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Apple adds to iPod lines, but many choosing service

By CHRIS FREEMAN - with wire reports

AP photo A new Apple iPod Nano with a built-in camera is shown. (Jeff Chiu (STF))

September 26, 2009

Apple announced Wednesday that it was introducing updates to its iPod lineup, including a 160-gigabyte iPod Classic, price cuts on the iPod Touch and iPod Shuffle, and new iPod Nanos with a camera and FM radio installed.

Yet eight years after the first iPod was introduced, many users are finding ways to keep their units around longer. Among the places they can go is the OWC.net Computer and iPod Upgrades and Service Center in Woodstock.

The center, at 2400 Lake Shore Drive, Suite B, services and repairs iPods and iPhones of all versions. It opened in July.

"In the area, there wasn't a place [users] could go" for repairs, OWC service technician Dave Jones said. "We do find a lot of people are somewhat abusive to their iPods, but we are more than capable of getting them fixed up."

Repairing an iPod could mean fixing a cracked screen or cosmetic damage, or it could include adding memory or changing the battery. Those are repairs that were difficult – or impossible – for third-party vendors to make eight years ago.

"When Apple did first release the iPods, it was very difficult to get replacement parts on the open market," Jones said. "With some new iPods it's still fairly difficult to get replacement parts. But as far as older generation iPods go, the market is expanding and it's definitely a worthwhile thing to do if you love your iPod and want to keep it around for a while."

Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who made his first public appearance since taking a medical leave in January to undergo a liver transplant, introduced iPod Touch models that will cost $199 for an 8-gigabyte model, $299 for a 32-gig version and $399 for a 64-gig version.

The new versions of the Nano will include a built-in microphone and pedometer along with the camera and FM radio tuner. It will cost $149 for an 8-gig version and $179 for a 16-gig version.

The larger iPod Classic will continue to cost $249, and the iPod Shuffle will feature a 2-gig version for $59.

Repair work at OWC.net's service center, meanwhile, starts at $25. A NewerTech replacement battery that provides higher capacity and longer life costs $49.99.

"They’re bringing in more and more now because instead of replacing the old one, they can put a new battery in and sometimes be less than half the cost of a brand-new iPod," OWC service technician Glen Madigan said. "We have this down to a science. I would not recommend it for the average person; our guys are very experienced in this."

Jobs, 54, had not appeared at such an event since October. He disclosed in August 2004 that he had been diagnosed and cured of a rare form of pancreatic cancer, called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. Last year, he appeared increasingly thin, sparking speculation that his cancer had returned, though Apple attributed his weight loss then to a common bug.

On Jan. 5, Jobs said he had a treatable hormone imbalance and that he would continue to run the company. He went on leave the next week, saying his medical problems were "more complex" than he had thought. Apple’s chief operating officer, Tim Cook, took over daily duties. Jobs returned to Apple headquarters part-time at the end of June.

In addition to the new line of products, Jobs also debuted a new version of iTunes that includes easier ways to sync their products and share content across a home network. It also will feature expanded content for users who buy complete albums, with cover art, liner notes and other media packaged with the download.

There also is a new software package for iPhones and iPod Touch users to upgrade their experience. It adds thousands of ringtones for dowloads on iPhones, as well.