Apple's latest iPods: What you need to know

03.09.2010
The latest batch of earlier this week are about to begin shipping, and this latest generation brings some pretty big changes across board. The sixth-generation iPod nano looks like something Dick Tracy would wear, the iPod shuffle got its buttons back, and the iPod touch is even closer to being an iPhone 4 without the phone. (Sadly, the iPod classic was excluded from the upgrade party, although it remains--begrudgingly, it seems--in the iPod lineup.)

Having a hard time keeping all these changes straight? We outline what's new, what's improved, and what's missing while tackling all your questions about Apple's revamped iPod lineup.

The fourth-generation (4G) comes in 8GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities, priced at $229, $299, and $399, respectively. The latest --the sixth generation (6G) if you're scoring at home--is $149 for the 8GB model, and $179 for a 16GB version. It's also available in all the colors of the rainbow, assuming your version of a rainbow features graphite, silver, pink, blue, yellow, green, and red (as part of the ). There's just one capacity of the new fourth-generation (2GB) and one price tag ($49). But it does come in blue, pink, green, yellow, and silver.

At Wednesday's press event, Steve Jobs said the new models would each be available next week. For what it's worth, Apple's online store lists the ship dates for the assorted iPod models as "1 week."