So the word on the street now a days is that there will be a new iPhone released. iPhone 2.0 or what I am calling iPhone Video! This will support the 3G network and potentially have a built-in webcam. This would allow users to chat wirelessly through iChat or Skype. We here at MP3buzz hope that this is the wave of the future, and will become better than any other Cellphone/PDA/MP3 Player out there. An all in one device, that will replace even computers. We are also banking that Flash will be enabled on the iPhone Video.

See a video about this unit.

When the iPhone came out one year ago, we knew that a true 6th generation iPod was eminent. Initially, we were amazed at the previously unheard of features that the iPhone offered but after the initial shock and awe wore off, we felt that the added burdens of the cell phone features (contracts, exclusive carriers, limited storage, etc) were too much to justify the purchase. However, when the iPod Touch was announced we knew it would be exactly what we were waiting for for so long.

The iPod Touch features all the greatness of the iPhone minus the cumbersome cell phone. The 3.5 inch wide screen display is amazing. It surpassed both the previous generation of iPod and the Zune which was our current favorite. The multi-touch interface is excellent. It harnesses the innovative design that made the iPhone so irresistible. Also like the iPhone, the iPod Touch includes a Wi-Fi adapter compatible with both the 802.11 b and g standards. This means you can surf the real internet with a real version of Safari at any Wi-Fi enabled hotspot, watch videos on YouTube and purchase music through the iTunes online music store. However what really stands out for us is that it isn’t attached to any service provider like the iPhone unfortunately is. We love the idea of having one device to replace all our gadgets, but honestly, we prefer the no-strings-attached version better.

But you don’t have to trust us. Check out what others are saying about the new iPod
Touch. Will it live up to the hype?

Today Apple has finally released the long awaited 6th gen iPod with a new moniker; The iPod Touch. It features full touchscreen capability with coverflow, wifi, and 8GB and 16GB varieties priced at $299 and $399, respectively. Another awesome feature is the ability to download songs straight from iTunes. If you were so inclined you could totally bypass the computer altogether.

Also announced today are the changes to the rest of the iPod line. The 5th gen iPod is now referred to as the iPod Classic. It features a new, slimmer, metal case and sports up to a whopping 160GB! That is a lot of storage people.

The iPod Nano also got a redesign today. It has a shorter and wider form factor, yet it has the capabilities to both play videos and games.

Lastly, even the iPod Shuffle got a little updated. They released a red version. Admittedly not the biggest news of the day, but we couldn’t leave anything out. Stay tuned for a more extensive iPod analysis or check Engadget’s live Steve Jobs coverage.

It is being reported from some various sources that tomorrow (September 5, 2007) is the day that the 6th gen iPod will finally be announced. If this indeed turns out to be true then it will put to rest almost two years of speculation and hoping for a truly revolutionary digital audio device. Rumors about what the 6th gen iPod will look like have been circulating on the net endlessly. However, if tomorrow is the actual revealing of the device, all rumors will be either put to rest or validated.

Assuming this report is true and tomorrow is the big reveal, the new iPods could be available as early as this Christmas. Then, you will need to keep posted as we begin publishing the latest rumors of the 7th generation iPod. It’s never too early you know.

aarongrider has presented us with this beautiful concept video of what we are hoping for the 6th Generation ipod. Enjoy the video below which shows different aspects of the hoped for 6th Generation iPod. Many people are hoping for the big announcement on Sept 5th 2007, but I am thinking they will not announce anything until Mac World 2008 in January. We will just have to wait and see.

For today only on Woot.com you can buy a white 30GB Zune for only $149.99 + $5 shipping. Not only is this the greatest price I’ve ever seen for a new Zune, but today’s listing also has the greatest ad copy I’ve seen on the eccentric site yet. Some day I hope that this meager blog will rise from it’s mediocrity to contain half of the entertainment value that Woot.com has every day.

“Becky was shocked – had she blown it already? By shopping for an iPod, had she given herself away as a small-town rube? But then what was he listening to on those white earbuds? Had big-city folk invented some new kind of audio entertainment that wasn’t music or talking? She had so much to learn about the world.”

link - Woot.com

For the longest time we have all been awaiting the new 6th Generation iPod. You can see the list of all the posts on the 6th Generation iPod here and the latest post Is the iPhone a True 6th Generation iPod? which for some reason was removed from digg’s homepage. We have been expecting the touch-screen 6th Generation iPod for quite some time now. The rumors have once again started to fly, now according to a secret leak in the Taiwan supply chain the expected touch screen iPod will be released a little later this August. It is my prediction that this will not be released at this time. We now know that there will be an apple event The Beat Goes On Tommorow Setp. 5th 2007.

Though the release date is totally certain let’s discuss what we hope for. Of course now that the iPhone has been released with all its features surely some of these will be migrating to the 6th Generation iPod.

1. We hope for High-res, 3.5-inch screen
Ok so this is what we expect when we here 6th Generation iPod you have seen the mock-ups, videos, and even patents which reveal what people really want with this. Lets just hope Apple doesn’t skimp out and give us less screen than we want!


2. We hope for a small price
The iPhone at a whopping $499 (4GB) & $599 (8GB) makes it hard for the younger generation to enjoy these beauties. For the 6th Generation iPod to be successful the price will need to be low. The price range that is now ruling the 5th Generation iPod is now $249 (30GB) & $349.00 (60GB). If this price range is followed the 6th Generation iPod will continue to rule the MP3 player market.


3. We hope for Coverflow (w/fast foward)
Ok, if you have not seen or used cover flow you have not lived. This feature, though it has been overlooked will be what drives the 6th Generation iPod. This being said, cover art will be a must have going forth! For those of you who may have ripped their entire CD collections before they had an iPod, may have never looked at or worried about Album cover art. If you fall into this category a tutorial has been written how to batch upload cover art to mp3 files, more on this to come. See cover flow on the iphone below of things we hope fole.


4. We hope for Wifi.
There have been many rumors about the 6th Generation iPod having wifi enabled. This would allow users to share music potentially even over the iPhone. This would also allow Apple to catch up with the Microsoft’s Zune which can wirelessly share music with other Zune owners which I found to be far and few. With a product such as the iPod enabled wifi sharing, this would be huge!

5. We hope it is small in size
After comparing a Zune and Video iPod I found that the iPod was much more convenient because of size. You may think well a couple of milimeters won’t matter, but the difference is huge. If you have never compared these two, trust me smaller is better. We hope that the product though packed with a 3.5-inch screen & wifi comes in the same size casing as the 5th Generation iPods.

6. We hope for it soon!
My prediction is that the 6th Generation iPod will be announced at the above mentioned The Beat Goes On, apple event, but we do not want to wait around 6 months after seeing it before getting our hands on one. We hope that when Apple releases this iPod they begin stocking stores that week, along with being ready to ship via Apple.com

Feel free to comment below on what you hope to see!

Our Zune has finally arrived, and we are pumped. We’ve all read reviews all across the Internet about the new MP3 player from Microsoft. However, we just had to see it for ourselves and give it a thorough use before making up our own minds on whether this new device is worth its salt or not. Look for our usual full mini-reviews of the new player shortly.

Initial impressions? This thing is hot - not temperature hot, but genuinely attractive. The casing is a refreshing change from the norm in the current MP3 player market. Plus the user interface, while not thoroughly tested as yet, looks to promise a lot of ease-of-use and simplicity. I’ve personally been looking forward to playing with the Zune for a while. Hopefully, Microsoft won’t disappoint.