Apple unveils social network, new iPod and TV tool
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has launched a music-centered social network at iTunes and unveiled slick new iPod and Apple TV gadgets that promised to win the iconic company more devotees.
Ping was built into iTunes 10 software made available as a free download at itunes.com.
"It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said, referring to the world's top online social networking and microblogging services.
"It is not Facebook. It is not Twitter. It is something else we've come up with. It's all about music," he said.
Ping will automatically be available to the more than 160 million iTunes members worldwide when they update to the new version.
"Apple is now in the social networking game, but it is music centric which is really cool," said analyst and Altimeter Group partner Michael Gartenberg.
"It is not about competing with Facebook or Twitter. This is about something they use in addition. When I want to hang with my music friends this is where I go."
Ping could be a threat to News Corporation-owned social networking website MySpace, which recreated itself as an online community for music fans after being eclipsed by Facebook.
Forrester analyst Mark Mulligan said the iTunes upgrade "fell short" but that the Ping approach has a lot of value.
"This social functionality (which looks like the best of MySpace, Last.FM, Twitter and Facebook) will be a valuable way of driving music discovery," Mulligan wrote in a blog post. "But it needs more."
Jobs introduced Ping along with a dramatically overhauled iPod line and a second-generation of Apple TV box that streams television shows and movies over the Web to high-definition television sets.
Jobs, dressed in his trademark long-sleeved black shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes, said the Apple TV device would cost 99 dollars, down from 229 dollars.
Apple released the first version of its digital media receiver TV in 2007 but it never caught on with the public and has been referred to by the company as a "hobby."
"Apple TV hasn't been a big hit," Jobs acknowledged as he revealed the palm-sized low-priced model he hoped will change that situation.
"But, we've learned a lot," he added. "People want Hollywood movies and TV shows whenever they want them; they don't want amateur hour, they want professional content."
The device is plugged into television sets but also links wirelessly to Apple's hot-selling iPad tablet computers so people could start watching shows on one of the devices and then switch to the other when convenient.
"This is to the TV what iPhone was to the phone," Gartenberg said as he left the event.
"The way they taught consumers to use the phone they are now teaching them about the Apple way to use the TV set" he continued.
Jobs said Apple TV owners will be able to rent HD movies for 4.99 dollars and television shows from the Fox and ABC networks for 99 cents. US users can also stream content from movie rental service Netflix, he said.
"We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board with this pretty fast," Jobs said.
The new model Apple TV will be available in about four weeks.
Jobs also said he was rolling out "the biggest change in the iPod lineup ever."
The new iPod Touch allows for video calling. It has front- and rear-facing cameras, which let a user hold video chats with iPhone or other iPod Touch owners using Wi-Fi and an Apple program called "FaceTime."
The Touch got the vivid screen from the latest generation iPhone and was touted as the world's most popular portable gaming device.
Apple was capitalizing on the allure to videogame players with Game Center software that lets users of the company's mobile gadgets play against each other online.
Epic Games president Mike Capps joined Jobs on stage to demonstrate a gorgeous "Project Sword" medieval adventure game the studio plans to release for play on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices before the end of the year.
"Game Center allows you to challenge your friends and they can challenge you," Jobs said. "If you don't have any friends, it will auto-match you."
Richer, more social games make Apple gadgets harder targets to competitors, according to Gartenberg.
"They put a lot of pressure on Google without saying the word 'Google'," the analyst said. "We've never seen anything like that title from Epic on a phone."
Smartphones built on Google-backed Android software have been striving to gain ground on the iPhone.
Jobs also showed off a new iPod Shuffle for 49 dollars and a touchscreen version of the middle-range iPod Nano starting at 149 dollars.
The new iPod Touch costs 229 dollars for the eight-gigabyte model, 299 dollars for the 32GB model and 399 dollars for the 64GB version.
He said the new iPods would be available next week.
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In a music-themed media event yesterday, Apple Inc. unveiled three new  portable music players, as well as an upgraded  system. Apple also announced updates for its  software and  mobile operating system.

The annual event started at 10 a.m.  (1700 ) in the  in San Francisco, California. Apple  Steve Jobs, who led yesterday's keynote speech at the event, was dressed in his typical black long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. He began by discussing new international , an update to the company's iOS mobile operating system, and the release of a new gaming app, . Jobs then turned his attention to what he called the "entrée" of the day.

Apple will release new versions of its , , and  lines next week in what Jobs called "the biggest change in the iPod line ever." The iPod Shuffle's  capabilities have been extended to playlists, meaning that it will now be able to read off the names of songs, artists, and playlists. The new device is priced at 49.

Jobs also showed off the company's new iPod Nano. The Nano, now smaller and without a , features a new  screen that allows users to touch virtual buttons to control the device. The new design is 42 percent lighter and 46 percent smaller, but still includes functions on previous Nanos, such as an  and a . The 8  version will cost US$149, while the 16 GB version will be priced at US$179.

Jobs announced an updated iPod Touch as well, an announcement that had been widely expected for some time. The new, thinner Touch has been upgraded with features matching some already on the company's recently-released , including the   and dual video cameras. One camera, located on the back the of the iPod Touch, is for recording video, while the other camera, located on the front, is for use with Apple's   program. FaceTime allows users of the latest iPhone and iPod Touch models to conduct video chats with each other over  networks. The iPod Touch starts at US$229 for a 8 GB model, US$299 for 32 GB, and US$399 for 64 GB.

Another major product refresh unveiled yesterday was the Apple TV. The  was first released in 2007, but was never very popular. Jobs even admitted that, although Apple has "sold a lot of them, they've never been a huge hit." The US$99 second-generation Apple TV is both smaller and cheaper than its predecessor, which was priced at US$229. The new version will let consumers stream content from online sources, including , and rent both movies and television shows. Apple has made a deal with  and  to let users rent episodes of shows for 99, instead of buying programs. "We think the rest of the studios will see the light and get on board with this pretty fast," added Jobs.  movies can be rented for US$4.99, and the new Apple TV will be available for purchase in around four weeks.

Among the less-hyped updates was one to , previously named AirTunes. AirPlay lets users stream music, photos, and videos from iOS devices to other Wi-Fi-enabled systems. AirPlay would let a video on an  be played on a television via Apple TV.

Along with an iOS update came one for Apple's online music store application, iTunes. The biggest news involving iTunes 10, which is available for download now, is Apple's new music-based social network, . "It is sort of like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," described Jobs. "It is not Facebook. It is not Twitter. It is something else we've come up with. It's all about music." Built into iTunes, Ping allows a user to follow both friends and artists to find new music and concert tours, and anyone with an iTunes account will be able to access Ping upon updating to iTunes 10. Ping will have settings for privacy as well, giving users the option to approve followers. Jobs also introduced a new iTunes logo, which does not include an image of a CD on it because music sales on iTunes are expected to overtake CD sales soon.

Jobs concluded the event by bringing out , a member of the award-winning band . Martin, who played a few songs on the piano, including the hit song "," jokingly called his performance "the toughest closing gig I've ever had."

Although many of yesterday's announcements had been predicted ahead of time, some had speculated that Apple would go even further. Apple defied expectations of a new  music service. They also did not extend the amount of time a buyer could sample music on iTunes, as some had guessed.



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