New iPod, iTunes, and revised iMac announced.

Apple is launching new products today that include...

• a slimmer iMac with a faster processor and a built in iSight and remote device called Front Row that lets you can control your photos, music, and videos from your couch..

• The iPod. An iPod that has a wider screen and plays videos. Has TV/video out. 150 hours of video.

• iTunes 6. We spent three years at version 4 and one month at version 5. WTF? You can buy music videos and Desperate Housewives at the updated online store. People should realize that this thing should play other videos such as episodes of CommandN, Systm, and nerdcast. Will there be a vidcast directory soon?

Photos You can watch the Apple Event where these were unveiled online at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/specialeventoct05/. We suggest you watch it, however, you will need a broadband connection to do so.

Note from Brian: Front Row looks like Apple's "answer" to Windows Media Center Edition PCs. I like the idea, however I didn't see any television let alone PVR (think TiVo) functionality. Other than that, I'm in love. The remote for Front Row has only 6 buttons as compared to the 40+ on a Media Center remote. To be fair, Media Center PCs do allow for recording and watching television, channel changing and all that so of course more buttons will be needed. But i do agree that 40+ is a little much.

Note from Ben who is > than Brian: Apple likes to phase their new features into their products. Look at the iPod. It's goes from strickly a music player with a few features, to a music player with a color screen that can display photos, to a music player that can display photos and video. They don't dive right into putting out a full featured iPod. They test the waters. The iPod photo was pretty succesful and that line of iPods was merged into the iPod line. I think that if it didn't sell well, and the market wasn't into it, they would of discontinued it. They also released the Airport Express last year. The main gripe people had was that they weren't able to control their iTunes library from their bathroom. Ok, that was mine, but look what we got. Front Row. Awesome. Thanks, Apple. <3 Now, I think they are going to phase new features into Front Row. Again, Apple is testing out the waters, and there is no better machine to test it on than the iMac. The iMac is marketed as the digital hub computer. Sure, you can throw it on the PowerMacs, but the people who buy PowerMacs are power users who freaken' compress large audio and movie files while chatting to their mom. The iMacs are more geared towards the, "I like to rip CDs, take photos of me and my 16 year old friends drinking beer LOL and chat OMG!" That's why I'm getting one. Ok, the main reason I want one is because they're pretty powerful all-in-one machines now. They use to be the crap Macs, but the Mac mini has taken that place. I see Apple adding Front Row into the Mac minis and laptop line sometime down the road. No duh. Apple will see that this thing is a hit, so they will add Media Center like features such as the ability to watch your TV shows, record your TV shows, and stream your TV shows to your TV. Or take them on the road with you. Also, since Apple has a sweet deal with ABC, who has the two top rated shows on TV, do you think other companies and buyers will want to stick with Microsoft's vision of the the media PC? Ben thinks NO!