Our lively coverage of today ’s special euphony event has concluded . Please see MacCentral for more reportage .

On Wednesday , at a special event in San Francisco , Apple took the wraps off the long - wait iTunes phone from Motorola , the ROKR . Apple also updated iTunes to version 5.0 and stick in its permutation for the iPod mini : the iPod nano .

“ give thanks you all for come and welcome to our medicine consequence today , ” Jobs said . “ Apple ’s leading the digital music revolution , but at its core , it ’s all about the medicine . I just want to recognize a expert friend of mine and unbelievable musician in the audience today , 16 - time grammy award winner , the incomparable Yo Yo Ma . ”

State of the Union

Jobs say the crowd that Apple has sold more than half a billion birdsong through its iTunes Music Store to date . “ We are selling songs at a rate of 1.8 million songs per day , ” he explain . “ iTunes has an 82 pct market share here in the US . ”

chore restate an Apple public press exit offered earlier today thatit has 80 percentof the licit on-line music download market in the UK , and said that iTunes is doing “ extremely well around the world . ” There are iTunes Music Stores in 20 body politic , he say , representing 85 percent of the global medicine food market .

Apple recently began supporting podcasts through iTunes , and Jobs secernate the crowd that the religious service now boast more than 15,000 podcasts in its directory , growing by 1,000 per week . More than 7 million podcast subscription have been made to date . “ This phenomenon is just blow up , ” he said .

The iTunes Music Store now has more than 2 million vocal , said Jobs , the largest on-line music library in the world . “ We ’ve never shared [ this ] with anyone before : How many accounts do we have on itunes ? We have just crossed 10 million account . And they come up with credit card game , ” read Jobs .

The average iTunes account statement holder has purchased 60 songs , said Jobs , and most of them have been summate in the preceding twelvemonth . “ That makes iTunes one of the largest internet store in the world , ” he allege .

Jobs verbalise about Modern additions to the iTunes ’ audiobook solicitation : An exclusive digital box seat arrange adaptation of the Harry Potter series . He also introduced a collectable iPod engrave with a Hogwarts crest — Hogwarts is the schoolhouse that fabricated thaumaturge Harry Potter goes to .

chore then usher in famed pop principal Madonna in a transcontinental live chat using iChat AV . Connected from London , Madonna explained that she “ essay to hold out as long as possible . But I got tired of not being able to download my own music . ” Madonna and Steve Jobs announced that all fifteen of her record album will be available for leverage and download through iTunes , by album and by song .

iTunes 5

Jobs then roll outiTunes 5 , an update to the popular software system Apple makes uncommitted for Mac and Windows users alike . He trace the Modern adaptation ’s interface as sporting “ a little bit of a refined look . ” It ’s available today as a free download from Apple ’s Web site .

Users can now get up playlists into pamphlet , and newfangled search capability have been added . Windows users can now automatically synchronize contact and calendar information using iTunes 5 and Microsoft ’s Outlook and Outlook Express software .

A “ Smart Shuffle ” feature has been tot that have substance abuser check how likely they are to get word multiple vocal from the same artist or the same record album using a predilection luger . “ We ’ve got a mass of people say our shuffle is not random , ” reflect Jobs .

paternal controls have also been summate to help parent restrict purchases of music that contains explicit language through the iTunes Music Store .

iTunes Phone – Motorola ROKR , exclusive to Cingular

job also used today ’s event to unveilthe first iTunes - compatible cellular phone phone , the Motorola ROKR . “ You ’ve in all probability hear about this , ” Jobs said , a reference to the speculation that has run rampant prior to today ’s event .

The phone will automatically pause when you get a call , explain Jobs . Songs are change through a USB transmission line .

The ROKR can only hold about 100 song , according to Jobs . “ The fashion we think of this phone is , it ’s really an iPod make on your telephone , ” he explain . Both equipment can scuffle , both can autofill , neither has a click cycle — but the telephone has a display .

Madonna and other instrumentalist are also being tap to shill the new ROKR in a Motorola advertising drive arrange to begin later this week , showing them in a phone booth out in the desert . There will also be a hoarding campaign from Cingular sport slogans like “ Kiss + tell , ” “ Smashblabbermouth ” and “ Matthew Sweet talk , ” along with a television advertizing campaign in both English and Spanish .

“ A great phone with an iTunes client is half the story , ” said Jobs . “ What we ’re add up to that is the number one wireless carrier in North America . Cingular will be the sole supplier of this phone in North America . ” chore then introduced Ralph de la Vega , Cingular ’s Chief Operating Officer .

“ We have a visual modality , working with Apple and Motorola , about convergence between amusement , data processor , and communications , amount together and take shape a real product , ” say de la Vega . “ There have been a lot of rumors about this product , but today , the talk end and the music begins . You ’re going to get your songs on your sound , anywhere you want them , any prison term you need them , with the populace ’s good music armed service , brought to you by Motorola and Cingular . ”

The iPod

“ rent me liken it to another successful product , the Sony PSP , ” said Jobs , referring to Sony ’s handheld gaming organization that can also work music . Last quarter the iPod sell 6 million , while the Sony PSP deal 2 million units . ”

Four new automotive brands announced iPod connectivity today , according to Jobs : Honda , Honda ’s upscale Acura sword , as well as European railcar makers Audi and Volkswagen .

In 2006 , 30 percentage of all cars sold in the U.S. are run low to offer iPod connectivity as an option , say Jobs .

iPod nano

After summarizing the existing iPod product wrinkle , Jobs explain that the iPod mini is what all of Apple ’s competitors are aiming for . Apple is “ going to do something pretty bold , ” he say . Apple is “ replacing it with something new . ”

job calls theiPod nano“an entirely new ground - up intent , that also has 1000 songs in your pocket . ” The blank twist feature a color presentation and can endorse photos , uses a gray click roulette wheel to sail , and is 80 percent littler in volume than the original iPod — thin than a number two pencil , tell Jobs . The iPod nano weighs 1.5 ounces or 42 gram .

Compared to the iPod mini , the iPod nano is half the thickness and 62 per centum smaller by volume . It habituate a 30 - pin bob connection , so the iPod nano chew in to existing iPod accessory , and can also connect using USB 2.0 . It feature a 14 - hour rechargeable barrage fire . It achieves its small size by eschewing a laborious saucer drive in favour of flash memory .

The iPod nano also sport a new graphic clock , games , stop watch and lap timer , and a screen ringlet that practice the click bike like a combining lock .

“ White is our touch color for the iPod … but we decided to so a 2nd color , and we adjudicate it because it looked so cool , ” said Jobs , “ so we ’re doing a black mannequin as well . ”

The iPod nano ship today in 2 GB and 4 GB conformation for US$ 199 and $ 249 severally . Apple is also offer customized iPod nano accessories including a $ 29 dock , $ 39 lanyard with build - in headphones , colour - coordinated armbands for $ 29 each , and “ nanotubes ” — green , purple , depressed and pinkish slipcases , sell in boxes of five , for $ 29 each .

The event ended with R&B star Kanye West performing his hit songs “ All Falls Down ” and “ Gold Digger ” for the gang . He thanked Jobs for reserve him to perform , and add together , “ Thank you for make my life much easier . I retrieve when I had tapes . ”