QuickTime 6.2

is also available for download the iTunes web page or the QuickTime web page. New in QuickTime 6.2:

• Foundation support for iTunes 4
• Enhanced AAC audio encoder (QuickTime Pro only)

We downloaded and installed all three with no problem. Apple has exclusives from 22 top-name artisits. The free 30-second exerpts are outstanding, just click on the songs to play them. The Music Store walked us through setting up an account basically by adding a credit card to our .Mac account information. Afterwards, clicking the "Buy" button after any song brings up a dialog box asking to confirm the purchase and then the song downloads to a "Purchased Music" playlist. It can be copied to any other playlist. We purchased one song as a test. It loaded on our original 10 GB iPod when updated and plays fine.

The newly redesigned iPods come in 10 GB ($299), 15 GB ($399) and 30 GB ($499) models. The controls are now backlit buttons above the scroll wheel. The front edge of the case is rounded rather than sharp. The 15 GB and 30 GB models also include a dock (shown at right) with an audio out connection for external speakers.

The new iPods play MP3, MP3 Variable Bit Rate, WAV and AAC files. AAC files are CD quality but are smaller than MP3 files. QuickTime 6.2 pro can encode audio in this format and are Mac-only.

For all the great news, the roll out was not without its glitches. First, the press release announcing the event and providing the satellite coordinates was posted on Apple's web site and then pulled for some reason--it's still not there. Then, Apple did not provide a live web cast of the event but MSNBC did--that's Microsoft (bleah!) NBC--using Windows Media Player (double bleah!!). Finally, Apple's press release states: "Apple® today introduced its third generation iPods, which hold up to 7,500 songs in a stunning enclosure that is lighter and thinner than two CDs." But at 5.6 oz, the new iPods weigh much more than 2 CDs (1 oz) and at 0.62" thick they are much thicker than two CDs (0.09"). Two CDs and their jewel cases weigh 6 oz and are 0.75" thick which is what Apple meant to write. Oh well, who cares--Steve Jobs got it right in his presentation and the iTunes Music Store and the new iPods are terrific!

Here are the Apple press releases on the iTunes Music Store and the new iPods.