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Macworld New York 2002

You can tell that Jobs is leading up to a new goodie. Wait for the end of this keynote segment. Jobs quickly mentions iPhoto and goes right on to iTunes 3 (a free download starting today).

iTunes 3 features a new ratings and playcount listing. Audible.com support is now included. And now, "this is huge" -- "Smart Playlists" put music in all by themselves. Example: a top 25 playlist. This automatically selects and constantly updates the 25 most played songs on your machine. The feature also creates playlists using criteria such as artist names, ratings, file size, and date of issue. These parameters can be customized.

iPod: price drops and a new model! Pay a hundred dollars less for the 10GB and 20GB modesl. Hardware changes include thinner size, a solid-state control wheel, case, and a remote. The new 20GB iPod is $499. Jobs demos the changes to iPod software, including new browsing categories of genre and composer. The calendar and clock features makes the iPod even more of a personal organizer than before.

[Here it comes...]

iPod for Windows, same models, same prices! MusicMatch software instead of iTunes. [This ought to bring in some bucks.]

And [drum roll] iSync! This works with GPRS cell phones using SyncML and Bluetooth. Syncing your phone with your Mac now protects all your data, losing a phone doesn't mean losing your contact list, for instance. iSync shows all synchronized devices and data and connects iPods and phones to the "digital hub." Jobs demos how to wirelessly load numbers, address book, calendars, etc. onto a new phone with one click. "The beginning of something very, very big, Mac to mobile." A Sony exec takes the stage, and our audio drops out... :-(

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