Event Coverage

Macworld Conference & Expo 2006

By Ng Chong Seng - 12 Jan 2006

Finally, Radio for the iPod

Finally, Radio for the iPod

iPod has always concentrated on delivering its core feature well, which is music playback. As famous and pervasive this little player may be, Apple has always resisted cries to add new hardware features to the digital audio player (until recently when the iPod with video was launched). The loudest among the cries has to be the inclusion of a radio tuner. This being Macworld, how can it not have any iPod-related announcements? While Apple did not really launch a new iPod with radio tuning capability, it did announce a new accessory for the player: the iPod Radio Remote.

This is by far the least complicated hardware announcement from Steve Jobs this year. The iPod Radio Remote is essentially a wired remote control with FM radio capability for the iPod nano and the fifth generation iPod. There is still no display on this new remote - the station and song information are displayed on the iPod screen (for stations that support the Radio Data System). It will ship immediately and is priced at US$49.

The iPod Radio Remote is a functional accessory add-on for the iPod nano and the fifth generation iPod.

The iPod Radio Remote has no screen, but for stations that support the Radio Data System, station and song information are displayed on the iPod's screen as shown here.

Other than the iPod Radio Remote, Apple also announced the iPod AV Connection Kit and the iPod nano In-Ear Lanyand Headphones. The Connection Kit contains an iPod Universal Dock, an Apple Remote, an iPod AV cable, an iPod Dock Connector to USB 2.0 Cable and an iPod USB Power Adapter. In other words, with this connection kit, users can connect their iPods to a TV, or a stereo system, or use it to charge their iPod. On the other hand, the iPod nano In-Ear Lanyard Headphones combines the iPod nano Lanyard Headphones and the Apple In-Ear Headphones into a single solution. Three different sized caps are bundled to ensure the best fit. Both accessories will also ship immediately and cost US$99 and US$49 respectively.

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