Update: Apple Intros New iPod, Free 9-11 Commission Audio

These new features allow the iPod to create more “on-the-go” playlists (and delete them). A single click will start the shuffling technique for playback. Audio books can now be listened to at normal speed, slower or faster (25-percent).

Many rumor sites indicated that the new generation iPod would feature different colors, but Apple laid that to rest with the introduction of “white”. Again.

Newsweek magazine reports that the new iPod will be smaller, sleeker, more compact, yet comes with more features, more storage capacity, updated scroll wheel, a lower price (high end only). The low end iPod will carry 20 gigabytes of storage for $299, while the high end iPod will hold 40 gigabytes of storage for $399 (a $100 price drop). A 60 gigabyte model is expected as new hard drives become available.

The new iPod is not only sleeker, battery life has been improved 50-percent; up to 12 hours. Apple says battery life is improved via design efficiency.

Mac online rumor sites had predicted a new iPod soon, with some sites suggesting an announcement on Monday, July 19th. In the Newsweek article, Jobs is shown holding the new iPod next to the heading “Steve Jobs and The Must-Have Music Player Everyone is Talking About.”

Apple also released audio from 36 of the 9-11 Commision Hearings for free. The audio “books” are available for FREE from the AudioBooks section of the iTunes Music Store. The 36 releases include testimony from Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, former CIA head George Tenet, former US Attorney General Janet Reno, and many others who met with the 911 Panel. Open the iTunes Music Store and search using “9-11 Commission.”

Here’s a scan of the Newsweek magazine cover.

Prices for the new generation iPod start at $299 for the 20 gigabyte model, and $399 for a 40 gig model. The new scroll wheel allows for faster, more accurate navigation, and mulitple, on-the-fly creation of playlists.

Like the iPod mini, Apple’s new iPods are both USB 2.0 and Firewire compatible. The iPod mini has only 4 gigabytes of storage but continues to sell well and cannot meet demand. Apple claims a 70-percent market share for legal music downloads and nearly 50-percent market share for portable hard drive music players.