• Slightly slimmer and lighter
• New volume control buttons
• Built-in loudspeaker
• Prices are 8GB for $229, 16GB for $299, and 32GB for $399

iPhone 2.1 Software Update

• Decreases dropped calls
• Improved battery life
• Reduce backup time
• Improved email readability and retrieval
• Fixes bugs causing hangs and crashes with 3rd party apps
• Faster App Store installs
• Faster loading and searching of contacts
• Improved accuracy of 3G signal strength display
• Repeat alert for incoming messages
• Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation