Snap yourself an iTunes bargain at Coles!

It’s about time we got some sort of benefit from the excrutiating hike in grocery prices…

Coles Supermarkets are currently offering a 50% discount on iTunes Gift Cards when you spend $100 or more on groceries in a single transaction.

Sure no gift cards, iTunes, recharge cards or tobacco can be included in that total, but with the price of a normal family weekly shop, it’s pretty easy to qualify for the discount.

The deal is one per transaction and “while stocks last”, but if you’re already buying iTunes credit that way, then it really is something for nothing?

Then all that is left to do is hop along to the iTunes store and start spending…

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It’s Only Rock and Roll!

Apple held their special media event, “It’s Only Rock & Roll but we Like It”.   A standing ovation was given to Steve Jobs who has just returned from serious illness.  He said he’s happy to be ‘vertical’ and enjoying being back at Apple every day.

iPod market

Apple boasted their market share stats with the pleased Apple fan crowd.

As well, Apple reported that over 50% of iPod customers these days are first-time iPod owners, not return customers.

And what’s the faster growing iPod?  iPod touch. Why?  More on Apple keynote: iPod & iTunes updates

New features, size and pricing for the iPod touch

An update on the Apple iPod touch was rolled out at Apple’s “It’s Only Rock & Roll” event.

“iPod touch: A great iPod. A great pocket computer. A great portable game player.”

Apple has sold over 20M iPod touch so far. They attribute this to it being “absolutely great”, it’s a good way to listen to music – and discover new music with WiFi iTunes, multi touch display, videos and podcasts, pocket computer with browsing and email.

The “most affordable access to the iTunes store” (just meaning it’s more affordable than the iPhone).  You buy it outright, or gift it, and it costs nothing further for subscriptions and monthly fees etc.

So, what is Apple doing to land more iPod touch customers?  They have reduced the price for the 8Gb (AU$268).  They’ve also increased the flash memory – new lineup is 8Gb, 32Gb and 64Gb (previously 8, 16, 32Gb).

US pricing below:

So $AU268, $399 and $549 for the 8Gb, 32Gb and 64Gb respectively.

It’s also now has better graphics power (for gaming, videos etc) and the 32Gb and 64Gb are reportedly up to 50% faster.

Other iPod touch news

Other releases relevant to the iPod touch were:

• iTunes 9 (already covered); and
• OS 3.1

OS3.1

• An updated version of the OS is available for download via iTunes. Free for those running the 3.0 firmware or for $5.99 to iPod touch owners with older firmware.
• OS 3.1 also comes free with any iPod touch purchased after the 09/09  event.
• Make sure you have the most current iTunes downloaded before updating the OS

Features of the OS 3.1

• Genius recommendations now also on apps
• Peer-to-peer gaming
• Wireless download of ringtones – 30,000 available for purchase
• Movies, TV, podcasts for download via Wi-Fi
• Stereo bluetooth
• Cut, copy & paste
• Shake to Shuffle
• and more

What was missed?

One rumour that didn’t come true for the touch – there will continue to be no camera on the iPod touch.

iTunes 9 available for download

Further to the release by Apple of Snow Leopard OS last week, iTunes 9 was rolled out with lots of goodies and extras during Apple’s keynote yesterday.

iTunes boasts the record of being the No1 music retailer in the world.

Other iTunes stats:

• Over 8.5 billion songs sold
• 100,000,000 million registered accounts (that’s scary!) – meaning also one of the largest stores on the net altogether

Features of iTunes 9

• Genuis playlists – over 54B songs have been submitted and analysed – smarter, faster
• Genius mixes – endless mixes and playlists from songs in your library and recommendations from iTunes
• Now genius recommendations for apps – suggestions will be made based on your previous apps downloads
• Better management of your apps, arrange however you like, drag & drop
• Improved syncing
• Home sharing (between up to 5 computers in your house) – not just streaming, copying to your library
• iTunes store redesign, better layout and navigation, artists pages, movies & TV pages, wishlists
• iTunes LP – includes lyrics, videos, photos, chronology, lienar notes, interviews, memorabilia etc.  Amazing content!
• Same for movies

iTunes 9 is of course a free download.