Apple has introduced iPod Mini, a scaled-down version of its bestselling MP3 player. The new device can hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs and unlike its bigger brother comes in five colours.
It weighs just 3.6 ounces and, at 3.6 x 2 x 0.5 inches, is smaller than most mobile phones.
The iPod Mini features Apple’s Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads an entire digital music library and keeps it up to date whenever the device is plugged into a Mac or PC using FireWire or USB 2.0. According to Apple, the iPod Mini works seamlessly with the iTunes digital music jukebox software for buying, managing and listening to digital music collections.
Launching the new product at MacWorld Expo in San Francisco yesterday, Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, said: “IPod has revolutionised the way people listen to music. IPod Mini joins the iPod family of best-selling digital music players, offering customers the same 1,000 songs in your pocket as the original iPod in an innovative design that’s half the size. We think it’s going to be pretty popular, especially with younger music lovers.”
Sales of the original iPod recently reached the two million mark.
The new music player will be available in the US in February for a suggested retail price of US$249 and worldwide in April.
Also at the show, Apple introduced a powerful new server, the Xserve G5, delivering over 30 gigaflops of processing power per system, about 60pc more than the PowerPC G4-based Xserve.
Xserve G5 comes with an unlimited client edition of Mac OS X Server version 10.3 ‘Panther’ software pre-installed.
By Brian Skelly
