Apple released upgrades of its popular iPod music players with much fanfare. The company also introduced the much anticipated iPod touch and a WiFi version of its multinational iTunes media store. iPod shuffle 1GB- $79.00 The smallest and cheapest iPod, the shuffle, was updated to the new iPod color schemes targeted for the Fall release. The colors are Silver, Blue, Green, Purple, and a special “product(Red)” model. The device comes in a convenient size and form factor- one which is perfect for casual listening and exercise. The metallic design is very aesthetic and feels well made. The clip is sturdy and useful; however, its positioning ruins the feel of the device. It may also be hard to use for music lovers with large hands. iPod nano 4GB- $149.00 8GB- $199.00 The new nano comes in just two schemes, “love it” or “hate it”. The nano overhauled in accordance with Apple’s “less is more” philosophy; however, it may lose the visual appeal iPod owners swear by to allow those improvements. The nano is now substantially shorter and wider to accommodate the screen aspect ratio required for video, the newest feature. It is also much thinner and sports an attractive anodized metal finish. Although video is quite crisp and screen contrast has improved dramatically, it seems like a quixotic feature. This is also the cheapest iPod that features the more media-rich user interface. It is also worth noting that the click wheel is much improved with a better tactile feel and a gratifying click. The nano also comes in the Fall colors. iPod classic 80GB- $249.00 160GB- $349.00 After selling millions of units worldwide, Apple can proudly confer the self-proclaimed “classic” moniker to its original device. The classic features the upgraded metal finish in silver or black and seems to be targeted to the “music hunters” of the world. The device comes in 80GB and 160GB models while magically becoming thinner than the previous 30GB and 80GB models. Due to the increase in hard disk capacity, many users will be able to carry with them their entire multimedia libraries. iPod touch 8GB- $299.00 16GB- $399.00 Technophiles around the world have fantasized about the widescreen iPod for years- this is the real deal. The touch comes in a svelte and sturdy black case, much thinner than the iPhone’s at about 8mm (according to www.apple.com). The beveled edges add character to the device. The screen is crystal clear with the aspect ratio of the iPhone but is just a bit smaller. The user interface is the same as the iPhone’s, only lacking the phone capabilities. Internet through Apple’s Safari browser, a dedicated YouTube player, Calendar, Contacts, World Clock, and the iPod features round out the device. WiFi is a huge advantage over the other iPods because of built in web surfing and access to the iTunes multimedia store. Maybe Apple can succeed in the WiFi Digital Audio Player market where Microsoft’s Zune failed. The only drawbacks to the touch are its pricing in comparison with the iPhone (currently only a $100 difference for the 8GB model), a small headphones jack located on the bottom as on the nano, no built-in microphone or audio-in, and no speakers.