Apple Updates iPod

Apple today announced a free software update for iPod, the world's most popular portable digital music player. The iPod software update adds support for new Belkin voice recording and photo storage accessories for dockable iPods, allowing users to record hundreds of hours of audio and store thousands of digital photos on their iPod. Available for both Mac and Windows, the iPod software update also includes faster browsing and accessing of large music libraries, the ability to sync On-The-Go playlists back to iTunes and a new Music Quiz game which tests a player's knowledge of their own iTunes music library.

“Apple's latest iPods have a been a huge hit, becoming the most successful digital music players ever. With these new added features there are even more great reasons to get one”, said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We have worked together with Belkin to provide a simple and elegant solution to iPod users' two most requested features, digital voice recording and photo storage”.

With the new voice recording features, iPod users can use a Belkin VoiceRecorder to record and instantly review over 600 hours of lectures,interviews or notes on a 40GB iPod. Once the iPod is connected to a Mac orWindows PC, the voice notes are automatically synced with the computer justlike songs and playlists are synced in the iTunes library. These audiorecordings are stored in WAV file format and can be easily edited or evensent to others via email. The Belkin Voice Recorder for iPod is the firstthird-party voice recording accessory to take advantage of these newcapabilities in iPod. Belkin's ultra-compact Voice Recorder for iPod isequipped with a high-quality, omnidirectional microphone and 16mm speaker,works with all dockable iPods through the headphone connector and indicatesrecording status through iPod's LCD screen.

iPod's new photo storage feature allows users to use a Belkin Media Readerto import, store and backup over 20,000 digital photos from a 3 megapixelcamera onto a 40GB iPod and take them anywhere. This frees up valuablecamera and memory card storage space so users can continue to take pictureswithout the hassle and expense of buying and carrying multiple memory cards.Once the iPod is connected to a Mac or Windows PC, the digital photos areeasily transferred to a user's computer and photo editing software. With Mac OS X, iPhoto will automatically recognise the iPod as a media storage deviceand prompt users to transfer their photos into the iPhoto library — just asif it were a camera, allowing users to erase the photos after transfer ifdesired. The ideal tool for professional photographers and people onvacation, Belkin's new Media Reader for iPod is the first third-party iPodphoto storage accessory. The Belkin Media Reader for iPod connects easilythough iPod's dock connector and supports the five most common memory cardformats — CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, SD and MMC.

Pricing & Availability:

The new iPod software update, Version 2.1, is available today as a freedownload from www.apple.com/uk/ipod. iPods for Mac and Windows PCs are available for a suggested selling price of £249 (inc VAT) for the 10GB iPod, £299 (inc VAT) for the 20GB iPod and £399 (inc VAT) for the 40GB iPodthrough the Apple Store and Apple AuthorisedResellers. iPod requires a Mac with a FireWire port, Mac OS X version 10.1.5or later (Mac OS X v10.2 or later recommended) or a Windows PC with aFireWire or USB 2.0 port, or Windows-certified FireWire or USB 2.0 card,Windows 2000, or Windows XP Home or Professional.

The new Belkin iPod accessories are also available for order today from the Apple Store for £39 (inc VAT) for the BelkinVoice Recorder and £89 (inc VAT) for the Belkin Media Reader.

Press Contacts:
Apple UK and Ireland Public Relations
Email: media.uk@apple.com
Phone: (020) 8218 1440