Apple Delivers Big w/ iPod Touch 4G, Nano, Ping, iTV

Steve Jobs knows how to deliver and do it big. Apple’s latest event was full of surprises (and a few disappointments). Apple iPod had been upstaged by iPhone and iPad for quite some time. The new iPod Touch got FaceTime, a retina display, and a decent camera. Apple wants iPod Touch owners to use their device as a mobile gaming device. iPod Touch’s A4 processor should make playing more sophisticated games possible. Besides, Game Center (another new service by Apple) will allow gamers to play against others around the globe using their iPod Touch.

Apple iPod Touch 4G is expected to sell like hot cakes, but consumers will want to give Apple TV and iPod nano a look too. We all knew Apple was going to get in the “social” business soon. Ping is a social music network that lets iTunes users to connect with artists and their friends and discover new things (and find new friends in the process). The interface may be buggy at this point, but that’s understandable for a first generation social network.

The Apple TV announcement was perhaps the most disappointing part of yesterday’s event. The device has been upgraded and has a lot of merits. But it has ways to go before it reaches what some of us expected of it prior to yesterday’s event. This Apple TV will have a tough time dominating the set-top box market.

Apple TV may be underwhelming but the company announced so many new products and services that should keep Apple fans happy for quite some time. The new iPod Nano and iPod Touch will make iPod relevant again. Ping is quite an impressive (but buggy) concept at this point. We did not hear any announcements about the next generation iPad or the other iPhone that Apple is working on. We suspect Apple has chosen to keep its cards close to its chest at this point.