New iPods

Apple just announced their new iPod lineup for the fall of 2008. It includes yet another new redesign for the iPod Nano ($149+), this time with the old taller/thinner design and the newer widescreen display. Colors are brighter than last season's more muted offerings. There's also a new thinner iPod Touch ($229+)and a new thinner 120GB iPod Classic ($249). 

Also updated is the iTunes softwware. iTunes 8 has a new "Genius" feature that builds playlists based on songs/artists that you like -- something third-party apps have been doing for some time now. The Genius feature is built into the new Nanos and Touches; the Nano also has a "shake" feature that switches to a new playlist when you physically shake the thing.

Nice updates, but nothing earth shaking -- a little underwhelming, actually. Still, it's always nice to have new models for Christmas buying season.