Two things struck me today with Apple’s iPod announcements. To be perfectly frank, and to sound egotistic, I saw most of this coming. The iPod touch turned out just as I expected, the Apple TV did too. However Apple pulled some strange moves with their Shuffle and nano iPod models.

First off, the new Shuffle was a admittance by Apple, that the buttonless iPod Shuffle was a dud. It must have bombed. The previous buttonless shuffle was introduced in March of 2009. It saw a refresh this time last year, and now it’s gone. The shuffle usually received a major overhaul about once ever 2-2.5 years. The buttonless one made it only 18 months.

I also know why it tanked, I own one, I feel your pain. The very second Apple’s cheap headphones burnt out, specifically the controller on the cord, the whole device was shot. Replacement headphones from any company, not just Apple, ran you about $40. That almost as much as a new shuffle at $59. Make of it what you will, but if it was a success, Apple wouldn’t have had to have backtracked an re-introduce the buttons to the shuffle.

The second announcement, the iPod nano, also told me where Apple is driving the iPod line. That is to day, they are making a push to get everyone on the iOS bandwagon. The shuffle is perfect for athletes and the like, I suspect it will be around for awhile if only in moderation. But the nano has been stripped. Granted the new iPod nano is nifty, but it has removed the camera, and it can’t play video, two features Apple touted heavily with the iPod nano they introduced last year.

They’ve taken the camera away from the nano, and given it to the touch. Only the withering iPod Classic, and the very popular iPod touch can play video now, and only the touch can record video. Couple all of this with the lower and lower prices seen each year, Apple is edging it iPod touch into an area where nearly everyone that wants one can get one. This is a push for iOS, and iOS is clearly the future of Apple.

My point in all of this is one thing: Apple, in very subtle ways, is trying to get it’s iPod customers interested in the iPod touch, which will help expand iOS to become Apple’s primary, if not sole OS into the future. How far into the future? Who knows, but it’s coming.

Sorry everyone for the late post. I was playing catch up with the day’s news. So, let’s dig in. Apple has announced a multitude of new goodies today. Starting with…

Apple TV:
Apple has introduced a new Apple TV. The device is one-forth the size of the previous Apple TV all while still offering HDMI and digital audio outputs, Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi. The new Apple TV will only offer movie rentals from the iTunes store. There is limited on-board storage, and movies can now only be rented with the device. First-run HD movies for $4.99 and HD TV shows from ABC and Fox will cost $.99.

Apple today announced the new Apple TV which offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99. Apple TV users can choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents. The device also utilizes the same A4 chip found in iPhone 4 and iPad.

Apple TV also streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe, as well as music, photos and videos from PCs and Macs to your HD TV. Enjoy gorgeous slideshows of your photos on your HD TV using Apple TV’s selection of built-in slideshows. Apple TV has built-in HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and an internal power supply for easy set-up, and features silent, cool, very low power operation in an enclosure that’s less than four inches square – 80 percent smaller than the previous generation.

The new Apple TV also offers Netflix integration, allowing Netflix subscribers to stream content from the service directly to their TV at no extra charge. You can also stream content from YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe, and iOS devices you have lying around.

You can pre-order the new Apple TV starting today for $99, with the device shipping in about four weeks.

iTunes 10:
Apple also released iTunes 10 today. The new version features a redesigned icon and interface, while introducing a new social feature called “Ping.” The Ping network will aims to help users discover new music, follow their favorite artists and friends. You can opt to allow users to follow you either automatically or by approval. Users can also upload things like videos and photos, while also tagging concerts they have attended. Ping will also be added to the iTunes app on iPhone, iPod touch, and presumably iPad. You can sign up immediately.

Apple today introduced iTunes 10 with Ping, a new music-oriented social network for following your favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to and downloading. iTunes Ping lets you post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes, plus view concert listings and tell your friends which concerts you plan to attend. iTunes 10 also features HD TV show rentals for just 99 cents an episode and AirPlay wireless music playback.

The Ping concert feature is apparently powered by Live Nation, and offers links to purchase concert tickets through Live Nation.

iTunes is a free download, and you can get it here.

iPod Shuffle:
Apple released an all new iPod Shuffle today. The buttons have returned! In addition to the standard control buttons, the device also has a VoiceOver button, and can utilize the same Genius Playlists as the previous iPod Shuffle model. The new shuffle comes in a 2GB model in green, pink, gold, blue, silver, and is priced at $49.

iPod nano:
The new iPod nano ditches the traditional clickwheel in exchange for a touchscreen. The new nano is 46% smaller than it’s predecessor while having a 24-hour battery life. The UI can be manipulated in much the same way as iOS devices. The nano has a home screen, with icons for each of the features such as Playlists, and control playback, and artists. The new nano comes in Pink, blue, silver, gold, green, graphite, and a Product Red version. It also appears that the new iPod nano can’t play video, and also loses the camera that was introduced in the previous generation iPod nano.

The nano comes in two varieties: a 8GB model for $149, and a 16GB model for $179.

iPod touch:
Lastly, and certainly not least. Apple has introduced a new iPod touch that is equipped with the same retina display seen on the iPhone 4, is powered with the same A4 chip found in the iPad, iPhone 4, and Apple TV, a 3-axis gyroscope for gaming, a rear-facing camera that can shoot HD video and take still pictures at 960X720, and of course, a front facing camera to make FaceTime calls with. When the device ships it will have iOS 4.1 installed complete with Game Center. It will also offer 40 hours of music playback on a single charge. The new iPod touch costs $229 for the 8GB model, $299 for the 32GB model, and $399 for the 64GB model.

iPod Classic:
This poor old work horse wasn’t even touched today at the event, but is still on sale.

All of the new iPod models are available for pre-order now, and will ship in about a week.

Other tidbits:
iOS 4.1 is said to be coming soon on many of Apple’s websites, however their Spanish site claims a release date of September 8th. iOS 4.1 was just seeded to developers today after the event. This will be a free update to all customers, not just iPhone 4 owners.

iOS 4.2 will be released in November, finally bringing iOS 4 to the iPad.

Apple has released two commercials for today’s iPod announcements. The first is for the iPod touch, and the other is for the nano. You can view them both on Apple’s respective iPod pages, or on their YouTube page.