PriceSCAN Blog

Writing of the Nano (the 4 GB version of which was already selling at a 10% discount to the e280's reported price) I noted that "Further discounting of this mature product is entirely possible, and so is the addition of a few more gig of flash." ("Can SanDisk Sandbag the iPod?"). Well, it turns out the new, thinner, 4 GB Nanos are to be priced at $199.99, a 20% discount to the e280. And in addition to these brightly colored new 4 gig players, Apple is introducing an 8 GB Nano. The price? $249.99, precisely the same as the SRP of the new e280. So, like Sansa, Apple apparently knows where to buy flash memory. Interestingly, the 8 GB models come only in black (always cool), a color the 4 GB Nanos are not available in. Could this be an attempt to allow instant visual recognition of a superior Nano, allying style, greater capacity and snob appeal in an attempt to get consumers to step up to the more expensive model? Nah, Steve just wouldn't do something like that.
Also added to the iPod lines are iPods with Video said to be 30% thinner than those of the last generation. There's now a 80 GB model, whose greater storage capacity should help accommodate movie downloads from iTunes (note that while a 30 GB model will still be produced, the 60 GB version is being discontinued). And in the continuing war on fingerprint-covered music players, Apple is also introducing a 1 GB version of the Shuffle, billed as the "world's smallest digital music player". Using a clip, it attaches to one's belt, lapel, or who knows what else. The new Shuffle features an anodized aluminum case. At $79.99, it should prove a cheap, low-smudge way to rock your workout.
Look for all these iPods to be offered by vendors on PriceSCAN.com, and use our site to keep an eye out for bargains on older models as the new line rolls out.